MONTREAL — The Lion Electric Company (NYSE: LEV) (TSX: LEV) (“Lion” or the “Company”), a leading manufacturer of all-electric medium and heavy-duty urban vehicles, announced today that the Company and its subsidiaries have applied to the Superior Court of Quebec (Commercial Division) (the “Court”) for an initial order to seek protection from their creditors under the Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act (“CCAA”). The Company and its subsidiaries also intend to seek recognition of the CCAA proceedings in the United States under Chapter 15 of the Bankruptcy Code.

In its application for an initial order, the Company seeks the approval of a formal sale and investment solicitation process (“SISP”) in order to provide interested parties with the opportunity to submit proposals with a view to enabling the Company and its senior lenders to determine the highest and best available transaction for the Company and its stakeholders.

The initial order application seeks, among other things, a stay of proceedings in favor of the Company and its subsidiaries, including a stay of creditor claims and exercise of contractual rights, and the authorization of an interim debtor-in-possession (DIP) financing to be provided by the lenders under the Company’s senior revolving credit agreement in order to fund the SISP and the Company’s operations during the restructuring process. Approval is also being sought for the appointment of Deloitte Restructuring Inc. as monitor to oversee the CCAA proceedings and report to the Court. While under CCAA protection, management of the Company will remain responsible for the day-to-day operations of the Company under the oversight of the monitor.

This announcement follows the press release issued by the Company on December 17, 2024 announcing the expiry of the covenant relief period under the Company’s senior revolving credit agreement and maturity of the Company’s loan agreement with Finalta Capital and Caisse de dépôt et placement du Quebec.

Trading in the common shares and other listed securities of the Company on the Toronto Stock Exchange (“TSX”) and the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”) has been halted. The TSX has also put the Company under delisting review under its expedited review process. It is anticipated that trading in the Company’s listed securities will continue to be halted until completion of the review undertaken by the TSX and the NYSE regarding the suitability of the Company for listing on the TSX and the NYSE.

About Lion Electric

Lion Electric is an innovative manufacturer of zero-emission vehicles, including all electric school buses. Lion is a North American leader in electric transportation and designs, builds and assembles many of its vehicles’ components, including chassis, battery packs, truck cabins and bus bodies.

Always actively seeking new and reliable technologies, Lion vehicles have unique features that are specifically adapted to its users and their everyday needs. Lion believes that transitioning to all-electric vehicles will lead to major improvements in our society, environment and overall quality of life.

The post Lion Electric File Application for Credit Protection Under the CCAA appeared first on School Transportation News.

MACON, Ga. — Wilkes County Schools (WCS) has marked the historic milestone of becoming the first school district in Georgia to serve all of its 25 daily bus routes exclusively with zero- and ultra-low-emission school buses. WCS’ new fleet of electric and propane-powered buses eliminates regular diesel bus routes, significantly improving air quality for students and the surrounding community, while also significantly reducing operating costs.

Blue Bird Corporation (Nasdaq: BLBD), the leader in electric and low-emission school buses, delivered 5 electric and 12 propane-powered school buses to Wilkes County Schools. The company’s electric school buses generate zero emissions and can carry approximately 60 students up to 130 miles on a single charge.

WCS can considerably lower its operating expenses by replacing diesel with electric school buses due to reduced fuel and vehicle maintenance costs. School districts have reported paying a mere 19 cents per mile in energy costs for electric buses compared to fuel costs of up to 79 cents per mile for their diesel buses.

WCS will also rely on Blue Bird’s industry-leading propane buses for its student transportation needs. Blue Bird’s propane buses for the school district can carry approximately 60 students around 250 miles on a single tank of propane autogas. Propane school buses generate 96% fewer harmful emissions than their diesel counterparts.

In addition, propane-powered school buses help the school district to lower the total cost of ownership of its bus fleets by realizing fuel and maintenance cost savings of up to $3,700 per bus annually compared with diesel buses. WCS presently operates a fleet of 22 Blue Bird propane buses. Thus, the school district could save more than $1.2 million over the 15-year life of its vehicles.

“We are proud to be among the first school districts in the nation to launch a fleet of all electric and propane-powered school buses,” said Michelle Smith, superintendent of Wilkes County Schools. “Blue Bird’s zero- and ultra-low-emission school buses will help us to create a healthier environment for our students and our communities at-large while significantly lowering our operating costs. Together, we have transformed our ambitious vision of clean, sustainable student transportation into a reality.”

“We are delighted to supply Wilkes County Schools with our industry-leading, electric and propane-powered school buses,” said Albert Burleigh, vice president of North America bus sales at Blue Bird Corporation. “Moving forward, students on all 25 daily routes will travel exclusively on zero- and ultra-low-emission buses to and from school. We applaud Wilkes County Schools for putting student and community health first.”

The leading provider of school bus fleet electrification-as-a-service, Highland Electric Fleets, installed five new Tellus charging stations to support the district’s five electric school buses. These chargers allow WCS to utilize overnight and downtime charging, ensuring the buses are always ready to meet transportation needs.

“We’re thrilled to be one of the partners helping Wilkes County Schools transition to a fully clean school bus fleet, bringing lasting air quality to students and cost-saving benefits to the school district,” said Duncan McIntyre, CEO of Highland Electric Fleets. “By adding electric school buses and charging infrastructure, WCS is investing in healthier, more resilient communities, while ensuring that students have a safe, reliable ride to school every day.”

WCS received a $2,335,000 grant through the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) highly effective Clean School Bus Rebate Program to purchase its Blue Bird electric and propane-powered school bus fleet. This program is part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) which provides a total of $5 billion over five years for clean school bus transportation nationwide. The EPA has already awarded nearly $3 billion through the landmark bipartisan initiative. The program to date will enable more than 1,300 school districts nationwide to replace old diesel buses with nearly 9,000 electric and ultra-low emission vehicles.

Blue Bird is the only U.S.-owned and operated school bus manufacturer in the United States. The company remains the proven clean transportation leader with more than 2,000 electric-powered, zero-emission school buses in operation today.

In addition, Blue Bird is the only school bus manufacturer in the United States to offer propane-powered school buses. Today’s propane engine is 90% cleaner than the most stringent federal emission standard set by the EPA. New and even stricter emission standards will take effect in 2027. Blue Bird’s ultra-low emission, propane-powered school buses exceed those emission standards already today.

Wilkes County Schools purchased its advanced electric and propane-powered vehicles through Blue Bird’s authorized school bus dealer Yancey Bus Sales & Service in Austell, Ga.

About Blue Bird Corporation

Blue Bird (NASDAQ: BLBD) is recognized as a technology leader and innovator of school buses since its founding in 1927. Our dedicated team members design, engineer and manufacture school buses with a singular focus on safety, reliability, and durability. School buses carry the most precious cargo in the world – 25 million children twice a day – making them the most trusted mode of student transportation. The company is the proven leader in low- and zero-emission school buses with more than 20,000 propane, natural gas, and electric powered buses in operation today. Blue Bird is transforming the student transportation industry through cleaner energy solutions. For more information on Blue Bird’s complete product and service portfolio, visit www.blue-bird.com.

About Wilkes County Schools

Located in historic Washington, Georgia, Wilkes County Schools serves approximately 1,250 students within a diverse and inclusive rural community. Guided by the vision of “Excellence Without Exception,” the district is dedicated to transformative education, offering robust programs in STEM, fine arts, Career and Technical Education, Advanced Placement, and dual enrollment. With a commitment to critical thinking, lifelong learning, and educator development, Wilkes County Schools fosters a safe, innovative learning environment. Grounded in community collaboration and a tradition of continuous improvement, the district prepares students to excel in an ever-evolving, competitive global workforce. For more information, visit www.wilkes.k12.ga.us.

About Highland Electric Fleets

Highland Electric Fleets is the leading provider of electrification-as-a-service for school districts, governments, and fleet operators in North America. Founded in 2019, Highland offers a unique suite of products that make it simple and affordable to upgrade to electric fleets today. Active in 30 states and Canada, Highland is responsible for the first use of electric school buses in a commercial vehicle-to-grid (V2G) program and the largest electric school bus project in the United States to date. To learn more, visit www.highlandfleets.com.

The post Wilkes County Schools Leads Way as Georgia’s First District with All-Clean School Buses appeared first on School Transportation News.

The deadline passed for Lion Electric Company to repay loans needed to overcome hundreds of millions in debt, but the school bus manufacturer is not heading into bankruptcy, a company spokesperson said.

The statement made to School Transportation News on Tuesday came amid a Lion press release earlier in the day that highlighted use of the Companies Credit Arrangement Act (CCAA), a Canadian federal law dating back to 1933 that allows insolvent companies to avoid liquidation. This occurs through court-directed compromise or arrangement made by a debtor company and its secured creditors.

Lion on Wednesday formally applied for CCAA protection. It also said it will seek recognition of the CCAA process under chapter 15 of the U.S. bankruptcy code.

In the press release on Tuesday, Lion said it “is currently in discussions with its senior lenders to obtain additional funds pursuant to a new debtor-in-possession credit facility and expects to seek creditor protection” under the CCAA as it seeks to restructure its business and financial affairs. Lion added it pursues a formal sales and investment solicitation process for the company’s business or assets.

The Lion spokesperson referred to the CCAA proceedings as a “stable and structured environment” for various restructuring measures under a Revolving Credit Agreement with two lenders represented by the National Bank of Canada and a loan agreement with Finalta Capital Fund that expired on Monday. No timeline was given for when the CCAA agreements will be finalized.

On Dec. 1, Lion announced the latest of four amendments to the Revloving Credit Agreement and an extension of the Finalta Capital loan agreement, a halt to all production at its manufacturing plant in Joliet, Illinois, and the laying off an additional 400 workers on top of the 120 employees laid off in April. The company has trimmed its workforce from nearly 1,300 employees to about 300.

A separate SEC filing that same day announced the Nicolas Brunet resigned as president.
Four days later, Lion said it reached an agreement to sell its Quebec innovation center for $35 million U.S. The company noted in its third-quarter financial results total liabilities of $500 million and a net loss of nearly $75 million as of Sept. 30.

Related: Brunet Resigns as Lion Electric President Amid Company Battle to Stay Solvent
Related: Updated: Lion Electric Suspends Manufacturing Operations at Joliet Plant
Related: NYSE to Commence Delisting Proceedings with Respect to the Warrants of Lion Electric

The post Update: Lion Electric Defaults on Credit Repayment, Says It is Avoiding Bankruptcy appeared first on School Transportation News.

MONTREAL — The Lion Electric Company (NYSE: LEV) (TSX: LEV) (“Lion” or the “Company”), a leading manufacturer of all-electric medium and heavy-duty urban vehicles, announced today the expiry of the previously announced covenant relief period under its senior revolving credit agreement entered into with a syndicate of lenders represented by National Bank of Canada, as administrative agent and collateral agent, and including Bank of Montreal and Federation des Caisses Desjardins du Québec (the “Revolving Credit Agreement”), as well as the maturity of the Company’s loan agreement entered into with Finalta Capital Fund, L.P., as lender and administrative agent, and Caisse de dépôt et placement du Quebec (through one of its subsidiaries), as lender (the “Finalta CDPQ Loan Agreement”).

The company had previously announced on Dec. 1, 2024 amendments to the Revolving Credit Agreement and the Finalta CDPQ Loan Agreement in order to extend the covenant relief period and the maturity date of the Finalta CDPQ Loan Agreement to Dec. 16, 2024, which provided the company with additional time to continue to actively evaluate potential alternatives relating to a restructuring of its obligations, a sale of the business or certain of its assets, strategic investments and/or any other alternatives. As no such alternatives have materialized and no further amendments, concessions or waivers have been obtained, the expiry of the covenant relief period and re-introduction of the financial covenants previously applicable under the Revolving Credit Agreement as well as the maturity of the Finalta CDPQ Loan Agreement on Dec. 16, 2024 result in the company being in default pursuant to the terms of the Revolving Credit Agreement, the Finalta CDPQ Loan Agreement and other debt instruments providing for cross-default or cross acceleration provisions, and in the company’s lenders having the ability to exercise their rights and request immediate repayment of amounts borrowed by the company.

As a result of the foregoing, the company is currently in discussions with its senior lenders to obtain additional funds pursuant to a new debtor-in-possession credit facility and expects to seek creditor protection under the companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act in order to restructure its business and financial affairs and pursue a formal sales and investment solicitation process in respect of the company’s business or assets.

Trading in the common shares and other listed securities of the Company on the Toronto Stock Exchange (“TSX”) and the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”) has been halted and it is anticipated that the trading thereof will continue to be halted until a review is undertaken by the TSX and the NYSE regarding the suitability of the Company for listing on the TSX and the NYSE.

About Lion Electric

Lion Electric is an innovative manufacturer of zero-emission vehicles, including all electric school buses. Lion is a North American leader in electric transportation and designs, builds and assembles many of its vehicles’ components, including chassis, battery packs, truck cabins and bus bodies.

Always actively seeking new and reliable technologies, Lion vehicles have unique features that are specifically adapted to its users and their everyday needs. Lion believes that transitioning to all-electric vehicles will lead to major improvements in our society, environment and overall quality of life.

The post Lion Electric Announces Expiry of Covenant Relief Period and Defaults Under Certain Conditions of Senior Debt Instruments appeared first on School Transportation News.

The latest personnel move related to the Lion Electric Company monetary issues is Nicolas Brunet, who the company announced is resigned as president 14 months after he was tapped for the position.

Lion made no formal announcement, with a note indicating Brunet was leaving the company immediately tucked away on the second to last page of an SEC filing dated Dec. 1. That same day, the company announced it was halting production at its Joliet, Illinois, factory and was laying over 400 workers.

Lion has until Dec. 16 to pay back four creditors unless it can secure additional investments or find a company to purchase it.

Brunet joined the company headquartered in Saint-Jerome, Quebec, in 2019 and was executive vice president and CFO before being named president on Sept. 28, 2023.

A company spokesperson declined to comment on Wednesday on Brunet’s departure but added that Marc Bedard remains chief executive officer. Bedard founded Lion Electric as Autobus Lion, or Lion Bus, in 2008 after previously serving as an executive for Type A school bus manufacturer Corbeil, which closed the previous year.

Lion’s first school bus was the Lion 360 in 2011, a diesel Type C model developed in partnership with Spartan Chassis. The company transitioned to only manufacturing electric school buses and rebranded itself as Lion Electric in 2017. Two years later it began manufacturing electric trucks.

Related: Low-income Areas Need Electric School Buses the Most, WRI Analysis Indicates
Related: WATCH: STN EXPO Reno Live Stream – The Scalability of Electric School Buses
Related: Dignitaries Highlight Lion Electric’s Joliet Plant Opening Ceremony

The post Brunet Resigns as Lion Electric President Amid Company Battle to Stay Solvent appeared first on School Transportation News.

Ryan and Tony analyze headlines including Lion Electric’s reduction of electric school bus manufacturing, technology provider Zonar’s acquisition by GPS Trackit, and what such developments mean for the industry.

T.J. Reed, the new president and CEO of Thomas Built Buses, joins us to discuss his vision for the company and exciting future innovations.

Join us at STN EXPO Charlotte for an exclusive behind-the-scenes tour of the Thomas Built Buses C2 Plant in High Point, N.C. Learn more at stnexpo.com/east.

Read more about leadership.

This episode is brought to you by Transfinder.

Conversation with Thomas Built Buses.

Message from Zonar.

Stream, subscribe and download the School Transportation Nation podcast on Apple Podcasts, Deezer, Google Podcasts, iHeartRadio, RadioPublic, Spotify, Stitcher and YouTube.

The post (STN Podcast E238) Time Will Tell: Shakeups in the School Bus Business World (+ Thomas Built Buses CEO Interview) appeared first on School Transportation News.

MONTREAL — The Lion Electric Company (NYSE: LEV) (TSX: LEV) (“Lion” or the “Company”), a leading manufacturer of all-electric medium and heavy-duty urban vehicles, announced today that it has reached a definitive agreement with Aéroport de Montreal to sell its innovation center facility located in Mirabel, Québec, for a purchase price of C$50,000,000, subject to customary purchase price adjustments and closing conditions.

All of the net proceeds from the transaction are intended to be used towards the partial repayment of the Company’s senior secured non-convertible debentures issued in July 2023, holders of which currently benefit from a first ranking hypothec over the immovable/real rights related to the innovation center facility. As a result, while the transaction is expected to reduce the Company’s long-term indebtedness, it will not impact the Company’s short term liquidity and cash position.

Closing of the transaction is expected to occur before the end of 2024, subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions.

About Lion Electric

Lion Electric is an innovative manufacturer of zero-emission vehicles, including all electric school buses. Lion is a North American leader in electric transportation and designs, builds and assembles many of its vehicles’ components, including chassis, battery packs, truck cabins and bus bodies.

Always actively seeking new and reliable technologies, Lion vehicles have unique features that are specifically adapted to its users and their everyday needs. Lion believes that transitioning to all-electric vehicles will lead to major improvements in our society, environment and overall quality of life.

The post Lion Electric Reaches Definitive Agreement in Respect of the Sale of Innovation Center Located in Mirabel, Quebec appeared first on School Transportation News.

As Lion Electric attempts to stay afloat amid hemorrhaging cash and rising debt, the company announced a Quebec innovation center is being sold amid the latest workforce reduction that halted production at an Illinois electric vehicle factory that opened not quite a year and a half ago.

On Sunday, Lion announced the latest amendments to its senior revolving credit agreement, the fourth such move this year, extending the maturity agreement with  lenders from Nov. 30 to Dec. 16. Lion said this will allow the company to maintain minimum liquidity needs for continued operation.

“Such additional liquidity will also provide the company with additional time to continue to actively evaluate potential alternatives relating to a restructuring of its obligations, a sale of the business or certain of its assets, strategic investments and/or any other alternatives, including seeking creditor protection … There can be no assurance that the Company will be successful in pursuing and implementing any such alternatives, nor any assurance as to the outcome or timing of any such alternatives,” according to a press release.

Lion also announced it was temporarily laying off 400 additional employees in both the U.S. and Canada. The company laid off 520 workers earlier this year. The latest workforce reduction suspends all production at the Joliet, Illinois, facility, which opened in July 2023 to much fanfare.

The company added that it has approximately 300 employees remaining that will focus on bus manufacturing, sales, service, delivery and maintenance.

On Thursday, Lion said it reached a definitive agreement to sell its innovation center in Mirabel, Quebec to Aéroport de Montreal for $50 million Canadian, about $35.65 million.

“As a result, while the transaction is expected to reduce [Lion’s] long-term indebtedness, it will not impact the company’s short-term liquidity and cash position,” the statement read.

On Nov. 30, the New York Stock Exchange began delisting Lion warrants citing “abnormally low selling price” levels. Since September, company revenue is down nearly 62 percent, with net income down 71 percent.

Lion was the first all-electric school bus manufacturer to reach market in 2017. It has over 2,200 total electric vehicles including trucks on the road.

Related: Low-income Areas Need Electric School Buses the Most, WRI Analysis Indicates
Related: Updated: Rising Insurance? Additional Balancing Act Needed Amid Electric School Bus Push
Related: Brooklyn to Receive a Charge From Electric School Bus Batteries With New Vehicle-To-Everything Smart Energy Hub Built By First Student And Con Edison
Related: School Bus Drivers Discuss Real-Life Experiences Driving Electric Buses

The post Updated: Lion Electric Suspends Manufacturing Operations at Joliet Plant appeared first on School Transportation News.

President-elect Donald Trump attends the America First Policy Institute Gala held at Mar-a-Lago on Nov. 14, 2024 in Palm Beach, Florida. The annual event supports Grey Team, a nonprofit organization dedicated to preventing military suicide. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON — President-elect Donald Trump continued his blitz of Cabinet and senior staff selections, closing the week Friday with the announcement that North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, a former presidential rival turned Trump surrogate, is his candidate to lead the federal department responsible for vast swaths of federal lands and U.S. relations with Native American tribes.

Burgum also will head up a brand new “National Energy Council,” Trump said.

In just 10 days since his decisive win, Trump from his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida rapidly disclosed his picks to lead major U.S. policy areas, including relationships around the globe and the health and well-being of Americans at home.

The president-elect, who trounced Democratic nominee Kamala Harris on Nov. 5, has named roughly half of his intended nominees for the 15 executive departments that traditionally comprise a president’s Cabinet. If Trump follows through on his nominations, he’ll need the U.S. Senate’s approval for each.

That feat could be an uphill battle for Trump’s more controversial nominees — namely a Fox News host to oversee the entire U.S. military, a vaccine skeptic to administer health and science funding, and a recent Florida congressman who was investigated by the Department of Justice to wield the power of attorney general.

Trump has also drawn from his 2024 campaign staff, personal attorneys and pool of first-administration loyalists to fill several senior White House staff picks that do not require Senate approval.

Here are some of the president-elect’s latest choices:

• Burgum as secretary of the Interior. Trump announced Friday he will nominate Burgum, a former 2024 Republican presidential hopeful, to lead the U.S. Department of the Interior. The $18 billion, 70,000-employee department oversees 11 bureaus that have a vast reach over relations with Native American tribes; control of hundreds of wildlife refuges and fish hatcheries; and the management of 245 million acres of public land, a third of the country’s minerals, and leasing for energy extraction from U.S. ocean waters. Trump said in a statement Friday that he will create a National Energy Council, with Burgum at the helm, “to oversee the path to U.S. ENERGY DOMINANCE,” he wrote. Burgum, a wealthy software executive turned governor, has filed a handful of lawsuits against the agency, including a challenge to open more oil and gas leasing in his state, according to the North Dakota Monitor. He dropped his 2024 presidential bid in January and endorsed Trump.

• Former U.S. Rep. Doug Collins of Georgia as secretary of Veterans Affairs. Trump announced Thursday his choice of the ex-congressman from Georgia to lead the agency that distributes health care to 9 million veterans at over 1,200 facilities annually. The department, which asked Congress for a $369.3 billion budget for next year, also oversees veterans disability benefits and manages national veterans cemeteries and memorials. Collins, a lawyer, pastor and member of the U.S. Air Force Reserve since 2002, served in the U.S. House from 2013 to 2021, according to his congressional biography.

• Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as secretary of Health and Human Services. The president-elect tapped Kennedy Jr. Thursday as his choice to lead the massive 80,000-employee Department of Health and Human Services that projects mandatory spending — think Medicare and Medicaid — will reach $1.7 trillion in 2025, and discretionary spending at $130.7 billion. Also under the huge HHS umbrella are the Food and Drug Administration, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Institutes of Health. Kennedy Jr., a former 2024 presidential hopeful who dropped out and endorsed Trump, is well known for his spreading of vaccine misinformation. The former environmental lawyer and son of the late Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy also made headlines during the 2024 race for admitting he dumped a dead bear cub in New York’s Central Park nearly a decade ago, among other unusual revelations.

• Trump attorney D. John Sauer as solicitor general of the United States. In his last staffing announcement Thursday, Trump said he intends to nominate his defense attorney in his federal election interference case to be the U.S. Justice Department’s litigator before the U.S. Supreme Court. Sauer successfully argued Trump’s presidential immunity case before the Supreme Court in April. Sauer made headlines at Trump’s federal January appeal hearing for appearing to argue that a president’s order for SEAL Team Six to assassinate a political rival would be covered under presidential immunity. Sauer, Missouri’s former solicitor general, was among those who filed friend-of-the-court briefs in support of Texas’ lawsuit to overturn the 2020 presidential election results.

• Former U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz as attorney general. Trump dropped a bombshell Wednesday afternoon when he revealed he will nominate the now-ex-lawmaker Gaetz of Florida as attorney general. Gaetz resigned from the U.S. House hours after Trump’s announcement, getting ahead of an anticipated ethics report on his alleged sexual misconduct and illicit drug use that could have been released Friday, according to several news outlets. Politico reported Friday that U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., does not want the report released, despite pressure from some in his own party. Gaetz, who if confirmed by the Senate would be the nation’s top law enforcement officer, was investigated by the Justice Department for two years, beginning under Trump’s first administration, for possible sex trafficking. The probe was dropped last year, as has been widely reported. Trump campaigned on meting out retribution from the Justice Department for his political foes following two federal investigations into his alleged stockpiling of classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago estate, and his alleged subversion of the 2020 presidential election. Gaetz is a staunch Trump ally and was among the nearly 140 House Republicans who objected to the 2020 election results. Trump has also tapped his personal criminal defense lawyer Todd Blanche to serve as deputy attorney general.

Within the past seven days, Trump also announced his plans to nominate former chair of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Jay Clayton as a U.S. attorney, former Democratic Congresswoman-turned-Republican Tulsi Gabbard as the director of national intelligence, Sen. Marco Rubio as secretary of State, Fox News host Pete Hegseth as secretary of Defense, South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem as Homeland Security chief, GOP Rep. Mike Waltz as national security adviser, former head of national intelligence John Ratcliffe as CIA director, former Immigration and Customs Enforcement Director Tom Homan as “border czar,” former Trump White House adviser and immigration policy architect Stephen Miller as deputy chief of staff for policy, House Republican Conference Chair Elise Stefanik as U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, former Congressman Lee Zeldin as Environmental Protection Agency administrator, and his 2024 campaign manager, Susie Wiles as his chief of staff. 

The president-elect made waves as well when declaring this past week that billionaire campaign donor Elon Musk and former presidential hopeful, now a staunch Trump supporter, Vivek Ramaswamy will together run an ambiguous entity titled the Department of Government Efficiency. Shortened to DOGE, it is still unclear how the organization would operate and interact with the federal government.

This article has been updated to reflect the correct title for Jay Clayton.

South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem speaks at the Calvin Coolidge Foundation conference at the Library of Congress on Feb. 17, 2023 in Washington, D.C.  (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON — President-elect Donald Trump said Tuesday night he will nominate South Dakota Republican Gov. Kristi Noem to lead the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, which will carry out Trump’s plan to conduct mass deportations of millions of people in the country without proper legal status.

“Kristi has been very strong on Border Security,” Trump said in a statement.  “She will work closely with “Border Czar” Tom Homan to secure the Border, and will guarantee that our American Homeland is secure from our adversaries. I have known Kristi for years, and have worked with her on a wide variety of projects – She will be a great part of our mission to Make America Safe Again.”

DHS is the agency primarily responsible for immigration enforcement and border security and handles temporary protections to allow immigrants to live and work in the United States. As Trump rolls out his nominees, Noem would be the first governor to get the nod for the Cabinet.

DHS has about 260,000 federal employees and a nearly $62 billion discretionary budget authority.

The news had already caused a backlash among Democrats even before Trump’s announcement, as media reports said Noem would be selected.

“With a long history of championing Trump’s draconian immigration policies, Governor Kristi Noem will carry out his cruel plans without a second thought,” Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren said in a statement.

Noem said in a statement she is “honored and humbled” to be selected.

“I look forward to working with Border Czar Tom Homan to make America SAFE again,” said Noem. “With Donald Trump, we will secure the Border, and restore safety to American communities so that families will again have the opportunity to pursue The American Dream.”

Noem, a staunch Trump ally, was one of several Republican governors who sent U.S. National Guard troops to the southern border in Texas, in a rebuke to the Biden administration and its immigration policies. She’s also visited the southern border several times.

Noem served in Congress from 2011 until 2019, when she left after winning her 2018 run for governor. She’s in her second term that is set to expire in 2026.

While in Congress, she served on the U.S. House Armed Services, Ways and Means and Agriculture committees.

Noem did not sit on the committee that provides oversight for DHS, the Homeland Security Committee.

Noem joins border czar

In Trump’s second administration, Noem would join several former Trump officials who were the architects and biggest defenders of his hard-line immigration policies. The three are among Trump’s first staffing announcements.

On Monday, Trump dubbed the former acting director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement in the previous Trump administration, Homan, as his “border czar.” Homan backed the controversial “zero tolerance” policy that separated nearly 5,000 migrant families at the southern border.

Stephen Miller, who steered many of Trump’s first-term immigration policies, is set to join the White House as a deputy chief of staff for policy.

Vanessa Cárdenas, the executive director of the immigration advocacy group America’s Voice, said in a statement that the appointment of Miller and Homan signals that “mass deportations will be indiscriminate and unsparing.”

“The Stephen Miller and Tom Homan appointments are disturbing, if unsurprising, signals that we should take Donald Trump seriously and literally about his proposed largest deportation operation in American history and the unsparing, indiscriminate, and costly nature of what’s to come,” Cárdenas said.

Noem’s nomination to Trump’s Cabinet would have to go through Senate confirmation, where she could face questions about an anecdote in her memoir. She retracted a story about meeting North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un after reporters questioned whether the meeting actually happened.

Additionally, in the same memoir, she disclosed that she shot her 14-month-old puppy, named Cricket, because of behavioral issues. The revelation drew intense criticism from both sides of the political aisle.

Vast responsibilities

DHS is a sprawling agency consisting of  U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, Transportation Security Administration, U.S. Secret Service and U.S. Coast Guard, among other national security agencies.

The Secret Service is under intense scrutiny after major shortfalls in its prevention of the first assassination attempt against Trump last summer, where he sustained an injury to his ear. That first assassination attempt in Butler, Pennsylvania, led to the director, Kimberly Cheatle, resigning.

Ronald L. Rowe, the U.S. Secret Service deputy director, is currently serving as the acting director, and was praised for the agency’s swift action in the second assassination attempt against Trump at his private golf course in Florida. 

FRISCO, Texas — On Sunday evening, attendees and vendors gathered amid food and drink stations for a fun and interactive networking event with a football tailgate theme on the trade show floor. The next day, they returned for more discussions and demos with the innovative products, solutions and services on display.

1 of 34

Photos by Vince Rios Creative. 

The post Gallery: 2 Days of TSD 2024 Trade Show appeared first on School Transportation News.

Navistar is rebranding to International Motors, citing a shift in strategy to transform the business into a solutions provider, effective Oct. 1.

The new strategy was announced on Wednesday, 118 years after the formation of International Harvester that eventually led to the Navistar name in 1990. The company, which continues to operate the IC Bus brand, also shared a new logo.

“International embodies determination, partnership and collaboration in meeting every challenge with a solution” said Tobias Glitterstram, the company’s chief strategy and transformation officer.

President and CEO Mathias Carlbaum added, “The return to International is an acknowledgment of our rich heritage as much as it is an investment in our promising future.”

The company stated this evolution is part of its broader transformation, which has been ongoing since 2021 with owner Traton Group, formerly known as Volkswagen Truck and Bus. In the coming months, current tools like OnCommand, Connection and International 360 will come together under a new digital customer interface called My International.

The aim of My International is to enhance and customize the customer’s experience by aligning all their solutions and data including service contracts, financing and fleet management in one place, the company stated.

Additionally, the company announced the launch of the International S13 Integrated Powertrain, a new suit of comprehensive ownership solutions for battery-electric vehicles and the revival of captive financial services, which will now go to market as International Financial.

The press release notes the new logo takes inspiration from the choreography that occurs daily on streets, highways and roads.

Related: Navistar Celebrates International Truck and IC Bus Uptime Academy Graduation, Class of 2023 – 2024
Related: Navistar Provides Peace of Mind with New Ownership Solutions for Electric Vehicle Line-Up
Related: (STN Podcast E228) Freedom From Risk: How Districts Can Protect Students in the School Bus Danger Zone
Related: (Free Webinar) Simplifying the E-Rate Process for School Bus Wi-Fi

The post Navistar to ’Return to its Roots’ with Name Change to International appeared first on School Transportation News.

An eventful week of CEO announcements continued with Daimler Truck North America (DTNA) appointing T.J. Reed to the dual role of CEO and president of Thomas Built Buses and Freightliner Custom Chassis Corp.

Effective immediately, Reed is responsible for all aspects of the Thomas Built Buses (TBB) and Freightliner (FCCC) brands, including strategy, sales and operations, DTNA said in a statement on Monday. Mario DiFoggio, general manager and direct sales and marketing for Thomas confirmed with School Transportation News on Tuesday that the expectation going forward is this will be a dual role overseeing both TBB and FCCC.

As of Sept. 9, Reed succeeds Kevin Bangston, who was appointed president and CEO of Daimler Truck Financial Services North America. Reed was the president of Daimler Truck Remarketing and the SelecTrucks brands but will remain responsible for the business unit and according to DTNA will continue to support the team until his successor is named. He has over 25 years of experience in the truck manufacturing industry.

“His skillset certainly aligns perfectly for where both entities are headed in the EV space,” DiFoggio said. “With that said, TJ’s overall strategic leadership style and background played a significant part in him being appointed to this role.”

Related: Update: Blue Bird CEO-to-be Smith Resigns, Horlock to Remain On
Related: Thomas Built Buses Seeks Bangston Replacement Amid Move to DTNA Financial
Related: School Bus Contractor Switzer-Carty Adds Oyster to Business Development Team

Reed joined Daimler Truck in 1998 as a customer application engineer for vocational trucks and since then has held various roles in product marketing and strategy as well as pricing and P&L responsibility within DTNA. He joined Meritor in 2016 and held several leadership positions in his four years with the company, including vice president of global business development for electrification.

“T.J.’s broad experience across the industry, as well as his exceptional customer focus, makes him the perfect fit for this role,” stated Jeff Allen, senior vice president, operations and specialty vehicles for DTNA via a press release. “His expertise and personality will enable him to drive innovation and growth for both companies.”

DTNA President and CEO John O’Leary added the company is excited to have Reed at the helm of Thomas and Freightliner.

“His extensive industry knowledge and exceptional leadership skills will further strengthen and drive the success of both,” he stated. “With his vision and holistic approach to operations he will be a valuable asset to these already strong businesses and help continue to pave the way to sustainable transportation.”

The post Reed Named New Thomas Built Buses CEO, President appeared first on School Transportation News.

Ryan and Taylor delve into OEM leadership and business updates, rising electric vehicle insurance, and technology in the school bus garage. The STN August issue has more on fleet management.

“It’s changing a lot lately.” Garage Star and Shop Foreman Scottie McKinzie discusses going back to school, dealing with mechanic shortages, implementing new technology like safety equipment and propane buses, and streamlining inventory and operations at Futon County Schools in Georgia.

Read more about the bus garage.

This episode is brought to you by Transfinder.

Message from IC Bus.

Stream, subscribe and download the School Transportation Nation podcast on Apple Podcasts, Deezer, Google Podcasts, iHeartRadio, RadioPublic, Spotify, Stitcher and YouTube.

The post (STN Podcast E222) Tools to Get the Job Done: Georgia Garage Star Talks Maintenance Evolution appeared first on School Transportation News.

Weeks shy of adding CEO to his resume, Blue Bird President Britton Smith announced his resignation from the company.

Current CEO Phil Horlock said he will not retire on Sept. 29, as was the plan when he and the board announced last month that Smith would succeed him. Blue Bird said Smith’s resignation as president is effective Sept. 28. He is also no longer on the board of directors, effective immediately.

“It has been an honor to serve as president of Blue Bird,” Smith said in a statement on Monday. “My decision to step down is driven by personal reasons and I need to focus on these important aspects of my life at this time. I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to our employees and partners for their support during my tenure.”

When Smith was named president in May 2023, the writing was on the wall that he could also eventually succeed Horlock as CEO. His ascent to the position appeared to be finalized on Aug. 7.

With the release of its third-quarter 2024 earnings and raised guidance for the full fiscal year, Horlock said Smith passed with flying colors a “rigorous transition plan” set in place to prepare him to assume the CEO title, which was to officially take place on Sept. 29.

This is not the first time Horlock’s plans to retire have changed. He originally retired from the company in November 2021, and Matthew Stevenson was named president and CEO. One of Stevenson’s first moves was to bring Smith on board from KPMG, where he was director of strategy and deal advisory, as senior vice president of electrification and chief strategy officer. Stevenson left Blue Bird in May 2023 to take a similar role at Holley.

Horlock came out of retirement to re-assume the CEO position, and Blue Bird named Smith president. Horlock originally joined Blue Bird in 2010 as chief financial officer and chief administrative officer after a 30-year career at Ford Motor Company. He was named president and CEO a year later and was responsible for the evolution of the company’s propane school bus via a partnership with ROUSH CleanTech Autogas system, a relationship that was recently extended to 2030. He also oversaw the launch of Blue Bird’s electric school bus line.

Meanwhile, during Smith’s tenure Blue Bird has produced over 2,000 electric school buses and grown its EV ecosystem to include the financial service arm Clean Bus Solutions, a joint venture with Generate Capital.

When Horlock returned to Blue Bird last May to replace Stevenson, who left for personal reasons, Smith was named president weeks later. At the time, Horlock noted that Blue Bird had “significantly expanded” its market-leading position with electric school buses. The company continues a high output of ESBs.

Since Smith was named president, the company’s stock has nearly doubled. Also on Wednesday, Blue Bird announced a 40-percent increase in electric school bus production from the third quarter of 2023 to the third quarter of 2024. Revenue also grew by 13 percent to $333 million with adjusted EBITDA at a record $48 million and 14.5 percent margin.

“Managing our transition to EV leadership has been an incredible experience and I look forward to even greater growth ahead for the entire company,” Smith said in a statement in August. “It’s an exciting time in Blue Bird’s history, and I’m energized by the opportunities ahead.”

Smith also led the introduction in June of standard lap/shoulder seatbelts, driver airbags and other safety technology.

At the time of the announcement that Smith was poised to replace Horlock as CEO, Blue Bird also announced that board member Doug Grimm replaced Kevin Penn as chairman of the board. Penn continues to serve on the board.

“On behalf of the Board of Directors and the entire Blue Bird team, I want to express our gratitude to Britton for his leadership and contributions to the company,” Grimm said on Monday. “We wish him all the best in the future.”

Related: (STN Podcast E215) Next-Level Safety: Exclusive Interview – Seatbelts Standard on Blue Bird Buses
Related: OEM Blue Bird Featured on CBS for Safety Technology, Three-Point Seatbelts
Related: WATCH: Blue Bird at STN EXPO Reno 2024

The post Update: Blue Bird CEO-to-be Smith Resigns, Horlock to Remain On appeared first on School Transportation News.