Contact:  tracy.darchini@daimler.com

High Point, N.C. – April 28, 2014 – Thomas Built Buses recognized its top dealer trainers of 2013 at its annual dealer meeting in Nashville, Tenn., April 14, 2014. Thomas Built Manager for Service Education and the Center for Education Michael Stotler presented the 2013 Thomas Dealer Trainer of the Year award to Dave Nelson of Nelson’s Bus Service, Whitewater, Wis.

Nelson, co-owner of Nelson Bus Service and a member of the Thomas Built Train the Trainer program, was recognized for providing hands-on service maintenance and training to his customers.   

The company’s Train the Trainer program was developed to provide customers opportunities for local technician training. Through the program, Thomas Built educates trainers across the country on how to provide customers with hands-on experiences and up-to-date technician information. There currently are 44 trainers in the program, who conducted a total of 660 classes in 2013.  Since its inception in 2009, more than 30,000 technicians have been trained through the program.

“The dealers who are involved in the Train the Trainer program are delivering in very big ways this year,” said Stotler. “Altogether, our trainers conducted approximately three classes every business day in 2013 — leaps and bounds above when we started the program in 2009.  “Dave Nelson is a great example of how powerful this training program can be. His commitment to training his customers and their technicians about Thomas Built Buses is a testament to his dedication.” 

The winner of the Thomas Dealer Trainer of the Year award was selected from five regional winners who demonstrated outstanding training opportunities to their customers throughout the year.  Regional winners include:

Midwest Region: Dave Nelson, Nelson’s Bus Service, Whitewater, Wis.

Western Region: Trace Tolby, Autosafety House, Phoenix, Ariz.

Southeast Region: Ali Rampartab, Matthews Buses Florida, Orlando, Fla.

Northeast Region: Phil Heller, Roher Bus, Duncannon, Pa.

Central Region:  Shawn Klein, Omaha Truck, Omaha, Neb.

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.