JEFFERSON HILLS, Pa. – Matthews Bus Company’s West Jefferson maintenance team has received a letter of commendation from the Pennsylvania State Police for their extraordinary commitment to safety and fleet maintenance. This is the second time the team has received praise for their fleet inspections in the last few years – proving their unwavering, continuous dedication to ensuring their buses are maintained to the highest standards.

The letter of commendation, written by Corporal Jacob Y. Roberts, Patrol Supervisor and US DOT Inspector for the Pennsylvania State Police, praised Maintenance Supervisor Sam Borrelli and his team, stating the following:

“Sam and his team are far and away among the absolute best to work with. The buses are always extremely well maintained, clean, and never have any issues that would result in a violation on a DOT Inspection. There is never a concern when coming to the garage that things will be out of place or that the process will be difficult. In addition to the buses, the garage itself is always well kept and maintained, and it is always a pleasurable experience to visit.”

Corporal Roberts also lauded Sam, sharing, “I have known Sam for many years at this point, and I personally believe that he does an excellent job. He reflects extremely well upon the company, and more importantly, has a genuine care and concern for the children and drivers that are in the school buses every day. He should be commended for such consistent and excellent work.

John Hinners, who is Sam’s manager and also the Regional Maintenance Manager for the Company’s Great Lakes area, shared his sentiments regarding Sam and his team’s incredible achievement and efforts, stating, “This letter is a phenomenal testament to the dedication Sam’s team provides to fleet maintenance at West Jefferson. Determination and commitment builds integrity and character. It is clear we have made an impact with our consistent and steady approach to quality maintenance. I am beyond proud of the team and their achievement. Congrats and keep up the amazing work.”

Matthews Bus Company has served the Jefferson Hills community for over 60 years and currently provides transportation for the West Jefferson Hills School District. In addition to providing transportation services, the company is proud to support the community as part of its Partners Beyond the Bus community outreach program. Examples include donating 20,000 lbs. of food to a local food pantry for the holidays, holding a Stuff a Bus event, donating a bus to the West Jefferson Hills School District for mobile mental health services, donating backpacks to local students, and more.

About Matthews Bus Company
Matthews Bus Company has been providing safe and reliable student transportation across Pennsylvania since 1961. Its mission is to transport students to school safely, on time and ready to learn® and is a sister brand to Petermann Bus, Durham School Services, Stock Transportation, and more. Through this mission and a grassroots approach to our operations, Matthews Bus Company and its sister brands have earned recognition as a trusted transportation provider among our Customers and the Communities they serve.

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GLENDALE, Ariz.— RTA: The Fleet Success Company is proud to be Certified by Great Place To Work for the 3rd time in the last 4 years. The prestigious recognition is based entirely on what current employees say about their experience working at RTA. This year, 99% of employees said it’s a great place to work, 42 points higher than the average U.S. company.

Great Place To Work is the global authority on workplace culture, employee experience, and the leadership behaviors proven to deliver market-leading revenue, employee retention, and increased innovation.

“Great Place To Work Certification is a highly coveted achievement that requires consistent and intentional dedication to the overall employee experience,” says Sarah Lewis-Kulin, Vice President of Global Recognition at Great Place To Work. “By successfully earning this recognition, it is evident that RTA stands out as one of the top companies to work for, providing a great workplace environment for its employees.”

At RTA, culture isn’t a perk; it’s a foundation. The company operates on three core virtues: Humble, Hungry, and Smart. These aren’t aspirational values written on a poster, but a rigorous hiring and operational standard that shapes every decision the company makes, from who joins the team to how they serve their 1,000+ fleet management clients.

“Earning this recognition three times isn’t something that happens by accident,” said Josh Turley, CEO of RTA. “It happens because we are deeply intentional about who we bring into this company and how we treat them once they’re here. We set a high bar, and our team clears it every single day. Seeing 100% of our employees say they trust our leadership to be honest and ethical, and that they genuinely care about each other. That’s the culture we’ve worked hard to build and protect. I couldn’t be more proud of this team.”

Additional highlights from this year’s survey include:

100% of employees say management is honest and ethical in its business practices.

100% say people here are willing to give extra to get the job done.

100% say people care about each other here.

100% say when you join the company, you are made to feel welcome.

99% say people here are given a lot of responsibility.

RTA’s commitment to its people is also a commitment to its purpose: We Help Fleets Succeed. The company believes that the same care and intentionality brought to serving fleet managers, an often overlooked and under-resourced profession, must be brought to caring for the people doing that work.

According to Great Place To Work research, job seekers are 4.5 times more likely to find a great boss at a Certified great workplace. Additionally, employees at Certified workplaces are 93% more likely to look forward to coming to work, and are twice as likely to be paid fairly, earn a fair share of the company’s profits, and have a fair chance at promotion.

WE’RE HIRING!

Looking to grow your career at a company that puts its people first? Visit our careers page at: rtafleet.com/careers

About RTA
With over 45 years of industry experience, RTA: The Fleet Success Company delivers a modern fleet management information system (FMIS) and legendary fleet consulting services. RTA’s software is built by fleet professionals for fleet professionals that manage most of their maintenance in-house. From budgeting and performance reporting to streamlining technician and inventory workflows, RTA gives fleet teams the tools and resources they need to run high-performing, cost-efficient organizations. The combination of easy-to-use software, practical consulting, and the industry’s best customer service helps public sector and enterprise fleets make better decisions and maximize operational efficiency.

About Great Place To Work Certification
Great Place To Work Certification is the most definitive “employer-of-choice” recognition that companies aspire to achieve. It is the only recognition based entirely on what employees report about their workplace experience, specifically how consistently they experience a high-trust workplace. Great Place to Work Certification is recognized worldwide by employees and employers alike and is the global benchmark for identifying and recognizing outstanding employee experience. Every year, more than 10,000 companies across 60 countries apply to get Great Place To Work-Certified.

The post RTA: The Fleet Success Company Earns Great Place To Work Certification for the Third Time, Far Exceeding National Average appeared first on School Transportation News.

The West Virginia Department of Education shared this informative video during Love the Bus Month to provide a behind the scenes look at the detailed pre-trip inspection routine needed before school buses hit the road.

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Related: Update: Love the Bus Month Underway, NAPT Seeks Recognition Year-Round
Related: WATCH: Maine District Highlights Drivers for Love the Bus Month
Related: Gallery: Love the Bus Month 2025 Celebrations

The post WATCH: West Virginia Highlights School Bus Inspection for Love the Bus Month appeared first on School Transportation News.

What should a school transportation department expect in the wake of a serious or fatal school bus crash? In Tennessee, a painstakingly thorough post-crash investigation process begins by reviewing the bus driver’s training and the bus maintenance records, three of the state’s highway patrol troopers said.

In the immediate aftermath of a school bus crash, school staff should expect authorities to follow specific protocol, beginning with ensuring that everyone who’s injured receives the care they need. Next, they will take steps to preserve the crash scene, properly document physical evidence, take photos, and collect witness statements.

“That includes making sure that nothing’s being taken out before it’s documented and that everything that can be done at the scene is done before anyone starts moving stuff or letting people go,” said Sgt. Jena Eubanks of the Tennessee Highway Patrol. “We may put down paint where a vehicle comes to rest just so we can come out later and measure the scene if need be.”

Lt. Raymond Gaskill said the first steps when investigating a serious or fatal school bus crash include securing the bus driver’s information to determine the commercial driver’s license and training record.

“We’re going to verify that the bus has been inspected and that it was supposed to be operational,” Gaskill said. “Even if the crash is not investigated by the highway patrol, transportation directors know that our team of inspectors have to look at that bus before they put kids back on it.”

If an incident occurred while students were loading or unloading, authorities “want to make sure the eight-way lighting was on and the stop sign was out at the time of the crash so it can be documented,” Gaskill said. “Ninety percent of Tennessee buses have cameras nowadays, so we’ll make sure to get with those transportation directors and look at that video.”

Eubanks said post-crash inspections follow two paths.

“There’s what we do on the people side, and we’ll inspect the bus to see what damage, if there is any damage, occurred as a result of the crash,” she said. “The post-crash inspection is conducted by certified personnel … and it’s a very thorough investigation where we’re breaking down that vehicle mere seconds before the crash and building it back up to see, ‘Was there something wrong with the vehicle at the time that was a causing a factor in the crash?’ Those can take a week or a couple days or weeks more, depending on what we’re dealing with.”

Gaskill said the “people side” probe includes a look back at least 24 hours into the driver’s activities.

“Were they sick? Did they stay up all night? Did they get enough rest? What were they doing? You know, those types of things would all play a factor into the crashes,” he explained.

Authorities will also review on-board technology during a crash event reconstruction with the recognition that systems may not be calibrated or accurate.

“We may use the GPS, but we’d have to look at other factors. My calculations as a reconstructionist tell me their minimum speed was this. The GPS says they were going that fast. That would help your case, but we don’t just take GPS at its word,” Gaskill said.

Distraction the Most Prevalent Cause of Crashes

The most common factors in minor and serious school bus crashes involve hitting mirrors on other vehicles due to being too close to the center line and tail swing when the rear of a bus crosses the center line, according to Gaskill. But, he added, “You would be amazed at how many people rear end a school bus, and you can’t train for that.”

Eubanks said most crashes she sees are caused by “some type of distraction.”

“Whether it’s on the driver of the bus or the driver of the other vehicle because most crashes can be prevented, but I would say most of them are distractions,” Eubanks said.

Capt. Allen England said Gaskill’s and Eubanks’ observations can be covered under one umbrella: Human error.

“Whether it’s distraction or tail swing or something else, that’s human error in the operation of the vehicle. Whether it be loading or unloading children or a child getting caught in a door and dragged, it’s the people factor, human error,” he said. “Rarely do we ever see, maybe two out of 100 times, a mechanical defect that may have contributed to a crash. But that’s human error, too.”

The best crashes, though, are the ones that never happen, thanks to foresight and preparation. The Tennessee Highway Patrol’s focus on preventing crashes begins by inspecting 147 school districts’ roughly 9,800 buses.

“We inspect every school bus in the state at least once per year, some twice or more per year. We train every driver at least one time per year, maybe more. We notify transportation directors of downgrades or anything that alters that driver’s license that they need to know about or they may need to take a driver out of a school bus,” England said. “We have a very robust program, and we have committed individuals to the program to help kids safe.”

The four hours of mandated driver training address common safety issues, Gaskill said. “We look at the crashes that come in across the state throughout the year, and that’s what we train next year,” he added. “If we have a lot of tail swing incidents, we make sure to put in training about tail swing. … Student management is always a big one.”

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Related: This is Bad
Related: NTSB Investigating Fatal School Bus Dragging in Maine
Related: Waymo Driverless Vehicles Continue to Illegally Pass School Buses

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As long as transportation departments are performing proper bus maintenance and conducting effective training, England said, his best advice for fleet managers to prevent accidents is “first and foremost, know your driver.

“The driver is typically the largest factor in the crash. So, they need to understand the driver and what’s going on with them. If the driver is going through something horrendous in his personal life, is that going to affect his ability to safely operate that bus?” he continued. “Know your driver and engage with those drivers as frequently as you can.”

Eubanks agreed. In addition to extending England’s advice to the shop foreperson and mechanics, she encouraged fleet managers to conduct video reviews of bus drivers and follow up on complaints about erratic or unsafe driving.

“Also make sure your drivers are doing what they’re supposed to do regarding pre-trips and post-trips. Pre-trip and post-trip (inspections) are required by federal mandate and by our state regulations,” Eubanks said. “Make sure that driver is taking that time in the morning and in the afternoon to walk around their bus make sure everything’s good to go on it, and notating anything that’s wrong and ensuring that that bus is getting fixed properly.”

The post Investigation, Documentation Crucial to School Bus Crash Investigations appeared first on School Transportation News.

DETROIT, Mich. – Questar Auto Technologies’ predictive Total Fleet Health Management solution is now available on the Geotab Marketplace,a network of fleet-focused solutions for companies looking to increase productivity and compliance while lowering operating costs.

Questar’s AI-driven Total Fleet Health Management solution helps fleet operators to detect vehicle issues earlier, plan repairs proactively, and reduce unplanned downtime through predictive and prescriptive health insights.

Questar is one of the only fleet health solutions that shows the estimated cost of early intervention along with the estimated downstream cost of inaction; thereby helping fleets make confident, economics-driven maintenance decisions.

From easy implementation to higher revenues

Through a cloud-to-cloud integration with Geotab – which means there is no additional hardware to contend with — Questar analyzes vehicle telemetry, engine fault data, maintenance history, and environmental context to identify emerging issues before they become failures.

The Questar platform provides early-warning alerts (up to 30 days in advance), repair recommendations, and actionable insights tailored to each vehicle.

By combining Geotab high-quality data with Questar’s advanced analytics and industry-specific, patented AI Foundation models, fleet operators gain a proactive, data-driven approach to maintenance that drives measurable operational and financial impact. Vehicles stay on the road longer, generating more revenue.

“Fleets are looking for solutions that fit naturally into their existing technology environments,” says Aaron Howell, Vice President of Sales for Questar North America. “Through the Geotab Marketplace, fleets across North America can now access Questar’s advanced features.”

About Questar Auto Technologies:
Questar is a pioneer in vehicle health management, offering a comprehensive solution that includes both predictive and prescriptive VHM. Questar enables Tier 1 suppliers, OEMs, leasing companies, service providers and enterprise fleets to cut downtime, reduce maintenance costs, and maximize revenue through advanced AI-driven analytics. https://questarauto.com

The post Questar Predictive Total Fleet Health Management Now Available in the Geotab Marketplace appeared first on School Transportation News.

School Transportation News is currently accepting applications for its 2026 awards: Garage Stars, Rising Stars, Innovator of the Year and the Peter J. Grandolfo Memorial Award of Excellence.

STN gathers annual nominations from across the country and historically has chosen 10 Garage Star finalists to be featured in the August magazine edition. Last summer, STN selected seven individuals and three maintenance teams. STN also features 10 Rising SuperStar finalists in the November issue.

Garage and Rising Star finalists receive STN conference registration scholarships, to be used at an STN EXPO or TSD conference of their choice the following year.

The application window for Garage Stars will close on May 16. Rising Stars will remain open until July 31.

The Grandolfo Award, sponsored by Q’Straint, is its 18th year. Named after Peter Grandolfo, the late Chicago Public Schools transportation director and NAPT board member, the award is presented at STN EXPO West. The Grandolfo award recognizes a school transportation professional who exhibits exemplary service on behalf of the nation’s school children, especially those with disabilities. The application deadline is May 22.

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Related: Garage Star, Rising Star Finalists to Receive Conference Registration Scholarships
Related: Michigan’s Morris Presented with 2025 Grandolfo Award at STN EXPO
Related: Innovator Award Seeks Nominations of Trailblazing School Bus Contractors

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Meanwhile, the fifth annual Innovator of the Year award features a private school bus contractor employee who exemplifies the adoption of cutting-edge technology and programs.

STN presents Innovator of the Year in partnership with the National School Transportation Association. Readers may submit an online nomination through May 1.

Qualifications include making “significant, tangible contributions” to the school transportation industry within the past 12 months. Innovations could include technology implementation, operations, safety initiatives and green energy adoption.

The post Nominations Open for 2026 STN Awards appeared first on School Transportation News.

The most read School Transportation News magazine articles in 2025 explored AI and other emerging technology, leadership, workforce development and evolving student transportation models.

Specific topics included illegal school bus passing prevention, routing optimization, artificial intelligence and future-focused fleet technology, to reflect a transportation industry actively adapting to new challenges and opportunities. At the same time, human-centered stories, highlighting leadership, recognition and professional growth continued to resonate strongly with readers.

Together, these articles underscore the industry’s dual focus on innovation and culture as transportation departments prepare for the future.

STN reports below on the top-viewed article from each monthly magazine issue in 2025, organized by publication month.

January – Atypical Student Transportation

This article examined nontraditional student transportation scenarios that fall outside standard home-to-school routes on school buses. It explored how districts are adapting to serve students with disabilities and special needs who need alternative schedules and specialized programs. The piece emphasized flexibility, collaboration and policy considerations required to safely and effectively manage atypical transportation models.

February – Combatting Illegal Passing with Awareness, Technology
Focusing on one of the most persistent safety threats in pupil transportation, this article addresses strategies to reduce illegal passing of stopped school buses. It highlighted the role of public awareness campaigns, stop-arm cameras, and enforcement partnerships, reinforcing the importance of both education and technology in protecting students at bus stops.

March – On the Block

Procurement and decision-making challenges faced by transportation departments, particularly as districts evaluate new vehicles, services and technologies, underscore the importance of planning, transparency and stakeholder input when making large-scale transportation investments.

 

April – Seeing Into the Future

One of the most-read magazine articles of the year looked at emerging AI trends shaping student transportation. Topics include predictive maintenance technologies, data-driven operations and forward-thinking approaches to safety and efficiency. The article encouraged readers to view innovation as a proactive tool rather than a reactive solution.

May – Q&A: Wyskiel Steers Blue Bird Toward Its Second Century

This Q&A featured leadership insights from Blue Bird President and CEO John Wyskiel, focusing on the company’s vision as it moves into its second century. The discussion touched on innovation, electrification, manufacturing priorities and the evolving needs of school districts.

June – Peeling Back the Routing Layers

Routing remains one of the most complex aspects of school transportation, and this article took a deep dive into the many variables that influence route design. From staffing shortages to bell times to special needs transportation, the piece highlighted how layered decision-making and technology tools can help districts improve efficiency and service reliability.

July – Leadership Perspectives on the Future of AI

This article examines how AI may shape the future of student transportation. Industry leaders share perspectives on potential applications, from routing and predictive maintenance to training and operations, while also addressing concerns around implementation, data, and workforce readiness.

August – 10 Years: Garage Stars

Celebrating a decade of recognizing excellence, this article highlights the critical role maintenance professionals play in student transportation. It honored the dedication, expertise and behind-the-scenes work of garage staff who keep fleets safe, reliable and road-ready every day.

 

September – Future-Focused Technology

This article explores technology solutions designed to support long-term transportation goals rather than short-term fixes. Topics included vehicle systems, software integration and tools that improve safety, accountability, and operational visibility for transportation departments.

 

October – Transportation Director Salaries by U.S. Region

Providing data-driven insight into compensation trends, this top-viewed article breaks down transportation director salaries by region across the contiguous U.S. It offers valuable benchmarking information amid ongoing workforce recruitment and retention challenges.

 

November – Rising Superstars

The most-viewed magazine article of 2025 spotlighted emerging leaders in the student transportation industry. By recognizing rising professionals making meaningful contributions, the article reflects the industry’s focus on mentorship, succession planning and cultivating the next generation of transportation leadership.

 

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Related: (STN Podcast E240) 2024 in Review: Top STN Magazine Articles
Related: (STN Podcast E241) 2024 in Review: Top STN Online News Articles
Related: Top 10 Most Popular STN Web Articles of 2024
Related: 2024 STN Magazine Top Articles

The post 2025 STN Magazine Top Articles appeared first on School Transportation News.

Reactive school bus maintenance could leave your district more vulnerable to breakdowns, higher costs and safety risks.

But with a data-driven approach, you can move past the hassles of the “break-fix” maintenance model and promote a healthier, higher-performing bus fleet. This guide will teach you how to:

Gain deeper, more actionable insights into school bus health with a fleet management solution.

Limit downtime, high repair costs and safety risks through data-driven maintenance schedules.

Predict maintenance needs and fix part issues before they break down.

Download this guide now for effective strategies to help improve your school bus fleet’s longevity, reliability and cost-efficiency through smarter maintenance.

Fill out the form below and then check your email for the white paper download link.

The post (Free White Paper) The Essential Guide to School Bus Maintenance: Maximizing Safety and Uptime appeared first on School Transportation News.

• 

How to Jump-Start a Hybrid Car Battery

Just like traditional gas-powered vehicles, a hybrid car battery can be jump started when the battery is discharged. Jump-starting your hybrid shouldn’t stray too far from the process of their gas engine counterpart, though the same amount of caution should be taken.

Please note your jumper cable connectors should not be touching unless they are fully disconnected.

• Park your vehicle on a flat and dry surface
• Turn the vehicle off alongside all electrical components including the headlights and radio
• Place the positive jumper cable clamp (+) colored red on the positive battery terminal of your discharged hybrid battery or positive jump post
• Place the positive clamp on the positive terminal of the functioning car battery
• Place the negative battery (-) colored black on the negative terminal of the functioning car battery
• Place the negative clamp on the negative battery terminal of the dead battery or negative jump post
• Start the engine of the vehicle with the functioning battery and lightly press the accelerate for about five minutes
• Start the engine of your hybrid with the discharged battery
• Remove the negative clamp from the previously-dead battery
• Remove the negative clamp from the functioning battery
• Remove the positive clamp from the functioning battery
• Remove the positive clamp from the previously-dead battery

What Causes a Hybrid Battery to Die?

While it may be difficult to narrow down the exact cause of your hybrid battery dying, there are a few main culprits that tend to pop up:

• Loose battery terminals can cause a discharged battery in both gas and hybrid vehicles. In order to avoid this, inspect your battery terminals when your Toyota is turned off.
• Extremely cold temperatures can negatively affect the 12-volt battery by slowing down battery chemistry
• Parasitic draw happens when something electric, like a cabin light being left or a door not being closed all the way, drains your car battery.

If you’re having constant issues with your Toyota hybrid battery, schedule a service appointment with us at our Toyota service center in Madison. If you have any questions or need more information about caring for your hybrid car battery, contact us online at Smart Toyota.

About Smart Motors

Founded in 1908 by O.D. Smart, Smart Motors is one of the nation’s oldest automotive dealerships, the Midwest’s largest hybrid dealer, Wisconsin’s Largest Toyota Certified Used Vehicle dealer and one of Wisconsin’s largest volume new Toyota dealers. Located in Madison, Smart Motors is Wisconsin’s only two-time President’s Cabinet Award recipient from Toyota Motor Sales for superior customer service & sales volume.

The post How to Jump-Start Your Hybrid appeared first on Smart Toyota Blog.

Vehicle winterization – whether this will be your first winter in Wisconsin, or you’re born and raised in cheese-country, it’s something every Wisconsinite must prepare for. The morning temperatures are dipping below freezing, highs are lucky to break freezing, accumulating snow will soon be piling up, but have you winterized your vehicle? Thankfully, most of us only need to brave these elements for brief periods at a time, usually as long as it takes to go from a heated building to one’s vehicle and back into another heated sanctuary. But if the freezing temps, gusty winds, and icy snow in the Madison area are hard on you for the few moments you’re out, think about the brutal beating your car takes.

Your vehicle may have been sitting out for hours. The last thing you want to do is trudge over the frozen landscape, reach your vehicle, turn the key in the ignition, and – oh no! – all you hear is a hideous series of click-click-clicks, groans, and exhausted whirs. The engine isn’t turning over. Why didn’t you winterize your ride!?

Luis Roman, Assistant Service Manager at Smart Motors in Madison, says there’s no time like the present to start getting your vehicle in shape for the unpredictable winter season. He says every year he is asked by multiple people what the most important factors are when preparing a vehicle for the challenges winter can pose. And with the Farmers’ Almanac predicting a snowy winter with colder than normal temperatures, it is probably a good idea to take note of the winterization check list he shares with others.

“The top item on any vehicle winterization list is fairly obvious,” he says. “It’s having a quality, fully charged, and undamaged BATTERY.”

Roman says it takes more power to start a car in the winter because battery power decreases as the temperature drops. If your battery is already having problems, your risk of breaking down or becoming stranded increases. It is recommended to have a battery with at least the vehicle manufacturers CCA rating, most hybrids will have 12 volt batteries under 400 CCA which are fine for that application

The second and third items on Roman’s list are TIRES and BRAKES. Thankfully the cold doesn’t necessarily harm these components, but it doesn’t hurt to make sure they are in the best condition to handle the hazards of winter driving. He says most drivers don’t think about their tires until they have to swerve or brake suddenly – often with serious consequences. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, about nine percent of vehicle crashes are tire-related and could be prevented with proper tire maintenance.

“All-season tires are what I recommend to most drivers,” says Roman. “They’re great for people with short commutes and little reason to veer far from the beaten path.” According to Roman, all-season tires are also very convenient, as they don’t need to be swapped out with any other set of tires seasonally.

“When people need to commute to and from work from a rural area, I almost always say they should go with snow tires,” says Roman. “They can swap out with their regular tires in early November or so. And having two sets of tires puts less wear and tear on both pairs, so you can have them for quite a long while.”

Top Five Best Winter Tires

• Michelin X-Ice Xi3
• Bridgestone Blizzak WS90
• Dunlop Winter Maxx WM02
• General AltiMAX Arctic
• Continental Winter Contact TS830

Shop for tires for your for your vehicle.

The fourth item on Roman’s list is WINDSHIELD WIPER BLADES. He says that there are blades specifically made for winter driving, and they could really be a lifesaver.

“You really never know what winter is going to throw at you, so it’s best to be prepared,” he says. “It could be freezing rain, wintery mix, wet snow, or the car in front of you splashing your windshield with the dirty, salty slush on the road. Windshields really take a beating in the winter.”

The amount of debris that could potentially block your view needs to be cleared for you to be able to navigate the winter roads safely. Roman says he constantly hears about harrowing journeys drivers make with bad wipers that just smear the slush around instead of clearing it off the windshield. Or there are the wipers that don’t make contact with the windshield at all! These wipers need to be replaced for your safety and for the safety of others.

“Wiper blades are inexpensive, and many people can install them themselves,” he says. “So please check yours before the snow flies. The last thing you want to do is drive blind.”

Roman says there are a few other items that you might want to have a professional check for you before winter is in full swing:

What Should I Have My Mechanic Inspect On My Car Before Winter?

• The cooling system – Your automotive service technician can tell you what antifreeze should be used and the appropriate coolant-to-water ratio to avoid potential freezing.
• Belts, hoses, spark plugs, wires and cables – While they can go bad at any time, if they do in the winter, you could be stuck in the cold for an unfortunately long period.

“These areas might seem small compared to the engine or fuel intake system, but without the small things aiding the large items, your vehicle will not function properly,” he says.

Aside from vehicle winterization, Roman says for safety reasons all motorists should have a cell phone and a phone charger handy, and drivers shouldn’t let their gas go much below a half tank in the wintertime, either. Plus he recommends keeping a worst-case-scenario-kit in your vehicle, filled with the following items:

What Items Should I Keep In My Car During Winter In Wisconsin?

• A blanket
• Several heavy duty garbage bags: Can be a makeshift rain coat; keep your clothing off the wet ground when changing a tire, or to collect wet items.
• A shovel
• Kitty Litter – which can help aid in traction
• Jumper cables or a battery-powered portable booster
• Flashlight or emergency light
• First aid kit
• Food
• Jack and spare tire: Know how to use them — practice if necessary.

About Smart Motors

Smart Motors was founded in 1908 by O.D. Smart and is one of the nation’s oldest automotive dealerships, is the mid-west’s largest hybrid dealer and one of Wisconsin’s largest volume Toyota dealers. Located at 5901 Odana Road, Smart Motors is Wisconsin’s only two-time President’s Cabinet Award recipient from Toyota Motor Sales for superior customer service & sales volume. For more information, check out their history.

The post Tips & Advice For Winterizing Your Car, Truck, Or SUV In Wisconsin. appeared first on Smart Toyota Blog.

Potholes Can Cause a Lot of Damage

Spring time in Wisconsin is like when a bear comes out of hibernation. Daytime temperatures are pushing 50 degrees, Wisconsinites are sporting shorts and short sleeve shirts, but when the winter frost leaves our roadways we are left with those pesky “potholes” which can cause damage to our vehicle’s alignment. The constant freezing and unfreezing of water on roadways can wreak havoc, forming supersize potholes destroying the underside of your vehicle. The automotive specialists at Smart Motors service department have the following advice to help prevent and notice pothole-related damage.

Visible damage is the easiest to detect, but may not be the only indication your vehicle needs some attention. One obvious sign of tire damage is when a tire ‘bulges’; which occurs when the steel/fiber ply belt in the sidewall of a tire breaks due to a heavy impact. Luis Roman, Assistant Service Manager at Smart Motors Service Center, says even if your tires don’t have bulges does not necessarily mean you are free from the damage of potholes.

Warning Signs of Pothole Damage

If your vehicle pulls to one side, or your steering wheel is visibly off center, Roman suggests being on the safe side and schedule an appointment with a reputable automotive service center and getting an assessment. This way, the vehicle’s alignment and other signs of damage can be analyzed and fixed before they become a major problem. Repair costs can vary greatly depending on the extent of damaged parts; from a $200 strut to several thousand dollars for an entire suspension system and cradle.

Roman also offers these tips to help protect vehicles against the jarring experience of a pothole encounter:

Tips to Protect your Vehicle from Pesky Potholes

• Maintain full air pressure in all tires to provide as much cushion as possible between the pothole and the rim of the tire. Consult the vehicle owner’s manual for the correct pressure.
• Watch for potholes by leaving plenty of space between your vehicle and the one in front of you.
• If a pothole cannot be avoided, slow down BEFORE hitting the pothole. Hitting a pothole at high speed increases the chance of damage to tires, wheels, shocks, struts or springs.
• When driving over a pothole-filled road, hold the steering wheel firmly to avoid losing control.
• Do NOT brake when directly over a pothole. Applying the brakes causes the car’s weight to shift to the front of the wheel and can increase damage from the impact.
• Beware of water that may be concealing a deep pothole.

About Smart Motors

Smart Motors was founded in 1908 by O.D. Smart and is one of the nation’s oldest automotive dealerships, is the mid-west’s largest hybrid dealer, is one of Wisconsin’s largest volume Toyota dealers and is Wisconsin’s largest Toyota Certified Used dealer. Located at 5901 Odana Road, Smart Motors is Wisconsin’s only two-time President’s Cabinet Award recipient from Toyota Motor Sales for superior customer service & sales volume. For more information visit their history page.

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Is it worth it, really? Should I wash my vehicle, or just wait for spring? Under normal circumstances most vehicle owners love their car. It’s like an old friend, cheerfully waiting to take you where you need to go. But as the winter months in Wisconsin drag on, you find your feelings changing toward your tried and true buddy. To wash or not to wash; now that’s the question. What was once a summer time escape from reality, suddenly becomes a chore. Come February and March, if you have not washed your vehicle, it becomes salt-covered, sludgy, dishwater-hued beast that is almost indecipherable from most of the other vehicles on the road. And the worst part is you don’t know what you should do about it.

Part of you thinks you should probably wash the poor thing, but at the same time, it’s Wisconsin – it’s going to snow again, plus the streets are just going to be salted again. And on those rare breaks when the temperatures climb into the 40s, everyone and their uncle are in line to run their vehicles through the car wash. Do you just let it go?

Jason Vasen, Master Diagnostic Technician at Smart Motors, says you should absolutely not let it go.

“Salt may keep the streets safe to drive on, but it’s a terrible thing to have on your car for extended periods of time,” Vasen says. “Salt leads to oxidation and rust. It can take years off the life expectancy of your vehicle.”

Car Wash; Outside temperature matters

Vasen says Wisconsinites ideally should wash their cars, trucks and SUVs about once every two weeks even in the dead of winter though only wash when outdoor temperatures are in the upper 30’s or in the 40’s to ensure doors and windows won’t freeze. If you’re fortunate to have a heated or well insulated garage, you could push this to temps a little lower, but it’s always a good idea to dry off your vehicle as well. Pop the hood, open the doors, including hatch/truck and dry them off.

Not all car washes are created equal

“You want to make sure it’s a quality wash, too,” he says. “Just washing the pretty parts may save your paint job for a few years, but it’s incredibly important to make sure salt and slush are removed from the wheel wells and undercarriage.” A touchless car wash with an underbody high pressure spray option/cycle is what you’ll want to look for to help remove the salt, sand and grim from those hard to reach spots.

When salt builds up on the wheel wells and undercarriage, it attacks the vehicle’s braking system and suspension, both of which could lead to dangerous situations on the roads. They are both expensive to repair, too, so making sure they are salt-free could save you money down the line.

“Drivers can also get ahead of the game through routine maintenance,” Vasen says. “Quality mechanics will check for any issues and lubricate or use corrosion inhibitors on parts as needed for the winter months.” And don’t forget wiper blades. They are an inexpensive way to ensure clear vision.

Did you know?

Where one parks during the winter can also play a role in how much damage is or isn’t done to a vehicle because of slushy and salty conditions. Ironically, vehicles parked outside for the duration typically experience less body damage than those that are garage kept. This is because the freezing temperatures do not allow the slush to melt, so it slows down the overall corrosiveness of the salt.

“Bottom line; regardless of whether you store your vehicle inside or outside, it really is worth the time, effort and money to make every attempt to keep it clean,” Vasen says.

Jason Vasen is a Master Diagnostic Technician at Smart Motors – Madison, WI, and was founded in 1908 by O.D. Smart and is one of the nation’s oldest automotive dealerships, is the mid-west’s largest hybrid dealer and one of Wisconsin’s largest volume Toyota dealers. Located at 5901 Odana Road, Smart Motors is Wisconsin’s only two-time President’s Cabinet Award recipient from Toyota Motor Sales for superior customer service & sales volume. See their history page for more details.

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Tips & Safe Start Guide

Icy roads, plows shooting up clouds of snow and blinding light bouncing off packed snow cause all sorts of problems for Wisconsin’s drivers, but one of winter’s worst effects come before people even hit the road—winter causes discharged car batteries and vehicle jumpstarting presents a fair share of issues.

Discharged (dead) batteries won’t jumpstart

Car batteries often become discharged in the winter because the cold affects the vehicle in two ways;

1. A cold battery has less cranking power than a battery at normal temperature.
2. Cold oil is thick oil, and thick oil is harder to turn over in the engine.

While these traits occur independently of each other, they combine and make it harder for vehicles to start, effectively draining a battery down. A discharged battery can oftentimes be recharged and work fine, but immediate action is necessary as a discharged battery could freeze making it unable to be recharged, thus possibly ruining the battery. Charged batteries will not freeze. There are warning signs your battery may be failing.

Traditional Vehicle Batteries vs Hybrid Vehicle Batteries

Discharged batteries can occur in both traditional cars as well as more modern hybrid vehicles. And while many people might know how to jump start a traditional car, the precautions necessary for either jump starting or receiving a jump from a hybrid are slightly different, yet hybrid owners might not even realize this.

“The hybrid is a fundamentally different design and has batteries located in different spots and takes on power differently,” says Smart Motors Master Diagnostic Technician Jason Vasen. “Hybrids with the 12 volt battery inside the passenger compartment like the Prius use an AGM battery which uses absorbed glass mats so there is no “loose” liquid to spray. Some hybrids use conventional 12 volt batteries located outside the passenger compartment which do carry the concern of potential explosion.”

How can one be safe when jump starting a hybrid? Smart Motors’ Jason Vasen put together the following checklists for how to keep vehicles safe and fully powered even through the worst of winter’s fury.

Jumpstarting a hybrid vehicle

1. Don’t make a practice of using your hybrid to jump start other vehicles as you could greatly damage the discharged vehicle’s electrical system.
2. Apply the parking brake and turn off the headlight switch and interior light.
3. Turn off the hybrid system and remove the key if inserted.
4. Open the hood; fuse block cover, and exclusive jump starting terminal cover.
5. Connect positive clamp (red) jumper cable to the exclusive jump starting terminal.
6. Connect the negative clamp (black) to a solid, stationary, unpainted, metallic point of the vehicle with the discharged battery.
7. If the booster battery is installed in another vehicle, make sure the vehicles are not touching. Turn off all unnecessary lights and accessories.
8. When boosting, use the battery of matching or higher quality. Any other battery may make for a difficult start.
9. Allow the discharged battery to rest with the jumper cables connected for approximately 5 minutes. At this time, run the engine in the vehicle with the booster battery at about 2,000 RPM with the accelerator pedal lightly depressed.
10. Start the hybrid system. Make sure the “READY” light is on.
11. Disconnect the cables in reverse order: the negative cable and then the positive cable.

Jumpstarting a traditional vehicle

1. Park the booster vehicle close but not touching the one that needs to be jumped.
2. Begin the process by clamping one of the positive jumper cable ends (red) to the positive battery terminal (labeled with a “+” on the battery) of the discharged vehicle.
3. Connect the other end of the positive cable (red) to the positive battery terminal on the booster vehicle (again, confirm that a “+” is next to the battery terminal).
4. Connect the negative cable end (black) to the negative battery terminal on the booster car (marked with a “-“). Finally, attach the other end of the negative cable to an unpainted metal surface on the engine of the discharged car.
5. Start the discharged vehicle and let the two vehicles idle for a few minutes.
6. Once the discharged vehicle is started and running smoothly, disconnect the jumper cables in the reverse order that they were connected.
7. Drive the revived car to somewhere safe and secure before shutting off the engine.

Smart Motors was founded in 1908 by O.D. Smart and is one of the nation’s oldest automotive dealerships. Smart Motors is the mid-west’s largest hybrid dealer, and is located at 5901 Odana Road, Smart Motors is Wisconsin’s only dealership to have ever earned the coveted President’s Cabinet Award from Toyota Motor Sales. This award is only given to the top 12 dealerships nationwide for superior customer service & sales volume. To learn more about Smart Motors, visit their dealership history page.

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