High Point, N.C.—Thomas Built Buses has hired Herbert Mehnert as vice president of engineering. Mehnert, with nearly 20 years of experience in the transportation industry, will be responsible for directing all of the company’s engineering activities. Mehnert will replace Ken Dodson, who has retired after 28 years with Thomas Built.

“Ken Dodson has successfully led the technical development of numerous projects during his 28 years at Thomas Built which have helped secure our market leadership,” said John O’Leary, president and CEO for Thomas Built Buses. “Herbert Mehnert’s knowledge and experience make him an ideal choice and we look forward to more engineering innovation under his leadership.”

For the last six years Mehnert has managed chassis engineering for Thomas’ type C vehicles at Freightliner Custom Chassis Corporation in Gaffney, S.C. Before joining Freightliner, he was engaged in product planning, new vehicle development, engineering and operations with Mexicana de Autobuses and in fleet bus sales with Mercedes-Benz Mexico. Mehnert has a bachelor’s of science in industrial design from Anahuac University in Mexico City, Mexico and is a licensed professional engineer.

As vice president of engineering, Mehnert will manage a staff of 45 engineers and set the course for Thomas’ future engineering endeavors.

Thomas Built Buses (www.thomasbus.com) is the leading manufacturer of school buses in North America, with more than one-third of the market. Since the first Thomas Built bus rolled off the assembly line in 1936, the company has focused on delivering the smartest and most innovative buses in North America.

Thomas Built Buses is a member of Freightliner Group, the leading heavy-duty truck manufacturer in North America and a leading manufacturer of class 3-8 vehicles. Freightliner LLC produces and markets commercial vehicles under the Freightliner, Sterling, Western Star and Thomas Built Buses nameplates. Freightliner is a company of DaimlerChrysler the world’s largest commercial vehicle manufacturer.