NAPT News & Views — When NTSB talks, we listen!

Over the years, the National Transportation Safety Board has become the gold standard for safety recommendations that should be taken to heart, and the agency’s vice chairman, Christopher Hart, is among its best keepers of the flame. There was much to be learned from his excellent presentation at the NAPT Summit in Memphis, Tenn., in October.

Products at the NAPT trade show

Here are details on some of the new offerings from industry suppliers that were on view and announced during the two-day show in Memphis, Tenn. They include wheelchair lifts, a bus air-conditioning line and an integrated vehicle tracking and routing system.

Alex Robinson builds training in NYC, partnerships at NAPT

Two months after becoming president of NAPT, Alex Robinson began running the largest school district transportation department in the nation in December 2011. Since then, her staff at the NYC Office of Pupil Transportation has undergone more than 40 hours of training, and NAPT has grown its connections to relevant organizations around the globe.

Distracted driving, bullying are key concerns in Memphis

A session at the NAPT Summit addresses ways that managers contribute to distracted driving, while a keynote presentation covers fatal school bus accidents caused by inattentive drivers. Handling problematic student behavior is the focus of a panel discussion and a joint presentation.

'Legends of the Fall': partners to protect the yellow bus

NAPT is going to be very involved in making policymakers at all levels of government aware of the vexing problems created when school bus service is threatened by cuts (in dollars or routes) or eliminated.

NAPT names winners of annual poster contest

The theme of this year’s contest was “Stand Back From the Yellow and Black.” Cesar Davila of Brownsville, Texas, takes first place in Division III and is the overall winner of the contest.

2012 NAPT Summit

Zonar, NAPT award $50K equipment grant

The Transportation Joint Agreement operating at Crystal Lake (Ill.) School Districts 47 and 155 receives the grant at the 2012 NAPT Summit. Officials say the money will be used to outfit school buses with a combination of Zonar’s Electronic Vehicle Inspection Report, V3 telematics platform and ZPass.

Speakers draw safety lessons from school bus tragedies

Keynote speakers at the NAPT Summit share some powerful safety messages — powerful in particular because they are based on fatal school bus accidents. The family of Hunter Pitt, who was killed when his bus ran over him, watches a video they worked on with Missouri organizations.

Thomas Built to develop CNG-fueled Type C

The school bus manufacturer announces at the NAPT Summit that it will develop a Saf-T-Liner C2 powered by compressed natural gas. Also, Thomas Built’s new propane Type A is now in production, and its propane Type C is expected to be available next year.