Alternative‐fuel Blue Bird buses purchased for longevity and less air pollution
COLTON, Calif. ‐ A‐Z Bus Sales, Inc., a leading provider of transportation solutions, today announced delivery of 30 new CNG (natural gas) Blue Bird buses to Fresno Unified School District. The Blue Bird All American CNG buses were purchased through A‐Z Bus Sales and replace 1977 model year diesel buses from Crown and 1978 model year diesel buses from Gillig. Upon delivery of the new buses, Fresno Unified will have a total of 42 Blue Bird CNG buses, supporting approximately 9,500 students and scheduled to cover 1.5 million miles each year on established routes and field trips.
“Fresno Unified has been buying Blue Bird buses and working with A‐Z Bus Sales since 1999; we are pleased with the great service we get from both companies,” says Ralph Meza, Director of Transportation, Fresno Unified School District. “We used other buses beforehand, but since 1999 have consistently bought Blue Bird buses from A‐Z Bus Sales because they are better‐built, durable, and hardworking.
With this purchase, I expect the engines and transmissions to last twice the miles when compared to other buses.” Mr. Meza continues, “In buying CNG buses over diesel, we’ve found significant cost savings in both fuel and maintenance expense. The oil runs cleaner with need to change it less frequently and fuel costs are down because we can run two CNGs for the price of one diesel bus.
When we’re transporting 9,500 students over 1.5 million miles yearly, cost savings are important to managing the District’s transportation budget.” Mr. Meza concludes, “CNG buses not only help my bottom line, they also provide immeasurable benefit for our students. Because CNG runs smoother, quieter, and cleaner, that translates to a healthier environment and healthier students.”
“A‐Z Bus Sales is pleased to support Fresno Unified School District’s pupil transportation needs,” says Jim Reynolds, President, A‐Z Bus Sales, Inc. Mr. Reynolds adds, “Fresno joins the ranks of several other California school districts who are converting their fleets to alternate‐fuel buses because they value the benefits of CNG over diesel, such as reduced air pollution and less particulate matter, resulting in cleaner air for the students and the residents of Fresno.”
“As the leader in affordable green solutions, we are pleased that Fresno Unified School District counts on Blue Bird to provide them with safe, reliable and affordable alternative fueled buses,” states Greg Bennett, President and CEO of Blue Bird Corporation.
About Fresno Unified School District
The Fresno Unified School District is the 4th largest school district in California, serving more than 73,000 students. The District operates 64 elementary schools, 15 middle schools, 8 high schools, 4 alternative schools, and 3 special education schools. More information can be found at www.fresno.k12.ca.us.
About Blue Bird Corporation
Blue Bird offers a complete line of Type A, C and D school buses in a variety of options and configurations. For more than 80 years, Blue Bird Corporation has continued to set industry standards with its innovative design and manufacturing capabilities. Today, Blue Bird has more than 1,500 employees, three Georgia‐based manufacturing facilities and an extensive network of dealers and service‐parts facilities throughout North America. Its global presence can be seen in more than 60 countries through sales into Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, Latin America, Europe and the Middle East. For more information, visit the Blue Bird Corporation web site at www.blue‐bird.com.
About A‐Z Bus Sales, Inc.
A‐Z Bus Sales, Inc. is a 25‐year old, employee‐owned company specializing in transportation solutions for the government and public sector, education market, commercial and private fleets. A‐Z Bus Sales represents new Blue Bird, MicroBird by Girardin, Collins Bus, Glaval Bus, Elkhart Coach, Arboc Mobility, Federal, Ameritrans and BraunAbility, as well as one of the largest inventories of used buses on the West Coast. A‐Z Bus Sales provides buses to a variety of organizations including: K‐12 schools, universities, municipalities, shuttle operators, hotels, health care providers, tour and charter companies, churches and retirement centers. A‐Z Bus Sales provides sales and service for new and used buses, provides financing of all buses through a large nationwide network of bus dealers, and offers parts and services including emissions testing and diesel engine retrofits, and warranty repairs. More information can be found at www.a‐zbus.com or by calling 800.437.5522.
