When the Utah Transit Authority (UTA)’s onsite paint system reached the end of its useful life after 35 years, it was clear to UTA management that an upgrade was necessary. The original booth was designed for a semi-truck configuration, which limited the bay’s lighting as well as its utility for painting buses. Furthermore, it simply […]
As various industries do their part to support social distancing measures, the “new normal” way of operating has posed challenges, and driven innovation. The transit industry is no exception, and as transit operators have continued to play a key role in supporting essential services and providing transport for those who need it, they have also […]
Though the technology has been used in transit buses for 18 years – with upwards of 14,000 units still in service – Thermo King’s exclusive S616 Screw Compressor technology for bus HVAC has yet to see widespread adoption in the motorcoach market. Screw compressors offer efficient operation, longer life, less maintenance and more fuel savings […]
By Steve D. Johnson Why are offshore original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) targeting North American transit? Everything considered, that is a very fair question. For starters, it is one of the smallest — if not the smallest — public transportation market in the world. Follow that with the rules of engagement as set forth by the Federal Transit […]
By Bernadette Ackerman If you are still using manual processes, the answer is likely “not very smart.” Three things can quickly derail your operations and send your service into a tailspin, and they all start and end in your depot. Poor communication, avoidable road calls and time-wasting manual processes can all lead to service […]
Peter Bowers, technical sales support manager for Stertil-Koni, spoke with BUSRide Maintenance about heavy-duty vehicle lifts – their safe operation, spec’ing the right lift, certification pitfalls, and future developments. How should operators go about choosing the “right lift for the job?” When it comes to choosing heavy-duty vehicle lifts for a maintenance shop, there […]
BUSRide Maintenance spoke with Steve D. Johnson, Sr., product marketing manager, bus HVAC, at Thermo King about the latest advances in climate control technology.
In this roundtable discussion, BUSRide Maintenance spoke with experts in the field of collision repair about electrical componentry – repairing, replacing and common pitfalls. Please provide a summary of your capabilities in electrical component repair. Jon Savitz: Our capabilities [at ABC Companies] in electrical component repair consists of diagnostic training which develops troubleshooting skills amongst […]
By Steve D. Johnson So far in this series we have discussed several areas where the HVAC can have a direct effect on the operation of the zero-emission battery bus (ZEB), including HVAC efficiency, passenger comfort, maintenance, and battery range. While bus cabin noise level has long been a concern for operators, specifications continue to […]
New Flyer Industries’ (NFI Group) acquisition of Motor Coach Industries (MCI) in 2015 represented a sea change in the bus industry for multiple reasons, not the least of which centered on an expansion of the MCI’s parts and service offerings. In October, all of the parts sales and support for MCI and New Flyer OEM […]