Adam Bookbinder makes no secret of his love for the yellow bus. The subject often comes up on the air during the Go Country 105 FM morning show in Los Angeles.
For example, he often shares with listeners stories about his vast collection of model school buses. He drinks his coffee from a school-bus tumbler. He brags about his school bus tattoo. He has an uncanny ability to remember the most minute details about school buses he rode as a kid in New Jersey.
School Transportation News became aware of his fascination on Jan. 31, as he sat in for Tim Hurley on “Mornings with Angie” with host Angie Fitzsimmons. The magazine recently visited with Bookbinder, the station’s digital director, at his West Los Angeles, California office, to get to the bottom of his school bus passion.
STN: Did you ride a school bus as a child?
Bookbinder: Yes. In elementary school, I walked to school, but then I went to a religious school and took the bus. I also went to a day camp that I ended up working at and I took the bus.
At the religious school, the bus driver that I had, her name was Edie, and the bus company was Hillman’s Bus Service, based in Berlin, New Jersey. When I first started taking the bus, she drove H31 and it was a Thomas Built bus. I remember what the flashers were like and everything.
Then she went to H38 and H53. It’s crazy how I remember all these things. She used to drive by my house in the morning and honk the horn, and I would always get excited about that. I would sit up-front and watch her drive the bus all the time. I remember that bus H31 was a stick [shift], so I would watch her do that all the time. It’s the same thing for the day camp. That bus company was Safety Bus, based in Pennsauken Township, New Jersey, and I remember those buses that I was on for them as well.
Background
Adam Bookbinder grew up in Cherry Hill, New Jersey, right outside of Philadelphia. Originally studying business at Rider University in Central New Jersey, he was soon bitten by the radio bug and switched his major to filmmaking, TV and radio, with a minor in communications added prior to his senior year.
Upon graduating college, he started working at a Top 40 station based in the Philadelphia area, WPST-Trenton. He was the morning show producer and eventually became the station’s promotion manager, with his own on-air time slot. He would also sometimes fill in for other personalities.
Bookbinder then moved to Los Angeles, where he worked for what was then CBS Radio for 14 years. He started with the company in promotions before entering the digital and social media world.
In 2017, he became the digital director of a family-owned radio company GoCountry 105, the most listened-to country station in Southern California. Its coverage area includes Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino counties. Bookbinder said it is also the most listened-to country station in the U.S.
Bookbinder is on-air Saturdays and Sundays from 2 to 7 p.m., as well as filling in when needed. Listen at www.gocountry105.com. He has conducted live remotes from Disneyland, and covers all of the on-air programs for the Stagecoach Music Festival in Indio, California.
Then in elementary school, they had something called Stanley the School Bus, which was a safety program. They took one of the buses, which at that point the school board owned their own buses, and they put little eyes and smiley faces on the grills of the bus.
It was one afternoon, you get to go on the school bus and learn school bus safety, I always loved that. Then anytime I got to go on a school bus for field trips, I would always sit up front because I would just want to watch the driver drive the bus.
In junior high, I would take a bus and that was a Blue Bird. That was a big deal because they got these flat nose All-American Blue Birds. Cherry Hill Public Schools, all of their buses were gasoline. Most places had diesel, but they had gasoline, and that is still a sound that I miss hearing.
They had mostly Wayne bodies on an International chassis. Then their older buses were Superior models, which also had International chassis. Later, they ended-up getting All-American Blue Birds, which were front-engine gasoline buses.
I think I was in elementary school when they got them. I remember we were outside in gym class. Someone tossed a football at me, and I was so distracted by one of the new buses that I got hit in the ear.
Then, also in high school, I took a bus. I still remember all of those numbers of those buses and all the driver’s names. I remember every little detail of those buses, that I still can’t believe. I knew the bus numbers between this and that was this model and they had these features. It’s crazy.
I remember there was one bus where the warning lights didn’t have the black around it in the back, but it did in the front. I just noticed the smallest details, and it’s weird because I still remember it as if it was yesterday.
Then the school district ended up getting rid of the transportation division, and I was so upset they were getting rid of the buses. They had recently [purchased] diesel Blue Bird All-America Buses with rear engines. I mean, I was really upset.
In my high school yearbook, you can put memories, and one of my memories was the Cherry Hill Public School Buses. It’s always been like this.
But I was so upset, they contracted with what was then National School Bus Service Bus Company, and I even wrote a letter to the board of education [asking that they] don’t go private. But they still ended-up contracting out because they saved money in the long run.
STN: Do you feel like your school bus driver impacted your day?
Bookbinder: I think the one from Hillman’s Bus Service, Edie, she was a big part. I remember when there were times with multiple religious school trips. She was the driver and I was so excited that she was driving. She was always such a loudmouth, she would tell all the kids—this was a long time ago—but she would tell all the kids to ‘sit down and shut up,’ probably all things bus drivers can’t say anymore. She would do a little twirl [with her finger] like turn around and sit down.
But yes, I think having that connection was a big part. When she had that bus H53, it was a Thomas Built Bus. She had her name painted on the front bumper, I think on the left side with a little heart over the “i.”
STN: How did this love of school buses come about?
Bookbinder: That is a very good question. I actually do not know where it came from, it’s just something I have always liked growing up. I have always liked cars, but growing up there was just something about school buses that I fell in love with. I don’t know what it is.
Still to this day, I have no clue what brought this on, but I am still fascinated with them. Everybody that knows me, knows how much I love school buses. Even when I was in high school, during my last period class, I would watch the buses line up on the side of the building, waiting for school to get out and students to board them.
When I ended up getting the school bus tattoo, no one was surprised. And I still have people say to me, ‘Oh, I was driving down the highway, and I saw six buses and thought of you.’ Well, that’s probably going to be my claim to fame, me and school buses.
Related: Minnesota Man Will be Laid to Rest in School Bus Casket
I really don’t know where it came from or how it started. And still, if I smell—well, most buses are propane or natural gas, especially in California—when I do smell that gasoline, my mind automatically goes to a school bus growing up.
I described it on the air [during STN’s visit to the radio station on Feb. 7]. Some people like cars and trucks. Some like airplanes. I like school buses.
STN: When did you get the tattoo?
Bookbinder: It’s probably been about six or seven years now. My brother actually designed part of it, since he’s an artist. He put it together and I brought it to a tattoo shop in Venice, California.
The tattoo artist—he was a friend, and he said, ‘This is the first time I have ever done a school bus tattoo. This is actually pretty cool.’ He took a picture of it, so he could put it up on his wall. He was really proud of it.
I mean the details, too, with the stop-sign and the warning lights, and even the lines in the windows. But it hurt. It really hurt. I was surprised how well it came out.
I was going back and forth about getting a tattoo, and I thought, if I get a tattoo, I want it to mean something. I just didn’t want to get some random thing, so, I had to get a school bus. That is just me.
People were not surprised. It’s funny because I forget that I have it because I’ve had it for so long now. And people always ask me if that is a school bus on my arm and the meaning behind it. I tell them, ‘I like school buses.’
Sometimes people give me [weird looks] and I have to tell them not in a creepy way. I just like buses. [laughs]
STN: So you started collecting model school buses?
Bookbinder: Yeah, I started collecting little model, matchbox-sized school buses. And the funny thing is—one I bought, I think I bought it when I was in high school, it’s a Blue Bird [piggy bank]. I even wrote on it Cherry Hill Public Schools and bus No. 200 because this is when they started getting models like this. I used whiteout to make the roof [hatch] escapes. But most of the buses that I have people end up buying for me or giving to me.
A co-worker gave me my school bus mouse pad. People go, ‘Oh, I saw this and thought of you.’ And they buy it for me and give it to me, and of course, I get all excited. And even this [mug] from Angie, the tumbler.
I would say, 90 percent are gifts from people, which I am completely flattered by.
STN: How many model school buses do you think you have?
Bookbinder: Oh gosh. I would say, 75 maybe. I have some in my room, too. When I was leaving back East, [before] I moved to Los Angeles, people at the radio station bought me this big plastic school bus that you could put little figures in, and everyone signed it saying good luck. I have that in my room. I have another bus, a bigger bus that you push a button and the warning lights come on, too.
STN: Do you have a favorite manufacturer?
Bookbinder: For the current buses, I would say Blue Bird. It’s probably my favorite right now. My all-time favorite is Wayne, which is unfortunately not around anymore. I think it was because the buses growing up were mostly Wayne, so that’s something that I associate with growing up.
I am still trying to get used to the Thomas Built Buses design. I miss the old rounded [noses]; now they are squarer.
I also like to watch a lot of school bus videos. To me it’s like a stress reliever in a way, to sit and watch on YouTube people driving school buses. Once the internet [took off], I started to see that I wasn’t alone. There are people crazier than me, people, who actually collect real buses.
I am a part of all these different Facebook groups: Fans of Blue Bird, Fans of Thomas Built Buses, Fans of Old History Wayne & Superior Buses, Vintage Bus Archives/Carpenter & Wayne Bus Group, School Bus Photos.
I am a part of all of these groups, and people are always posting photos and videos. I also go on YouTube and watch videos of people driving school buses. I love it when it’s like the driver’s point of view and you can see the steering wheel. I could sit there for hours and just watch videos. So, half of my feed on my Facebook and Instagram is school buses, and even my wallpaper [on my computer] is a Blue Bird driver’s seat.
STN: Have you driven a school bus?
Bookbinder: Yes. When I was back East and I was trying to get [WPST in Trenton, New Jersey] to buy a school bus, I did all this research because I thought it would be a great promotional vehicle to take it to events. I actually came to Los Angeles for a trip once and some of the stations I visited actually had buses as promotional vehicles, so I used those as examples.
I did a ton of research on pre-owned buses that were for sale in New Jersey. I think Jersey Bus Sales, I remember contacting them and getting a list of buses that they had. I was looking at the Blue Birds.
Are you a country music fan?
I am now. [Laughs]. It’s funny, because I actually really do love the music. It’s great because you can understand the lyrics and all the artists are so nice, so down to earth. It’s a lot different than any other form that I have ever worked in. It by far has been my favorite.
There was also a local bus company based out of Trenton, New Jersey, called Delaware Valley Bus Line. I contacted them and asked if they train people to drive buses. A lot of companies train-to-hire, and I was training for other reasons.
I explained that and told them what I can do for them. It was a smaller company, so I told them I can give them Six Flags Great Adventure passes. I gave them a whole bunch. I ended up training on a Blue Bird, with air brakes and everything.
I think I was in my mid-20s, and [the trainer] said, ‘I’ve trained a lot of people and I have never seen anyone take to driving a school bus so quickly. You are a natural. Are you sure you’ve never driven one before?’
I thought maybe it’s been the years of sitting up front and watching a driver drive all the time. I thought that was hilarious when he said that, I was very honored. I was training with him on that bus and I had a notebook with all the notes. I ended up getting my training for the driver’s permit with the airbrakes and all of those endorsements.
STN: Do you have your CDL?
Bookbinder: I only have the learner’s permit card. Every time I had my appointment scheduled to take the test to obtain my CDL, the bus was either broken down or it was out on the road. I was never able to take my actual test on the road, and I was 100-percent ready.
Then, six months later, I moved to Los Angeles and I didn’t transfer [my credentials] because at that point I moved to focus on radio. [Today], the school bus thing is a fun thing for me.
STN: Is driving the school bu something you would want to do in retirement?
Bookbinder: Yeah, I have said that I would love to do that in retirement, drive a school bus. There are times I’ve looked to take lessons again and get [my CDL]. But I am so busy with work and everything, that I haven’t done it, but I have looked into it online.
Most companies don’t want to take the time to train someone who isn’t going to work for them. There are some truck and bus driving schools, but it’s just finding the time. Usually, if I am not working, I just want to do my own thing and relax.
It’s been a few years, but [I’ve been to] school bus roadeos in Orange County. I’ve gone to those to watch. I find that fascinating.
STN: How have school buses changed technology-wise since you were riding them?
Bookbinder: It’s completely different. I miss the days of the actual bus door handles, where the doors weren’t operated by a switch. They are so computerized now, just like cars. But I do miss the old school buses from the 80s, even early 90s.
So many buses now are also air-conditioned, which I did not have growing up. … I also find it interesting how the school bus specifications for different states are so different. There was one time I was looking at that whole difference between state specifications because I found it interesting that there is no one guideline for buses across the country. It’s all based per state.
One thing in particular that I remember when I moved to California was the old Crown buses because I had never seen those before [in person], only on TV. So, when I moved here, I was surprised they were a real thing. I remember hearing they were nicknamed “dirty smokers” because they gave off so much exhaust, pollution and fumes. It’s so different now with all the propane, natural gas and electric buses. Editor’s Note—And now diesel, too.
STN: What else should we know about you and school buses?
Bookbinder: When I got my regular driver’s licenses when I was 17 years old in New Jersey, I drove my car as though it was a bus.
I put the steering wheel all the way up and pretended. Even when I was riding my bike around the neighborhood, I would stop and pretend I was a bus and do this [blinking hands] to pretend they were flashers and stop my other friends on their bikes.
When I was attending camp growing up … I made a school bus out of clay. At that time, the bus I was taking was a Superior model, which was owned by Safety Bus. There were warning lights up above the driver and I remember specifically making those lights out of clay. A friend told the bus driver and I was so embarrassed.
That was bus 791 because Safety Bus numbers its buses based on the year of the bus. I’ve been on 896, and that was a 1989 model. Even to this day, they still number their buses like that. Buses today would be a 20193.
I used to love to walk around [the camp bus lot] and look at all the buses. Even now I follow the camp on Facebook, and they have bus yard photos. Now they only have a majority of IC buses, so they all look the same. But back then, all of the buses were different. They had Ford, GMC, International, Wayne, Thomas, Superior. They all looked different. I still find it fascinating.
STN: You are truly a school bus enthusiast.
Bookbinder: It’s a little overwhelming. I like reading online things [regarding school buses]. I like to see new things that are going on in reference to new safety features. I like seeing how much they have changed over the years. How they are so different now from when I was going to school. I find it so interesting.
I feel so much better knowing that there are people who are just like me, or even more so than me. It’s really fascinating seeing the amount of bus stuff that is online. People are uploading new bus photos and videos all the time.
‘Oh, I just got this new 2020 IC, let me show you. It has this feature and that feature. It’s completely loaded.’ It’s also really interesting to see the different options that different companies end up buying for the school buses.
It’s my little claim to fame. … It’s just something I like.
STN: Thank you.
