Thomas Built Buses, along with Zonar Systems, have announced expanding the standard integration of Zonar tracking and operations solutions into the Saf-T-Liner® HDX, Saf-T-Liner® EFX and Minotour® vehicles starting in mid-2016.
Key among the Zonar systems poised to benefit the Thomas Built Buses fleets is Ground Traffic Control, a powerful web-based fleet tracking application that provides real-time data of fleet operations with unmatched visibility, ease and control. Ground Traffic Control can track the location, speed, fuel consumption and operating systems of buses while they are out on the road, and can even monitor driver performance and routes.
Data gleaned from Zonar’s Ground Traffic Control will help fleet managers, drivers, dealers and Thomas Built Buses technicians determine safety and maintenance issues, and identify ways to decrease further the total cost of ownership for school bus fleets.
“The integration of Zonar telematics into our school bus fleets is one more example of the Thomas Built commitment to innovation,” said Tracy Mack-Askew, vice president of engineering for Thomas Built Buses. “We are proud to offer our customers best-in-class vehicles made smarter by the most comprehensive telematics system available.”
“Zonar telematics equips vehicles with turnkey solutions for adhering to strict safety and compliance regulations,” said William Brinton, senior vice president of pupil transportation, Zonar Systems. “Along with making every Thomas Built Buses vehicle safer, Zonar will simplify workloads, improve processes and lower the overall cost of ownership for all vehicles.”
Indicative of its commitment to Zonar technology, in June 2015, Thomas Built Buses parent company, Daimler Trucks North America became a minority investor in Zonar, marking a milestone in Daimler’s development of smarter connected vehicles and in Zonar’s continued role as a leader in telematics and connectivity services. The long-term strategic partnership aims to help Daimler and Zonar achieve their shared vision of optimal transportation logistics through intelligent connectivity.
