DISPATCH skills such as drilling and wire fishing to accelerate learning . As well as this , trainees will receive their own full toolkit with over 45 ‘ sets ’ of equipment from leading brands intended to ensure technicians can complete their work safely and efficiently . “ We launched BusPatrol Academy to give the best possible training to our new Field Service Technicians ,” said Ezra Okon , vice president of Business Excellence at BusPatrol , responsible for planning and implementing the Academy . “ We hire the ‘ best of the best ’ and want our technicians to be able to fully understand and solve the challenges they will face in the field while maintaining the high-quality workmanship our partners expect of us . Our academy provides a practice arena – with our own school buses and training fixtures – to help our technicians safely master the required skills and bond with their teams before working with our partners . We have ambitious hiring goals over the next few months . I ’ d encourage anyone with an interest in student safety to apply . We ’ re a rapidly growing company , so it ’ s a great opportunity to get paid to learn and make a difference .” “ We are looking to hire hundreds of Field Service Technicians from across the US to support our mission to modernize school buses and improve school bus safety for children everywhere ,” said BusPatrol Founder and CEO Jean Souliere . “ If you ’ re looking to start a new career and do something you can be proud of , this is a perfect opportunity .”
Kevin Bangston named president and CEO of Thomas Built Buses
Daimler Trucks North America ( DTNA ) announced that Kevin Bangston , currently general manager , distribution network development has been appointed president and CEO of Thomas Built Buses ( TBB ). Bangston is a 20-year veteran of Daimler and previously served as TBB ’ s CFO from 2005 through 2008 . “ Kevin knows the school bus business well and is a proven leader with a wealth of experience at Daimler , both in the
Kevin Bangston
U . S . and around the globe ,” said Jeff
Allen , senior vice president of operations and specialty vehicles , DTNA . “ We ’ re excited to welcome Kevin back to the Thomas Built Buses family and know that he will continue to deliver an unparalleled focus on customers , dealers and employees for this historic and storied brand .” Bangston started his career with Daimler at DTNA in corporate finance . He then became the CFO at Thomas Built Buses . He was later tapped to head up a repositioning project at DTNA , where his myriad successes in that role led to international leadership positons in Germany , Southeast Asia and Japan . In his last foreign assignment , Bangston was based in Tokyo and served as the head of Mitsubishi Fuso ’ s Bus business unit . “ I am thrilled to return to the TBB team and look forward to working with our many valuable customers and dealers , helping to transport the nation ’ s most precious assets – the youth of America ,” said Bangston . Bangston earned a Master ’ s degree in International Business from the Moore School at the University of South Carolina .
Arizona ' s first ever electric school bus comes to Cartwright
The Cartwright School District of Arizona unveiled its new 84-passenger electric bus on June 30 , 2021 , the only one in the state . Cartwright wishes to thank Governing Board members for their persistence in making this a reality . Influenced by non-profit CHISPA , and funded by the passing of the school bond and a Maricopa County grant , the district partnered with Blue Bird Corporation to bring the first zero-emission rear engine electric bus to Arizona . It eliminates harmful emissions , such as nitrogen oxides and protects students and community health . Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego was on hand to offer congratulations to district leaders and board members during a ribbon-cutting ceremony . “ It ’ s not important who is first , what ’ s important is that it continues throughout our valley and state , our scholars and families deserve clean air ,” said Superintendent Dr . Aguilar-Lawlor , when asked how it felt to be the first school district in Arizona to purchase an 84-passenger electric school bus . The bus began transporting students on the first day of school , August 2 , 2021 .
NHTSA launches interactive , searchable recall dashboard
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration ( NHTSA ) unveiled a new cloud-based recall dashboard to make searching for auto safety recall data easy and efficient . The dashboard offers user-friendly and transparent ways to sort , filter , visualize and export recall data . “ This new dashboard provides unprecedented transparency into the recall process ,” said Dr . Steven Cliff , NHTSA ’ s acting administrator . “ More than 50 years of recall data are now easily available to the media , researchers , safety advocates , and anyone interested in learning more about vehicle safety . This initiative is part of the U . S . Department of Transportation ’ s commitment to safety on our roadways , and it provides increased transparency and accountability to the American people .”
NAPT . ORG | 9