IN THIS ISSUE:

• Saf-T-Liner® EF Cockpit Redesign . . . . . . . . . . . 1 & 2

• Type D Electrical Enhancements . . . . . . . . . 2

• Thomas Built Institute . . 2

• What’s Happening at Thomas Built . . . . . . . . . . . 3

• Green Technology Website . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

• Driver of the Year . . . . . . 4

• Hybrids Hit the Road . . . 4

With a stated focus of delivering the

smartest and most innovative school buses

in North America, the engineers who design

Thomas Built buses recognize that the men

and women who drive and service those

vehicles offer a unique perspective.

So, when faced with the upcoming

technology change, Thomas representatives

talked to customers, service staff and its

own production group to research how to

also improve the driver experience. The

result: an updated look and improved

function of Thomas’ Saf-T-Liner® Engine

Forward (EF) cockpit. The 2010 EF models,

available in spring 2010, will incorporate

those changes.

Senior design engineer, David Blood, reports

that the redesigned engine cover itself may

be of particular interest to customers. The

new cover now allows drivers and service

personnel to easily check belts and fluid

levels without removing it. Resizing the

engine access hatch allows for a roomier

passenger entry. Engine access is easier as

well. Just open the access door, undo the

latch and pull up the engine cover. No tools.

Easy in and out.

The driver’s seat placement and dash size

were optimized to create more knee room

and comfort for the driver.

The left side dash, which was previously

Driver ergonomics was a main focus in redesigning the cockpit of the Saf-T-Liner® Engine Forward (EF), transit-style school bus.

Continued on page 2

BUS REPORTImportant Information for the School Bus Industry Winter 2010

THOMAS REDESIGNS SAF-T-LINER® EF COCKPITUpdate Focuses on Driver Comfort and Passenger Safety

BUS REPORT | p.2

THOMAS EF COCKPIT REDESIGN continuedmetal, is now made of plastic with inter-

changeable plates to accommodate the

five to nine switches typically needed. The

switch placement is more intuitive and the

overall interior look is cleaner and neater.

Switches and options were grouped by

function, creating a more natural operating

experience. The air conditioning, defroster

and driver’s air/heater switches were

relocated to one area. The radio is now in

the dash, rather than overhead, allowing

the driver’s eyes to stay on the road. Below

the radio, all mirror switches are together

for ease of use. Door switches, gear shift

and parking brake are standard to the right

of the driver for easy load and unload

operations. All chassis switches also are

grouped together.

“Basically,” says Blood, “there is something

for everyone in this redesign. We think

customers will be pleased with our

response to their suggestions.”

The electrical system for Thomas’ transit-

style Saf-T-Liner® EF and Saf-T-Liner HDX

models for 2010 will include features

designed to enhance the overall functionality,

reliability, diagnostic capability and packaging.

The electrical center has been patterned

for a streamlined appearance and easy

identification and access to system

components. This is accomplished with

the strategic routing of updated wire and

harness packages.

Fuse relay centers provide circuit

protection and logic for each option,

allowing for easy diagnostics with

standard shop test equipment.

A customer accessory module with a

battery and ignition output, protected

by a 30 AMP fuse, provides a dedicated

location to simplify the process of

adding aftermarket components to the

electrical system.

SPOTLIGHT

THOMAS TO OFFER TYPE D ELECTRICAL SYSTEM ENHANCEMENTS

New switch placement on the left dash is more intuitive for drivers.

Before: The old wiring system on Thomas’ Type D.

After: The new wiring system is streamlined for easy identification and access.

THOMAS INSTITUTE: CONTINUING EDUCATION

Staying current on the latest in bus

maintenance is no small task since today’s

fleet technicians must inspect, maintain,

diagnose and repair bus and chassis

systems on school buses from delivery to

20 years old. To help its customers meet

their employees’ training needs, Thomas

developed the Thomas Built Institute for

service technicians. Based on its success

in the first year, Thomas is offering the

training again this year, May 11-14, 2010.

“The design of the Institute — a rotation

of small classes — allows participating

technicians to get extensive, hands-on

training and first-hand experience in less

than a week’s time,” said Mike Stotler, service

education manager for Thomas Built Buses.

The 2010 Institute curriculum includes:

• 2010 emissions system

• Advanced electrical

• Coolant maintenance and cost savings

• Type C: Multiplex, service link and troubleshooting

• Type D: Electrical and fan drive

• Utilizing websites, resources and wire diagrams

• Factory tours

Sessions also educate technicians on how to

fully utilize the resources available through

Thomas Built Buses and its parent company,

Daimler Trucks North America.

To register for the Thomas Built Institute, visit

www.thomasbus.com. Early enrollment is

recommended as registration is limited to 100

participants to ensure small class sizes and

personalized attention. Cost for the training

is $250 and includes lunch each day.

Institute participants will receive a certificate

of completion for 28 credit hours of

continuing education.

BUS REPORT | p.3 Winter 2010

WHAT’S HAPPENING AT THOMAS BUILT BUSES

UPCOMING MEETINGS AND EVENTS

DATE EVENT LOCATION

Jan. 16-20 NSTA Mid-Winter Meeting La Jolla, Calif.

Mar. 8-9 Transporting Students with Disabilities Conference Orlando, Fla.

May 11-14 Thomas Built Institute High Point, N.C.

May 12-14 National Boys & Girls Club Conference New York, N.Y.

May 16-19 Canadian Pupil Transportation Conference Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

Dear Readers:

There’s an old saying in this business: “The

salesman sells the first bus. The service

department sells the second.” Since the

company began 94 years ago, customer service

has been a priority at Thomas Built Buses,

and I believe that commitment has played a

significant role in our continuing success.

We strive to ensure customer satisfaction

with every Thomas Built contact. This means

we can never sit still. To meet and exceed

customer expectations, we have adopted

increasingly sophisticated methods to

measure our process improvement.

We are currently employing the internationally-

recognized Six Sigma methodology to improve

processes throughout our company, including

our service processes. Issue resolution is just

one Six Sigma project we are working on

currently. It is helping us focus our attention

on how departments such as sales, quality,

engineering and service work together

to ensure a timely response to customer

concerns or issues. On-time customer

delivery has already been a hugely successful

project in our Six Sigma program, and we

will continue to dedicate our attention to the

Thomas Customer Experience.

In addition to our Six Sigma projects, we

stepped up our pre-delivery inspections of

new buses, affording dealers the opportunity

to inspect more buses before they’re

delivered. The increase in pre-delivery

inspections allows us to better meet and

As part of Thomas Built Buses’ ongoing drive to

serve its customers, a Green Technology section

has been added to the company’s website with

detailed information on the many components of

Thomas’ green offerings and innovations, such as:

• Hybrid Saf-T-Liner® C2e: Powered by a diesel

engine and an electric motor/generator, the

C2e offers impressive fuel efficiency.

• Compressed Natural Gas (CNG): A fossil fuel

substitute for gasoline, diesel and propane,

the CNG is cleaner and more environmentally

friendly than alternatives.

• Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR): Using

SCR helps Thomas and its engine partner,

Cummins, Inc., meet 2010 emissions

requirements, while maintaining fuel

efficiency and engine performance.

Learn more about what’s green at Thomas

Built Buses in one convenient location:

www.thomasbus.com/green-technology.

GREEN TECHNOLOGY CLICKS ON THOMAS’ WEBSITE

exceed customer expectations at the

time of delivery.

Thomas also is working to improve its

internal process to clarify and simplify

extended warranties. Because every mile

matters.SM Our tagline really speaks to who

we are as a school bus manufacturer.

It’s in the interest of the company, the

dealer and the customer to improve

communications, work together and

incorporate feedback from the field

to reach a common understanding and

to stay focused on our common interest:

the kids on our buses.

Best regards,

John H. O’Leary

President and CEO

Thomas Built Buses

P.S. As of January 4, 2010, I’ll be in a

new position in the Daimler Trucks North

America corporate office as vice president

of service and parts.

I’m excited to begin this new role, but I

can’t leave without saying how much I’ve

enjoyed working with all of the wonderful

people at Thomas Built Buses, our dealers

and our customers. I know you’ll join me

in offering a warm welcome to the new

president of Thomas Built Buses.

BUS REPORT | p.4 Winter 2010

1408 Courtesy Rd., High Point, NC 27260 Tel 336.889.4871 Fax 336.889.2589 www.thomasbus.com

Competitive financing available through Daimler Financial. For your nearest Thomas Built Bus dealer, call 336.889.4871 or visit us at www.thomasbus.com. TBB/MC-B-053. Specifications are subject to change without notice. Thomas Built Buses is registered to ISO 9001:2008. Copyright © Daimler Trucks North America LLC. All rights reserved. Thomas Built Buses, Inc. is a subsidiary of Daimler Trucks North America LLC, a Daimler company. CG 33M 12/09

BUS REPORTPERSONAL EXPERIENCE LEADS 2009 DRIVER OF THE YEAR TO HER CAREER

“What really makes her special is her inside kindness,” wrote Luke,

a second-grader at Paine Primary School

in his essay nominating Renea Cataldo of

Trussville, Alabama, in the fourth annual

Thomas Built Buses Children’s Choice

School Bus Driver of the Year essay contest.

More than 15 years ago, Cataldo began her

career as a bus driver after observing the

quality of care a bus driver gave her own

special needs daughter. That attentiveness

encouraged Cataldo to pursue a job as a driver

so she could do the same for other children.

Cataldo began driving high school students

and eventually transitioned to driving

elementary school students. “These kids

are so adorable. They are so little you

can hardly see them in their seats! All my

passengers are very special to me,” said

Cataldo. “Just like anyone, I can wake up

not feeling good, but when the first student

steps on my bus, it makes me smile and

then I’m feeling just fine.”

Cataldo is grateful that she gets to drive

the same route year after year, allowing

her to watch her small passengers grow

up. “Just the other day I was going through

the drive-through at a fast food restaurant

and heard, ‘Ms. Renea? Is that you?’ It was

one of my students from years ago, who

remembered me and asked if I was still

driving. He must have graduated from high

school at least four years ago, which made

me feel a little old, but also special that he

still remembered me.”

Ashley Stehr, Luke’s mother, described how

her son wrote his essay from the heart,

expressing his sincere admiration for his

driver. “Ms. Renea goes above and beyond to

make us feel good about sending our kids with

her. At the beginning of every school year,

she sends a letter to the parents of all her

passengers, providing her contact information.

It is just one of the ways she helped assure

me that Luke was in good hands.”

Thomas Built developed the Children’s

Choice School Bus Driver of the Year essay

contest as a way to recognize drivers for

the important role they play in the lives of

children. In 2009, more than 1,000 drivers

were nominated by students across North

America. More information on the contest,

photos, winning essays and illustrations may

be viewed at www.thomasbus.com/contest.

Grand prize winner Renea Cataldo, from Trussville, Alabama

HYBRIDS HIT THE ROADThomas Built Buses has been building on

its commitment to shaping the future of

transportation by continuing to introduce

innovations that contribute to cleaner

cities. The introduction of the new hybrid

Saf-T-Liner® C2e has allowed more school

districts to meet their demands to reduce

emissions and improve fuel economy.

“As a transportation provider, it is appropriate

for us to constantly be looking for environ-

mentally friendly, alternative solutions,” said

Donald Tudor, state transportation director for

South Carolina. “When the economic stimulus

program began, we were excited to be able

to purchase more hybrids for our fleets,

and the hybrid-electric from Thomas was

an easy move that didn’t disrupt our fueling

system. We want to do our part to reduce

emissions and to be a good steward in the

industry by using the best technologies to

provide transportation service.”

Thomas already has received orders for more than three dozen hybrid units.