National Bus Trader The Magazine of Bus Equipment for the United States and Canada Vol XLIV, No. 3

National Bus Trader

The Magazine of Bus Equipment for the United States and Canada Volume XLIV, No. 3

February, 2021

Serving the bus industry since 1977.

Visit us at www.busmag.com.

• Brexit and the Bus Industry • The Unexpected Octopus • Drivers Test Skills at UMA

Toward a safer future

100 Cassia Way Henderson NV, 89014 702 431 0707 www.irizarusa.com

National Bus Trader The Magazine of Bus Equipment for the United States and Canada STAFF Editor & Publisher Larry Plachno

Business Manager Nancy Ann Plachno Typesetting/Page Layout Sherry Mekeel

Production/Design/Web Jake Ron Plaras

CONTRIBUTORS Safety and Liability Ned Einstein Dave Millhouser

N ATIONAL B US T RADER (ISSN 0194-939X) is published monthly

by National Bus Trader, Inc., 9698 W. Judson Road, Polo, Illinois 61064-9015. Subscriptions, $30 (in US funds) annually, Canada & International $35 (in US funds).

Printed in U.S.A. Periodicals postage paid in Polo, Illinois 61064 and at additional mailing offices.

POSTMASTER: Send address changes to National Bus Trader, 9698 W. Judson Road, Polo, Illinois 61064-9015.

Change of Address: Please send old mailing label (or old address and computer number) as well as new address.

Advertising: Classified ad rate is $30 for first 25 words, 25¢ for each additional word. Rate includes Internet access. Name, address, and phone number are not included in word count. Display advertising rates sent on request. Advertising deadline is the fifteenth day of the 2nd preceding month unless otherwise indicated.

Affiliations and Memberships: American Bus Association, The Bus History Association, Family Motor Coach Association, International Bus Collectors, North American Trackless Trolley Association, Motor Bus Society, Omnibus Society of America, Tourist Railway Association, United Motorcoach Association.

N ATIONAL B US T RADER is THE Magazine of Bus Equipment for the United States and Canada.

The contents of this publication may not be reproduced either in whole or in part without the written consent of the publisher. The name National Bus Trader, the logo incorporating the outline of the United States, and the pricing guide to used buses are trade marks of National Bus Trader, Inc.

Volume XLIV

National Bus Trader 9698 W. Judson Road Polo, Illinois 61064-9015 Phone: (815) 946-2341 Web site: www.busmag.com

Number 3

February, 2021

Features Brexit and the Bus Industry (by Larry Plachno) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16 Our editor provides a thumbnail report on the history of Brexit, the recent separation of the United Kingdom from the European Union. He then speculates on how this will impact the bus industry in the United Kingdom, the European Union and America moving into the future.

The Unexpected Octopus – Something that regulators could learn from (by Dave Millhouser) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19 Dave uses the example of finding an unexpcted octopus in an underwater cave as a springboard for talking about how laws and regulations can have an unexpected impact on the bus industry and whether laws have improved safety or helped the bus industry.

Drivers Test Skills at 2020 UMA International Driver Competition (by Mark Szyperski) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22 One of the more interesting events at the United Motorcoach Association’s Motorcoach Expo is the International Driver Competition. Mark Szyperski takes us behind the scenes to explain what happed at the 2020 Motorcoach Expo in Nashville.

Cover Photo

Departments

The Irizar i6 model has been a popular coach in Europe and has been available on the American market for a while. One unique feature is that it is available in two models, one slightly higher with more underfloor compartment space. For more information, see the Irizar advertisement on page 2. IRIZAR.

Equipment News . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Bus Equipment People . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

Curious Coachowner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 Photographs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 Safety and Liability . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29

Classifieds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32

Advertiser’s Index appears on page 32

National Bus Trader / February, 2021 • 3

Equipment News Seven New MCI J4500 Coaches for Coach Atlantic Motor Coach Industries (MCI), a U.S. subsidiary of NFI Group Inc., (NFI), one of the world's largest independent global bus manufacturers, has delivered seven new J4500 coaches to Coach Atlantic.

The coaches provided team transport for the Canadian Premier League (CPL), a professional soccer league in Canada, during a recent bubble tournament in Prince Edward Island (PEI).

“The J4500 has been North America’s best-selling motorcoach for more than 14 consecutive years, featuring a lighter, more efficient X12 Cummins engine and a more spacious interior for best-in-class legroom,” said Brent Maitland, vice president, Private Sector Sales and Marketing, MCI. “We’ve supported Coach Atlantic since 2008 and continue to provide safe, spacious transport for the leading provider of private transportation in Atlantic Canada.”

Coach Atlantic typically serves more than 80 percent of the cruise ship, multiday tour and group charter markets. Due to health advisories related to COVID-19, Coach Atlantic developed a new approach to maintain fleet operation through “bubble” transportation to each of the CPL’s eight teams, allowing them to complete the CPL season while keeping teams safe during transport.

“2020 has been challenging for everyone in the transportation business, so we jumped at the opportunity to provide transportation for the CPL,” said Matthew Cassidy, president, Coach Atlantic. “We were able to provide the CPL a first-class experience by providing a dedicated 2020 MCI J4500 for each team throughout the duration of season in the PEI bubble. It was a tremendous source of pride for everyone involved to see our equipment on the road again.”

Based in PEI, Coach Atlantic is a familyowned coach operator and is the largest ground passenger transportation provider in the Maritimes, travelling in PEI, Nova Sco-

tia, New Brunswick, and onward to the rest of North America. After 15 years of market growth through the acquisition of several regional bus companies, Coach Atlantic expanded from 30 employees and 33 vehicles to 515 employees and 350 vehicles.

In July 2020, NFI announced the combination of New Flyer and MCI. New Flyer and MCI have been leading innovation in mobility for 90 years, today supporting North American cities with sustainable buses and coaches, technology and infrastructure. They also operate the Vehicle Innovation Center, the first and only innovation lab of its kind dedicated to advancing bus and coach technology and providing workforce development through electric bus training. New Flyer is currently developing automated technology to improve safety in public transit.

Leveraging 450 years of combined experience, NFI is leading the electrification of mass mobility around the world. With zeroemission buses and coaches, infrastructure and technology, NFI meets today’s urban

Motor Coach Industries (MCI) recently delivered seven new J4500 coaches to Coach Atlantic. The coaches provided team transport for the Canadian Premier League, a professional Canadian soccer league, during a tournament. Headquartered on Prince Edward Island, Coach Atlantic is family-owned and operates 350 vehicles with a staff of 515.

4 • National Bus Trader / February, 2021

Equipment News

The new Specialty Vehicles and Technologies (SVT) Division of ABC Companies will distribute a wide range of new products and services that will leverage emerging technology for the motorcoach and related industries.

SVT’s portfolio will include the Van Hool CX45E battery-electric coach, diesel to electric repower kits and ABC’s Green Power options in select markets.

Shown is the new Van Hool all-electric CX45E coach.

demands for scalable smart mobility solutions. Together, NFI is enabling more livable cities through connected, clean, and sustainable transportation.

With 8,000 team members in 10 countries, NFI is a leading global bus manufacturer of mass mobility solutions under the brands New Flyer ® (heavy-duty transit buses), MCI® (motorcoaches), Alexander Dennis Limited (single- and double-deck buses), Plaxton (motorcoaches), ARBOC® (low-floor cutaway and medium-duty buses), and NFI Parts™. NFI currently offers the widest range of sustainable drive systems available, including zero-emission electric (trolley, battery and fuel cell), natural gas, electric hybrid and clean diesel. In total, NFI supports its installed base of more than 105,000 buses and coaches around the world.

MCI is North America's leading public and private market motorcoach brand, building the J4500 (an industry best-seller for more than a decade), the all-new 35-foot J3500 model and the workhorse D-Series including the ADA-accessible MCI D45 CRT LE Commuter Coach, including the batteryelectric, zero-emission D45 CRTe LE. MCI also provides maintenance, repair, 24-hour roadside assistance, parts and technician training through the industry's only Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) accredited MCI Academy.

New ABC SVT Division to Support Industry Recovery ABC Companies, a leading provider of motorcoach and transit equipment in the U.S. and Canada, has officially launched a new business division, SVT (Specialty

Vehicles and Technologies). Under the SVT banner, the company will distribute a wide range of new products and services that will leverage emerging technology, applications and advances that impact the motorcoach and related industries. “Our SVT division functions as a launchpad for next level innovation”, said Roman Cornell, ABC president and chief commercial officer. “It’s much more than a new commercial sales division, and is essentially the incubator and innovation think-tank where we actively search for new technologies and applications that can help advance our customer base and the industry overall.”

With so many changes impacting the travel and tourism industry today, Cornell asserts that now is the time to think differently about how to move forward using technology to solve issues and bring new capabilities to market.

SVT’s Expanding EV Portfolio ABC Companies entered the electric vehicle market under the SVT Banner this year and continues to expand its portfolio of EV offerings as well as other future-facing capabilities. The company’s EV zero-emissions lineup is built on strategic partnerships that source, distribute and support a range of sustainable OEM and repowered EV options which include: • The flagship Van Hool CX45E zeroemissions OEM model integrating Proterra’s industry leading, energy-dense E2 battery system • Affordable, turnkey diesel to EV repower kits – a joint venture between ABC and industry-leader Lightning eMotors – enabling owners to quickly and efficiently update existing vehicles to 100 percent

battery-electric power that can significantly lower operational costs.

• ABC’s distribution agreement with Green Power Motor Company can assist owners in adding a range of available EV vehicles to fleets. With a focus on microtransit solutions, ABC’s Green Power options are available in select markets.

“Each of these EV specialty vehicle offerings is built on a proven platform and designed to optimize electric powertrain and battery configurations, all while moving the industry closer to a carbon-free future,” said Cornell. “Commercial demand for sustainable transport of goods and services, as well as passenger travel is an important driver in our decision to invest in EV and integrated onboard technology. Right now, we can deliver a robust range of options that can help business owners gain a competitive edge, realize major ROI improvements or extend the serviceability of existing assets and answer the call for carbon neutrality,” continued Cornell.

Specialty Technologies Designed to Advance Fleet Performance ABC continues to build on its proprietary RECON and TEC options introduced in 2019. Available packages and options integrate a host of driver assistance and alert systems and technology-enabled components such as telematics, coach interior and exterior surveillance systems and more to aid drivers, passengers and business owners. These technologies are designed to optimize driver and vehicle performance, enhance the passenger experience and automate and manage fleet maintenance.

National Bus Trader / February, 2021 • 5

Equipment News CLEANS™ Technology – Protecting Drivers and Passengers First Conducting thorough fleet cleaning is no longer an option today, and ABC has available a full suite of sanitization solutions designed to boost passenger confidence for group transportation. From electrostatic fogging and active HVAC purification via bipolar ionization, to UV lighting, advanced filtration and more ABC’s CLEANS suite of products is designed to bring the latest solutions to the motorcoach and transit industries. CLEANS™ uses a layered approach for passengers and drivers built around thorough surface cleaning, passenger protocols and active air filtration and decontamination.

To download the full CLEANS product offering visit abc-companies.com/CLEANS.

Focused and Forward Looking At the heart of the SVT division is a dedicated team tasked with troubleshooting and locating solutions for a growing ABC customer base. Led by ABC’s Brian Nelson, director, ABC Technical Solutions, the team partners with customers and suppliers to bring solutions with a focus on utilizing emerging technologies to provide customers a competitive advantage.

Nelson commented, “We are problem solvers for the industry and solution providers for specific customer needs.

With the depth of experience ABC brings to the market and working closely with various suppliers, we have embraced the mantra that leadership is a result of quality partnerships.”

“In this ever-changing landscape, the only thing we can predict is change,” said Cornell. “However, as we diversify our SVT offerings, we are focused on supporting our core market – serving traditional internal combustion engine (ICE) powered fleets, and meeting the operational needs of customers who are ready to adopt EV into their fleets now. By providing all business owners and all types of fleets with cutting edge technologies, we are ready to address challenges and leverage opportunities as the industry bounces back, while eyeing the future.”

For complete information and details about ABC’s SVT Division and advanced technology partners and solutions, visit abccompanies.com/SVT. UMA Shifts Dates for Motorcoach EXPO to April 21-25 The United Motorcoach Association announced that UMA Motorcoach EXPO in the city of Orlando, Florida will be held April 21-25, 2021. These new dates, seven weeks later than the original dates, are expected to benefit attendance. Motorcoach EXPO is the largest and most comprehensive tradeshow exclusively serving North Amer-

6 • National Bus Trader / February, 2021

The 2021 United Motorcoach Association (UMA) Motorcoach Expo has shifted dates and will now be held in Orlando from April 21-25, 2021. More than 70 companies are expected to exhibit at this show serving North America’s bus and motorcoach industry. Shown here is Rick Palmer in the Stertil-Koni booth at the recent UMA Motorcoach Expo in Nashville.

ica’s bus and motorcoach industry. The date shift, based on strong feedback from members, will enable more participants to have access to vaccines and hopefully many companies will have access to federal relief funding.

Already, registrants from more than 30 U.S. states and Canada and UMA’s trade show floor has more than 70 companies signed up to exhibit. The Orange County Convention Center, which is the host facility, is well-positioned to accommodate the show and is designated a Global Biorisk Advisory Council Star Facility.

“These new dates allow seven more weeks for more people to have a chance to become vaccinated and for companies to, hopefully, receive some federal economic relief,” UMA president and CEO Larry Killingsworth said in announcing the change. “I am also happy to report that UMA's affordable hotel room block prices will remain the same, with family-friendly rates starting at $99 per night.”

Winnipeg Transit Adds 32 More New Flyer Buses New Flyer Industries Canada ULC (New Flyer), a subsidiary of NFI Group Inc. (NFI), one of the world’s leading independent global bus manufacturers, recently announced that the City of Winnipeg, the owner and operator of Winnipeg Transit, has awarded New Flyer a new contract for 32 clean diesel, 40-foot Xcelsior® heavy-duty

transit buses, with an option to extend the contract for five years.

Named one of the most efficient transit systems in Canada, Winnipeg Transit is the public transit agency serving Winnipeg, Manitoba and delivering more than 48 million passenger trips per year.

The buses replace end-of-life vehicles and advance the City of Winnipeg’s 2050 Transportation Master Plan, aimed at safe and efficient movement of people while meeting a growing demand for environmentally sustainable and inclusive transit.

“We’ve delivered nearly 1,000 buses to Winnipeg Transit over 30 years, continually improving propulsion technology to lend enhanced operational and environmental benefits,” said Chris Stoddard, president, New Flyer. “As Winnipeg Transit evolves its fleet to more sustainable options in the future, we will continue advancing our technology, buses and infrastructure to pave the way for scalable transition to cleaner, safer and more efficient mobility.”

New Flyer’s clean-diesel technology combines ultra-low sulfur diesel fuel, advanced engines and effective emissions controls, resulting in a highly efficient and virtually smoke-free engine that can achieve lower emissions, reduce greenhouse gases and reduce the cost of bus operation. Over the past 20 years, New Flyer has innovated clean diesel technology to reduce particulate emissions by 90 percent.

Equipment News For 90 years, New Flyer has led the innovation of mass mobility and today supports growing North American cities with scalable clean mobility solutions with sustainable buses, technology and infrastructure. It also operates the Vehicle Innovation Center, the first and only innovation lab of its kind ded-

icated to advancing bus and coach technology and providing workforce development on electric bus training, now available online. New Flyer has also developed automated bus technology to improve safety in public transit, with testing currently underway.

Rogue Valley Transportation Installs Navineo Rogue Valley Transportation District (RVTD), the public transportation provider in the Rogue Valley, in Medford, Oregon, has awarded ENGIE Solutions to deploy its Navineo Intelligent Transport Systems and

Rogue Valley Transportation District in Medford, Oregon will adopt Navineo Intelligent Transport Systems and Services.

The entire fleet of 45 buses will be equipped with the Navineo CAD/AVL solution. This will provide real time passenger information, automatic vehicle announcements, automatic passenger counting and bus engine diagnostics.

National Bus Trader / February, 2021 • 7

Equipment News Services offer. Under this contract, RVTD will equip its fleet of 45 buses with the Navineo CAD/AVL solution. This solution will be operational at the end of 2021.

The Navineo CAD/AVL on the 45 RVTD fixed route buses will provide real-time passenger information via the GTFS-RT feed, on-board automatic vehicle announcements in English and Spanish, ADA-compliant on-board next stop sign, automatic passenger counting and bus engine diagnostics.

These services are intended to assist RVTD in the supervision of its entire fleet.

The Navineo CAD/AVL allows for real-time assignment of drivers and vehicles, thus increasing the flexibility of operation. As a result, RVTD can supervise and manage its vehicles with greater precision and efficiency by anticipating traffic disruption and dynamically managing schedule. In addition, the solution collects and analyses data from automatic passenger counting, allowing RVTD to continuously improve its services. A true digital performance and optimisation tool, the Navineo CAD/AVL solution includes regular upgrades with new features.

The solution is also designed to improve the user experience. Open API and GTFSRT feeds will provide passengers with realtime update and service alerts, while onboard audio and visual announcements will be broadcasted, in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) which,

since 1990, guarantees equal opportunities for people with disabilities in public spaces, including on public transport.

undertaking for all of us at RVTD,” said Paige West, RVTD planning and strategic programs manager.

The Navineo CAD/AVL system is available as cloud-based and is fully configurable by transport operators, regardless of fleet size.

OnGuard System Available on Thomas Buses Thomas Built Buses has announced that the WABCO OnGuardACTIVE collision mitigation system from ZF is now available as a factory-installed option for Saf-T-Liner C2 diesel school buses equipped with air disc brakes. OnGuardACTIVE is a radar-based collision mitigation system that enables collision warning, active braking and adaptive cruise control.

“We are proud to be able to support Rogue Valley Transit District with Navineo.

ENGIE Solutions innovates in favour of cleaner, more effective mobility for operators and users, to guarantee more efficient transportation system. By reinventing these living spaces, ENGIE Solutions is working to increase the attractiveness of public transport, the most environmentallyfriendly mode of transport,” said Baudouin Huon, CEO Ineo Systrans USA Inc. part of ENGIE Solutions.

“RVTD is excited about this opportunity to partner with ENGIE Solutions. The Navineo CAD/AVL system will enhance the customer experience through streamlined passenger information during service disruptions and enhanced bus arrival information. The highly accurate passenger counters and integration with fare collection systems will provide RVTD with greater business analytics. Operators and supporting transportation staff are eager to begin using the enhanced dispatching and onboard control units. At this time of pandemic, easing the pressure on public transit operations is of great importance.

ENGIE Solutions’ solution is a welcome

The WABCO OnGuard/ACTIVE collision mitigation system from ZF is now available as a factoryinstalled option on Thomas Saf-T-Liner C2 diesel school buses. It offers several features including long-range radar, adaptive cruise control and integration into telematics and monitoring systems.

Founded in 1916, Thomas Built Buses is a subsidiary of Daimler Trucks North America.

Using forward-looking, long-range radar to detect objects up to 650 feet ahead of a school bus, the collision mitigation system provides audible, haptic and visual warnings intended to alert drivers to possible obstructions. The system is designed to detect a potential rearend collision without the driver taking action to decelerate, and to engage active braking to automatically throttle down the engine, and if necessary, to apply the foundation brakes to help avoid an impending collision.

Similarly, the adaptive cruise control feature of the system utilizes the same radar to assist drivers in maintaining a safe following distance. The system maintains the set cruising speed when the lane ahead is clear, and is designed to automatically adjust the speed to maintain a set time interval between the bus and other vehicles ahead.

“We are pleased to now offer the OnGuardACTIVE collision mitigation system on our Saf-T-Liner C2 school buses,” said Caley Edgerly, president and CEO of Thomas Built Buses. “This advanced technology further enhances the safety of our buses and provides drivers added peace of mind.”

In addition to state-of-the-art safety features, the OnGuardACTIVE system can also be seamlessly integrated into telematics and monitoring systems so fleet managers can gain additional perspective on driving performance. Upon delivery, fleet managers and drivers will receive tailored driver training to better understand the system’s capabilities.

While OnGuardACTIVE is designed to help drivers mitigate collisions, this technology does not replace the need for safe drivers practicing safe driving habits. In order to reduce potential danger of injuries caused during OnGuard activated vehicle decelerations, the driver and front passengers should always be correctly seated with seat belts correctly fastened.

8 • National Bus Trader / February, 2021

For more information on the OnGuardACTIVE collision mitigation system, customers

Equipment News

The new 2021 401H version of the Tiffin Phaeton RV is available on the new XCR Super Raised Rail Chassis from Freightliner. This new Freightliner chassis helps the Phaeton provide maximum storage and a flat coach floor.

can contact their local Thomas Built Buses dealer.

Freightliner XCR Chassis Used on Tiffin Phaeton Two of the RV industry’s most revered and renowned names are coming together to create an innovative new version of one of the industry’s most luxurious models.

The 2021 40IH version of Tiffin’s Phaeton is available on a new XCR Super Raised Rail Chassis from Freightliner Custom Chassis Corp. (FCCC). Offering the tallest rail configuration in the industry, FCCC’s XCR Super Raised Rail chassis helps the 2021 Phaeton

Freightliner’s new XCR Super Raised Chassis comes equipped with a Cummins L9 engine providing 450 horsepower and includes several Freightliner innovative features including Drive Tech, RoadWatch and V-Ride.

IH deliver maximum storage and a flat coach floor from end to end. Tiffin and FCCC debuted the 2021 Phaeton 40IH at the recent Tampa RV SuperShow.

“We are thrilled to partner with Tiffin on the 2021 Phaeton 40IH – it’s a world-class model we believe represents and embodies the very best of what both these iconic and legendary brands have to offer,” said Jeremy Buckmeier, RV product manager for FCCC. “This combination is built to deliver popular amenities and best-in-class storage, along with a pleasant automotive driving experience, to RVers who deserve and expect the best.”

Soon after his inauguration, President Joe Biden issued a series of executive orders to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. One required the wearing of a mask on federal lands and in federal buildings.

His executive order on January 21 mandates the use of masks on public transportation.

The XCR Super Raised Rail powering the 2021 Phaeton 40IH comes equipped with a Cummins L9 engine generating up to 450 horsepower and 1,250 lb-ft of torque, giving the coach greater towing capacity and the power to handle challenging grades – without sacrificing fuel economy.

In addition, the XCR Super Raised Rail comes equipped with all of FCCC’s most innovative features, including: • DriveTech, which combines ergonomic steering, easy-to-reach column-mounted controls and Optiview’s all-digital gauge display to deliver an industry-leading automotive driving experience.

• RoadWatch and its full suite of safety technologies, including Electronic Stability Control, Roll Stability Control, Collision Mitigation, Adaptive Cruise Control and Automatic Traction Control.

• V-Ride rear suspension system and its rating of up to 24,000 pounds, which enables the Phaeton to carry more luxury amenities with superior roll stability, smoother ride and more predictable handling.

• Independent front suspension with 60degree wheel cut, which offers easier maneuverability, less backing up and a more confident driving experience.

A driving experience Tiffin and FCCC customers have come to expect will be backed by a support network they deserve, of course, in the form of FCCC’s 24/7 Direct customer support and Oasis Service Network. Oasis offers Phaeton owners access to 450-plus Freightliner-branded service locations, as well as 24/7 Direct access to factory service advisors with an average of 20 years’ experience. In addition, the 24/7 Direct mobile app provides factory-direct concierge service and a customized ownership experience.

National Bus Trader / February, 2021 • 9

Equipment News The Tiffin 2021 Phaeton 40IH is available now. For more information, visit tiffinmotorhomes.com.

Presidential Mask Mandate One of the first activities of President Joe Biden was a series of executive orders to combat the COVID-10 pandemic. On Wednesday, January 20, 2021, President Biden signed an executive order that required wearing a mask on federal lands and in federal buildings. The following day, January 21, he signed an executive order that mandates the use of masks on public transportation.

Prior to his inauguration, Biden indicated that he would sign executive orders that would require the use of masks while traveling including airports as well as interstate travel on planes, trains and buses.

The new law was looked upon favorably by many transportation carriers that had already suggested that passengers wear masks for safety. This executive order will allow them to enforce their past policy with masks.

Airports had been in a difficult position because they had to comply with city and state regulations. Major U.S. airlines had asked passengers to wear masks and some had put those who failed to comply on their “do not fly” lists. Amtrak has required facial coverings since May and looked upon this executive order as a reinforcement to their current policy. Most bus companies have required passengers to wear masks.

Twenty-two New Flyer Buses for New Orleans New Flyer of America Inc. (New Flyer), a subsidiary of NFI Group Inc. (NFI), one of the world’s leading independent global bus manufacturers, recently announced the New Orleans Regional Transit Authority (RTA) has awarded New Flyer a contract for 22 cleandiesel, 35-foot Xcelsior® heavy-duty transit buses.

The order adds to RTA’s 2019 purchase of 23 Xcelsior buses and will revitalize its fleet by replacing end-of-life vehicles as part of the agency’s strategic mobility plan. Since 1994, New Flyer has delivered more than 110 buses to RTA. “With more than 14,000 Xcelsior buses on the road in North America, New Flyer is a proven mass mobility leader that will continue providing solutions to deliver on the promise of reliable transit, while best matching unique local operating conditions and resources,” said Chris Stoddart, president, New Flyer. “With leading edge emissions technology on board, these buses will reduce particulate emissions in New Orleans, while providing safe, fully accessible and reliable transit in partnership with RTA.” New Flyer’s clean-diesel technology combines ultra-low sulfur diesel fuel, advanced engines and effective emissions controls, resulting in a highly efficient and, virtually smoke-free engine, that can achieve lower emissions, reduce greenhouse gases and reduce the cost of bus operation.

RTA is the public transportation agency serving the greater New Orleans region, delivering nearly 19 million passenger trips per year. Its mission is to provide a safe, dependable, efficient world-class transit system through building a more resilient community and protecting its cultural, social and economic well-being through mobility.

For 90 years, New Flyer has led the innovation of mass mobility and today supports growing North American cities with scalable clean mobility solutions with sustainable buses, technology and infrastructure. It also operates the Vehicle Innovation Center, the first and only innovation lab of its kind dedicated to advancing bus and coach technology and providing workforce development on electric bus training, now available online. New Flyer has also developed automated bus technology to improve safety in public transit, with testing currently underway.

Stertil-Koni Urges Congress to Save Public Transit Heavy-duty vehicle lift leader Stertil-Koni has joined fellow APTA members and industry partners on December 15, 2020 to collectively fight to #SavePublicTransit with a day of mobilization and engagement.

Organized by the American Public Transportation Association (APTA), #SavePublicTransit Day is structured to shine a bright light on the dire financial crisis facing the public transportation industry and urge elected officials to take immediate action.

The stakes are indeed high. As APTA explained, “It is critical that Congress move forward and provide emergency

Stertil-Koni joined other members of the bus industry on December 15, 2020 to fight to #SavePublicTransit with a day of mobilization and engagement.

Organized by the American Public Transit Association (APTA), this day was designed to shine a light on the dire financial crisis facing the public transportation industry. This photo shows a StertilKoni Diamond Lift in use at Lee Tran in Florida.

10 • National Bus Trader / February, 2021

Equipment News

Irizar won the Bus of the Year 2021 Award from Grupo Editec for its ie new generation 12-meter electric bus.

Previous models had won this award in 2015 and 2018. This all-electric bus is available in length of 10, 12, 15 and 18 meters.

funding for public transit in the lame duck session before Congress recesses for the holiday. The industry is calling on Congress and the Administration to provide at least $32 billion in emergency funding to ensure that public transit agencies can survive and help our communities and nation recover from the economic fallout of the pandemic.”

Noted Stertil-Koni President Dr. Jean DellAmore, “Without at least $32 billion in emergency funding for the industry, many transit agencies and vendors supporting them could be forced to scale back production, reduce employment and cut investment – all of which could hold back job growth and economic expansion.”

“Immediate action needs to be taken to address the public transportation industry’s dire financial situation so that we can continue to serve essential employees every day and can help Stertil-Koni inground telescopic piston DIAMONDLIFT at work at a major Florida-based transit system with the nation’s economic recovery,” said APTA President and CEO Paul P. Skoutelas. “The industry’s very survival is at stake.”

MARTA Orders New Flyer Electric Buses New Flyer of America Inc. (New Flyer), a subsidiary of NFI Group Inc. (NFI), one of the world’s leading independent global bus manufacturers, recently announced that the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) has awarded New Flyer with a new order for six Xcelsior CHARGE™ zeroemission, battery-electric, 40-foot, heavyduty transit buses.

MARTA is among the largest transit systems in the U.S., providing public transit to the Atlanta metropolitan region and delivering 116 million passenger trips per year.

The purchase is supported by federal funding from the Federal Transit Administration’s (FTA) Low or No Emission (Low-No) Grant Program, and continues MARTA’s pursuit of reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions through sustainable transportation. MARTA has been transitioning to loweremission propulsion since 1996, when the agency first introduced compressed natural gas (CNG) buses from New Flyer.

“Since 1990, New Flyer has supported MARTA with progressive innovation over the 1,200 buses we delivered, and today, we achieve a new milestone supporting MARTA’s transition to zero-emission,” said Chris Stoddart, president, New Flyer of America. “As more cities demand reduced GHG emissions and greater sustainability, New Flyer is meeting that need with zeroemission buses, technology and infrastructure – as a manufacturer offering comprehensive mobility, solutions and workforce development at scale. With our batteryelectric Xcelsior CHARGE buses, MARTA joins leading agencies across the continent who have begun the transition to sustainable mobility.”

Designed on the proven Xcelsior® platform, New Flyer offers zero-emission mobility through its battery-electric Xcelsior CHARGE (in 35-, 40- and 60-foot lengths) and fuel cell electric Xcelsior CHARGE H2™ (in 40- and 60-foot lengths), and supports zero-emission deployments through New Flyer Infrastructure Solutions™, providing safe and reliable services for smart, sustainable mobility pro-

jects. Its full-suite infrastructure service includes support, planning, optimization and transition to ensure a successful transition to zero-emission mobility, working closely with leading firms including Siemens, ABB, ChargePoint, Burns & McDonnell and Black & Veatch. Since its launch in January 2019, New Flyer Infrastructure Solutions has installed more than 150 smart charters across North America.

For more information on New Flyer’s zero-emission buses, visit newflyer.com/CHARGE. For information on New Flyer Infrastructure Solutions visit newflyer.com/infrastructuresolutions.

Irizar ie Bus Wins the Bus of the Year 2021 Award The new generation 12-meter Irizar ie bus has earned the Bus of the Year 2021 award in Spain.

This is the third time that the Grupo Editec (the publisher of the magazines Biajeros and Transporte 3) and the jury, representing urban transport operators, have awarded this prize to Irizar 3-mobility vehicles. In 2015, i2e, as it was known at the time, obtained this recognition and three years later, in 2018, the Irizar ie tram won the award.

“To start the year by winning this award fills us with pride and satisfaction,” says Imanol Rego, general manager of Irizaremobility. “This recognition is the result of the commitment we have made in recent years to technology, innovation and sustainability in all kinds of applications.”

This bus model has been operating since 2014 in different Euoprean cities National Bus Trader / February, 2021 • 11

Equipment News such as Madrid, London, Marseille, Genoa and Luxembourg, among others. The experience and data obtained in recent years demonstrate the reliability and safety of this vehicle.

The new generation of the 12-meter Irizar ie bus was presented for the first time at the Busworld 2019 trade fair. It is a 100 percent electric, zero-emisisons bus that offers a sustainable and eco-efficient urban mobility solution to respond to the current and future needs of city transport.

In addition to its attractive aesthetic design, this new generation, available in 10-, 12-, 15- and 18-meter versions, incorporates innovations and new batteries. The space had been optimized thus offering greater passenger capacity and greater modularity.

A new generation of more efficient batteries is combined with a regenerative braking system, which reduce consumption and offer greater vehicle range.

The new Irizar ie bus can have up to five interoperable slow charging point positions using a combo 2 connector. Slow charging the vehicle takes three hours. There is also

the option of fast charging via pantograph.

The charging capacity can vary from 50kW to 600kW. Continental Tests Tires for Electric Transit Buses Automakers and commercial vehicle manufacturers are not alone in having to change their processes in response to electric mobility. Tire manufacturers, too, need to come up with new development concepts to accommodate this new form of propulsion. One particularly demanding field in technological terms is the development of tires for electric urban buses. In response, Continental and VDL Bus & Coach, a leading manufacturer of electric buses, have pooled their expertise and jointly developed initial prototype tires. These are currently being tested at Continental’s Contidrom proving grounds.

VDL Bus & Coach launched its first electric Citea urban bus back in 2013. Since then, electric buses from VDL have covered more than 75 million kilometers in a variety of European cities, saving emissions of 11 million metric tons of CO2.

“As with all electric vehicles, these bus tires are exposed to higher torque when

moving off and accelerating,” explains Ben Hudson, automotive engineer at Continental Truck Tires. As he goes on to say, with tires for electric urban buses there are other considerations involved, above and beyond those experienced in previous EV projects: “In downtown traffic in particular, vehicles need to run very quietly, so that the comfort offered by quiet electric drive isn’t diminished by loud road-tire noise.”

In addition, the deceleration of electric buses in urban traffic is a key factor in the energy recovery or “recuperation” process.

Here, the electric motor acts as a generator and, driven by the deceleration of the bus, produces energy to charge the battery.

This leads to a marked increase in the vehicle’s range. Compared to conventional brake management systems, this process of recuperation puts added strain on the drive axle tires.

Consequently, tires for electric buses have to cope with tougher requirements than their counterparts for buses with combustion engines. “At the same time, they need to deliver the same mileage and meet the same safety standards as bus tires for conventional drive systems,” explains

Continental has been developing and testing tires for use on electric city buses. This VDL electric bus was being used to test tires at Continental’s Contidrom proving grounds near Hannover in Germany. Since many electric buses use regeneration for braking, this puts an added stress on the drive tires.

12 • National Bus Trader / February, 2021

Equipment News Hudson. The trade-offs between mileage, braking and handling performance, are technically demanding. “We are up against new requirements here,” he adds, “but obviously we’re not going to accept any compromises in terms of robustness or braking performance. Safety takes top priority for us.”

Right now, the tires on the VDL vehicles at the Contidrom are still running on tires built by the Prototyping department in Hanover-Stöcken with hand-carved tread patterns. As a rule, the tire development cycle from initial prototype to volume production takes three to five years. For the e-bus tires the aim is to shorten that cycle.

“When developing this concept tire, we’re not restricted by what has gone before in previous generations of tires,” says Hudson. “That gives us the freedom to try out entirely new concepts and ideas.

If these prove successful, we’ll put them into practice very quickly and feed them into the development of the next line of tires.” This, he says, can lead to significantly shorter development cycles, meaning that Continental can react faster to market requirements. In the search for the best possible solution, time is a key factor. Given the rapid pace of progress in the electric mobility segment, demand for suitable tires is growing fast.

ABL/BYD Assemble Electric Bus Chassis in the UK Alexander Dennis Limited (ADL) and BYD UK jointly announced in January that ADL and BYD will commence the design and assembly of chassis for the BYD ADL partnership’s electric single- and doubledeck buses for the British market, ensuring completed vehicles are built in ADL’s facilities in the UK. ADL is a subsidiary of leading independent global bus manufacturer NFI Group Inc. (NFI), while BYD is a global leader in batteries, energy management and electric mobility.

Electric bus chassis assembly will take place in ADL’s facilities with on-the-ground support from the BYD team, and is planned to commence in the second half of 2021.

This significant step has been taken in response to the increasing demand for zero emission vehicles. It further strengthens the partnership’s market-leading position while underpinning jobs in Britain and developing skills in the growing market for clean vehicle technology.

Since it began in 2015, the partnership has gone from strength to strength, with more than 500 electric buses delivered or on order. They have clocked up a combined more than 16 million emission-free miles of reliable service in London as well as numerous towns and cities across the UK. More than 70 percent of electric buses introduced

in Britain in this period were supplied by the BYD ADL partnership.

Until now, chassis for the BYD ADL Enviro200EV single-deck and BYD ADL Enviro400EV double-deck buses were fully built by BYD before being delivered to ADL’s facilities to have their bodywork fitted in the UK. Frank Thorpe, managing director of BYD UK, said: “This news underpins the fantastic relationship we have with ADL in the UK. We have always worked closely to deliver the highest quality products and services, and we are confident that production of complete vehicles here in the UK will bring even greater efficiencies for our customers. More importantly,” he said, “this commitment from both BYD and ADL is also a reflection of the acceptance of eMobility from local authorities, bus operators and their passengers.

Electrification in our towns and cities is gathering pace, and the BYD ADL partnership is spearheading the drive towards a more sustainable future.”

Paul Davies, president and managing director of ADL, commented, “I am delighted that we’re moving our electric bus partnership to this next level and building complete zero emission buses for the UK market in the UK. This ensures that investment in sustainable transport for our towns and cities delivers full economic benefits to communities right across the country.” q

Alexander Dennis Limited (ADL) and BYD have more than 500 electric buses built or on order using the BYD technology. ADL and BYD will now start the design and building of chassis for the British market at ADL’s facilities in the UK. These electric chassis are used on both singleand double-deck buses including the BYD ADL Enviro 400EV shown here.

National Bus Trader / February, 2021 • 13

Bus Equipment People Irizar USA Irizar USA is very excited to introduce Patrick Laffan as the newest member of their team.

Laffan has been working for the motorcoach industry since 2003 and has a deep knowledge of the industry from both sales and technical aspects. He will be in the position of senior account executive and mostly serving the Northeastern United States.

Laffan joined the motorcoach industry as a young man with DATTCO, and then Patrick Laffan eventually moved into bus sales. He has worked with different manufacturers and dealerships, mostly recently with MCI and worked with them for almost four years. A Connecticut local, he is very familiar with the region and has built several strong relationships in his career.

He has a very collaborative approach to sales and likes to engage with the customers – on support and technical aspects as well. He describes himself as being very dedicated, accessible and focuses on building long-term relationships. He loves working in the motorcoach industry and the involvement of family businesses that represent its modest nature.

Having been very impressed with Irizar product line, Laffan is thrilled to be a part of a growing team and working with a product that is new and exciting to the U.S. market.

He feels the values and organizational structure of Irizar are very interesting and resonate to his work beliefs. He will work not only in sales but help build deeper roots in the region and develop the already existing sales network as well. The company believes that Laffan will exceed the expectations of its existing and potential customers in the area.

Laffan resides in Connecticut with his family and is an active volunteer in the community. He enjoys disc-golfing and participating in leagues and tournaments.

Irizar USA also announces the addition of Kevin Keith to the team.

14 • National Bus Trader / February, 2021

Keith is a 26-year motorcoach industry professional with a very wide and extensive knowledge of the industry and Southeastern United States. He will be in the position of senior account executive and provide sales and support to the customers in the region and beyond.

Starting with Welch Industries and Front-Line, Keith worked with them for 13 years, starting as a technician, a supervisor and then as manager. He then completed his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, with a concentration in operations management. He joined MCI and worked with them for 14 years in various positions, the final position being the director of service centers. His most notable role there was a national director of customer solutions. He now has joined Irizar USA and looks forward to being a part of the growing team.

Keith knows the industry very well and has built valuable local relationships through the years. He is very familiar with the Southeastern area and is well recognized and trusted. He emphasizes on supporting the c u s t o m e r s throughout the sales and the aftersales process. He believes his loyalty, availability, dedication and determination are some of the key factors that set him apart. Keith Kevin Keith has extensive knowledge on the technical aspects as well and is very eager to help his customers with any help they might need.

Keith was very impressed with the Irizar product line and is very eager to be working with it. He is very elated to join the company and believes that he will bring the company closer to the customers in the area. He will be working for the sales as well as the extension of the service network in the region.

Keith was born and grew up in the South.

He lived briefly in Puerto Rico and Dominica in his childhood as his parents were missionaries and now lives in central Florida with his family. He is a fitness enthusiast and enjoys camping and boating. He also serves

as the president of his neighborhood homeowner’s association.

Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance Jake Elovirta joined the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) on January 4 as its new director of enforcement programs. He will be responsible for developing and managing the Alliance’s traffic enforcement safety programs, projects and training.

Elovirta will apply his more than 30 years of transportation safety experience to provide leadership, guidance and direction to law enforcement personnel and the motor carrier industry on all aspects of commercial motor vehicle safety and traffic enforcement.

“We’re pleased to welcome Jake to CVSA headquarters staff,” said CVSA Executive Director Collin Mooney. “As we continue to advance the goals of the Alliance, we are devoting even more resources to traffic enforcement and public safety education initiatives. This new position further demonstrates our commitment to reducing roadway deaths and injuries attributable to driver behaviors, the leading cause of crashes.”

In addition to coordinating and managing the Alliance’s traffic enforcement safety initiatives, Elovirta will also manage CVSA’s Human Trafficking Enforcement program and the Operation Safe Driver program and its associated traffic safety awareness and enforcement initiative, Operation Safe Driver Week. He will also develop and implement commercial motor vehicle traffic enforcement training programs and serve as the primary contact and resource regarding commercial motor vehicle enforcement safety issues.

“I am happy to join the CVSA team,” said Elovirta. “As the new director of enforcement programs, I will work to address the needs of the membership, advocate the positions of the Alliance and advance CVSA’s mission, goals and strategic plan. I’ve spent my entire professional career devoted to transportation safety and I plan to continue that lifelong commitment in this new role.”

Prior to joining CVSA, Elovirta spent 22 years with the Vermont Department of Motor Vehicle’s Enforcement and Safety Division.

He served as safety chief of the department’s Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Unit, then was appointed to colonel/director of the Enforcement and Safety Division. He

Bus Equipment People retired in 2020 after a 32-year career in Vermont law enforcement.

Elovirta spent much of his law enforcement career focused on highway safety initiatives. He was Vermont’s first laser speed operator/instructor/trainer and is credited with having the first case law at the Vermont Judicial Bureau and Superior Court levels to accept the scientific reliability of laser speed determination devices for speed enforcement in Vermont.

Elovirta was a Level I commercial motor vehicle inspector, certified through CVSA. He also held a number of CVSA leadership positions, serving as the Region I president and vice president, as well as chair of the Information Systems Committee.

Elovirta earned a bachelor of arts degree in criminal justice from Norwich University and is a graduate of the FBI National Academy. He also completed the International Association of Chiefs of Police Leadership in Police Organization training program. q

4#-#VT DPN

5SBOTJU4BMFT DPN

7KH /DUJHVW %XV 6HOHFWLRQ 1DWLRQZLGH "WBJMBCMF *NNFEJBUFMZ t %JòFSFOU .PEFMT $POöHVSBUJPOT 4IPSU UP -POH 5FSN -FBTFT t "MUFSOBUJWF 'VFM 4FMFDUJPOT

5SBOTJU

%86 6$/( %86 6$/(

"JSQPSU

$PNNVUFS

&$// 86 72'$< &$// 86 72'$< National Bus Trader / February, 2021 • 15

Brexit and the Bus Industry

by Larry Plachno

S

Photos by the author unless otherwise indicated

Taken as the sun was setting, this photo shows Big Ben, the Houses of Parliament and the River Thames in a classic London scene. The United Kingdom voted in 2016 to leave the European Union. It is a long story and the results could impact the bus industry to some extent.

everal readers are aware that your editor has been following the Brexit process for years. Hence, we have received several requests for a condensed report on Brexit as well as suggestions on how it will affect the bus industry. There already have been books written on Brexit so that trying to condense it into a thumbnail version will be difficult. In addition, since so much politics are involved, and there are so many sides to some of the issues, I have labeled this as “Editorial” since we are aware that there are many other opinions and views.

Geography A good place to start is with a little geography. The United Kingdom (UK) and Ireland are located on two islands west of Europe. Included in the United Kingdom are England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. The Island of Great Britain, located just west of the Netherlands, Belgium and France across the English channel has England on the south, Wales to the west and Scotland at the north. The neighboring Island of Ireland to the west is mainly the Republic of Ireland with Northern Ireland 16 • National Bus Trader / February, 2021

in the northeast corner. Up until 1922, both islands comprised the United Kingdom but Ireland broke away and became independent at that time.

Background The UK had as much difficulty getting into the European Union (EU) and Common Market as it has getting out. The UK applied to join the European Economic Community, the predecessor of the EU, in 1963 and in 1967 but were vetoed by France. After Charles de Gaulle was no longer the French president, the UK was finally able to join on January 1, 1973.

To some extent the UK was somewhat of an uneasy member. On June 5, 1975, the UK voted on whether to remain in or leave the European Community and Common Market. This vote showed that 67 percent of the electorate wished to remain. In 1979, when the European Monetary System was created that led to developing the European Euro currency, the UK opted out. To this day the UK continues to use the Pound Sterling as its currency. It is the oldest currently in continuous use.

In more recent years, there has been an increase in euroskepticism in the UK. Some people were unhappy with economic conditions and EU regulations. Under the EU, fishing boats from various EU member states were allowed to fish in UK waters. Several sources suggest that a major factor was EU immigrants that came to the UK because of its social programs and then did not assimilate.

Things came to a head in 2016 when David Cameron and his conservatives won an overall majority in the 2015 UK election.

They had made a commitment to hold a referendum on Britain’s involvement with the EU. Parliament complied by passing the necessary legislation for such a referendum.

After several weeks of campaigning between the leavers and the remainers, voting took place on June 23, 2016. The result was that 52 percent of the electorate voted to leave the EU. In retrospect it might be suggested that the reason for this outcome was that neither the UK nor the EU had taken steps to appease the voters who were unhappy with

the EU. Another influence undoubtedly was the nationalist movement spreading in several countries.

For some, the result of the referendum was unexpected. Many of the UK elected officials had been on the remain side and were unhappy with the vote. There was talk of having another referendum in hope that the results would support remaining. But cooler heads eventually prevailed since a major decision like this could not brought up on a regular basis. However, things tended to move slowly in complying with the electorate and getting out of the EU.

Eight months went by before Prime Minister Theresa May took action under Article 50 on March 29, 2017 to indicate the UK’s intention to leave the EU. This initially gave the UK and EU two years (until March 29, 2019) to come up with an exit deal. But, again, things seemed to be delayed.

It was not until the early months of 2019 that Prime Minister Theresa May brought her suggested exit deal with the EU before Parliament. In spite of bending the law to bring it up three times, her deal with the EU was rejected by Parliament. As a result, the original deadline for Article 50 and departure were delayed twice.

Having been unable to make any progress with Brexit, Theresa May decided to resign as Prime Minister in July of 2019.

Boris Johnson, a leader in the Leave campaign, took over as Prime Minister and extended the deadline for leaving the EU to January 31, 2020. Johnson called for an early general election in December where Johnson and his conservative Tory party won a majority of 80 seats in what was obviously a landslide and a mandate to get Brexit done.

I might interject that the flamboyant Boris Johnson had previously served as London’s mayor where he encouraged the traditional red double decker buses that began moving to hybrid and electric power. He also has a collection of model buses and an interest in transportation.

The United Kingdom and Ireland are located on two islands west of Europe. England, Wales and Scotland are located on the eastern island while Ireland and Northern Ireland are on the western island. The only land border between the United Kingdom and another country is 310 miles between Northern Ireland and Ireland.

Protestant residents of Northern Ireland.

Various sources suggest that more than 3,000 died in what became known as “The Troubles.” While the hostilities ended with what became called the Good Friday agreement of 1998, there has been reluctance to reinstate a formal border here.

What came about was a very awkward solution known as the backstop arrange-

ment. A hard border would be eliminated by leaving Northern Ireland partially in the EU. The actual border would be the Irish Sea located between Northern Ireland and the other UK members of Scotland, Wales and England. None of the reporting I have seen talks about whether this kind of arrangement exists somewhere else. Among other things, it treats Northern Ireland differently than the other member states of the UK. At

Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his conservative Tory party won a landslide election in December of 2019 that effectively was a mandate from the people to get Brexit done. This photo, taken a few years earlier, shows Boris Johnson driving a brand new red double-deck bus when he was the mayor of London. Johnson was responsible for getting modern red double-deck buses on London’s streets. WRIGHTBUS.

Two Major Problems The UK officially left the EU on January 31, 2020 with some people celebrating in the streets. For the next 11 months the UK would be in a transition period where it still followed EU rules but was negotiating for a following trade agreement with the EU. There seemed to be two major problem areas.

The first of these problems is the only land border between the UK and other countries. This is the 310-mile border between Northern Ireland which is part of the UK, and Ireland, which is a member of the EU. In past years there have been conflicts in this area between the predominately Catholic residents of Ireland and the predominately

National Bus Trader / February, 2021 • 17

one point the UK Parliament discussed the possibility of rescinding this arrangement.

The second major problem was the differences between the UK and EU in trying to work out a trade agreement following the split. The UK was adamant that they were leaving and wanted to be independent. The EU wanted to continue control in some areas. One EU concern was that the UK could subsidize certain industries to complete with similar EU industries. The EU wanted control over what the UK could support and what it could not. The UK, in turn, was faced with past inequalities, dealing with the pandemic, and a commitment to be independent. Another major stumbling block was that the EU wanted to control fishing in UK waters for EU fishing boats while the UK wanted to be independent and sovereign.

There were also suggestions from various sources that the EU was not going to give the UK a good deal on a trade agreement.

Doing so could prompt other of the 27 EU member states to consider following the UK in departing. Italy has been unhappy over the EU’s treatment of their pandemic problem, Poland had concerns over their court system and other EU members may be thinking of leaving.

Hence, negotiations on the trade agreement with the EU were going down to the wire, December 31, 2020, when the UK would officially split with the EU. Lack of a trade agreement would require the UK and EU to operation on World Trade Organization rules. The UK was moving ahead with trade agreements with other countries.

Higher quality body-on-chassis buses are popular in the UK for both charters and scheduled service.

Shown here is a coach with an Irizar body on a Scania chassis. This particular combination was popular and served well.

In a scenario not unlike a cliffhanging action movie, the two sides reached an agreement on Christmas Eve, 2020, only a week prior to the actual split date. This prompted a mad scramble among the 27 EU states and the UK’s Parliament to take action to ease the split on December 31, 2020. The expected end result would be that commerce would continue across the English Chanel between the UK and EU with minimum fuss. And, the awkward position of Northern Ireland would be substantially

Bus operators in the UK will sometimes order integral coaches from Continental Europe for heavyduty route service. This three-axle Van Hool from Belgium was operating on a route for Greenline and was photographed leaving the Victoria bus station. Van Hool does a brisk business in exports to several countries and even offers right-hand drive for UK operators.

18 • National Bus Trader / February, 2021

improved. In addition, since the UK was now independent, it was expected that they would develop trade agreements with other countries.

The Bus Industry How will Brexit impact the bus industry?

I think that the best place to start out is by saying that bus operations in the UK, in Western Continental Europe and in the United States and Canada are substantially different. While all three have municipal bus operations, their long distance and suburban operations are different.

Western Europe had good public transportation with railroads and hence their long distance bus service has been geared primarily to tours. It has only been in recent years that there has been an increase in scheduled long distance buses. Distances are short (it is only 1,000 miles from London to Rome) so passenger amenities take presidence over vehicle longevity. Western Europe also has the advantage of numerous service locations at reasonable distances.

With city transit, Europe is more prone to use railroad stations as hubs and terminals for city and suburban services.

The UK has even shorter distances. One joke that has a lot of truth is that you cannot drive more than a day east or west without getting your feet wet. Because of short distances, England is more likely to use bodyon-chassis buses than Europe or the United States. As in Europe, the body-on-chassis coaches are fairly good quality. While they have retained some of their rail service, it has been privatized and may have bus competition. In addition, much of the public transit services in the UK have also been privatized.

Bus service in the United States and Canada grew up around scheduled service and residual value has been important.

Hence, American buses traditionally are higher quality integral with substantial longevity. Our city transit operations do not put as much effort into railroad station connections and hubs as they do in Europe.

Based on my past experience, the major imports from the EU to the UK have been higher quality body-on-chassis and integral coaches used primarily for tours and heavy scheduled service. Scania coaches with Irizar bodies were very popular in England in the past. Van Hool offers coaches with right hand drive for the British market. Some of the other European builders also offer modifications for the UK operators.

Because of the last-minute trade agreement, it would be expected that trade between the EU and UK will continue much as previously. This means that higher quality body-on-chassis and integral coaches will be sold by EU builders into the UK.

What will probably change is increased trade between the UK and other countries.

The UK has already been making its own trade deals with several other countries. This will probably be positive for Alexander Den-

Another integral coach found in the UK is the Setra from Germany. This two-axle model was built with right-hand drive for the UK. It was being used on a city tourism route in London.

nis, the affiliate of New Flyer and MCI. Alexander Dennis is most likely already the leading British bus exporter and Brexit will increase trade arrangements with other countries will most likely give them additional locations to sell their buses.

I might add that Brexit will probably bring the UK and United States closer for trade. I would not be surprised to see more UK products being exported to the United States in the future. q

National Bus Trader / February, 2021 • 19

C

ruising a tropical reef, our dive guide signaled that someone should check out a hole in the coral, so we could see what was hiding there. It may surprise you, but I am not that goofy (besides, the guide was not sticking his face in).

Trusting him, a young woman gave it a whirl, and screamed mightily as a small octopus shot out of the hole. Honest – you can hear screams underwater. One of the great things about diving is that, if terror makes you wet your pants, no one knows.

Turns out the guide had no idea what was hiding in there, but was willing to risk her to find out.

The Unexpected Octopus Something that regulators could learn from

If he moved to the mainland, he would have great potential as bureaucrat. The public often trusts them to guide business along the straight and narrow, and they are willing to make us try all sorts of things in pursuit of safety. Sometimes those things work . . . and sometimes they do not, but they are never at risk. We should trust them because they know best.

In 1974, regulators mandated expensive antilock brakes on commercial vehicles, and then forced us to disable them because they were actually causing accidents. Years later, technology improved, the regulation came back and arguably has worked well.

A recent article in a trade magazine pointed out that hours-of-service (HOS) violations have dropped by 50 percent since enforcement of the ELD mandate began. Unfortunately, there has been no corresponding improvement in actual safety; in fact accidents have slightly increased. Some observers think aggressive driving to beat the arbitrary gadget may be part of that.

Gee whiz, could it be that half of past HOS violations were safety irrelevant silliness like spelling errors, failure to sign the logbook or my personal favorite: napping in the wrong bus? Those generally are not issues with an ELD.

All that money spent, with no discernible benefit. What the heck, it was not the regulator’s money. The meaning here is not that regulation is bad. Some is worthwhile, and some silliness, but there is no incentive on the part of bureaucrats to get it right the first time, because they have no significant skin in the game.

A real question is whether the crushing regulatory burden imposed has actually improved commercial vehicle safety – or (pun intended) driven people into their cars, where they can be casualties that do not befoul the regulators cherished statistics.

A couple of points here. While they feel empowered to tell us what to do, their polit20 • National Bus Trader / February, 2021

by Dave Millhouser Like finding an unexpected octopus in an underground cave, some government rules and regulations may have unexpected results. For example, since electronic logging devices have been required in buses there has not been an obvious increase in safety. This delightful photo showing the Capitol in Washington was taken by Barry Howell from Minnesota Coaches and shows one of his Prevosts.

BARRY HOWELL.

ical cousins like transit authorities are not forced to play by the same rules. Gee whiz, they are the well intentioned government, so what could go wrong?

Ask New York subway riders or MBTA Red line riders, or NJT commuter rail riders.

When we screw up we pay, when they screw up they ask for more money. If we do not give it to them, their foul-ups are our fault.

In real life we are beholden only to our clientele, while they serve political constituencies,

unions and bureaucracy in addition to their relatively captive customers.

As regulators of the private sector pursue the mythical beast of safety perfection, it is worth asking if the saintly public sector does as well.

Second, while in my view often naive, these folks are well intended. When we are offered the chance to comment on pending legislation or regulation, we need to shine

as much light as possible on their potential consequences.

When Northern divers hunt lobsters, smart ones take a light. Shining that sucker into a hole before sticking your hand in so

you know what to expect. It saves lots of pain. Regulators could learn from that. q

The question that comes up is whether the regulatory burden imposed on the bus industry has helped get people on public transportation or driven them into their cars. If a regulation is burdensome, how does it help get people out of their cars and reduce pollution. This photo of a D model MCI was taken near downtown Chicago.

MCI.

National Bus Trader / February, 2021 • 21

Drivers Test Skills at 2020 UMA International Driver Competition Article and photos by Mark Szyperski

Drivers for bus companies all around the United States and Canada tested their skills at the recent 2020 UMA International Driving Competition. In addition to actual driving skills, the drivers take a written exam and are monitored by onboard judges. Some drivers won cash awards for their driving skills while all participants were given the United Motorcoach Association “Excellence in Driving” award.

I

nches to spare, seconds ticking, sweat beading. No, this is not a new action movie, it is the Fourth Annual UMA International Driver Competition, presented by the United Motorcoach Association (UMA).

This year’s competition was held during the 2020 UMA Motorcoach Expo in Nashville, Tennessee. Twenty-seven drivers from around the United States and Canada 22 • National Bus Trader / February, 2021

competed for cash prizes and recognition to be one of the industry’s top skilled drivers.

This year’s Grand Champion, Wren Nance, is a motorcoach driver with Northeast Charters and Tours in Lewiston, Maine. Along with bragging rights, Nance took home a check for $2,500. Other winners included First Runner-up Henry Jensen, from Premier Transportation in Knoxville, Tennessee ($1,000), and Second Runner-up Steve Erickson, Escot Bus Lines, Largo/Orlando ($500).

The competition commences when the operators first apply. Drivers are required to have a violation-free driving record and no preventable crashes in the past two years.

All drivers qualifying for the competition are presented with the United Motorcoach Association “Excellence in Driving” award.

Upon arrival at the UMA Motorcoach Expo, the competition begins when drivers submit to a written exam, testing their knowledge of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regula-

The first day of the competition starts with a written exam. This tests their knowledge of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations including drug and alcohol regulations, basic pre-trip questions and driving regulations.

tions as it pertains to requirements in areas such as drug and alcohol regulations, basic pre-trip questions and driving regulations.

There also a few requirements pertaining to drivers regarding Americans with Disabilities regulations. Afterwards, drivers are invited to join the opening reception at Expo.

Day 2 began with a confidence building breakfast, a few last-minute instructions and a quick shuttle to the test range located this year at Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center where seven skill stations awaited. Upon arrival, drivers do a walkthrough of the course. Drivers were challenged by “diminishing lane,” the “offset alley,” “alley docking” and progressing to “alley docking,” “turning skills,” “serpentine” and “parallel park” and finally the “stop line.”

Along with scores for each skill station, each driver was evaluated by an onboard judge. Judges observed how the driver followed directions, their demeanor though the skill stations and other factors, including keeping a stopwatch running during the driving portion. Although each operator is timed from start to stop line, the time logged driving through the skill stations only applies in the event of a rare tie.

Krapf Coaches of West Chester, Pennsylvania graciously donated cones, barrels, stanchions and associated equipment along with a new trailer to haul everything. This equipment will be available for other competitions.

each year. He has overseen the program since its inception and has set the system.

“We find this is an excellent way for companies to provide both training and rewarding great drivers for their excellent skills,” stated Presley. “Many drivers arrive here by being winners of their state/regional association or employer-held driver competition,” he continued, “so, this becomes a multi-level contest for many.”

Also, a part of the driver competition since its inception has been the associates of On Your Mark Transportation, LLC from Nashville, Tennessee. Over the years, On Your Mark Transportation has assisted Presley at multiple levels beginning months before the competition. “It truly has been an honor to assist Ken and the United Motor-

coach Association with this project every year,” stated Mark Szyperski, president and CEO of On Your Mark Transportation. “We are always amazed at the professionalism and skill level exhibited by these top motorcoach drivers” he stated.

“The On Your Mark Transportation team and Johnny Cauley (Jean’s Buses, Greenville, South Carolina) have been with us from day one,” said Presley. “There is a lot of coordination and logistics that go into an event of this scale. Frankly, we could not do it without them.”

This year, assistance also arrived in the form of a welcomed gift from Krapf Coaches (West Chester, Pennsylvania).

Krapf Coaches donated cones, barrels,

ABC Companies/Van Hool, Motor Coach Industries, Prevost and Temsa all provided coaches for the driving test. When lined up for the actual driving test, drivers were required to take the next coach in line. There were several tests in the course itself including a “diminishing lane,” the “offset alley,” “turning skills” and other challenges.

An important component of the competition is drivers draw numbers for their starting position and compete driving the next coach in the rotation. Most often drivers find themselves driving an unfamiliar coach.

Even if the coach is a make and model they may be familiar with, the competition coaches are all the latest models. While waiting their turn to drive the course, drivers participate in a class that reviews the questions and answers to the previous day’s written exam. Drivers consistently give this session high praise.

Ken Presley, vice president of legislative and regulatory affairs and industry relations/COO, is in charge of the entire event

National Bus Trader / February, 2021 • 23

Twenty-seven bus drivers from around the United States and Canada participated in the 2020 UMA International Driver Competition. Motorcoach companies that would like to participate in future events can run their own company driver competition or consider sending drivers to state or regional competitions. Information on future events is available from Ken Presley at UMA.

stanchions and assorted equipment along with a new trailer to haul everything. “We won’t have to go scratching, begging and borrowing for cones and barrels to conduct future driver competitions,” said Presley.

“A special thank you to Buddy Sload at Krapf.” Sload, director of operations at Krapf, supervised the equipment project and personally fabricated some of the equipment. Presley commented, “Our hope is that other competitions will take

advantage of the equipment for their competitions.”

The event begins at least a year in advance, securing a site suitable for the competition, arranging hotel rooms, catering, 22 22 2 22 and 2soliciting sponsors. drafting volunteers “It takes a small army to pull this event off,” said Presley. “The competition requires multiple skill station judges, on-board judges, runners, along with individuals totaling the

2005 MCI J4500 Detroit / Allison - 515,817 miles - $45,000 OBO • Well maintained 56-pass coach • Comfortable high-back reclining seats • Large tinted windows • Enclosed overhead interior compartments • Restroom • Power outlets and USB ports • Large underbody luggage compartments • TV Monitors/DVD/Stereo • Interior PA system • Located in St. Louis Contact Lynn at (314) 750-6172 or LSansone9@gmailcom 24 • National Bus Trader / February, 2021

multiple scores. We are so appreciative of each and every judge that donates his time to assist making the event a success.”

Sponsors make the event financially feasible. Continuing their commitment to the motorcoach driver profession, Prevost is the signature sponsor of the event. Lancer Insurance Company has co-sponsored the event for a number of years, and this year the AMBEST family of travel plazas joined as a sponsor. Kerri Wirachowsky of the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance assisted the competition by arranging a team of Tennessee State Patrol Troopers to volunteer as judges. A motorcoach driver competition would not be complete without motorcoaches. ABC Companies/Van Hool, Motor Coach Industries, Prevost and Temsa all loaned coaches for the competition.

It is never too early for motorcoach companies to consider having their own driver competition or sending drivers to their state or regional association competition; often the qualifying process for sending a driver to next year’s national competition.

Plans are well underway for this year’s 2021 UMA International Motorcoach Driver Competition in Orlando, Florida. Watch for more details or contact UMA’s Presley at KPresley@uma.org. q

MOVING?

Please let us know at least 60 days in advance to ensure that your next issue of NATIONAL BUS TRADER reaches your new address. Postcards with changeof-address forms are available at your local post office.

The Curious Coachowner Number 280 of a Series “The Curious Coachowner” is a question and answer column that provides simple answers to simple questions that are too short to warrant a full article or inclusion in one of our regular columns. We will accept reasonably simple technical or historical questions on commercial coaches or converted coach shells by letter, fax, e-mail or phone. If our staff is unable to answer them, we will call upon our panel of experts.

Names and addresses should be submitted with your questions, but we will withhold names from publication on request. We reserve the right to modify questions to make them more useful to our readers.

Q. How bad off is the bus industry?

–– Several Readers

A. This has been somewhat of a key question lately. From what we hear, I suspect that many people outside of the industry are not aware of how bad things are.

Some people are asking whether the pandemic is worse than the Great Depression of the 1930s. No one has been able to answer that since the bus industry was marketedly different in the 1930s, and it would be difficult to compare with today. Besides, we cannot find anyone in the bus industry who remembers those days.

While city transit bus people have some government money to fall back on, the private coach people have been struggling. The latest statistics we saw indicate that the transportation, leisure and hospitality industries account for 50 percent of the lost jobs during the pandemic. Hence, the bus industry is among the worst affected.

Since things are at least somewhat different between the bus operators and the industry manufacturers and suppliers, we can review each of the separately.

Bus Operators While city transit operations have their problems, the private coach operators have been hit very hard. However, a general observation is that while 2020 was a downhill slide for the bus people, 2021 should see some movement back upward again.

Depending on who you talk to, somewhere between 400 and 500 private bus companies went out of business in 2020. This is a

26 • National Bus Trader / February, 2021

significant part of the industry and no one is sure whether any of these operations will be replaced in the future. Hence, it is obvious that the bus industry will not soon return to what it once was.

On the other hand, prospects for 2021 look good. Numerous coaches are back on the road using plastic partitions, safety features and masks. The experts are calling for an increase in travel in the second quarter of 2021 and another increase in the third quarter of 2021.

As we go to press, the vaccine is already out and the medical people have received their shots. Next in line are the seniors, and it is being predicted that many of them will jump on tour buses once they feel safe.

Manufacturers and Suppliers In contrast, the bus manufacturers and suppliers seem to be having a more difficult time in 2021. To some extent they coasted through 2020 because budgets were set and sales were happening prior to the pandemic.

Now, faced with a lack of sales in 2021, many have cut back their marketing budgets in spite of the fact that the experts recommend continued marketing in a recession.

This is what has caused problems for us here at NATIONAL BUS TRADER since it has been the industry advertisers that have paid for printing. Without their advertising, there is no money.

From their standpoint, things will not improve until new bus sales start increasing again.

Bus operations should ramp up as we move through 2021 but with so many recent buses on the used market, it may take a while for this to happen. If you want to help the bus industry, go out and buy some new buses.

We have no idea on how long it will take for the situation to improve enough for the manufacturers and suppliers to start marketing again. That is a very key question right now.

Q. When will we see the Roundup guide to used bus pricing again?

–– Several Readers

A. For those who do not know, the used bus market has been decimated by the pandemic. Even before the pandemic hit, the industry had too many pre-owned coaches on the market.

Why? There are several reasons for this. One is that the used coaches usually go to companies first starting in the business that cannot afford new coaches. There are been fewer start-ups lately and increased government regulations have not helped. There are also fewer people buying used coaches for motor home conversions. In addition, since the manufacturers have been adding so many new systems and safety features, the newest coaches have advantages over the older ones.

All of this has combined to cause an over abundance of pre-owned coaches on the market and some manufacturers may not want to take on more trade-ins. As a result, used bus prices are down significantly. Until this situation improves, we will refrain from trying to offer used bus prices that may not be realistic.

Q. Am I mistaken or am I seeing more material from Europe in your pages?

–– Northeast Bus Operator

A. The bus industry in Europe appears to be more active lately than it is in the United States and Canada. There may be several reasons for this. One is that the Europeans are a couple years ahead of us in batteryelectric transit buses. There has been a lot of activity in this sector lately with more manufacturers getting on the bandwagon.

What may be a second reason for higher activity in Europe is that they tend to be less concerned with residual value on used coaches. Much of their operations are set up so that residual value is not a big factor for them and hence residual value has a less significant impact on new coach sales.

Q. What will happen with National Bus Trader paid subscriptions?

–– Several Readers

A. Plans are to offer the digital magazine for free for a while and then phase paid subscriptions back in. This may take a while because we are shorthanded in the office and running behind.

We continue to keep track of subscriptions.

Subscribers who have not given us their e-mail can send it to readers@busmag.com.

Answers not credited to other individuals are provided by Larry Plachno. q

Photographs

Readers and advertisers are encouraged to send in photographs or slides of buses or equipment that may be of special interest to our readers. Please, include a list explaining what makes the pictured item different, unusual or interesting.

Photos should be sent to N ATIONAL B US TRADER, 9698 West Judson Road, Polo, Illinois 61064. Please indicate if you would like your picture returned. Picture usage is dependent on the quality of the photo and space available.

For months now, several buses are back on the road by using safety procedures and equipment. Here are some photos from Nagel Coaches in Edmonton, Alberta showing what they are doing.

At left: Nagel’s senior driver, Eric Longbottom, is shown fogging the coach at the end of the day. This procedure allowed Nagel Coaches to get back into running tours.

Below: Using passenger dividers provided by Prevost and requesting passengers to wear masks allowed this tour to get started on September 20, 2020. The group went from Edmonton to British Columbia and Okanagan for seven days.

28 • National Bus Trader / February, 2021

Safety and Liability

by Ned Einstein Responding to Adversity

by Abandoning Support

Unusual for a writer in a motorcoach magazine, I have often illustrated problems which surfaced in other modes. I have discussed how operators, agencies and other parties associated with those modes have succeeded or failed to address them.

These lessons are far more important now because of the impact of COVID-19 on motorcoach ridership, vehicle production and the successes or failures of the industry as a whole to cope with these problems. An example of a partial success was discussed in the November, 2020 edition of NATIONAL BUS TRADER: “Small Efforts and Big Differences.” An example of the depth of failure and corruption (not in the motorcoach field) was covered in the January, 2020 issue: “Making Money by Compromising Health.”

Roots and Routs I have often written that many problems of the motorcoach industry lie beyond the control of anyone within it. Mirroring this reality, the roots of the public transportation industry’s problems from COVID-19 were established decades ago by political decisions with widespread socio-economic consequences. These failures left us grossly unprepared to stop the Pandemic.

Our fragmented funding for various modes hardly helped.

Other roots of our problems lay in our failures to protect and stem the declining efficiency and effectiveness of, those transportation modes which already existed.

We allowed “transportation network companies” like Uber and Lyft to decimate our taxi industry (see seven installments titled “Bad Regulations and Worse Responses” in N ATIONAL B US T RADER from June through August, 2015 and October, 2015 through January, 2016). However, TNCs did not merely disrupt the taxi industry: They contributed significantly to the roughly 10 percent decline in fixed route ridership in 2018 and 2019 – before anyone had heard of COVID-pick-a-number. Our

fragmented funding for various modes hardly helped. Some modes (motorcoaches, taxis, limousines) receive no funding assistance. These modes are further fragmented by different regulatory agencies governing their operations – often at different levels of government. Some, like transportation network companies, are governed by barely any regulations at any level. Our failure to coordinate policies and regulations for this uncoordinated network of services in the best of times – much less placing many in competition with one another – only made this network more vulnerable when COVID-19 struck.

Missed Opportunities and Meltdowns Beyond the roots of this broad problem, the motorcoach industry was routed by its failure to adapt to COVID-19 by redirecting its fleet to meet glaring needs for which these versatile vehicles could not be more perfectly-suited. Many of these options were covered in previous NATIONAL BUS TRADER articles: “Motorcoach Survival in the Age of COVID-19, Part 1: Roles and Responsibilities” (May, 2020), “Motorcoach Survival in the Age of COVID-19, Part 2: On the Road Again” (June, 2020), and particularly in NATIONAL BUS TRADER’S reprinting of “Getting Students Back to School During COVID19” (October, 2020) – simultaneously published by School Transportation News. Similar mistakes were certainly made by other modes.

New York City deployed 11,000 of its remaining taxis to deliver food, medicine and other goods, when an enormous fleet of trucks and other vehicles could have performed this task just as well or better.

Instead, taxis could have helped thin out transit ridership – at least in the early months of the virus, when trains and buses were spreading COVID like forest fires.

Like Amtrak’s priorities for profit-making at the expense of public health (see “COVID-19, Shenanigans and Liability, Part 2: Making Money by Compromising Health.” NATIONAL BUS TRADER (January, 2020), transit was deeply-entrenched in its share of super-spreading, particularly as levels of service were peeled back to dramatically reduce the deficits of services only recovering a tiny fraction of their operating costs from farebox revenue before COVID-19 – and packing passengers closer together in the trains and buses that remained.

Compounding Catastrophé In an industry like motorcoach service which emphasizes customer service, one cannot respond to a catastrophé by degrading the quality of service. Yet this is precisely what the taxi industry has done in response to being crushed by robots and apps: Using more of them. Several weeks ago, stranded in suburban Atlanta, I tried calling six taxi companies before reaching one – a single, owner-operator surviving by his wits, knowledge of the service area and, mostly, his cellphone. Even with no fleet density, he will last longer and make more profits-pervehicle than his competitors simply because he gets the phone.

Recently wishing to explore traveling by motorcoach (instead of flights) for 1,000-mile trips (see “Drivers v. Robots, Part 2 – The Nature of Modern Travel.” NATIONAL BUS TRADER September, 2019), I ran into the same phenomenon: Motorcoach company robots getting the phone. Well, if I have to outsmart a series of robots which cannot possibly answer my questions, I may as well get to wherever I am headed more quickly (while air fares are at an historic low), and live with the consequences (overcrowding, being stranded as flight are consolidated, etc.). I suspect many otherwise-would-be motorcoach customers are making the same choice.

Once customers have found telephone calls useless, they are not likely to return to the practice My point is that if core customer service dies, motorcoach service will soon rot in its grave. One does not recover from such problems. The cliché “Old Habits Die Hard” is clearly true about job replacement issues – outsourcing, automation, Web sites, social media, artificial intelligence and their offspring. Once customers have found telephone calls useless, they are not likely to return to the practice. Instead, one will live and die with his or her app. Try competing against the Uber or Lyft app. Before COVID19 actually helped many transit agencies reduce their deficits, they began selling bus passes through the Uber app. No surprise that ridership declined by 10 percent, nationNational Bus Trader / February, 2021 • 29

Safety and Liability wide, during the two years preceding COVID-19. Is there no lesson here?

An Army of None I clearly remember a lesson I learned from my late father, a WWII glider pilot.

Every pilot knew that in a dogfight, five planes (with good pilots) would always beat four (with good pilots). I actually know a few motorcoach owner-operators whom I trust. In general, I have always been against the concept – one of the many consequences of deregulation. Frankly, no matter how good he or she may be, an “Army of One” will never beat a team. Even apart from obviously having no fleet density whatsoever, a driver with no dispatcher and no other management is at a serious disadvantage. When some of his or her customers learn this lesson, that operator ’s density will become even thinner. We do not need armies of one. We need fleets. We need fleets managed by live earthlings.

Even these teams will not beat the army of one who gets the phone.

A greater concern is that our army of one will morph into an army of none. Anyone who thinks that the near-simultaneous emergence of autonomous vehicles and TNCs is a coincidence should hop back onto the turnip truck. When interviewed

by Vanity Fair in late 2015 (see "Autonomous and Inevitable, Part 1: What is to Come, and What is Already Here" N ATIONAL B US T RADER , October, 2016), former Uber CEO Travis Kalanick was asked about Uber’s “driver problem.” He responded by noting that “drivers were only a temporary nuisance.” The disappearance of customer service is a slippery slope to the disappearance of public transportation as we know it. The vulnerable, unsubsidized motorcoach industry, with its failure to adapt to the challenges of COVID-19, will be among the first to go.

Seeing the Trees Another well-worn cliché is the failure to see the forest through the trees. What has been happening to the motorcoach industry and its fellow-modes has been a failure to see the tree through the bark. One view into this abyss is the gradual disappearance of hard copy trade magazines.

There are important lessons here. While Amazon effectively wiped out most of the nation’s bookstores (the largest, Barnes & Noble, survives largely through online sales), people still prefer to read real books.

While hardly anyone frequents a bookstore anymore, 97 percent of those who read books still read hard copies of them. They do not read them on Kindle or any of its competitors’ technologies. The same is true of magazines.

30 • National Bus Trader / February, 2021

Advertisers are closing their wallets. Little else may be as shortsighted.

Like any publications or subscriptions (including cable television or “live-streaming” services), access must be purchased.

Just as fares cover only a tiny portion of transit operating revenue, subscriptions only cover a tiny portion of magazine production costs, analog and/or digital. The vast majority of these costs must be covered by advertising. Yet mirroring other cost savings in response to COVID-19, advertisers are closing their wallets. Little else may be as shortsighted. Because when all magazines go online, fewer people will read them. Just as with real books compared to Kindle, one will be loath to click-and-scroll through page after page with a touchpad (or swipe through them on his or her phone), much less carry the device from the living room to the bedroom to the bathroom – as one could easily do instead and effortlessly leaf through the pages of a hard copy.

More naive and ominous, if one must get his or her information about purchasing vehicles (or anything else) from an online source, he or she may as well just Google it.

Instead of getting advice from a career editor/publisher with a team of writers and a worldwide, interdisciplinary network of professionals, one will effectively get his or her advice from whatever surfaces on page one when he or she enters a keyword – like “best motorcoach” – into Google. What pops up will be the result of the best Web site developer, the best coder and the best expert at “search engine optimization” (SEO), not remotely an expert in any subject matter, much less buses or coaches, or their equipment or features. From such sources, one cannot possibly geta true sense of anything’s value.

Reaping and Weeping People have short memories. If a vehicle manufacturer and supplier drops out of sight as Google’s robots begin to govern purchasing decisions, I strongly suggest terminating your advertising departments and filching the best coders and SEO experts you can find from Silicon Valley. They will not come cheap. Page one of any Google search only contains the top 15 or so competitors for any keyword phrase entered – often far fewer than 15. (If you Google “Expert Witness, Boarding and Alighting,” my firm will likely appear as #1, #2, #3, #5 and #6. If you Google “Expert Witness, Catastrophic Motorcoach Accidents,” my firm will appear

as #5 – the four above me are there only because they “paid off” Google for their ranking). In most searches, those at the top appear there because they purchased “AdWords” – effectively “paying off” Google to rank them higher than they would be ranked on their merits. For now, Google actually indicates which competitors’ rankings were affected by purchasing AdWords (the term “Ad” appears to the left of the competitor). How much longer do you think this monopoly’s temporary burp of ethics will last? I predict the “over-under” is six months. Anyone willing to bet on the “over,” contact me at einstein@transalt.com and let us arrange the bet.

If this is how you wish to compete as a producer, your wish will soon be Google’s profit-optimization priorities goosed through its robots’ algorithms. Disney character Jiminy Cricket once crooned, “A dream is a wish your heart makes.” That was true before home computers, Web sites and social media took over – where, and another song phrase goes, “Truth is but a dream.” Without input from editors and their support teams, your information will soon be the result of pay-offs. As every economy has always proven, those with the most bucks have the most clout. Another difference is, of course, that press and media production costs rise slowly, reflecting their costs. Costs for paying off a monopoly for a handful of positions in an all-or-nothing sales environment will climb as quickly as the customers become desperate. All but a few in any category will become losers – just like most of our nation’s former stores have (see “Drivers v. Robots, Part 6: The Starting Five” in NATIONAL BUS TRADER, January, 2020).

If you wish to remain a part of an industry, you must support it.

Advertising is only one aspect of support.

I cite it as an example largely because an error in this area represents a mistake that may be hard to recover from. In general, if you wish to remain a part of an industry, you must support it. This often means investing in it. If you fail to do this in any number of small and large ways – like dropping out of organizations, failing to attend conferences (even if only by Zoom), cutting service to increase your profits by placing your riders at risk (again, see “COVID-19, Shenanigans and Liability, Part 2: Making Money by Compromising Health.” N ATIONAL B US TRADER (January, 2020) – the industry of which you are a part will slowly crumble

Safety and Liability beneath your feet. When it gets to a certain point, you will find yourself with nothing in which to advertise – and nothing about which to advertise. To stand a platitude on its head, what you fail to sow you will fail to reap.

You can keep your industry alive by investing in aspects of it over which your designers, engineers and marketing staff exercise control. Or you can turn it over to your new SEO crew and cross your fingers.

If you do the latter, you will watch your business float away on the next robot’s breathe. If you expect your business to survive by outsmarting Google’s robots, you are a dreamer. While dreams may be fun, it is foolish to stake one’s livelihood on them. There are other things one can do.

They include investing and borrowing.

These are both long-term strategics. If you base your business’ future on a tactic rather than a strategy, you may win the battle. You will lose the war.

An old songwriter, Harry Warren, composed, “I Had the Craziest Dream.” Yours would be to stop supporting motorcoach service when its down for the count. As Yogi Berra famously said: “You can observe a lot by watching.” If the motorcoach industry is

not careful, what you watch will be the history of your company and the history of the industry of which it was a part.

The opinions expressed in this article are that of the author and do not necessarily represent the opinions of NATIONAL BUS TRADER, Inc. or its staff and management. q Ned Einstein is the president of Transportation Alternatives (transalt.com [1]), a public transportation consulting/expert witness firm. Einstein (einstein@transalt.com) specializes in catastrophic motorcoach accidents.

1/12 Dupree

Absolutely the finest dump valve ever.

• Air powered version since 1985.

• All parts easily replaceable DUPREE PRODUCTS Phone: (888) 668-4288 Fax: (905) 374-3796 www.dupreeproducts.com

Advertising works!

National Bus Trader (815) 946-2341

National Bus Trader / February, 2021 • 31

Classified Visit National Bus Trader’s Online Classified Ads at www.busmag.com Classified ad rate is $30 per issue for first 25 words, 25 cents for each additional word. Rate includes Internet access. Name, address, zip and phone number are not included in word count. The total number of words in a classified ad can not exceed 70. Rates apply on each ad individually – the rate for multiple insertions is the total of each ad figured individually. Free classified ads are acceptable ONLY when submitted on or with your free classified ad certificate. Display advertising rates on request.

1 – BUSES WANTED Seeking 102D3 converted by Custom Coach. Prefer motor home interior with side aisle or semi-side aisle.

Please provide details by e-mail to safety@busmag.com or phone Larry at (815) 946-2341.

1940s White Model 788 or 798 wanted. 12 cylinder engine mounted under floor midship. Would like a complete original bus, but like to hear about parts buses. Contact Howard Lane, Hardwick MA 01037 at (413) 477-8790 or howard.lane@comcast.net.

I 2 – COACHES FOR SALE After 27 years, 1,500 coaches sold, I am liquidating my inventory. Bring all offers. View at Bobtuckermotors.com.

Contact (870) 739-2444 in AR. q 5C – MISCELLANEOUS BUSES 1982 BBC/GMC HR150G trolley bus. Brown-Bovari controls, running condition. Must dispose due to space limitation. Make offer. Contact Dale@trams.ca or phone (604) 325-9990 in Vancouver.

I

6 – MOTOR HOMES FOR SALE 2000 MCI DL3 Custom Coach conversion. Detroit Diesel engine and Allison trans. Sleeps 4-6, BA, shower, microwave, refrigerator, stove, generator, 4 aux. AC units, 2 flat-screen TVs, DVD, Bose speakers. No slides. Customize to suit.

185,208 original miles. Asking $72,500. All serious offers considered. Call (610) 868-6001, Ext 115. More pics and details at transbridgelines.com/buses-for-sale.

I 1994 Prevost Liberty conversion. 8V-92 Twin Turbo w/Eco Boost, Webasto heat. All electric. New tires, batteries (bus), bus air. Interior – teal, rose, mirrors. Excellent condition. $95,000. Phone (276) 466-7325 in VA. I 1956 Flxible coach – old conversion. Phone (802) 9482886 in VT for details.

I MCI MC5A ’67 (shell). 8V-71, 4-speed. For sale to highest bidder. Call (928) 358-6415 or (505) 713-9242 in AZ. I ’67 Flxible. Converted, 6V-92, 10-spd./OD, diesel generator. Recent $10,000 rebuilt – rebushed. Don’t see well; can’t drive and enjoy. Best offer over $17,500.

Needs TLC. Phone Chet at (269) 445-0641 in MI. I 10 – PARTS AND EQUIPMENT 6V-92T Detroit Diesel engine. Fresh overhaul. In storage. Spent $4,700. Make offer. Phone (815) 262-0587 in IL. I For sale: Unique bus parts for Brill, Fageol, GMC, Flyer, Grant farebox, manuals, other artifacts. Find what you need for your vintage RV bus at transitmuseumsociety.org.

I

Advertiser’s Index Bus Conversion Magazine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 Complete Coach Works . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Dupree . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31

FMCA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 Industry Leading Results . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

Irizar USA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 Midwest Bus Corporation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Motor Coach Industries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 Sansone, Lynn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 Temsa Global . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 Transportation Trails . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

United Motor Coach Association . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25 ZF . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27 32 • National Bus Trader / February, 2021

11 – BUS SERVICES Fogging products and services for any size space/vehicle. Our solution is non-toxic, 330 times more effective than bleach and takes only minutes to apply. View at BaileysZeroHazard.com. Contact Bailey’s Zero Hazard, 1708 PA-116, Spring Grove PA 17362 at (717) 718-0490. q 12 – CHARTER & TOUR ATTRACTIONS Crossroad Tours open for business. Here for all your traveling needs. Scheduling now for Florida. Call Patti at (260) 768-7549 in IN. q 14 – NOTICES Visit our 35+ vintage buses at Lakewood NJ Bus Terminal Saturdays. Join Friends NJ Transport Heritage Center. www.friendsnjthc.org. Annual dues $30. Call Tom at (732) 833-1213.

I 15 – MISCELLANEOUS Wanted: Original upholstery for AC Transit 800-900 Series Fishbowl. Gold and blue striped pattern used on bucketstyle seats. Used seat covers acceptable. Contact Ed at enapiwoc@aol.com.

I 16 - MEMORABILIA & COLLECTIBLES Collectors – Russell’s bus guides, miscellaneous Grayhound schedule folders, Amtrak, airline schedules. 1970s2000s. Looking for something specific? Just ask. Contact robertkeene2003@yahoo.com. q Please mention National Bus Trader when answering advertisers

Down The Road

Coming events of interest to readers of NATIONAL BUS TRADER. Submissions for the department should be directed to the editor. Unless otherwise indicated, events are not open to the general public.

April 21-25, 2021. UMA Motorcoach Expo 2021. Orange County Convention Center, Orlando, Florida.

June 18-22, 2021. Busworld North America and American Bus Association Marketplace. Baltimore Convention Center, Baltimore, Maryland.

July 7-10, 2021. FMCA's 103rd International Convention and RV Expo.

Cam-Plex Multi-Event Facilities, Gillette, Wyoming.

August 25-29, 2021. Flxible Bus Rally. Loudonville, Ohio.

August 31-September 3, 2021.

American Public Transportation Association (APTA) EXPO 2021. Anaheim, California. For information visit www.aptaexpo.com.

Rolling ahead with reliable coaches, service, and support.

Reliability Driven™

mcicoach.com