RIVERSIDE, CA – Shuttle Bus Leasing (SBL), the nation’s leading provider of pre-owned buses, in collaboration with its affiliate Complete Coach Works (CCW), is proud to announce a new agreement to lease eight 60’ articulated buses to the University of Minnesota.
The project includes the preparation of eight New Flyer D-60LF buses to meet University-specific requirements. All of the work will be performed at Complete Coach Works’ headquarters in Riverside, CA, with SBL coordinating the final delivery of the units.
The scope of work includes customer- requested enhancements such as:
Installation of the Peak Transit CAD/AVL System
Installation of an 11-camera Seon (Safe Fleet) surveillance system
Passenger seat reupholstery
Interior and exterior paint
New tires
Installation of floor heaters at all doors
New brakes and drums
“We’re excited to support the University of Minnesota with this fleet addition,” said James Carson, Regional Sales Manager at CCW. “These upgrades ensure the buses are reliable, comfortable, and ready for high-volume campus service.”
SBL and its sister company Complete Coach Works continues to be a trusted partner in the transportation industry, offering flexible and reliable bus leasing solutions to meet the evolving needs of its customers.
Uncertainty with Washington: Stretching Your Fleet Dollars by Refurbishing and Buying Used Buses
How have recent changes in Washington (tariffs, federal funding shifts, etc.) impacted transit agency decisions or purchasing behavior?
As we move to the middle of calendar year 2025, we find the landscape for the public transportation sector in the US and Canada is as dynamic as we have seen in recent memory. The stability of federal funding for public transportation under the new Republican administration is still unfolding with some degree of uncertainty including the level of funding support for zero emission buses. This is combined with budget and fiscal challenges for virtually every transit agency – or fiscal cliffs – that will need to be navigated in the coming few years. Layered on top of this is the recent activity to downsize the federal government with an unknown number of staff taking early retirement or buyouts and whether there will be enough staff (particularly at the DOT and FTA) to administer the various programs that fund public transportation. Layered yet again is the issue of the applicability of tariffs that have been a revolving door of on again/off again and how these tariffs will impact the cost of rolling stock and other equipment transit agencies procure.
In May of this year at the APTA Legislative Conference, DOT Secretary Sean Duffy delivered his message to the attendees, which from a very high level included the following messages. The DOT will fund public transportation however we expect you to use the money to operate efficiently, safely and securely and at a high-quality standard. Reading between the lines you can conclude that transit agencies will need to deliver on a ROI level; they need to ensure that their systems are safe from crime, driver attacks, fare evasion and the homeless; that their systems are free from graffiti and litter and that funding for zero emission equipment may be somewhat selective. As recent as May 30, the Trump Administration released its FY2026 budget request of $21.2 billion for public transit in FY 2026 which includes a $310 million (1.5 percent) increase from the FY 2025 enacted level. The request is $1.0 billion (-4.7 percent) less than the FY 2026 IIJA authorized levels, however, is still a positive light given the other goings-on in Washington.
With the above background, the other dynamic item for rolling stock (particularly buses) is the notion of zero emission plans and mandates. As transit agencies have rolled out their recently delivered battery electric buses over the past few years, they have found unanticipated operational challenges including range issues, charging times and costs being much different in practice than in theory. As a result, several agencies are either rethinking or rolling back their zero emission mandates.
As a result of all this churn, transit agencies have had to rethink their overall fleet strategies to ensure they are delivering on-time, safe and effective service to their riders. The potential exists for a slowing of zero emission bus purchases in favor of more traditional powertrain choices such as diesel, CNG and hybrid purchases and consideration of used bus options and refurbishments to maximize available dollars and return on investment for available capital funds.
From our perspective at CCW, a strategy that includes refurbishing existing buses or purchasing pre-owned transit buses are ideal complementary fleet strategies that can extend the life of your current buses or augment your fleet to ensure that service is delivered to your riders meeting your operational objectives.
What would you say to a transit agency on the fence about refurbishing or buying used buses during these uncertain times?
Bus refurbishment and buying used buses are both part of a sensible fleet strategy that complements new bus purchases and assists in times of uncertainty and churn as noted above in our comments regarding funding. Refurbishing existing equipment with updated powertrains and current customer amenities such as seating, destination signs, flooring and graphics extends the life of an existing fleet for an additional 8-10 years. The cost of this work is at a fraction of a new bus cost and can be delivered in a few months vs. years. The key to making this part of a fleet strategy is to identify the percentage or quantity of an agency’s fleet that would fit into this bucket.
Further, through effective marketing, agencies can promote the idea of a “new green” with refurbished buses in that they are recycling equipment to be as green as possible with limited funding.
Where agencies are looking to add equipment quickly and well in advance of new bus purchases, adding pre-owned transit buses is the solution. Buses can be made available in as early as 90 days complete with all systems operational, a new coat of white paint and DOT ready. Buses are available in virtually every length and powertrain combination to meet the needs of transit agencies.
What are the key financial advantages of fleet refurbishment over purchasing new buses?
Bus refurbishing can be accomplished at half the price and in half the time as new buses. Typical pricing levels for a full bus refurbishment are in the range of $350,000-$400,000 per bus which includes fully updated powertrain, suspension, brakes, interiors, electronics, HVAC, etc. With new buses selling for $700,000 or more per unit for a diesel bus this makes the cost of a refurbishment extremely cost effective and attractive. More scaled-down refurbishment options exist as well to bring the pricing down to 50% of what is noted above to fit agency budgets. Further, delivery of a fully refurbished bus can be achieved in approximately 7-9 months whereas new bus deliveries are 18-24 months or more. This makes refurbishing being achieved in half the time and half the cost of a new bus.
What sets CCW apart in the refurbishing or used fleet space compared to competitors?
CCW is the most experienced company in the industry providing refurbishing expertise and pre-owned sales to the public transportation market. The company has been in business for over 38 years and has delivered thousands of pre-owned and refurbished buses to customers across the country. Our level of expertise, attention to detail, knowledge base and project management skills are unmatched. This provides a level of trust and comfort to transit agencies knowing their project will be delivered on time, on budget and at the highest level of quality.
RIVERSIDE, CA – Complete Coach Works (CCW), a leading provider of transit and sustainable transportation solutions, is proud to announce that its Zero Emissions Propulsion System (ZEPS) Conversion Package has officially been approved for funding under CARB’s Hybrid and Zero-Emission Truck and Bus Voucher Incentive Project or more commonly referred to as HVIP.
The HVIP program, administered by CALSTART in partnership with the California Air Resources Board (CARB) and the California Energy Commission (CEC), provides financial incentives to accelerate the adoption of zero-emission commercial vehicles. With the approval of CCW’s ZEPS Conversion Package, transit agencies across California can now benefit from substantial financial support, reducing the cost of converting existing diesel or CNG buses into fully electric, zero-emission vehicles. This not only extends the service life of valuable fleet assets but also dramatically reduces emissions, contributing to healthier air quality and a more sustainable future.
Revolutionizing Fleet Electrification
CCW’s ZEPS Conversion Package represents a game-changing solution for transit agencies seeking to electrify their fleets. Designed to deliver exceptional reliability and performance, the ZEPS system enables the complete transformation of internal combustion engine buses into battery-electric vehicles. CCW’s ZEPS product has been in the market for over 10 (ten) years with deployments across the country.
Patrick Scully, Chief Commercial Officer at Complete Coach Works, commented on the recent HVIP approval: “We are incredibly proud to receive HVIP funding approval for our ZEPS Conversion Package. This milestone not only underscores the reliability and performance of our zero-emission technology but also empowers transit agencies across California to reduce their carbon footprint and meet their ambitious climate goals more efficiently.”
Supporting California’s Zero-Emission Future
HVIP is one of California’s most impactful programs for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and improving air quality. By providing financial assistance for zero-emission vehicle adoption, it supports the state’s ambitious climate targets and zero-emission mandates. The addition of CCW’s ZEPS Conversion Package to the HVIP Eligible Vehicles Catalog is a critical development, enabling transit agencies to electrify their fleets rapidly, reduce maintenance costs, and contribute to cleaner communities.
For more information on CCW’s ZEPS Conversion Package and its HVIP eligibility, visit the official HVIP listings at:
RIVERSIDE, CA – Complete Coach Works (CCW), North America’s leading provider of transit bus and sustainable transportation solutions, is proud to announce it has been awarded a new contract from Everett Transit for the purchase of seven refurbished transit buses. The new order includes five (5) 35-foot and two (2) 40-foot Gillig buses.
This order follows the successful completion of a previous project in 2024, where CCW delivered five refurbished 35′ Gillig buses to Everett Transit through the Washington State Transit Bus Cooperative Purchasing Schedule. Based on the successful delivery and performance of those buses, Everett Transit has once again chosen CCW for its fleet needs.
“We’re honored that Everett Transit has chosen us once again for this project which is a testament to the positive partnership between our two organizations and their continued trust in our work,” said James Carson, Sales Regional Manager at CCW. “Their decision to return to us with a larger follow-up order is a strong vote of confidence in the quality and value we deliver.”
The seven buses will be rebuilt to CCW’s high standards, including upgraded interiors, QStraint ADA positions, new flooring, camera systems, refurbished suspension, new paint and decaling, frameless windows, and bike racks.
RIVERSIDE, CA – Complete Coach Works (CCW), a leading provider of transit and sustainable transportation solutions, is pleased to announce it has been awarded a contract to supply and refurbish eleven (11) 40-foot CNG transit buses for the City of Fresno’s Department of Transportation – Fresno Area Express (FAX). This project was awarded under the Washington State Contract, enabling FAX to streamline its procurement processes while ensuring value and quality from an experienced transit solutions provider.
The work will be completed at CCW’s headquarters in Riverside, California. The 2013 New Flyer C40LFR buses are currently equipped with ISLG CNG engines, Allison transmissions, and Thermo King HVAC systems. Each bus will undergo a full-service inspection designed to extend their operational life and bring them up to current standards.
The project will be a full bus refurbishment including undercarriage axle, brake and suspension components, powertrain replacement, HVAC refurbishment, upgraded interiors and a full exterior repainting. There will also be significant electronics installations meeting FAX’s requirements for destination signs, CAD/AVL and security systems.
“We’re proud to support Fresno Area Express with this refurbishment project,” said James Carson, Regional Sales Manager at CCW. “This is a major project for FAX and CCW is the best partner to provide refurbished transit buses to enhance their service operations and fleet needs. By revitalizing these vehicles, we’re not only extending the life of valuable transit assets but also enhancing the rider and operator experience with modern features and systems.”
METRO Magazine, in collaboration with Complete Coach Works (CCW), is launching a new industry-focused video/podcast, “Bus Tech Talk,” which will center on the unsung heroes of the transit industry: maintenance professionals, technicians, and operations leaders working behind the scenes to keep fleets moving.
The podcast will be hosted by Mark Hollenbeck, national business development manager at CCW, and Alex Roman, Executive Editor of METRO.
The first episode is slated to launch in June 2025.
Why You Should Tune In
While many transit industry podcasts lean toward conversations with CEOs and policymakers, Bus Tech Talk aims to spotlight the day-to-day realities of the maintenance workforce, including heads of maintenance, shop supervisors, and technician teams.
Episodes will explore how agencies across the U.S. manage aging fleets, adapt to new technologies, and build resilient workforces.
“There’s a clear need for this platform type,” said Hollenbeck. “Maintenance professionals are the backbone of every agency. With supply chain issues, vehicle longevity stretching past 16 to 20 years, and a transition to more complex propulsion systems, a lot of knowledge needs to be shared.”
Topics on the podcast will include recruitment and retention of technicians, technician training programs, veteran workforce integration, managing multi-propulsion fleets, and the growing importance of automation and electrification in bus maintenance operations.
The show will also feature stories from agencies of all sizes, highlighting creative strategies used nationwide to tackle workforce and operational challenges.
“We talk all the time about the importance of frontline workers in public transit,” said Roman. “Bus Tech Talk is about giving those workers a platform to share their insights, experiences, and challenges. These people keep buses rolling day in and day out, and their stories matter.”
About the CCW/METRO Partnership
Hollenbeck brings over 25 years of experience to the video/podcast, starting in the bus industry at a young age through family ties and eventually holding leadership roles at METRO Magazine, School Bus Fleet, Proterra, and, more recently, CCW.
His familiarity with transit maintenance operations and his editorial background make him uniquely positioned to lead the show.
CCW, a Riverside, Calif.-based company, has provided bus rehabilitation, electrification, and heavy-duty maintenance services to the transit industry for nearly 40 years.
Its partnership with METRO on this project reflects a shared commitment to knowledge-sharing and industry support.
“We’re excited about this partnership and the opportunity to re-engage with the industry in a new way,” said Hollenbeck. “We already have guests lined up from across the country — from large urban agencies to smaller systems in rural areas — and we look forward to bringing their experiences to light.”
“Bus Tech Talk” will be available on all major podcast platforms and will be promoted through METRO and CCW’s digital and social channels.
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