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 October 2021 indicated vehicle imports were down in six categories outlined, compared to October 2020. For the first 10 months of 2021, vehicles imports were also down in six categories, compared to the first 10 months of 2020.

The United States imported 65 vehicles in October 2021, down 63 percent from 177 vehicles for October 2020. For the first 10 months of 2021, the United States imported 862 vehicles, down 33 percent from 1,290 vehicles for the first 10 months of 2020.

Canada sent 789 vehicles to the United States during the first 10 months of 2021.

The average price per vehicle for October 2021 was $295,684, up 5 percent from $283,516 for October 2020. The average price per vehicle for the first 10 months of 2021 was $307,859, up 8 percent from $285,128 for the first 10 months of 2020.

The United States received 6 vehicles in October 2021, down 45 percent from 11 vehicles during October 2020. For the first 10 months of 2021, the United States imported 37 vehicles, down 74 percent from 142 vehicles for the first 10 months of 2020.

The United States imported 32 vehicles from Canada during the first 10 months of 2021.

The average price per vehicle for October 2021 was $60,819, down 42 percent from $104,220 for October 2020. The average price per vehicle for the first 10 months of 2021 was $125,559, up 78 percent from $70,717 for the first 10 months of 2020.

The United States imported 21 vehicles during October 2021, down 13 percent from 24 vehicles for October 2020. During the first 10 months of 2021, 132 vehicles were imported, down 32 percent from 195 vehicles for the first 10 months of 2020.

All of the vehicles were imported from Canada during the first 10 months of 2021.

The average price per vehicle for October 2021 was $229,353, down 18 percent from $280,110 for October 2020. The average price for the first 10 months of 2021 was $259,027, up 4 percent from $249,285 for the first 10 months of 2020.

8702303100 Public-Transport Type Passenger Motor Vehicles With Spark Ignition Internal Combustion Piston Engine And Electric Motor For 16 Or More Persons

The United States imported no vehicles in this category during October 2021 or October 2020. One vehicle was imported during the first 10 months of 2021, compared to six vehicles for the first 10 months of 2020.

The one vehicle for the first 10 months of 2021 was imported from the United Kingdom.

The price of the vehicle imported during the first 10 months of 2021 was $10,835, compared to the average price of $113,207 for the first 10 months of 2020.

8702306100 Public-Transport Type Passenger Motor Vehicles With Both Spark Ignition Internal Combustion Piston Engine and Electric Motor for 10 to 15 Persons

The United States imported no vehicles during October 2021 or October 2020. During the first 10 months of 2021, one vehicle was received, compared to four vehicles for the first 10 months of 2020.

The one vehicle for the first 10 months of 2021 was imported from the United Kingdom.

The price for the vehicle for the first 10 months of 2021 was $24,694, up from $6,922 for the average price during the first 10 months of 2020.

The United States imported nine vehicles during October 2021, down 47 percent from 17 vehicles for October 2020. During the first 10 months of 2021, 203 vehicles were received, up 57 percent from 129 vehicles for the first 10 months of 2020.

China shipped 104 vehicles during the first 10 months of 2021.

The average price per vehicle for October 2021 was $332,252, down 14 percent from $384,857 for October 2020. The average price for the first 10 months of 2021 was $216,638, up 1 percent from $213,973 for the first 10 months of 2020.

The United States imported two vehicles during October 2021, down 50 percent from four vehicles for October 2020. During the first 10 months of 2021, 92 vehicles were imported, up 24 percent from 74 vehicles for the first 10 months of 2020.

China sent 87 vehicles during the first 10 months of 2021.

The average price per vehicle for October 2021 was $31,450, compared to $7,115 for October 2020. The average price for the first 10 months of 2021 was $9,953, up 6 percent from $9,372 for the first 10 months of 2020.

The United States imported 88 vehicles during October 2021, up 9 percent from 81 vehicles for October 2020. During the first 10 months of 2021, 1,089 vehicles were received, down 4 percent from 1,136 vehicles for the first 10 months of 2020.

Canada sent 1,087 vehicles to the United States during the first 10 months of 2021.

The average price per vehicle for October 2021 was $86,010, down 6 percent from $91,143 for October 2020. The average price per vehicle for the first 10 months of 2021 was $101,432, up 14 percent from $89,218 for the first 10 months of 2020.

8702906100 Motor Vehicles For The Transport Of 10 To 15 Persons Including Driver, NESOI

The United States imported 85 vehicles during October 2021, down 9 percent from 93 vehicles for October 2020. During the first 10 months of 2021, 707 vehicles were received, up 14 percent from 620 vehicles for the first 10 months of 2020.

Canada sent 668 vehicles to the United States during the first 10 months of 2021.

The average price per vehicle for October 2021 was $45,455, up 3 percent from $43,918 for October 2020. The average price per vehicle for the first 10 months of 2021 was $40,864, down 7 percent from $43,862 for the first 10 months of 2020.

Export totals for October 2021 were down in three categories, compared to October 2020. Three categories also reported decreases for the first 10 months of 2021, compared to the first 10 months of 2020.

The United States exported 575 vehicles during October 2021, down 16 percent from 682 vehicles for October 2020. During the first 10 months of 2021, 5,023 vehicles were sent, down 16 percent from 6,012 vehicles for the first 10 months of 2020.

Canada received 2,548 vehicles during the first 10 months of 2021, while Mexico imported 1,590 vehicles.

The average price per vehicle for October 2021 was $50,688, down 10 percent from $56,175 for October 2020. The average price per vehicle for the first 10 months of 2021 was $54,916, down 22 percent from $70,284 for the first 10 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 76 vehicles in October 2021, down 18 percent from 93 vehicles for October 2020. During the first 10 months of 2021, 758 vehicles were exported, up 124 percent from 339 vehicles for the first 10 months of 2020.

Canada received 430 vehicles during the first 10 months of 2021, while Mexico imported 207 vehicles.

The average price per vehicle for October 2021 was $35,357, down 34 percent from $53,888 for October 2020. The average price for the first 10 months of 2021 was $44,098, up 7 percent from $42,142 for the first 10 months of 2020.

8702300000 Public-Transport Type Passenger Motor Vehicles With Both Spark Ignition Internal Combustion Piston Engine & Electric Motor

The United States exported 29 vehicles in October 2021, up 21 percent from 24 for October 2020. During the first 10 months of 2021, 362 vehicles were sent, down 6 percent from 384 vehicles for the first 10 months of 2020.

Mexico received 121 vehicles during the first 10 months of 2021.

The average price per vehicle for October 2021 was $29,231, up 46 percent from $20,067 for October 2020. The average price for the first 10 months of 2021 was $31,285, up 6 percent from $29,617 for the first 10 months of 2020.

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

The United States shipped 70 vehicles in October 2021, compared to 463 vehicles for October 2020. During the first 10 months of 2021, 484 vehicles were exported, compared to 1,860 vehicles for the first 10 months of 2020.

Canada received 448 vehicles during the first 10 months of 2021.

The average price per vehicle for October 2021 was $51,095, up 41 percent from $36,141 for October 2020. The average price per vehicle for the first 10 months of 2021 was $53,695, up 40 percent from $38,444 for the first 10 months of 2020.

Click on statistics to open .pdf file

Los Angeles County’s Metro Resumes Front-Door Boarding And Fare Collections

To keep riders employees safe, Metro suspended front door boarding on its buses in March 2020, at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Metro also relaxed rules requiring riders to use the farebox and TAP validator.

“With vaccinations well underway and mask wearing required on our system, we will resume front door boarding only and restart fare collection January 10, 2022.

“We are working to make sure everyone knows about these changes well in advance and has an opportunity to learn about our Low Income Fare is Easy (LIFE) program,” according to Metro.

Metro is hosting a series of pop-up events to encourage signing up for its LIFE program.

“The city of Los Angeles and LA County Metro have also introduced a free mobile app to help keep residents and riders safe from cybersecurity threats targeting their mobile devices. The initiative demonstrates the city and county’s commitment to keeping people safe online as well as offline,” according to a press release.

Los Angeles County Metro Requests Riders’ Feedback

Los Angeles County Metro is requesting feedback as it develops the annual budget for fiscal year 2023.

“As Los Angeles continues to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, we want to make sure our budget reflects the needs and preferences of our customers, riders, and the people of Los Angeles,” according to a press release.

Interested parties can access the survey online to let Metro know their preferences.

After completing the 10-minute survey, participants can enter their contact information for a chance to win a $50 Target gift card or a monthly TAP card.

From BYD
BYD Involved In Special Holiday Activities

“BYD embraced the season of giving this year, partnering with friends in Lancaster and Fresno to bring holiday cheer to families. Holiday season activities included:

• Helping pack a BYD 40-foot K9M battery-electric bus with toys as a sponsor and promoter of the Antelope Valley Transit Authority’s annual Stuff-a-Bus campaign.

• Handing out health packs, school bus safety coloring pages for kids, and candy canes at the city of Lancaster’s Magical BLVD holiday celebration, one of several city events BYD sponsors. BYD also introduced its new Type D battery-electric school bus to friends and neighbors at the event.

• Traveled to Fresno to join with residents there who collected over 60,000 food items. The food was delivered via a BYD battery electric bus provided by the Fresno County Rural Transit Agency.

• Partnering once again with SMART Local 105 to bring toys and masks to the families served by the Penny Lane Center in Lancaster.

“BYD also delivered 20, 21-ton electric heavy-duty trucks to the Mexican beer company Grupo Modelo, making it the largest pure electric logistics truck fleet in Latin America. Powered by industry-leading lithium iron phosphate batteries, these heavy-duty trucks can carry out zero-emission distribution services throughout urban areas. BYD expects to deliver 200 battery-electric trucks to customers in Mexico in 2022,” according to a press release.

John Andoh Hired As Hele-On’s (Hawaii) Newest Administrator

John Andoh has been hired by Hilo, HA, Mayor Mitch Roth to be the mass transit administrator of the County of Hawai’i Mass Transit Agency. He has been serving in the position on temporary assignment for several months.

“John brings a wealth of transportation experience from a variety of communities,” said Managing Director Lee Lord. “I am confident that he can bring new innovations to the agency and rejuvenate our public transit system that has been faced with challenges.”

Andoh was previously the executive director/CEO of the Central Midlands Regional Transit Authority (The COMET) in Columbia, SC. He held this position since 2018.

He has concurrently performed part-time work with the city of Escalon, CA, since 2000, Burlington, NC, since 2021, and Quartzsite, AZ, since 2013 — on his own time. His duties for these positions are similar and include route planning, scheduling, procurement, contract administration, budget management, customer service, and public outreach and marketing.

He has a master’s degree in public administration from the University of Phoenix as well as a graduate certificate in transportation management from San Jose State University. He is certified as a community transit manager by the Community Transportation Association of America. He is also a certified public manager through Arizona State University.

SamTrans (San Mateo County, CA) Launches On-Board Wi-Fi

SamTrans has launched a passenger Wi-Fi program, allowing SamTrans riders to use the internet while on board. Wi--Fi is currently being enabled on the 800 series articulated buses, with the entire SamTrans fleet expected to be online by February.

Passengers will be able to use Wi-Fi free of charge by connecting to “SamTrans-WiFi” after boarding the bus. Current bandwidth limits video streaming, however passengers will be able to text, email, browse the internet, access social media and play games.

“The modern world is an interconnected world,” said SamTrans Board Chairman Charles Stone. “Having onboard Wi-Fi will help SamTrans riders to stay connected while riding, making our service even more valuable to those who rely on it.