Contact: nicholas.smith@daimler.com

Richmond, Va. – Nov. 10, 2015 – Thomas Built Buses, along with Zonar Systems, have announced expanding the standard integration of Zonar tracking and operations solutions into the Saf-T-Liner® HDX, Saf-T-Liner® EFX and Minotour® vehicles starting in mid-2016.

Key among the Zonar systems poised to benefit the Thomas Built Buses fleets is Ground Traffic Control, a powerful web-based fleet tracking application that provides real-time data of fleet operations with unmatched visibility, ease and control. Ground Traffic Control can track the location, speed, fuel consumption and operating systems of buses while they are out on the road, and can even monitor driver performance and routes.

Data gleaned from Zonar’s Ground Traffic Control will help fleet managers, drivers, dealers and Thomas Built Buses technicians determine safety and maintenance issues, and identify ways to decrease further the total cost of ownership for school bus fleets.

“The integration of Zonar telematics into our school bus fleets is one more example of the Thomas Built Buses commitment to innovation,” said Tracy Mack-Askew, vice president of engineering for Thomas Built Buses. “We are proud to offer our customers best-in-class vehicles made smarter by the most comprehensive telematics system available.”

“Zonar telematics equips vehicles with turnkey solutions for adhering to strict safety and compliance regulations,” said William Brinton, senior vice president of pupil transportation, Zonar Systems. “Along with making every Thomas Built Buses vehicle safer, Zonar will simplify workloads, improve processes and lower the overall cost of ownership for all vehicles.”

Indicative of its commitment to Zonar technology, in June 2015, Thomas Built Buses parent company, Daimler Trucks North America became a minority investor in Zonar, marking a milestone in Daimler’s development of smarter connected vehicles and in Zonar’s continued role as a leader in telematics and connectivity services. The long-term strategic partnership aims to help Daimler and Zonar achieve their shared vision of optimal transportation logistics through intelligent connectivity.  

For more information, customers should contact their local Thomas Built Buses dealer.

About Thomas Built Buses

Founded in 1916, Thomas Built Buses is a leading manufacturer of school buses in North America. Since the first Thomas Built bus rolled off the assembly line, the company has been committed to delivering the smartest and most innovative buses in North America. Learn more at www.thomasbus.com or at http://www.facebook.com/thomasbuiltbuses.

Thomas Built Buses, Inc., headquartered in High Point, N.C., is a subsidiary of Daimler Trucks North America LLC, the largest heavy-duty truck manufacturer in North America and a leading manufacturer of class 4-8 vehicles. Daimler Trucks North America produces and markets commercial vehicles under the Freightliner, Western Star and Thomas Built Buses nameplates. Daimler Trucks North America is a Daimler company.

About Zonar

Zonar is a transportation technology company that helps public and private fleet managers improve regulatory compliance, increase fleet efficiency and improve safety. Fleets utilize Zonar’s solutions to capture vehicle and GPS-related data that integrate with other backend systems or are viewed through Zonar’s web-based Ground Traffic Control application. The telematics platform includes an onboard system that captures data directly from the vehicle’s engine and sub-systems, as well as external GPS satellite data. In conjunction with the telematics platform, the mobile platform includes user-enabled devices that capture information supplied by a driver, operator or rider. Identifying the right data for a fleet’s specific needs is an important step in the process. Zonar helps fleets determine their data and telematics needs and create information streams that improve decision-making.  For more information about Zonar Systems, go to www.zonarsystems.com