Metro Magazine, January 2018

2 mETRO mAGAZINE JANUARY 2018 metro magazine com CONTENTS Vol 114 No 1 January 2018 General Manager James Blue Associate Publisher Mark T Hollenbeck VP Emeritus Frank Di Giacomo Sales Representative David Avila Executive Editor Janna Starcic Managing Editor Alex Roman Assistant Editor Michaela Kwoka Coleman Assistant Editor Clayton Wong Senior Graphic Artist Yuda Chen Production Manager Lori Branch Senior Production Manager Sarah Paredes Audience Development Manager Becky Fenton EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD Joseph A Calabrese CEO Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority Cleveland Cliff Henke senior analyst Parsons Brinckerhoff Los Angeles Halsey King president Halsey King Associates Inc Carlsbad Calif Gary Krapf president Krapf Coaches West Chester Pa Lauren Skiver GM SunLine Transit Agency Thousand Palms Calif Jared Stancil VP GM Anchor Transportation Inc Whites Creek Tenn WEBSITE www metro magazine com E MAIL info@ metro magazine com A Bobit Business Media Publication Edward J Bobit Chairman 1961 2014 President CEO Ty Bobit VP Chief Operating Officer Cyndy Drummey Chief Financial Officer Armand Del Duca BUSINESS EDITORIAL OFFICES 3520 Challenger St Torrance CA 90503 FAX 310 533 2512 SUBSCRIPTION INQUIRIES U S Canada Puerto Rico 888 239 2455 CLASSIFIED AD SALES David Avila 310 533 2517 FAX 310 533 2512 david avila@ bobit com BILLING Tess Delarosa 310 533 2562 NORTH AMERICA SALES James Blue General Manager james blue@ bobit com 310 533 2449 FAX 310 533 2512 Mark T Hollenbeck Associate Publisher mark hollenbeck@ bobit com 503 472 8200 FAX 503 472 8228 Frank Di Giacomo VP Emeritus frank digiacomo@ bobit com 856 596 0999 FAX 856 596 0168 David Avila Sales Representative david avila@ bobit com 310 533 2517 FAX 310 533 2512 Produced in U S A MOTORCOACH 12 Top 50 Motorcoach Fleets While finding drivers and maintenance personnel is still a real issue for operators many have not only used the web to revamp their approach to recruit drivers but also market their operations to increase utilization rates By Alex Roman MOTORCOACH 18 Branding Business Process Key to TCS Success Since 2012 the family owned coach company has experienced an approximate 20 growth yearover year which has come from new business and some small acquisitions and expanded its fleet from 18 to 61 motorcoaches By Alex Roman SPECIAL REPORT 22 Mobility on Demand The Future of Transportation Embracing public private partnerships can help cities and transit agencies lower operational cost while connecting underserved communities By Michaela Kwoka Coleman EQUIPMENT 30 Seating Manufacturers Design for Efficiency Hygiene Cleanliness weight reduction and technology drive recent innovations in the transit and motorcoach seating industry By Clayton Wong Cover image is of an MCI J4500 motorcoach operated by TCS based in Orange Calif METRO ISSN 1098 0083 USPS 343 700 is published Monthly except for May Dec by Bobit Business Media 3520 Challenger Street Torrance California 90503 1640 Periodicals postage paid at Torrance California 90503 1640 and additional mailing offices POSTMASTER Send address changes to Metro PO Box 3312 Northbrook IL 60065 3312 Please allow 6 to 8 weeks for address changes to take effect Subscription Prices United States 40 per year Canada 60 per year Foreign 100 per year Single copy price 8 Fact Book 25 Please allow 6 to 8 weeks to receive your first issue Bobit Business Media reserves the right to refuse non qualified subscriptions Please address Editorial and Advertising correspondence to the Executive Offices at 3520 Challenger Street Torrance California 90503 1640 The contents of this publication may not be reproduced either in whole or in part without consent of Bobit Business Media All statements made although based on information believed to be reliable and accurate cannot be guaranteed and no fault or liability can be accepted for error or omission FEATURES PAGE 38 Speed bumps to avoid on the road to connected transportation systems PAGE 22 How will on demand services integrate with transit PAGE 12 What are the top challenges facing coach operators today DEPARTMENTS On the Web 4 Point of Departure 6 Q A 8 Transit Business 34 Tech Report 38 Advertiser Index 45 Business Briefs 46 People 48 Classified Ads 51 Pub Page 52