HIGH POINT, N.C. — Two High Point area childcare providers recently purchased Thomas Minotour Type A small school buses for their centers. Both chose 30 passenger Minotour multi-functional school activity buses, which meet all federal and state safety requirements for school buses, but aren’t yellow and aren’t required to have flashing lights or stop arms. These small buses are becoming increasingly popular with day care centers, churches and youth groups.

Kiddie-land Child Development Center in High Point, N.C., replaced two of its four 15 passenger vans with a Minotour. “Not only was the cost of a 30-passenger Minotour no more expensive than two 15-passenger vans, but the insurance is less expensive and now we can operate with three drivers instead of four,” said Linda Henry, owner of Kiddie-land, which serves 107 children. She added that when it comes time to replace the other two vans, she will replace them with small buses.

Jean O’Shields, co-owner of Crossland Enrichment Center in High Point, likewise chose the 30-passenger Thomas Minotour when she recently opened her 60-child day care center. “We went with Thomas because they have a great reputation for quality and safety,” she said. “When it came down to it, we decided we wouldn’t compromise on safety. We want to run the highest quality day care center we can, from the transportation on up.”

The buses were purchased from Carolina Thomas, LLC of Greensboro, NC. Carolina Thomas is the authorized Thomas dealer in North Carolina, selling and servicing the full line of Thomas products.

Thomas Built Buses is the leading manufacturer of school buses in North America, with more than one third of the school bus market in North America. Thomas Built Buses is a member of The Freightliner Group, the largest heavy-duty truck manufacturer in North America and a leading manufacturer of class 3-8 vehicles. The Freightliner Group produces and markets commercial vehicles under the Freightliner, Sterling, Western Star, American LaFrance and Thomas Built Buses nameplates. The Freightliner Group is a unit of DaimlerChrysler, the world’s leading commercial vehicle manufacturer.