Created exclusively for the Saf-T-Liner® C2, BusWise affords unparalleled innovation in safety, efficiency, serviceability and fleet management

Conact: nicholas.smith@daimler.com

Richmond, Va. – Nov. 10, 2015 – At the National Association for Pupil Transportation (NAPT) 41^st Annual Summit today, Thomas Built Buses unveiled its revolutionary new BusWise ™ Technologies. BusWise Technologies is a state of the art platform of factory-installed options for the Saf-T-Liner C2. These options will be available on all new orders received on or after November 11, 2015.

A robust platform that combines the latest innovations in safety, efficiency, serviceability and fleet management, BusWise integrates the industry’s leading components from proven brands like Zonar® and Mobileye®  into a customizable suite of advanced technologies.

“At Thomas Built Buses, we are always looking for new ways to make our products better and safer,” said Caley Edgerly, president and CEO of Thomas Built Buses. “BusWise equips our vehicles with more safety and efficiency features than are available on any other school bus on the road.”

BusWise technologies including those from Zonar on the Saf-T-Liner C2 will integrate with Zonar’s tracking and operations solutions to provide critical real-time information to transportation directors and technicians.  Standard from Zonar is a driver monitoring system that provides real-time alerts for speeding, excessive idling, hard acceleration, braking, cornering and out-of-route miles, which can lessen fuel economy.

“A cornerstone of BusWise, Zonar will provide actionable telematic data on the performance and health of our Saf-T-Liner C2 vehicles,” said Edgerly. “Regardless of which system BusWise is monitoring, whether vehicle performance or driver behavior, Zonar will allow with real-time alerts, the identification of corrective actions needed.”

Key among the BusWise features is a state-of-the-art warning system from Mobileye that helps drivers avoid a forward collision, pedestrian collision, and lane departure, and which also includes a speed limit indicator and headway monitoring function.

Additionally, BusWise provides drivers with unprecedented visibility through a multi-camera system with a 360-degree exterior view, allowing a view of everything surrounding the C2. The 360-degree camera allows drivers to monitor other vehicles on the road while driving and especially when children are boarding and exiting the bus. It also provides better visibility for difficult maneuvering such as backing up.

Among the optional functions of BusWise is Z Pass, a ridership visibility solution that allows parents and school officials to view when a child has entered or exited a bus. Additionally, is Zonar’s MyBusVue, a mobile and web application that provides peace-of-mind to parents and school administrators as children are being transported between school and home.  MyBusVue communicates up-to-the-minute school bus location directly to parent, caregiver and school administrators’ smart phones and computers via interactive maps.

BusWise has dozens of other bus functions that can also be tracked including driver seat belt use, door opening and closing, wheelchair-lift activation, stop-arm operation and the parking brake. All BusWise components will be recorded electronically.

BusWise can even make buses WiFi ready, giving students the option to focus on homework en route.

Through Zonar, BusWise includes remote diagnostics that can view fault codes to help proactively identify potential issues before they become serious. For example, BusWise monitors tire pressure, alerting drivers of any pressure changes in a matter of moments and allowing for enhanced driver and passenger safety, efficiency, and reduced downtime. The system also automates routine maintenance scheduling and even integrates with third-party maintenance systems.

“At Thomas Built Buses, we have developed numerous state-of-the-art engineering techniques that make our buses strong and durable, and we have introduced a variety of features that better protect children and enable drivers to operate in a much safer manner,” said Edgerly. “We are proud to report that BusWise takes us a giant leap forward by raising the bar of the industry expected standards.”

For more information on BusWise and the Saf-T-Liner C2, 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