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The Ontario School Bus Association (OSBA) is a non-profit association providing advocacy, education, and legislative consultation services to the owners of school bus fleets, school boards/transportation consortia and supplier/manufacturer companies across Ontario.  
October 3, 2018 - Issue 19

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Inside this Edition:
  1. Proposed Changes to Drive Clean and Emission Testing
  2. OSBA Member Webinar - October 17, 2018
  3. REMINDER - 2018 OSBA Driver Excellence Recognition Award
  4. NTSB Recommends Pedestrian Safety Systems
  5. School Bus Safety Week and School Bus Driver Appreciation Day
  6. First Blue Bird Electric School Buses Delivered
  7. Newfoundland and Labrador Education Minister Eyes School Bus Cameras but Says More Input Needed
  8. Champions Named in 2018 Navistar Technician Rodeo
  9. 2018 Rising Superstars in School Transportation
  10. Order Your OSBA Publications Now!
  11. Upcoming Events
Proposed Changes to Drive Clean and Emission Testing

On September 28, 2018, the Ontario government announced proposed changes to Ontario’s Drive Clean Testing Program. The proposals would redesign the testing protocols for heavy-duty diesel engine vehicle emissions and strengthen on-road enforcement of emission standards.

The proposals include:
  • Introducing a mandatory test of a heavy-duty diesel engine vehicle’s on-board computer emission control systems as part of the Drive Clean test
  • Re-examining the Drive Clean test frequency for heavy-duty diesel engine vehicles based on age.
  • Re-examining the current testing levels for emissions opacity (smoke density) in heavy-duty diesel engine vehicles.
  • Increased enforcement of emission control system tampering.
  • Providing incentives to industries which demonstrate operations of fleets with cleaner emissions.
The proposed changes to the Ontario Drive Clean Program and emission testing can be viewed here. Comments can also be provided on the proposal until October 28, 2018 at the same link.

For any questions/further information, members are encouraged to contact OSBA’s Safety and Legislation Consultant Alex Bugeya at 416.695.9965 Ext. 4 or abugeya@osba.on.ca
OSBA Member Webinar - October 17, 2018

Join the Ontario School Bus Association (OSBA) and Barbara Butler (Barbara Butler and Associates Inc.) for a 1-hour webinar examining the impacts of Cannabis legalization and what employers need to consider.

Speaker:
Barbara Butler has been assisting governments, industry and labour associations, and private business in dealing with the issue of workplace alcohol and drug issues since 1989. She has worked with organizations in a wide variety of sectors across the country to help them develop and implement alcohol and drug policies. This has included the development of communications strategies and awareness and education programs to meet unique corporate needs, the design and delivery of supervisor training programs (including online training) and the contracting and setting up of Substance Abuse Professional and testing services as appropriate under the company policy.

Webinar Content: 
An excellent opportunity to learn about: 
  1. What Cannabis legalization means for the student transportation industry. 
  2. Best practices for employer fitness for duty policies. 
  3. Considerations for addressing medical Cannabis.
Why Attend? 
You Will Hear: 
  • Important information not frequently published or easily resourced. 
  • Valuable considerations related to company fitness for duty policies. 
  • Answers to questions not readily/quickly available elsewhere. 
  • Up-to-date information on alcohol/drug issues in the workplace.
Who Should Attend? 
  • OSBA members interested in learning more about the impacts of Cannabis Legalization. 
  • Individuals involved with school bus operations, training, human resources, recruiting and other areas related to the day-to-day management of school bus drivers.
For further information, please contact OSBA's Safety and Legislation Consultant, Alex Bugeya at abugeya@osba.on.ca or 416.695.9965 Ext. 4.
REMINDER - 2018 OSBA Driver Excellence Recognition Award

In an ongoing effort to recognize the exceptional efforts put forth by thousands of professional school bus drivers each and every day, once again this year OSBA will acknowledge and appreciate an extraordinary school bus driver who has demonstrated exemplary performance and a commitment to excellence, particularly in the areas of driving, customer service and safety.
 
If you would like to nominate someone from your company or are aware of a very special school bus driver in your area, 
please submit the nomination form by Oct. 17, 2018 to info@osba.on.ca.  Found at the following links:
All nomination forms will be reviewed and one candidate selected by a committee of the OSBA Board of Directors.  The winner will be recognized and announced on the OSBA website, in the OSBA annual magazine “School Bus Ontario”, in the OSBA bi-weekly newsletter, and an award presented during the 2019 Ontario Transportation Expo (OTE) being held April 14-17, 2019 in Toronto.  This award is typically presented at the Ontario Association of School Business Officials (OASBO) Fall pupil transportation conference held annually in Collingwood, however, this year’s OASBO conference was not conducted in light of the Canadian Pupil Transportation Conference (CPTC) held in May 2018 in Niagara Falls.
 
We look forward to hearing from you 
by October 17th.  If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact info@osba.on.ca or 416-695-9965 Ext. 6.
NTSB Recommends Pedestrian Safety Systems

Article Source: School Transportation News
Article Date: September 28, 2018


Pedestrian collision avoidance systems and improved, road-tested vehicle headlights are among 11 recommendations approved by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) to increase pedestrian safety. If enacted, both measures could eventually benefit students who ride school buses. The pedestrian collision avoidance system would alert school bus drivers that objects detected in the danger zone are actually students. The headlight requirement for vehicles would give motorists a farther field of vision to see students crossing the street to board buses in dark morning hours.

The recommendations comprise a suggested “to do” list for the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the Federal Highway Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). They are the result of a two-year NTSB investigation and address vehicle design, infrastructure planning and data sharing.

Eight of the recommendations are for NHTSA, two are for the FHA and one is directed at the CDC. The recommendations are part of a special investigation report unveiled during a two-hour board meeting Sept. 25, where NTSB Chairman Robert Sumwalt said enough is enough.

“Each year, more and more of us are getting hit by cars and dying, and that has to stop,” Sumwalt said at the outset of the meeting. “About 16 pedestrians die in crashes every day and it’s getting steadily worse (during) the past decade.”

Citing information contained in the special investigative report, Sumwalt said that a significant portion of all road fatalities in 2007 occurred with pedestrians. By 2016, that number climbed to 18 percent. “That is one of every six people killed on the nation’s roadways were pedestrians,” Sumwalt explained. “Pedestrian fatalities increased by 27 percent during that 10-year period, even as overall highway fatalities decreased by 14 percent.”

The NTSB developed its recommendations after investigating 15 fatal crashes involving pedestrians in several states. The only one involving a school bus was on Oct. 14, 2016. The bus driver was starting his afternoon route with no children on board when he made an ill-advised right turn and struck a woman in a marked crosswalk.

Some of the technology suggested by NTSB’s recommendations, such as collision avoidance systems, have already trickled down from the commercial sector to school districts. While 360-degree camera systems give school bus drivers an overhead view of the danger zone around the bus, the collision avoidance systems can only detect other vehicles and inanimate objects.

Another issue local districts are dealing with is pedestrian warning systems on electric school buses. Electric vehicles are so quiet that manufacturers and the school districts that operate them said the believe that some type of warning system is needed to alert students and other pedestrians that the bus is approaching.

“In our view it’s a necessary component of the electric school bus because they are so quiet,” said Nate Baguio, vice president of sales for The Lion Electric Co., which manufactures Type C electric school buses. “We are installing them on our electric buses as standard equipment even though it is not mandated by law.”

Instead of a blaring horn or alarm, Baguio explained, music is played through the bus grille from a speaker installed under the hood. The warning system is activated whenever the bus decelerates below 20 miles per hour, or a speed determined by the school district. He said the music may also be customized per the district’s request.

“We decided on music instead of an alarm because it is better when picking up students in neighborhoods in the morning,” Baguio continued. “It’s just loud enough and focused toward students at a stop so they know to stay clear of the danger zone.”

Lion put its first electric bus on the road in 2015. The Canada-based company said it has 150 electric buses in operation nationwide and 50 in California.

The Twin Rivers Unified School District in Sacramento owns 16 electric buses, the largest electric bus fleet operated by a school district in U.S. Transportation Director Tim Shannon has eight eLion buses and said the melodic tone they play mimics the sound of the Montreal subway, not far from Lion’s corporate headquarters, to alert people of an oncoming train.

“It gives great awareness that a bus is approaching, especially when you’re walking in the bus yard,” Shannon said. “It’s important that people have an awareness that a large vehicle is approaching them.”

Shannon is working with the California Association of School Transportation Officials and the California Highway Patrol on a proposal he wrote that seeks legislation to require the warning system as standard equipment on all-electric school buses in the state. “I have no doubt it will move forward,” Shannon said. “As new technology is developed, we need updated guidelines on how it is applied.”

Meanwhile, NTSB’s headlights recommendation is significant because one of the most cited reasons made by drivers who hit students in the early morning hours is they didn’t see them. This response prompted Steve Gardner to develop the Guardian Angel School Bus Safety Lighting System, a bright LED light that fits under the front bumper of the bus and shines across the roadway to illuminate the path where students are crossing to or from the bus. The system has been approved in 18 states.

“The feedback has been 100-percent positive,” said Gardner, who was a bus mechanic for 20 years and a fleet supervisor for 15 years. “There have been no complaints from anyone. I know what I’m talking about, this is about saving lives.”

Gardner said not all buses need his lighting system. “It depends on the lighting along the route.” He said he developed the lighting system after a 15-year-old student was killed in the morning hours by a driver who said she didn’t see her. “I had a daughter the same age at home,” Gardner added.
School Bus Safety Week and School Bus Driver Appreciation Day

October 22-26, 2018 is School Bus Safety Week (SBSW), a special opportunity for bus companies, school boards/transportation consortia, media, parents, students, teachers, motorists and many others - to come together, reinforce and highlight the importance of student transportation safety across Ontario.

"My Driver - My Safety Hero!" is the theme of National School Bus Safety Week derived from the National Association for Pupil Transportation (NAPT) poster contest. The 2017 winning poster, was drawn by Aumkar Patel, a 5th Grader at Henry County Schools in McDonough, GA.

Posters were mailed to all OSBA bus operator and school board/transportation consortia members.
 

Wednesday, October 24, 2018 is School Bus Driver Appreciation Day.  Without a doubt, professional school bus drivers are an extraordinary and talented group of individuals who embrace a tremendous responsibility to ensure kids remain safe and out of harm’s way each and every day.
 
OSBA would appreciate receiving any information regarding member activities for SBSW and/or Driver Appreciation Day! Please send any information to info@osba.on.ca.
First Blue Bird Electric School Buses Delivered

Article Source: School Bus Fleet
Article Date: September 27, 2018


Blue Bird has delivered its first electric-powered school buses to customers in California and Ontario, the manufacturer announced. Seven Type D All American Rear Engine Electric school buses and one Type A Micro Bird G5 Electric school bus will be in operation this year, according to Blue Bird.

The customers who obtained electric school buses were aided by grants from various entities and government programs. Blue Bird said that the grants helped to pay for all or part of the cost of the buses, as well as some necessary infrastructure costs.

Jack Matrosov of Wheelchair Accessible Transit, based in Toronto, Ontario, added a Micro Bird G5 Electric school bus to his fleet through the Electric and Hydrogen Vehicle Incentive Program (EHVIP), which is offered by Ontario’s government.

"When the EHVIP grant became available, we were thrilled to find out that Micro Bird had an electric bus solution in the works,” Matrosov said. “Over 90% of our fleet are Micro Bird buses, and we feel these buses offer great quality and good local service when needed.”

The larger, 72-passenger buses ordered by customers in California have a similar design to the Blue Bird Type D compressed natural gas (CNG) school buses that many school districts in the state already operate. Districts utilized California-based grants to help cover the cost of the electric buses and infrastructure.

"We were excited to find out, in the midst of the search process, that Blue Bird had created an electric bus solution,” said Hector Morales, supervisor of maintenance, operations, and transportation for Mountain View School District in El Monte, California. “Our mechanic is familiar with Blue Bird Type D buses, so it was an easy choice for our fleet."

"We decided to go with Blue Bird's electric school buses, because we know the level of service we require will be available to us," said Mark Toti, transportation manager at Bellflower (Calif.) Unified School District. "We currently operate 26 Blue Bird CNG buses, and feel comfortable relying on local support from Blue Bird in order to introduce this new technology to our existing fleet."

While grants were widely responsible for the purchase of these electric buses, Blue Bird officials said they see a future in this technology that will make it more affordable and widespread as a viable alternative-fuel solution.

“We are thrilled to see our all-new Blue Bird electric school buses going into the hands of customers for the first time,” said Phil Horlock, president and CEO of Blue Bird Corp. “With zero emissions, our electric school buses provide the cleanest possible environment for our customers and the children they transport. Also, with battery technology constantly advancing and becoming more efficient, we foresee a great future for growth.”

Blue Bird and Micro Bird announced their development of electric-powered school buses in 2017, promising deliveries starting in 2018.
Newfoundland and Labrador Education Minister Eyes School Bus Cameras but Says More Input Needed

Article Source: CBC News
Article Date: October 1, 2018


Installing surveillance cameras on school buses are one option the government and school board will consider after allegations of abuse in western Newfoundland were reported, but the Newfoundland and Labrador Education Minister says further discussion is needed.

"There are probably other tools that could be used and discussions we need to have as well," Education Minister Al Hawkins told The Corner Brook Morning Show. "I think we are open to having discussions on whatever options are out there, actually."

The parents of an eight-year-old girl allegedly sexually assaulted by an older male student on her bus have called for cameras to be installed to help prevent such crimes in the future. Three charges of assault, involving two different victims, have been laid against a teenaged boy, RCMP confirmed.

Last week, the Newfoundland and Labrador Privacy Commissioner Donovan Molloy told CBC News that under the Schools Act, cameras on school buses could be put in place, if deemed necessary by the school district.

Concerns about response

The family of the eight-year-old girl told CBC News last week that they are disappointed that the school board didn't agree on installing the cameras. Their concerns, and their desire to see changes put in place to prevent future assaults, aren't being addressed, the girl's mother and stepmother said.

"Allegations of this nature have to be treated very quickly, and I think in such situations that the school district has in fact acted quickly," Hawkins said, pointing to the changes made to the School Act last spring to give the school board more authority to remove students who are deemed detrimental to others due to out-of-school behaviour.

"It's not like we haven't made changes," he said. "We will make changes, and in fact we have ongoing discussions with the school board to ensure that we have some of the best policies in place to ensure that all the students that attend our schools do so in a very safe and caring manner."

Hawkins said that parents always have the right to speak with administrators at their schools, and to contact the districts and school boards, about any concerns. "I want to assure the parents that certainly any comments or discussions and suggestions will be welcome."

Safety is 'priority No. 1'

Hawkins is also speaking with the boards, which are elected, as well as the province's two school districts. He spoke with Molloy at length as well.

"It probably may seem simple to do that, but obviously there's a lot discussion that we need to have particularly around privacy issues," he said. Some parents would welcome the use of cameras, he said, while others would have reservations.

Hawkins did not specify which other options would be part of that discussion, but said he, his department, and the school districts are all committed to keeping children safe.

"Everybody that's involved in education would certainly want to make sure that the safety of our students is priority No. 1," he said. "It has been and should continue to be."
Champions Named in 2018 Navistar Technician Rodeo

Article Source: School Bus Fleet
Article Date: October 2, 2018


Technicians from Florida, West Virginia, and Arizona took home first place in three categories in Navistar’s 2018 Technician Rodeo, which tests the skills and speed of service professionals from the company’s dealer networks.

Michael Irvin of Sun State International in Florida took home the “Top Service Technician” award for the truck category, and Ben Bird of Worldwide Equipment in West Virginia earned the same recognition for the bus category, at the 12th Annual Navistar Technician Rodeo, which features Navistar’s top American and Canadian commercial truck and bus technicians. The competition was held at the Woodridge, Illinois, facility of Navistar, the parent company of IC Bus. 

New this year, the company also brought its Global Technician Competition into the same event, which brings regional winners worldwide together to compete for top bragging rights. In the third iteration of the global event, Nathan Reed of RWC Group in Arizona earned first place.

“Michael, Ben, and Nathan are all highly skilled technicians that reflect the best traditions of our company’s commitment to technical excellence and providing the best customer uptime in the industry,” said John Pfennig, director of global development for Navistar. “We’re very proud of this year’s winners, and frankly all of its competitors, who are among the very best truck technicians there are.”

This year’s competition showcased 20 top service technicians from International and IC Bus dealers across the world, the largest amount yet for the event. 

The technicians competed head-to-head in a series of stations designed to simulate service areas truck components and engines. The technicians were scored on how quickly and effectively they navigated their way through the stations, diagnosing and fixing the simulated problems.

All of the participants are Diamond certified through Navistar’s official certification technician program. In addition, all the technicians from the U.S. and Canada are all either Automotive Service Excellence- or Canadian Provincial-certified.

Rodeo participants were selected from a group of the top 900 technicians at International and IC Bus dealers. From there, the group was narrowed to 16 participants through online testing, with the highest-scoring technicians in each region of the U.S. and Canada invited to compete in the event.

Technicians that competed in the Rodeo can be viewed here.

“Participants in this competition have completed all the required and optional training and are at the top of their game,” Pfennig said. “They represent our 9,500 plus service technicians from International and IC Bus dealerships, the highest number of any medium/heavy commercial-truck and bus manufacturer.”
2018 Rising Superstars in School Transportation

Article Source: School Transportation News
Article Date: September 30, 2018


For the past three years, School Transportation News has requested nominations of student transporters who are displaying leadership or innovation in their school bus operation, but who may have not received the public or industry-wide recognition that they deserve. 

This year, we received 68 nominations, which are listed below. Out of these, 10 individuals were selected by the editors for profiles in our October magazine Rising SuperStars feature.

To view the full list, click here.
Order Your OSBA Publications Now!

Visit the OSBA website at www.osba.on.ca and click on the "STORE" tab from the home page to order the following OSBA publications. Or click on the links below and go directly to each order form:
Once you have completed the necessary order form, please scan/email it to info@osba.on.ca or fax it to 416-695-9977.
 
Copyright © 2018 Ontario School Bus Association
All rights reserved.  This publication is intended for the exclusive use of OSBA Members.  Reproduction without prior permission is prohibited.

Contact OSBA:
3075 Lenworth Drive, Mississauga, ON, L4X 2G3
Tel.416.695.9965 Fax 416.695.9977  
info@osba.on.ca | www.osba.on.ca
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Please address all enquiries and submissions to info@osba.on.ca  Opinions expressed do not necessarily express the opinions of the OSBA or its Board of Directors. Nor does acceptance of advertising constitute endorsement.






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