The American Bus Association (ABA) and School Transportation News announced details today of a new partnership that will bring ABA’s new School Bus Council to the STN EXPO Conference and Trade Show in Indianapolis.
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The ABA formed its School Bus Council in January to provide a forum to its members that also operate yellow buses for school districts. The intent is to meet a few times a year and discuss issues that impact the industry and school bus operators.
Topics discussed in 2018 included National Transportation Safety Board school bus special investigations, the Unified Carrier Registration Plan, opioid testing of drivers, autonomous school bus operations, illegal passing, EPA Diesel Emissions Reduction Act grants, and the Volkswagen Mitigation Trust Fund.
The partnership announced on Wednesday also creates a new award to recognize an outstanding private school bus operator. The award will be presented by the ABA and STN during the event, which is scheduled for June 7-12, 2019. Details of the Private School Bus Operator of the Year Award will be announced during ABA’s School Bus Council meeting at ABA’s Marketplace in Louisville, Kentucky, on Jan. 28.
“ABA is pleased to partner with STN,” said Peter Pantuso, ABA’s president and CEO. “This is a great opportunity to bring STN’s expertise on issues unique to school bus operations to ABA members who operate school buses, in addition to their motorcoach fleets.”
Tony Corpin, STN’s president and publisher, commented that the strategic partnership aligns with STN’s goal of expanding training and information sharing throughout the privately contracted school bus market.
“The team at School Transportation News is excited to develop a strategic partnership with the ABA and its membership of private fleet operators that represent nearly 15,000 yellow school buses,” Corpin added. “It’s our great pleasure to host the newly-formed ABA school bus council at the STN EXPO Indianapolis. Our conference will help both organizations grow and flourish, while providing access to industry experts, specialized training and unique experiences to ABA school bus council members.”
Celebrating its 25th year, the STN EXPO originated in Reno, Nevada, and in 2019 is expanding to also include Indianapolis. Both events welcome school transportation professionals nationwide who want to learn about the latest trends in training, products and services, plus how to produce better, more quantifiable results from their transportation team and operations.
The ABA is the trade organization of the North American intercity bus industry, with over 1,000 motorcoach and tour company members.
