Demonstrating a dedication to safety and a commitment to setting the highest standards, ten First Student locations have recently earned the Blue Seal of Excellence, given by the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE).
The ASE, an independent nonprofit organization, was created in 1972 to improve the quality of vehicle repair and service by testing and certifying automotive professionals. The Blue Seal of Excellence is the highest certification level given by the organization. The First Student Blue Seal locations include:
| Avon, N.Y. | Miami Valley – Dayton, Ohio |
| Buffalo, N.Y. | Northbrook, Ill. |
| Danbury, Conn. | Rochester, N.Y. |
| Kingston, N.Y. | Stamford, Conn. |
| Lawrence, Kan. | Weston, Wisc. |
“A strong fleet maintenance program is critical to a successful transportation operation,” says Todd Hawkins, First Student senior vice president of maintenance. “Our maintenance best practices and streamlined procedures are among the most stringent and innovative in the industry, helping to keep safe, rigorously-maintained buses on the road without interruption.”
Blue Seal shops have the knowledge and training required to diagnose problems precisely and accurately so that buses are maintained and repaired to the highest safety standards. In order to become Blue Seal certified, at least 75 percent of technicians performing diagnosis and repairs at the location must be ASE certified. In addition, each area of service offered in the maintenance shop must be covered by at least one ASE-certified technician.
First Student develops customized fleet management and maintenance programs that not only comply with all federal and state requirements, but also have a proven record of helping school districts reduce vehicle downtime, improve reliability and lower the overall costs of transportation.
About First Student, Inc. As the leading school transportation solutions provider in North America, First Student strives to provide the best start and finish to every school day. First Student completes six million student journeys each day, moving more passengers than all U.S. airlines combined. With a team of highly-trained drivers and the industry’s strongest safety record, First Student delivers reliable, quality services including full-service transportation and management, special-needs transportation, route optimization and scheduling, and charter services for 1,300 school district contracts. For more information, please visit firststudentinc.com.
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