![]() Besides taking the Kickerts’ own children to McKinley School (which is still a customer today), their neighbors ask if their children can also be taken to school. Here’s a brief history of Kickert School Bus Line’s operations and ownership, as told by Tom O’Sullivan.ġ915: Richard and Bessie Kickert live in South Holland, Illinois. Hard work, customer relations and excellent employees. In your opinion, are there any universal truths about how a transportation company stays in business and provides excellent service? Building relationships with district administrators is important, but our best salespersons are our drivers and their relationships with the students on the bus, the parents of the students and the school employees. Some of these relationships go back to the 1930s. Building customer relationships: Kickert has been fortunate to have developed long-standing relationships with many customers. We also have a body shop that keeps our buses looking new.Ĥ. School bus maintenance: Kickert has been fortunate to have excellent mechanics who can maintain all the different types of engines - gas, diesel, propane, etc. We try to create a family atmosphere at Kickert with our employees, and that includes being fair with pay and benefits, but also creating an environment where employees want to come to work.ģ. Driver shortages: Retaining employees is our No. This provides opportunities, but there are also many competitors.Ģ. Competition: Illinois is a bid state, and approximately 50% of the districts contract versus running the buses themselves. How has Kickert met the challenges of student transportation?ġ. Kickert showed off this vintage school bus, a 1945 Ford with a Superior body, during the recent parade. ![]() Today’s vehicles also utilize GPS technology both for tracking the buses and students. In those first days, we used Sony handheld 8mm cameras. In the early 1990s, we began using cameras in school buses. Today, we use Versatrans, Transfinder, Edulog and others. In the 1970s, we were the first company to have a computerized routing program from IBM. Kickert has been at the forefront in using technology with their school buses. What about emerging technologies with each decade? We have always ordered our buses with the flame retardant seat covers, and we have had employees who have participated in committees concerning the safety of school buses. Kickert has also been at the forefront of safety with the vehicles. Just recently, in the last couple of years, we are again purchasing buses that use propane fuel. In the last 10 years, we have also been providing buses that run on biodiesel fuel. In the 1970s and ’80s, we had vehicles that ran on CNG engines and propane engines. Over the years, we have been at the forefront for trying alternative fuels. From there, we converted a diesel truck to a school bus. TOM O’SULLIVAN: It all started with a horse and buggy 100 years ago. SBF: How did the vehicles, and the way they were powered, evolve over the years?
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