By Rick Mullen,
Busline Magazine Associate Editor

The following import/export categories include motor buses, coaches, trolley buses and gyrobuses.

The U.S. Department of Commerce, Economics and Statistics Administration, U.S. Census Bureau trade figures for April 2021 indicated vehicle imports were up in seven categories outlined, compared to April 2020. For the first four months of 2021, vehicles imports were down in seven categories, compared to the first four months of 2020.

The United States imported 91 vehicles in April 2021, up from 19 vehicles for April 2020. For the first four months of 2021, the United States imported 436 vehicles, down 25 percent from 585 vehicles for the first four months of 2020.

Canada sent 392 vehicles to the United States during the first four months of 2021.

The average price per vehicle for April 2021 was $314,084, up 24 percent from $253,704 for April 2020. The average price per vehicle for the first four months of 2021 was $314,306, up 4 percent from $302,802 for the first four months of 2020.

The United States received two vehicles in April 2021, up 100 percent from one vehicle for April 2020. For the first four months of 2021, the United States imported eight vehicles, down from 102 vehicles for the first four months of 2020.

The United States imported five vehicles from Canada during the first four months of 2021.

The average price per vehicle in April 2021 was $328,730, down 52 percent from $685,740 for April 2020. The average price per vehicle for the first four months of 2021 was $201,655, up from $61,099 for the first four months of 2020.

The United States imported four vehicles during April 2021, up 100 percent from two vehicles for April 2020. During the first four months of 2021, six vehicles were imported, down from 80 vehicles for the first four months of 2020.

All of the vehicles were imported from Canada during the first four months of 2021.

The average price per vehicle for April 2021 was $376,739, up 57 percent from $240,184 for April 2020. The average price for the first four months of 2021 was $419,281, up 68 percent from $249,882 for the first four months of 2020.

The United States imported no vehicles in this category during April of 2021 or 2020. Also, no vehicles were imported during the first four months of 2021, compared to three vehicles during the first four months of 2020, at an average price of $221,611.

The United States imported no vehicles in this category during the first four months of 2021, compared to one vehicle received during the first four months of 2020, at a price of $8,357.

The United States imported 18 vehicles during April 2021, up from four vehicles for April 2020. During the first four months of 2021, 53 vehicles were received, up 47 percent from 36 vehicles for the first four months of 2020.

China shipped 32 vehicles during the first four months of 2021.

The average price per vehicle for April 2021 was $184,605, up from $6,600 for April 2020. The average price for the first four months of 2021 was $210,702, up from $52,129 for the first four months of 2020.

The United States imported seven vehicles during April 2021, up 40 percent from five vehicles for April 2020. During the first four months of 2021, 25 vehicles were imported, down 7 percent from 27 vehicles for the first four months of 2020.

China sent 23 vehicles during the first four months of 2021.

The average price per vehicle for April 2021 was $8,888, up 5 percent from $8,494 for April 2020. The average price for the first four months of 2021 was $9,784, down 13 percent from $11,275 for the first four months of 2020.

The United States imported 89 vehicles during April 2021, up 112 percent from 42 vehicles for April 2020. During the first four months of 2021, 416 vehicles were received, down 2 percent from 426 vehicles for the first four months of 2020.

Canada sent 414 vehicles to the United States during the first four months of 2021.

The average price per vehicle for April 2021 was $138,659, up 49 percent from $93,189 for April 2020. The average price per vehicle for the first four months of 2021 was $140,379, up 30 percent from $108,124 for the first four months of 2020.

The United States imported 109 vehicles during April 2021, up from 15 vehicles for April 2020. During the first four months of 2021, 257 vehicles were received, up 9 percent from 235 vehicles for the first four months of 2020.

Canada sent 234 vehicles to the United States during the first four months of 2021.

The average price per vehicle for April 2021 was $35,182, down 26 percent from $47,515 for April 2020. The average price per vehicle for the first four months of 2021 was $37,362, down 20 percent from $46,850 for the first four months of 2020.

EXPORTS

Export totals for April 2021 were up in two categories, compared to April 2020. Three categories reported decreases for the first four months of 2021, compared to the first four months of 2020.

The United States exported 412 vehicles during April 2021, down 11 percent from 463 vehicles for April 2020. During the first four months of 2021, 1,667 vehicles were sent, down 19 percent from 2,059 vehicles for the first four months of 2020.

Mexico received 680 vehicles during the first four months of 2021, while Canada imported 660 vehicles.

The average price per vehicle for April 2021 was $32,082, down 53 percent from $68,688 for April 2020. The average price per vehicle for the first four months of 2021 was $46,135, down 20 percent from $57,376 for the first four months of 2020.

8702200000 Public-Transport Vehicles With Both Compression-Ignition Internal Combustion Piston Engine (Diesel Or Semi-Diesel) & Electric Motor

The United States shipped 52 vehicles in April 2021, up 126 percent from 23 vehicles for April 2020. During the first four months of 2021, 307 vehicles were exported, up 70 percent from 181 for the first four months of 2020.

Mexico received 151 vehicles during the first four months of 2021, while Canada imported 114 vehicles.

The average price per vehicle for April 2021 was $32,634, down 53 percent from $68,896 for April 2020. The average price for the first four months of 2021 was $23,300, down 49 percent from $45,949 for the first four months of 2020.

The United States exported 48 vehicles in April 2021, up 100 percent from 24 vehicles for April 2020. During the first four months of 2021, 151 vehicles were sent, down 43 percent from 263 vehicles for the first four months of 2020.

Mexico received 67 vehicles during the first four months of 2021.

The average price per vehicle for April 2021 was $23,182, down 54 percent from $50,345 for April 2020. The average price for the first four months of 2021 was $23,576, down 27 percent from $32,377 for the first four months of 2020.

8702400000 Public-Transport Type Passenger Motor Vehicles With Only Electric Motor For Propulsion

The United States shipped 57 vehicles in April 2021, down from 324 vehicles for April 2020. During the first four months of 2021, 310 vehicles were exported, down 76 percent from 1,286 vehicles for the first four months of 2020.

Canada received 307 vehicles during the first four months of 2021.

The average price per vehicle for April 2021 was $42,238, up 55 percent from $27,250 for April 2020. The average price per vehicle for the first four months of 2021 was $47,879, up 34 percent from $35,616 for the first four months of 2020.

Click on statistics to open .pdf file

Longtime ABC Customer Celebrates 100 Years Of Commitment To The Motorcoach Industry

Croswell Bus Lines, Inc., a tour, charter and ground transportation provider based in Williamsburg, OH, celebrates 100 years of providing transportation services across the United States. The company was founded in 1921 by R.S. Croswell and his wife, Jesse, and provided line run service to workers and military personnel between Portsmouth and Cincinnati, OH.

“Today, four generations later, the business has grown to become a respected and reliable ground transport resource throughout the Midwest, providing a wide range of tour and charter service for corporations, professional athletic teams and leisure travelers, institutional and university shuttle service and local and small group passenger transport utilizing its diversified fleet of full-size, luxury motorcoaches, mini-coaches, sprinter and passenger vans,” said ABC Companies.

“Built on a solid foundation of family values, and a 24/7 work ethic, the Croswell management team believes that by ‘taking care of the business first, the business will take care of the family.’” That ethos has never been more evident than during the past year, and a 100 percent commitment to the business and their customers is priority one.”

“Adversity is a test, and when things get difficult you need to do the right thing. We’ve shown our customers throughout this challenging period that we are willing to work with them because we value their loyalty above all,” said John Croswell, president.

The company is among the founding members of the International Motorcoach Group (IMG), and a charter member of Spader 20 groups. Via participation and engagement with peers, Croswell acknowledges the importance of exploring business issues and insights, while understanding the challenges of other family-owned operations.

“We don’t’ consider ourselves to be a bus company run by a family, more so a family business that happens to be running buses. It’s our core values and willingness to make sacrifices that have kept this company strong and able to survive virtually every major historic upheaval throughout our 100 years.”

The pandemic has hit their business hard, like the majority of motorcoach operators, and the Croswell family is hopeful for a resurgence in the coming months. The family believes that there is a pent-up demand for travel and that bookings and contracts will begin to improve later this year. Operating at extremely low capacity, with fewer resources and employees, including drivers who have moved to other jobs, the company is focused on planning how it will stage up as business begins to rebound. Investing in more efficient administrative, safety and operational technologies is part of the company’s future-looking strategy.

“We would like to express our sincere appreciation to the customers, dealers, suppliers, business partners and the local community, who have supported us over the years through good and bad times, to whom we owe our 100 years of existence. As we look ahead to the next 100 years, we will continue to put people first and to create unique experiences that provide the highest levels of service and reliability that our customers love,” said Croswell.

“ABC Companies is proud to congratulate the Croswell family on this major milestone, and we look forward to supporting their success in the coming years ahead,” said Brenda Borwege, senior vice president for ABC Companies Midwest-Southwest region.

ABC has designed a special bus-wrap featuring Croswell’s 100 Year Anniversary logo that will be used on over-the-road coaches as well as in the local market to promote the company’s centennial year.

Croswell Bus Lines has planned a number of centenary anniversary themed events throughout 2021, which will transpire based on forth-coming pandemic protocols.

For more information, please visit gocroswell.com, or contact ABC Companies at 800-222-2875 or visit www.abc-companies.com.

ABA And Motor Coach Industries Name Motorcoach Driver Of The Year

The American Bus Association (ABA) has announced the winner of the Motorcoach Driver of the Year award, Mohammad “Raja” Ishtiaq.

The award recognizes an individual who has gone above and beyond the performance of his or her duties as an over-the-road motorcoach driver, professionally executing safe motorcoach operation, while providing the traveling public with the safest form of passenger transportation in the United States.

“Ishtiaq, from Riverhead, NY, was selected from numerous qualified nominees across the country. With nearly three million miles logged in his career, Ishtiaq is known for his driving skill as well as his considerable customer service,” according to the release.

“Motorcoach drivers are the face and backbone of our industry,” said ABA President and CEO Peter Pantuso. “They deliver millions of passengers safely each year to their destinations, providing top notch customer service. They are truly the representatives of our member companies and the industry. People always remember their driver, and the experience they had with the driver on a trip. We are happy to not only recognize a deserving driver annually, but particularly in a time when driver recruitment and retention is such a challenge. We have put out new resources to help in that battle. Hopefully this award, is just one more visible incentive to help a company to recruit quality drivers.”

Hampton Jitney Vice President Andrew Lynch called Ishtiaq’s driving record unmatched over the company’s 45-year history, and said that Raja’s career is a track record of not only skill and safety in the driver’s seat, but of courtesy and caring towards customers, and that he has repeatedly been recognized by the company’s ridership.

Company President Geoff Lynch nominated Ishtiaq for the award because of his professionalism, dedication, extensive driving skills and knowledge of the industry.

“Raja has been a resource to everyone in our organization,” Lynch said. “He’s been involved with our driver training program for more than 20 years, serves as a mentor to all our other drivers, is a 19A certified observer and is the driver called to handle any type of difficult maneuver. He has even been called on by other companies to help navigate New York City. One time, a visiting company had an articulated bus in town, and the company needed the best driver in the city to help them out of a jam, so they asked for Raja.”

The award was announced during a virtual ceremony held June 15. A formal presentation will take place at the annual ABA Marketplace event on January 10, 2022.

“Over the course of his career, Raja has received every annual safe driving award there is at Hampton Jitney, since 1991.”

Paul Withrow, COO, said, “Raja Ishtiaq is a remarkable person. He displays a blend of charisma, professionalism and humility while being compassionate, humorous, and gracious. These qualities have assisted Raja being our model driver, our lead driver trainer, and our motorcoach operator of passenger preference for tours, charters, and line haul operations alike. Raja has the ability to balance a Swiss-like mindfulness of the schedule, while not projecting impatience to passengers. His high level of service, in the most populous city in our country, is one reason we are who we are as a company. Raja is my definition of service.”

“The award is sponsored by Motor Coach Industries (MCI) to honor the people who make the industry run,” according to the release.

For more information, visit www.buses.org.

Prevost Participates In Busworld NA Digital Summit Event

Prevost recently participated in the first-ever Busworld North America Digital Summit with contributions on the top executive panel, a session focused on helping motorcoach operators “get back to business,” and a training on preventive anti-virus measures. Prevost also was a gold sponsor for the event.

The panel featured industry leaders who discussed the state of the motorcoach industry, what the future looks like, and what to expect in the coming months and years.

“It’s going to take some time to get back to pre-COVID levels,” said François Tremblay, general manager for Prevost. “For Prevost, the name of the game is to maintain the value of our equipment over time to help secure our customers’ equity, while also supporting the restart of their businesses and operations.”

Prevost leaders Kevin Dawson, vice president and general manager of services, and Brad Wiese, vice president of North American sales hosted Get Back to Business, an information-sharing session geared to help operators get back on the road with everyday business solutions.

“We have developed a whole host of solutions in response to the pandemic specifically for our operators as they return to normal,” said Dawson. “We ran toward our customers to help them figure out how to recover, and we will continue to remain focused on our customers.”

These solutions include Prevost’s short-term leasing and rental program, Block of Hours, Prevost Uptime preventive maintenance contracts, and the Ready to Go program, a package of pre-designed and customizable marketing tools for operators to adapt for their businesses.

“We took every step we could to protect the value of our product and to provide the tools and resources operators need to get our industry back up and running,” said Wiese. The full Get Back to Business presentation is available here.

Robert Hitt, director of aftermarket training for Prevost, co-hosted a presentation on Preventive Anti-Virus Measures where he covered the Prevost Clean+Care program, a complete package of solutions available to support operators in keeping coach occupants safe, as well as Prevost’s EnviroCare.

“EnviroCare is a dual ionization system that sanitizes and cleans the air and surfaces in coaches through the air and climate system. With EnviroCare, we can ensure the air and surfaces in the entire coach, including those hard to reach places, will be sanitized,” said Hitt. “A proven technology used in home and automotive applications globally, EnviroCare supports motorcoach operators in providing a safe environment and boosting confidence for group travel.”

To learn more, visit www.prevostcar.com.

Bailey Family Of Companies Holds American Flag Giveway To Honor Fourth Of July

“The Bailey Family of Companies gave away 20 American flags June 23, 2021, in celebration of the Fourth of July and the significance of the flag. The contest was open to all ages, and the winner was chosen based on the most patriotic picture submitted as part of the entry form,” according to a press release.

This was the first year for the flag giveaway, but the Bailey family said it is not new to supporting the local community and demonstrating its American pride.

“Every Memorial Day, the company lines its fleet of buses alongside Route 116, displaying a row of American flags next to each motorcoach.”

In March and April 2020, the company’s staff donated over 315 hours of time to sanitize 800-plus first responder vehicles for free. On Veteran’s Day, the family’s automotive company, Bailey Automotive Services, provided free Pennsylvania vehicle inspections and emissions to veterans.

For over 72 years, the Bailey Family has concentrated on travel and transportation services, but due to the effects COVID-19, father and daughter, Courtney, and John Bailey, diversified the business with the expansion of two new ventures to help keep the staff employed.

“With a pandemic and a pivot, Bailey Family of Companies was born. It includes: Bailey Coach, Bailey’s Zero Hazard, and Bailey Automotive Services.”

They all operate out of the recently renovated 15,500-square- foot facility in Spring Grove, PA.

RTC Announces Safety Precautions As Attractions Reopen

“Las Vegas’ famous tourist attractions have returned to pre-pandemic guidelines; however, the Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada (RTC) is keeping health and safety top of mind while welcoming back transit riders,” according to a press release.

“The RTC has introduced new technology and solutions to provide transit riders, including tourists visiting the famous Las Vegas strip, a safe and clean experience. Due to federal transportation mandates, the agency is continuing to enforce mask and social distancing guidelines and is taking extra steps to keep southern Nevadans and tourists healthy as the economy recovers including:·Air ion cleaners in each transit vehicle will eliminate airborne germs and viruses;

• Micro-bacterial shields are being applied to seats and high-touch surfaces on all new transit vehicles eliminating bacteria and mold for up to one year on most surfaces; and,

• The RTC app, rideRTC, now offers a no-contact option for passengers who use cash. Riders can simply pre-load cash to their account at nearly 350 locations valley wide.

Also, as the temperatures hit triple digits in the Las Vegas Valley, the RTC reminds visitors to take precautions to reduce the risk of heat-related illnesses:

• Check the local weather forecasts and plan activities accordingly;

• Wear lightweight, light colored clothing;

• Plan activities earlier in the morning or later in the evening;

• Avoid being out in the sun for extended periods; and,

• When planning extended outdoor activity, bring an adequate supply of water. Drink plenty of water at regular intervals – regardless of activity level.

Cincinnati Metro And Kroger Health Join Forces To Promote COVID-19 Vaccine Access

Cincinnati (OH) Metro and Access paratransit service is offering free rides on designated days to improve access to the COVID-19 vaccine, July 18 (Friday through Sunday) and again three weeks later from August 6 through August 8 (Friday through Sunday).

“Transportation plays a key role in ensuring all eligible populations have equal access to COVID-19 vaccinations," said Darryl Haley, Metro CEO/general manager. “Metro has been proud to play a role in helping a significant portion of our community get vaccinated by removing transportation as a hurdle and providing free rides.

“By joining Kroger to promote access to vaccines and offering additional free ride days, we hope anyone who has not been vaccinated will take advantage of the opportunity to access the vaccine at sites throughout Southwest Ohio,” Haley continued. “Our community has come a long way in efforts to defeat this pandemic, and we want to make sure no one gets left behind.”

Metro is promoting the free rides in partnership with Kroger Health and Kroger’s Cincinnati-Dayton division. The organization’s pharmacists, nurse practitioners and healthcare technicians have administered more than 400,000 vaccines across the division – and that number continues to increase daily. They created more equitable access to the COVID-19 vaccine through its scheduling tool, walk-in appointments and large-scale vaccination off-site clinics.

The rides are funded through the “Rides for Community Immunity” program announced by the Ohio Department of Transportation, which is distributing funds across Ohio’s 88 counties to help transport the state’s most vulnerable populations to vaccine locations.