RICHMOND, Va. – Nov. 10, 2015 – Thomas Built Buses, a leading U.S. manufacturer of school buses, celebrated the landmark delivery today of its 75,000th Saf-T-Liner® C2 conventional school bus to Bishop Bus Service, Inc., of Lusby, Maryland. Ken Hedgecock, vice president of sales, marketing and service of Thomas Built Buses, presented the key and momentous school bus to Dwight Bishop, Sr., owner of Bishop Bus Service, at the National Association for Pupil Transportation (NAPT) 41st Annual Summit.
“As evidenced by its 36 years of service to its community, Bishop Bus Service is committed to providing students with the safest and most reliable transportation available,” said Hedgecock. “At Thomas Built Buses, we share that commitment and are proud to deliver this momentous vehicle to Bishop Bus Service and the citizens of Lusby.”
Launched in 2004, the Thomas Built Saf-T-Liner C2 revolutionized the school bus industry, setting a new standard for safety, design and engineering innovation. Based on extensive driver and customer input, the C2 was designed from the ground up and built in the High Point production facility created specifically to produce the dramatically different bus.
The ergonomic driver cockpit and the best driver visibility in the Type C category is a favorite with school bus drivers. The multiplex wiring system shared by the body and chassis simplifies maintenance and troubleshooting for technicians. Plus, the C2 offers a number of other features that enhance safety, including the use of structural adhesives to provide nearly double the strength of standard joining methods.
“We are delighted to add another Thomas Built Buses vehicle to our fleet,” said Dwight Bishop, Sr., owner of Bishop Bus Service, Inc. “The innovative design, technology and sustainability measures inherent in the C2 makes us confident that this new school bus will be a part of our fleet for years to come.”
Bishop Bus Service purchased the 75,000th C2 through American Bus Sales and Service, a premier fleet solutions provider founded in the 1950’s and headquartered in Annapolis, Maryland.
“We have now been told by customers 75,000 times that our C2 is the gold standard in school bus innovation,” said Hedgecock. “Our team is proud to support safe and reliable transportation to students in Lusby, Maryland, and across North America.”
The design and manufacturing of the C2 was made possible through collaboration between two Daimler Trucks North America Companies: Thomas Built Buses and Freightliner Custom Chassis Corporation.
Freightliner Custom Chassis was the first chassis manufacturer to achieve Zero-Waste-to-Landfill in the U.S., and Thomas Built Buses was the first, and remains the only, school bus manufacturer to achieve Zero-Waste-to Landfill status.
For more information on the Saf-T-Liner C2, customers should contact their local Thomas Built Buses dealer.
About Thomas Built Buses
Founded in 1916, Thomas Built Buses is a leading manufacturer of school buses in North America. Since the first Thomas Built bus rolled off the assembly line, the company has been committed to delivering the smartest and most innovative buses in North America. Learn more at www.thomasbus.com or at www.facebook.com/thomasbuiltbuses.
Thomas Built Buses, Inc., headquartered in High Point, N.C., is a subsidiary of Daimler Trucks North America LLC, the largest heavy-duty truck manufacturer in North America and a leading manufacturer of class 4-8 vehicles. Daimler Trucks North America produces and markets commercial vehicles under the Freightliner, Western Star and Thomas Built Buses nameplates. Daimler Trucks North America is a Daimler company.
About Freightliner Custom Chassis Corporation
Freightliner Custom Chassis Corporation manufactures premium chassis for the motorhome, delivery walk-in van, and school bus and shuttle bus markets. Visit the Freightliner Custom Chassis Corporation website at www.freightlinerchassis.com for additional FCCC news and product information. Freightliner Custom Chassis Corporation is a subsidiary of Daimler Trucks North America LLC, a Daimler company.
