School Bus Fleet

November 2014

A management & maintenance magazine for school transportation fleets

Issue link: https://sbf.epubxp.com/i/402970

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4 S C H O O L B U S F L E E T • N O V E M B E R 2 0 1 4 contents contents 46 6 Helpful Routes to Take When a School Bus Driver Dies What courses of action should a transportation leader follow when a school bus driver dies? Here, a veteran director who recently faced that sad situation shares steps to help staff members, students and the driver's family deal with their loss. By Lionel Pinn 52 China Faces Challenges in Bolstering School Bus Safety A fatal school van crash in China in 2011 confrmed the need for stronger safety measures in transporting students. Industry veterans from the U.S. are sharing their expertise with Chinese counterparts, but the country's vast population, extreme traffc congestion and other factors present obstacles to implementing an American-style yellow bus system. By Peter Law- rence and Dick Fischer 56 NAPT 2014 Show Guide Here's a preview of dozens of companies that will be exhibiting at the National Association for Pupil Transportation's trade show on Nov. 11 in Kansas City, Missouri. 16 Will Ramped-up Vehicle Tech Bring Smarter, Safer School Buses? With advancements such as Google's road-testing of self-driving cars, the notion is no longer relegated to episodes of The Jetsons. However, practical use is still a long way off, though automated vehicle technol- ogy and connected vehicle technology are arriving in increments. School bus manufacturers are keeping pace, as the technology stands to help enhance pupil transportation safety even further. By Nicole Schlosser, Managing Editor 28 Survey Shows Growth in School Bus Driver Shortage Nearly a third of school districts have a severe or des- perate shortage of bus drivers — a big jump from last year's survey. Meanwhile, 38% increased their school bus service level this year. By Thomas McMahon, Ex- ecutive Editor 32 14 Fascinating Personalities in Pupil Transportation A WWII veteran who is still training school bus driv- ers in his 90s. A mechanic-turned-manager who test- drove a bus to Toad Suck, Arkansas. A state director who used to be a hair stylist. Get the scoop on these and other intriguing school bus people in the return of this popular series. By Thomas McMahon and Nicole Schlosser features November 2014 Vol. 60 No. 10 Cover photo courtesy of Blue Bird Corp. Shot by Erwin Harrison. departments Editor's Note 6 Industry News 8 NAPT News & Views 60 Succession planning is vital for the school bus industry Snapshots 62 Business Watch 64 Advertiser Index 66 People 69 Product Highlights 70 Classifeds 73 The Last Word 76 14 signs and symptoms of 'bleeding yellow' 16 28 cover

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