In celebration of Earth Week, April 16 through 22, National Express Corporation (NEC) said it is raising awareness of the importance of reduced idling programs for school buses that have been implemented nationwide at its local student transportation operations and have saved the company $175,000 in fuel and maintenance expenses.
And, of course, the environment. Celebrations around the world are being held all week and on the actual Earth Day, which is this coming Monday. The first Earth Day was celebrated on April 22, 1970. At the same time, the contractor is promoting healthy initiatives for its employees.
NEC is the North American subsidiary of the UK’s National Express Group and the operating company for Durham School Services and Petermann Bus in the U.S. and for Stock Transportation in Canada. Depending on varying state and local regulations on allowable idling times, a company spokesman said the contractors’ operationsidling policy meet or exceed any applicable laws in the 32 states and four provinces they serve.
“Promoting clean air is a responsibility National Express takes seriously,” said NEC CEO David A. Duke. “With morethan 20,000 buses on the road every day, we understand that even small adjustments to our operations can have a substantial positive impact on the environment.”
The company-wide idling reduction program also consists of training for bus drivers and ongoing oversight by operations managers. As a result, the company said it has “significantly” reduced unnecessary, “excessive” idling and, as such, as decreased fuel and vehicle emissions. For example, the spokesman said fuel and maintenance savings in 2012 are estimated at $175,000.
“We will continue our efforts to be environmentally friendly,” Duke said. “I hope everyone pauses during Earth Week to think about how they can play a role in helping our planet.”
NEC also knows that healthy school bus employees are better equipped to provide excellent customer service to their schools and students day in and day out. To encourage improved wellness across its organization, the company launched its second‐annual “Slim Down Challenge” that has its employees losing weight and having fun with fitness.
The 10‐week competition involves groups of four to seven employees aiming to score the best in percentage of
weight lost. Each team designated a team captain and chose a team name.
“When you can have fun while making an improvement to your life and to your job, you’re more likely to be
successful at it,” said Michele McDermott, senior vice president of Human Resources. “The health and safety of
our employees is enhanced through personal fitness, which contributes to the vitality of our organization.”
