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.

HIGH POINT, N.C. – Thomas Built Buses, a leading manufacturer of school buses in North America, is proud to announce the addition of three new dealerships to its esteemed Platinum Support Dealer Program for 2024. Western Mountain Bus Sales of Nampa, Idaho, Myers Equipment of Canfield, Ohio, and Velocity Truck Centers serving British Columbia have all achieved Platinum certification. This designation demonstrates their commitment to providing unparalleled service and support to Thomas Built Buses customers.

The Platinum Support Dealer Program recognizes dealerships that go above and beyond in customer service, parts availability and service capabilities. These dealers have met rigorous standards and demonstrated unwavering dedication to operational excellence. Through an extensive training regimen, Platinum Support dealerships learn to eliminate waste from day-to-day business operations, pass down faster vehicle assessment, reduce vehicle downtime and lower vehicle lifecycle costs for the customer.

“The dedication and commitment demonstrated by Velocity Truck Centers, Myers Equipment and Western Mountain in achieving Platinum Support status is truly commendable,” said Dee Dee Parnell, general manager of dealer network development at Thomas Built Buses. “Their continuous pursuit of excellence ensures that our customers receive unparalleled sales and aftermarket support, reinforcing our commitment to superior service.”

Established in 2015, the Thomas Built Buses Platinum Support Dealer Program is focused on improving the customer experience. Today, nearly 80% of all Thomas Built dealers are Platinum Support-certified.

For more information on service offerings, contact your local Thomas Built dealer.

About Thomas Built Buses:
Founded in 1916, Thomas Built Buses is a leading manufacturer of school buses in North America. Since the first Thomas Built bus rolled off the assembly line, the company has been committed to delivering the smartest and most innovative buses in North America. Learn more at thomasbuiltbuses.com or facebook.com/thomasbuiltbuses.

Thomas Built Buses, Inc., headquartered in High Point, North Carolina, is a subsidiary of Daimler Truck North America LLC, a leading provider of comprehensive products and technologies for the commercial transportation industry. The company designs, engineers, manufactures and markets medium- and heavy-duty trucks, school buses, vehicle chassis and their associated technologies and components under the Freightliner, Western Star, Thomas Built Buses, Freightliner Custom Chassis Corp and Detroit brands. Daimler Truck North America is a subsidiary of Daimler Truck, one of the world’s leading commercial vehicle manufacturers.

The post Thomas Built Buses Welcomes New Dealers to Platinum Support Program for 2024 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.

PORTLAND, Ore. – Daimler Truck North America LLC (DTNA) has appointed T.J. Reed to the position of president and CEO of Freightliner Custom Chassis Corp (FCCC) and Thomas Built Buses (TBB), effective September 9. In his new role, Reed will be responsible for all aspects of the TBB and FCCC brands at DTNA, including strategy, sales and operations. He succeeds Kevin Bangston, who was recently appointed CEO and president of Daimler Truck Financial Services (DTFS) North America.

Reed, currently president of Daimler Truck Remarketing (DTR) and the SelecTrucks brand, has over 25 years of experience in the truck manufacturing industry. He joined Daimler Truck in 1998 as a custom application engineer for vocational trucks and has since held various leadership roles in product marketing and strategy, as well as pricing and P&L responsibility within DTNA. Reed also spent six years outside the company with Meritor Inc., where he held several senior leadership positions, 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, DTNA. “His expertise and personality will enable him to drive innovation and growth for both companies.”

“We’re excited to have T.J. at the helm of these specialty vehicle business units. His extensive industry knowledge and exceptional leadership skills will further strengthen and drive the success of both FCCC and TBB,” said John O’Leary, president and CEO of DTNA. “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.”

Reed holds an MBA from Michigan State University and earned a bachelor’s degree in business and history from Muskingum University.

Reed will remain responsible for DTR and will continue to support the team until his successor is named.

About Freightliner Custom Chassis Corporation:
Freightliner Custom Chassis Corp. (FCCC) is a leading manufacturer of gas, diesel and alternative-fuel chassis for the medium-duty pick-up and delivery markets. FCCC supports its industry-leading chassis with a comprehensive suite of services, including 24/7 factory direct support, a nationwide service network with more than 400 dealers in the U.S. and Canada, and an official customer-support mobile app. FCCC also manufactures chassis for the motor home, school bus and shuttle bus markets. FCCC is a subsidiary of Daimler Truck North America LLC, a leading provider of comprehensive products and technologies for the commercial transportation industry. The company designs, engineers, manufactures and markets medium- and heavy-duty trucks, school buses, vehicle chassis and their associated technologies and components under the Freightliner, Western Star, Thomas Built Buses, Freightliner Custom Chassis Corp and Detroit brands. Daimler Truck North America is a subsidiary of Daimler Truck Holding AG (DTG), one of the world’s leading commercial vehicle manufacturers. For more information, visit fccccommercial.com or call 1-800-FTL-HELP.

About Thomas Built Buses:
Founded in 1916, Thomas Built Buses is a leading manufacturer of school buses in North America. Since the first Thomas Built bus rolled off the assembly line, the company has been committed to delivering the smartest and most innovative buses in North America. Thomas Built Buses, Inc., headquartered in High Point, North Carolina, is a subsidiary of Daimler Truck North America LLC, a leading provider of comprehensive products and technologies for the commercial transportation industry. The company designs, engineers, manufactures and markets medium- and heavy-duty trucks, school buses, vehicle chassis and their associated technologies and components under the Freightliner, Western Star, Thomas Built Buses, Freightliner Custom Chassis Corp and Detroit brands. Daimler Truck North America is a subsidiary of Daimler Truck, one of the world’s leading commercial vehicle manufacturers. Learn more at https://thomasbuiltbuses.com or at https://www.facebook.com/thomasbuiltbuses.

About Daimler Truck North America:
Daimler Truck North America LLC, headquartered in Portland, Oregon, is a leading provider of comprehensive products and technologies for the commercial transportation industry. Daimler Truck North America designs, engineers, manufactures and markets medium- and heavy-duty trucks, school buses, vehicle chassis and their associated technologies and components under the Freightliner, Western Star, Thomas Built Buses, Freightliner Custom Chassis Corp and Detroit brands. Daimler Truck North America is a subsidiary of Daimler Truck Holding AG (DTG), one of the world’s leading commercial vehicle manufacturers.

The post T.J. Reed Appointed President, CEO of Freightliner Custom Chassis Corp (FCCC) and Thomas Built Buses (TBB) appeared first on School Transportation News.

HIGH POINT, N.C. – Thomas Built Buses, a leading manufacturer of school buses in North America, including the Saf-T-Liner C2 Jouley electric school bus, has developed an educational curriculum ahead of back-to-school season to help students reach core learning objectives while educating them on electric school buses.

Casey Harris, an EV business analyst for Thomas Built Buses and a former teacher, principal and superintendent, developed the curriculum as a comprehensive educational approach centered around achieving core learning objectives through the exploration and understanding of the electric school bus.

“I developed the curriculum with two objectives in mind. First, to increase education and awareness of electric school buses. Next, to provide teachers with another resource that allows their students to engage and immerse themselves in the standards taught,” said Harris. The curriculum is built to 8th-grade North Carolina state standards but can be adapted to different state or grade standards.

This initiative extends beyond transportation, emphasizing the Electric Bus Authority’s commitment to science, technology, engineering and math (STEM), while weaving in local economic contributions. The primary goal is to ignite interest, promote education and raise awareness about electric school buses, all while incorporating crucial STEM education principles.

“The sustained success and growth of electric transportation hinges on preparing the workforce pipeline,” said Whitney Kopanko, director of marketing and school bus sales, Sonny Merryman. “There are many career opportunities in this new field that our students don’t know exist. Through this curriculum, we’ll get them excited about what we’re doing today with electric school buses and inspire them to take it the next step further when they enter the workforce.”

The dynamic lesson plan covers diverse subjects including math, science, social studies, language arts, writing and literacy standards, fostering a broad spectrum of intercurricular connections. Activities include a Think-Pair-Share, Problem/Solution Jigsaw Knowledge Acquisition and a project that tasks students with determining if the cost of an electric school bus can be justified.

Thomas Built Buses continues to invest in educating our kids by preparing them for tomorrow’s future. Learn more about the electric school bus curriculum

About Thomas Built Buses:
Founded in 1916, Thomas Built Buses is a leading manufacturer of school buses in North America. Since the first Thomas Built bus rolled off the assembly line, the company has been committed to delivering the smartest and most innovative buses in North America. Learn more at https://thomasbuiltbuses.com or at https://www.facebook.com/thomasbuiltbuses.

Thomas Built Buses, Inc., headquartered in High Point, North Carolina, is a subsidiary of Daimler Truck North America LLC, a leading provider of comprehensive products and technologies for the commercial transportation industry. The company designs, engineers, manufactures and markets medium- and heavy-duty trucks, school buses, vehicle chassis and their associated technologies and components under the Freightliner, Western Star, Thomas Built Buses, Freightliner Custom Chassis Corp and Detroit brands. Daimler Truck North America is a subsidiary of Daimler Truck, one of the world’s leading commercial vehicle manufacturers.

The post Thomas Built Buses Develops Curriculum to Educate Students on Electric School Buses appeared first on School Transportation News.