Prince George Transit ‘Trades Tour’ Educates High School Students on Apprenticeship Opportunities

Prince George Transit ‘Trades Tour’ Educates High School Students on Apprenticeship Opportunities

Mar 3, 2023 | News

When looking at building a career after finishing high school, a lot of young people overlook the trades as a viable option. Many are unaware that the trades offer high-tech jobs with good working conditions and long-term contracts – perfect for young families looking for stability and opportunity.

Prince George Transit hosted a trades tour to show some high schoolers from the Career Technical Centre the inner workings and high-tech side of the transit and motorcoach industry.

High School Career Technical Centres Offer a Pathway to Apprenticeships

The CTC program allows students to graduate from high school with their first year of technical training already completed. During a student’s Grade 11 or 12 year of high school, they take a program at the College of New Caledonia,  graduating with both a high school diploma and a CNC Certificate in a wide range of trades.

The group was led by Doug Borden, head of the Prince George CTC program and Senior Automotive Instructor at the CNC. Trades Instructor Peter Borchawa from the CNC also accompanied it. Right off the bat, we showed these eager students what it’s like to work on buses and coaches.

Trade Tours Give Students Important Exposure to the Transportation Industry 

Our shop foreman, Sam Campbell, had a fault planted on the Prince George Cougars motorcoach. He then walked the class through how the operator would see the fault in the drivers compartment and file a deficiency on the driver’s report.

After that, Sam demonstrated a diagnostic of the fault that included printing the wiring schematics and following the wiring in the bus to find the fault. He also led a facility tour showing how we work on buses hoisted in the air (required with low floor/air ride equipment) and our involvement in mid-life work like engine/transmission replacements on transit buses. It was a great day, and the students really got the grand tour of our shop.

Trade tours like this are important for us to host because young people interested in the trades often have no exposure to the transportation industry and overlook it when considering a line of employment. Transit and Coach work is high-tech, often clean, and very detail-oriented – providing a rich experience for someone interested in being engaged in their profession.

Benefits of a Career in the Trades

Transit work also provides an excellent work/life balance because it is based in the city you live in, and coming home every night to the same address is essential for those with young families.

Finally, trades offer above-average wages and a career path to young people that affords them a lifestyle that would otherwise not be possible without years of post-secondary education. High school students are usually surprised to find that sponsored apprenticeships include pay while in school and all tuition/books costs covered for a Red Seal apprenticeship program.

 

We look forward to hosting many more students to get the word out that an apprenticeship in the trades can lead to a successful and satisfying career in transportation.    

Diversified Transportation Partners with Diesel Tech Industries (DTI) to Implement Innovative Hydrogen-Conversion System

Diversified Transportation Partners with Diesel Tech Industries (DTI) to Implement Innovative Hydrogen-Conversion System

Sep 13, 2022 | News

David Richards, General Manager, Employee Transportation with Darren Rivet, CEO of Diesel Tech Industries (DTI)

Access to safe and reliable transportation is an essential service in our modern society, and providing that resource to customers in a responsible and sustainable way has never been more important. The Canadian government has committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions to net-zero by 2050, ensuring that the transportation sector must play a vital role in enabling the transition to a low-carbon global economy.

DTI Guardian Hydrogen Fuel System Will Power Diversified’s Employee Motorcoaches

Diversified Transportation is committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, which is why we have partnered with Diesel Tech Industries, an Edmonton-based company with 20 years of driving innovative technology in the transportation technology field.

Earlier this year, DTI launched the Guardian Hydrogen-Conversion System, which can take an existing diesel engine and add an adaptation so it can accept hydrogen as a secondary fuel source. This product aligns with DTI’s ongoing vision of sustaining a healthy environment while simultaneously meeting customers’ needs.

Benefits of Implementing the Guardian Hydrogen-Conversion System

The most significant upside of implementing this new technology is the ability to retrofit Diversified’s existing diesel engines. This not only makes them immediately more cost-effective by reducing diesel fuel consumption, but it also ensures a positive environmental impact. This groundbreaking system utilizes hydrogen, a more self-sustaining and effective fuel that provides incredibly clean emissions.

The Guardian Hydrogen-Conversion System also generates an online database, where reports can be viewed for multiple purposes, such as:

  • Greenhouse Gas Emission Reports
  • Fleet Management
  • International Fuel Tax Agreement Reporting
  • Budgeting
  • Regulatory Bodies

Kelly Wry, Business Development and Rebecca Goldsack, COO along with Darren Rivet, Tim Lindsay, Vice President Employee Transportation and David Richards

Identified Problem in the Trucking Industry

DTI is known in the trucking industry for innovative technologies. DTI is excited to be a part of the future of hydrogen in partnership with Diversified Transportation. As the world transitions to low carbon energy sources and the reduction of GHGs, the obstacles facing the industrial industries and transportation are numerous and significant.

Our solution of the Guardian Hydrogen-Conversion System allows us to bridge the gap for companies and fleets to ensure they can maximize their existing fleet capital before looking at replacing either engines, trucks or other commercialized vehicles.

“DTI is excited to work with PWT on decarbonizing the passenger transportation industry with our Guardian Hydrogen-Conversion System”, says Rebecca Goldsack, COO.

Diversified Transportation is a great partner, and this partnership exemplifies DTIs dedication to providing solutions to customers.  This partnership also reflects the desire to collaborate with companies that share the same ideals and efforts to reduce GHG emissions.

Benefits of Partnering with Diversified Transportation

Motorcoaches already have the lowest carbon footprint compared to cars, trains, or air travel. However, we strongly feel the industry should be leading the charge in the move to greener alternatives. At Diversified, we recognize the critical role the transportation sector plays in this sweeping global transition. Decarbonizing the motorcoach industry is a major priority, and we welcome partnerships that share our vision.

 

GenerAbout Diversified Transportation

Diversified Transportation is part of the Pacific Western group of companies which is owned by Student Transportation of America, whose majority shareholder is CDPQ. Diversified provides school bus, employee, transit, and coach transportation services to customers throughout British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Ontario, Nova Scotia and Yukon. Diversified is excited to partner with DTI and work together towards net-zero.

About Diesel Tech Industries

Diesel Tech Industries is a trusted and well-established company with close to 20 years in the transport industry technology field. Our continuous innovation has made us an industry leader not only in Alberta but globally in building vehicle-related electronic technology. Products like vehicle network interfacing modules and critical engine shutdown systems are all designed, manufactured, and assembled under one roof in Alberta.

Media Contact:

David Richards, General Manager Employee Transportation, Diversified Transportation

davidr@dtl.ca (780) 743-2244 ext 112

 

 

COLT Driver Touts the Benefits of On Demand Transit in Cochrane

COLT Driver Touts the Benefits of On Demand Transit in Cochrane

Sep 12, 2022 | News, On Demand

Fred Poppe knows a thing or two about On Demand transit. When the town of Cochrane, Alberta, first launched its COLT transit service in October 2019, Fred was the very first hire. And, almost three years later, he’s the last remaining driver from the inaugural crew.

Working at COLT from the start, Fred has seen the service pick up steam in the community. As ridership grows, positive word of mouth from satisfied customers makes a big difference.

“One lady I spoke with a couple of months back, she threw in $125 of gas into her Toyota Tacoma and said ‘enough is enough’. She started using us just to give it a try and now she’s got three of her co-workers all using COLT to get to and from work. She’s that happy with the service.”

At only $2.50 a trip or $50 for a monthly pass, the cost-saving benefits for riders looking to avoid high gas prices are hard to ignore. However, that’s not the only reason more people opt for On Demand transit. Utilizing a traditional transit system to get across town can often mean multiple transfers, while COLT’s system gets you to your destination using only one vehicle. That’s a big plus.

Passenger security on public transportation is also becoming a significant issue with transit riders, but the On Demand system can only be accessed by registered customers. That makes it the safest public transit available. To book a ride, you need to have an account with the COLT mobile app powered by RideCo, which requires an email address or phone number. That extra layer of security provides peace of mind to passengers.

“A random person standing at a bus stop can’t simply climb on the bus. So, for sure there is an element of added security for our passengers. There can be no real random individual, like at the C-Train station, who could be loitering.” The bus only travels to locations where people have requested a ride.

The environmental impact of taking more cars off the road cannot be overstated. If more people park their vehicles at home and choose On Demand transit as a sustainable transportation option, we will all be better off. As a bonus, Fred will be more than happy to battle rush hour traffic, so you don’t need to.

“We can get our customers to where they need to go and they’re way more relaxed when they get there. That’s because they haven’t driven through the traffic, we do it for them. We generally get a lot of ‘Have a great day’, or “Thanks for the ride’. So, just from their reduced stress level, you can tell when we are doing our job well. They’re quite happy with getting to work on time with a smile on their face.”

Speaking of having a smile on his face, Fred says the best thing about working at COLT is building relationships with his customers.

“You know these people who have now become your friends are getting safely to work and in the evening, getting Safely Home. When you see their smiles when they get on the bus in the morning, you know that you’re doing your job right.”

In Cochrane, the COLT On Demand transit system is just getting ramped up and ready to expand. Friendly, courteous, and professional drivers like Fred Poppe know the local community benefits from this revolutionary way of providing public transportation.

“A lot of my customers think it’s an amazing service. We are generally there well within the time frame of the promised delivery time, so from that perspective, a lot of them really appreciate it.”

PWT Brought a Massive Presence to Service Papal Visit’s Transportation Needs

PWT Brought a Massive Presence to Service Papal Visit’s Transportation Needs

Aug 2, 2022 | News

Pope Francis arrived in Edmonton on July 23rd for an important and historic visit to Canada. A large contingent of SOUTHLAND Transportation, Cold Lake Bus Lines, Prairie Bus Lines, and Diversified Transportation Ltd. drivers were dispatched to serve the transportation needs of thousands of Canadians who wanted to be a part of the first Papal visit in over 20 years.

In all, 126 drivers and 18 site supervisors from across Northern and Southern Alberta were involved in the significant operation.

On July 24th, Pope Francis met with Indigenous peoples at the former Ermineskin Residential School in Maskwacis, Alberta and our Diversified motorcoaches provided private transportation for elders, RCMP, and Military Police attending the event. Meanwhile, our other participating companies were on standby at park-and-ride areas to transport the general public. The next day, our drivers were sent to transport those attending the pilgrimage to the site of Lac Ste. Anne and the Liturgy of the Word.

The impressive two-day mobilization of drivers was a testament to the incredible organizational and leadership skills of our people at Pacific Western Transportation Ltd.

Check out this slideshow of photos from the momentous occasion! #PapalVisit #PopeFrancis #SafelyHome

Spruce Grove’s Switch to On Demand Transit a Major Success Story

Spruce Grove’s Switch to On Demand Transit a Major Success Story

Jul 13, 2022 | News, On Demand

It’s no secret that bedroom communities of large urban centres face multiple challenges in providing citizens with reliable and convenient public transportation. Spruce Grove, Alberta is a rapidly growing community of 38,000 located just 11 kilometres west of Edmonton. Officials found it exceedingly difficult to fund a local transit service that offered both robust mobility within the city and the ability to get riders to and from Edmonton efficiently.

The Growing City Needed a Reliable Transit System

Spruce Grove launched a traditional local transit service in 2019, but the route couldn’t offer riders bus stops within a reasonable walking distance of many of the city’s rapidly developing neighbourhoods. This is a community that has grown from 33,640 people in 2016 to 37,645 in 2021, so it desperately needed another transit solution. They found it with the help of Pacific Western Transportation.

The city converted the fixed-route local service to on demand on May 3, 2021, and it never looked back. After the switch, Spruce Grove Transit has seen tremendous growth in ridership, shared rides and customer satisfaction.

  • Ridership has increased at an average rate of 15.7% per month for the past 12 months.
  • Shared rides have increased from approximately 15% at the start of the service to over 42% at present, regularly exceeding 50% on busier days.
  • Usage patterns show that the switch to on demand was both warranted and desirable for customers at a variety of times – even during off-peak hours.
  • Customer satisfaction has remained consistently high, with an average ride rating of 4.93 out of five for the over 11,000 total trips delivered.
  • In June 2022, Spruce Grove’s on demand transit service delivered an impressive 97.8% on-time performance and an average time spent in-bus of 8.6 minutes.

The Community of Spruce Grove has Fully Embraced the Switch to On Demand Transit

The numbers don’t lie. Spruce Grove’s on demand transit service continues to grow steadily after more than a full year of operating. In May 2021, just 220 riders used the service, but just one year later, that number expanded to a whopping 1,282. June 2022 featured another big increase, as 1,469 riders took advantage of the groundbreaking transportation service.

The city’s on demand transit system uses technology owned by Pacific Western Transportation and a mobile app called Pick-Up On-Demand – powered by RideCo. Customers can book trips in advance and on demand using the mobile app, a web portal and over the phone.

Pacific Western Transportation makes transitioning from a fixed-route local service to demand-based incredibly easy. PWT provides all call-taking and reservation services for the system using its Calgary-based call centre to minimize the expense associated with dial-in trip bookings.

The community of Spruce Grove made the switch just over a year ago, and with the help of Pacific Western Transportation, the On Demand transit service has been a major success story – with incredible growth in ridership and excellent customer satisfaction.

Ridership Statistics:

Service Stats After One Year of Operations

Rides completed in the first month of operations (May 2021)

 

v.s

Rides completed after 12 months of operations (May 2022)

%

These numbers reflect a 483% increase in ridership from start of project to present.

Growth Statistics:

Ridership Growth

Ridership has increased at an average rate of 15.7% per month for the past 12 months. Shared rides have increased from approximately 15% at the start of the service to over 42% at present, regularly exceeding 50% on busier days.

On-Time Performance

In June 2022, Spruce Grove’s on demand transit service delivered an impressive 97.8% on-time performance and an average time spent in-bus of 8.6 minutes.

Customer Satisfaction

Customer satisfaction has remained consistently high, with an average ride rating of 4.93 out of five for the over 11,000 total trips delivered.

Connect with us to see how we can implement an on-demand transportation solution for your community or municipality:

Student Transportation Expands Canadian Operations Through Major Acquisition

Student Transportation Expands Canadian Operations Through Major Acquisition

Jun 17, 2022 | News, PWT/STA

Wall, N.J./Calgary, AB (June 16, 2022) — Student Transportation of America/Student Transportation of Canada (STA/STC), North America’s third-largest provider of school bus transportation services, is pleased to announce it has completed its acquisition of Pacific Western Transportation (PWT), the largest privately-owned transportation company in Canada. The acquisition will add more than 5,000 employees to the STA/STC family of companies and 4,100 vehicles to the STA/STC fleet, including 950 alternative fuels and electric buses.

STA/STC’s controlling shareholder, global investment group CDPQ, and its minority shareholder Ullico, both reinvested in the company to support its growth through acquisition strategy.

“The merger with Pacific Western is a great day for STA/STC and for Pacific Western. The two organizations could not be better suited for each other, with our mutual devotion to safety and reliability. This will be a seamless transition as we are bringing together two great organizations. We have the utmost respect for Pacific Western’s leadership team, and their experienced team of drivers will be a perfect addition to our operations,” said Patrick Vaughan, Chief Executive Officer of STA. “Both companies share nearly identical values and cultures, and we are all dedicated to safe transportation and to our people. Together, we know we can enhance and expand our long-term commitment to our customers in Canada. We are excited for our future together.”

Pacific Western provides school bus, employee, transit and coach transportation services to customers throughout British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Ontario, Nova Scotia and Yukon. Under the acquisition agreement, Tom Jezersek, current President and Chief Operating Officer for Pacific Western will continue to lead PWT and its current management and staff following the merger.

“For decades, the hardworking team at Pacific Western Transportation has put our customers first. We’ve prioritized safety, ensured reliable services, and forged strong relationships with customers and communities. Now, we are pleased to reach an agreement with STA/STC, a like-minded company devoted to safety and service, that shares our same goals and vision for the company,” said Michael Colborne, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Pacific Western Transportation. “STA/STC is very much a family business like ours. Its service, performance history, company stability, and commitment to sustainability were all positive factors that weighed into our decision. We are confident STA/STC will uphold our values, expand advancement opportunities, and position the merged companies for continued growth.”

“As Student Transportation’s majority shareholder, CDPQ is thrilled to support the company as it pursues its growth strategy. The acquisition of Pacific Western will combine the expertise of two of Canada’s leading players and provide an opportunity to further accelerate the electrification of their fleets, for the benefit of school children and local communities served by Pacific Western and STA/STC across the country,” said Emmanuel Jaclot, Executive Vice-President and Head of Infrastructure at CDPQ.

Transportation services by Pacific Western include those provided under Century Transportation, Cold Lake Bus Lines, Diversified Transportation BC, McCluskey Transportation, Montgomery Bus Lines, On-It Regional Transit, Prairie Bus Lines, SOUTHLAND Transportation, Red Arrow Motorcoach, Ebus, Diversified Transportation, PWTransit Canada, and Standard Bus Contracting BC & YK brands. All operations will continue without disruption.

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About Student Transportation of America
Founded in 1997, Student Transportation of America (STA) is an industry leader in school transportation, safety and fleet services. STA operates more than 16,000 vehicles, providing customers with the highest level of safe and reliable student transportation, management, logistics and technology solutions throughout the U.S. and Canada. Services are delivered by drivers, dispatchers, maintenance technicians, managers, information technology professionals, and others, who are caring members of their local communities. For more information, please visit www.rideSTA.com.

Media Contact:
Jen Holzapfel
Public and Media Relations Director
848-275-0360
jholzapfel@ridesta.com