The Bus Stop

This week at NSTA: The Bus Stop - NSTA Executive Director is joined Doug Campbell, National OEM Account Manager, School Bus and Co-Chair of the Safety Competition Committee. Doug and Curt cover the exciting news regarding the return of the School Bus Driver International Safety Competition. The Competition will be held from June 29-30, 2024 at Hays CISD in Austin, TX. The duo give some early detai...

This week at NSTA: The Bus Stop - NSTA Executive Director Curt Macysyn interviews  Dan Kobussen, Owner of Kobussen Buses, and NSTA President.  The duo recap the recent 2024 NSTA Midwinter Meeting, which took place at the Marriott Sanibel Harbour in Florida. The duo highlights the NSTA 60th Anniversary Luncheon and discuss the value of NSTA. Dan talks about the monthly NSTA Advocacy in Action Artic...

This week at NSTA: The Bus Stop - TNSTA Executive Director is joined Dennis Roche, Co-Founder of Burbio a data tracking service. Dennis and Curt discuss trends in Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Funds (ESSER), and how schools across the nation are spending . The duo discuss how Burbio has pivoted from tracking Covid-19 policies to different data points. Lastly, Dennis and Curt dis...

A special episode as NSTA: The Bus Stop   is Live from the Marriott Sanibel Harbout Resort & Spa - Executive Director Curt Macysyn interviews Tony Civitella, President and CEO of Transfinder, an NSTA Vendor Partner. Tony recaps the panel "Practice Makes Perfect: Successful Technology Deployment Happens Before Back-to-School". Tony and Curt discuss the importance of  what contractors...

This week at NSTA: The Bus Stop - Executive Director Curt Macysyn interviews Maritza Valentin, Contract/Account Manager, AMF Bruns, an NSTA Vendor Partner. The duo discuss the importance of training in Special Needs Transportation. Maritza emphasizes the importance of parental engagement in special needs transportation. The duo outline. Martiza will be participating in the upcoming session "...

This week at NSTA: The Bus Stop -  NSTA Executive Director Curt Macysyn interviews Sandi Steelhammer, NSTA Grants Administrator with RC Kelly Law Associates, NSTA Counsel . Sandi and Curt outline the most recent awards from the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Clean School Bus Program. The duo outline the next steps Contractors should take if they were awarded funding. Sandi and Curt t...

This week at NSTA: The Bus Stop - Executive Director Curt Macysyn interviews Rik Roberts, Comedian and Keynote Speaker for the 2024 NSTA Midwinter Meeting. Rik outlines how he started in comedy. The duo discuss some of Rik's favorite memories throughout his time in the industry. Rik and Curt highlight some of their favorite comedians. Lastly, Rik provides a preview of his Keynote Session and...

This week at NSTA: The Bus Stop - The second annual #AskCurt Special, NSTA Executive Director is joined by NSTA Director of Advocacy and Membership Engagement, Alec Petrillo, as he answers listener submitted questions. Topics range from the origins of the yellow school bus, to the Under the Hood Exemption, to this weekends College Football Playoff.  Become a subscriber and listen to a new episode...

This week at NSTA: The Bus Stop - Executive Director Curt Macysyn interviews Maggie Clancy, Executive Vice President Business Development – Fleet, and Walter Watson, Executive Vice President Partnerships and Operations,  with Zenobe, an NSTA Vendor Partner. Maggie and Walter discuss their backgrounds and what led them both to Zenobe. The trio highlight how Zenobe's experience throughout the w...

This week at NSTA: The Bus Stop -  NSTA Executive Director Curt Macysyn interviews Ken Hedgecock, National Sales Manager, United Safety and Survivability Corporation, an NSTA Vendor Partner. Ken outlines the most significant changes he's seen in the industry over the years. The duo discus the impact of electrification on the industry. Ken then forecasts some changes he believe will be coming...

This week at NSTA: The Bus Stop  -  NSTA Executive Director Curt Macysyn Tony Rhodes, Executive Vice President - Property and Casualty, Keystone Insurers Group. Tony delves into his background and his journey into the insurance industry and what led him to Keystone. The duo discuss the longstanding partnership between Keystone and NSTA. Tony outlines to current insurance market, and the importance...

This week at NSTA: The Bus Stop - Executive Director Curt Macysyn interviews Kim Martin, Industry Engagement Consultant at Tyler Technologies, an NSTA Vendor Partner. Kim and Curt discuss the importance of transparency in student transportation. Kim talks about the importance of what expectations contractors should have when working with vendors. Lastly, the duo discuss the importance of creating...

This week at NSTA: The Bus Stop - Executive Director Curt Macysyn interviews Wes Platt, Executive Editor, School Bus Fleet. The duo discuss the electrification of the school bus fleet, and a recent article in School Bus Fleet by NSTA President, Dan Kobussen. Wes and Curt delve into the illegal passing epidemic. Lastly, they recap the recent fall Conventions they both attended. Become a subscriber...

This week at NSTA: The Bus Stop a -  NSTA Executive Director Curt Macysyn interviews Sasha Pejcic, Managing Partner - North America of BetterFleet, an NSTA Vendor Partner. Sasha and Curt discuss the impact of different climates on vehicle range. The duo delve into the how operators can successfully operate electric school buses in cold environments. Lastly, Sasha and Curt discuss the benefits of h...

This week at NSTA: The Bus Stop - NSTA Executive Director Curt Macysyn interviews  Curt Warner, College Football Hall of Fame, Motivational Speaker.  The duo recap Curt's Keynote Session at the 2023 NSTA Annual Meeting and Convention. With the college football season at its halfway make they recap the season. Curt talks about his former team, the Seattle Seahawks and how they've been a p...

This week at NSTA: The Bus Stop - Executive Director Curt Macysyn interviews GP Singh, Founder and CEO of ByteCurve, an NSTA Vendor Partner. GP and Curt discuss the role Artificial Intelligence is playing in student transportation. The duo outline high operators are currently using AI. They outline the importance of the human element being part of the process.  Become a subscriber and listen to a...

This week at NSTA: The Bus Stop - Executive Director Curt Macysyn interviews Corey Muirhead, Executive Vice President, Logan Bus.  Corey and Curt discuss the electrification initiative in New York to convert the school bus fleet by 2035. Corey highlights efforts by the New York School Bus Contractors Association (NYSBCA) to help contractors ease into the transition. The duo highlight the importanc...

This week at NSTA: The Bus Stop - Executive Director Curt Macysyn interviews Kerry Somerville, Senior Product Manager – Passenger Transportation, Law Enforcement, and Waste, Safe Fleet. Kerry outlines his background and extensive experience in school transportation. The duo recap the recent NSTA Webinar "You Only Get One Chance: Planning and Executing Your Routing Systems", which Kerry p...

This week at NSTA: The Bus Stop - Executive Director Curt Macysyn interviews Becky Weber, Managing Director, Prime Policy Group. Becky provides an update on this weekend's drama in Washington D.C., and how a government shutdown was averted. Becky and Curt discuss what comes next, and how Kevin McCarthy could lose the gavel. The duo discuss NSTA initiatives in Washington including the Walorski...

This week at NSTA: The Bus Stop - NSTA Executive Director Curt Macysyn interviews  Nick Vallone, Executive Vice President, Rolling V Bus Corp., and President of the New York School Bus Contractors Association (NYSBCA).  Nick and Curt discuss the recent return to school in New York State. Nick outlines some of the recent legislative initiatives of the NYSBCA, including the electrification of the sc...

This week at NSTA: The Bus Stop - Executive Director Curt Macysyn interviews Kristin Ward and Valerie Zintz of the Kobussen Buses "Rah Rah Squad". Valerie and Curt discuss the mission of the Rah Rah Squad to improve recruitment and retention strategies. Kristin outlines the Kobussen Buses "KEEP" program and how it has improved driver retention. The duo emphasize how personal re...

This week at NSTA: The Bus Stop - Executive Director Curt Macysyn interviews Mike Kuiros, DOT & Fleet Services, Keystone Insurers Group, an NSTA Royalty Partner. Mike and Curt discuss best DOT Compliance practices as operators continue through the back-to-school period. Mike outlines the importance of consistent record keeping for your drivers. Mike and Curt highlight risk management strategie...

This week at NSTA: The Bus Stop - Executive Director Curt Macysyn interviews Judith Crawford, CEO, Beacon Mobility. Judith outlines her background and her path to student transportation. The duo discuss the recent Beacon Mobility Leadership Summit and the importance of team building. Judith talks about the return to school and how recent NSTA advocacy has helped relieve some of their driver shorta...

This week at NSTA: The Bus Stop - Executive Director Curt Macysyn interviews Tony Civitella, President and CEO of Transfinder, an NSTA Vendor Partner Member. Tony and Curt discuss the recent routing situation in Kentucky. Tony outlines how to utilize Artificial Intelligence (AI) in routing operations.. The duo stress the importance of the human element in routing. Lastly, Tony and Curt highlight t...

This week at NSTA: The Bus Stop - Executive Director Curt Macysyn interviews Daoud Chaaya, Vice President - Sales, Aftermarket and Marketing, Thomas Built Buses. Daoud outlines the longstanding partnership between NSTA and Thomas Built Buses. The duo discuss the ongoing electrification initiatives at Thomas. Daoud highlights the customer services Thomas offers from the infrastructure consulting th...