John Phraner, J.S. Alliance CEO Sungwon Bae, and J.S. Alliance Assistant Manager
Dongsu Kim.
Trans Tech Bus, Inc., New York’s only school bus manufacturer, recently announced that it has successfully exported one of its Trans Tech SST (Type-A) school buses to South Korea. The school bus, which is currently being used to transport South Korean school children, is the first yellow school bus manufactured in the United States and approved by the South Korean government for use in the country.
The company and the South Korean government have agreed to a contract of 100 buses per year, made in the U.S.A. and made in New York State.
“Exporting an American-made yellow school bus to South Korea from New York State is truly an historic moment, not just for Trans Tech, but for United States and South Korea,” said Trans Tech President John Phraner. “We are honored that they chose Trans Tech to be the exclusive manufacturer and supplier of yellow school buses for South Korea.”
A deal three years in the making, Trans Tech was approached by J.S. Alliance, LTD, of Seoul, South Korea, about supplying Type-A school buses to the country because of the need to bring more uniformity and proven safety features to South Korea’s school transportation system. South Korea currently provides school transportation through a system of independent contractors who operate vans that are not specifically designed for carrying students and do not come close to the safety standards of a school bus made in the United States.
“After a world-wide search, J.S. Alliance, LTD, decided to partner with Trans Tech because they build the best Type-A school bus on the market,” said J.S. Alliance CEO Sungwon Bae. “There is a real need for the yellow school bus in South Korea and we are proud to be importing Trans Tech’s SST Type-A school bus to our country. Trans Tech makes a very safe, durable and efficient school bus – and we also felt that it was the best designed and nicest looking school bus the market had to offer.”
The first Trans Tech SST Type-A school bus was shipped out of California and arrived in South Korea in January. Trans Tech worked with J.S. Alliance, LTD, International Fleet Sales, and General Motors (the manufacturer of the school buses’ chassis) to successfully prepare the bus for export.
Once arriving in South Korea, the school bus underwent a series of government tests and was subsequently approved for operation in the country. The Trans Tech SST Type-A school bus is now safely transporting school children younger than 13 in South Korea.
The bus is built with 14-gauge galvanized steel and has pan-formed floors, which gives it increased strength and resists corrosion. The SST is also the perfect size for the South Korean streets. The bus is designed for maximum driver visibility, maneuverability and comfort.
J.S. Alliance cited Trans Tech’s leadership and engineering team’s willingness to make subtle changes to the design to customize the bus for the South Korean school transportation system, such as reducing the height of the school buses’ stairs to accommodate South Korean children. Seating capacity of up to 30 passengers and the Trans Tech vehicle warranty were also important in J.S. Alliance’s choice to partner with Trans Tech.
“Our main objective is to help make South Korea’s school transportation system as safe as possible and to use Trans Tech school buses to accomplish that goal,” said Bae. “Trans Tech makes a great bus and it perfectly meets the needs of our country.”
“We could not be more appreciative of our partnership with J.S. Alliance, LTD, Mr. Bae and his entire team,” said Phraner. “We are looking forward to manufacturing many more Trans Tech school buses for South Korea.”
The back story to Trans Tech is only 11 years old. In 2007, two school bus contractors decided to put their knowledge to use and purchased the remnants of a U.S. bus, put in their own controls and began to manufacture buses in Warwick. Their plant has 70 employees, and thousands of trans tech buses are being used in school districts across New York state and across the country, and in Canada.
Congratulations to Trans Tech and thanks for letting us share your Made in America success story. Visit www.transtechbus.com for more information.
