IN THE NEWS

FMCSA Adds Data to Pre-Employment
Screening Program for Drivers
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration recently announced that its Pre-Employment Screening Program (PSP) now offers additional data on co-driver safety and post-crash violations. PSP allows commercial bus and truck companies and individual drivers to purchase via the web the most recent five years of crash data and three years of roadside inspection data from the FMCSA Motor Carrier Management Information System. FMCSA said PSP is a faster way for motor carriers and drivers to access the information than was previously available under the Freedom of Information Act or Privacy Act requests. The PSP report now shows the date drivers' safety records are updated. It neither provides information from traffic tickets prior to court dates nor data tied to convictions. PSP is separate from state DMV records and is not accessible by insurance companies. More Information

Skyrocketing Oil Prices Lead to Higher Prices
for Tires, Fuel
The transportation industry continues to see the effect of rising material costs, namely those of petroleum-based products. Michelin North American announced a 12 percent spike that went into effect at the beginning of March.. It covers Michelin, BFGoodrich and Michelin Retread Technologies. The company cited rising raw material costs, which were the same reason for tire price increases announced last month by competitors Bridgestone Bandag and Double Coin/China Manufacturers Alliance. In Addition, diesel fuel recently rose to a national average of $3.908 per gallon, the highest since it was $3.958 a gallon in
September 2008.



EPA Approves New Environmentally-Friendly
Coolant for Air Conditioning Systems
The EPA issued final approval last month for a new refrigerant for use in automotive air conditioning systems that do not deplete the ozone layer. The new fluorinated hydrocarbon-based chemical is called HFO-1234yf, and it can be used as a drop-in replacement for HFC-134a (also known as R-134a) to phase out harmful chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs). EPA’s approval on February 28 means HFO-1234yf can now be used in air conditioning systems for all automotive and commercial vehicles, including buses. The EPA said the chemical, when used appropriately, can reduce the environmental impact of motor vehicle air conditioners and has a global warming potential that is 99.7 percent less than HFC–134a, which is used in most car air conditioners. HFO-1234yf has a global warming potential rating 335 times less than that of HFC-134a.

Clean Energy Unit Adds Ford Vehicles to CNG Line
Set for availability in May 2011, customers with small buses built on Chevrolet Express and GMC Savana 4500 series cutaway van chassis with Vortec 6.0L engines will have the option to order LPG options beginning with the 2012 model year.

BAF Technologies Inc., a subsidiary of Clean Energy Fuels Corporation has expanded its CNG product line to include Ford vehicles equipped with the BAF proprietary bi-fuel compressed natural gas (CNG) system. The new BAF offering includes bi-fuel Ford E-250/350 vans and F-250/350 pick-up trucks. BAF is the first CNG vehicle upfitter in the U.S. to be named a Ford Qualified Vehicle Modifier for gaseous fuels. Crash-tested in accordance with official Federal Motor Vehicle Standards, the new BAF E-250/350 bi-fuel CNG vans have a standard fuel capacity of 10 gasoline gallon equivalents (GGE).



Vapor, Ricon Combine Sales and Service Groups
Vapor Bus International and Ricon Corporation, both subsidiaries of Wabtec Corporation, have combined the sales and customer service teams of both companies to create one of the largest and most experienced sales forces in the bus industry. The companies said the move results in an unmatched sales and service network that spans the U.S. and Canada, with an increased customer focus providing comprehensive, passenger access solutions for their customers. Vapor is the principal supplier of bus door systems in North America and Ricon is a global provider of wheelchair lifts, passenger access ramps and transit bus windows.