Dousman Transport Receives Grant

September 2004

School bus company strives for cleaner air

Lake Country Area - For the first time, private companies have access to federal grant money for protecting the environment and Dousman Transport Co. Inc., a school bus company that serves area school districts, has taken advantage of it.

"The National School Transportation Association (NSTA) received a half-million dollar grant from the federal EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) to grant sub-grants,' said Robert Nelson, president of Dousman Transport.

This is the first time a privately owned school bus company will be able to access funds like this. Traditionally, it was just for schools and municipalities," Nelson said.

However, the federal government is in the process of increasing from $5 million to $65 million the EPA's Clean SChool Bus USA program to provide grants to replace pre-1991 buses with new buses equipped with emission control and safety features.

The money can also be used for grants to retrofit post-1990 school buses with emission controls comparable to the newer buses.

As a member of the NSTA, Dousman Transport, which serves the Arrowhead, Kettle Moraine and Mukwonago school districts was able to apply for a grant.

Through a grant of $23,000 for equipment and a 15-percent match from Dousman Transport in labor, the company is in the process of retrofitting 22 of the company's approximately 104 buses, Nelson said.

"We just about have all the product and we can now start installing it on the buses," Nelson said. The company hopes installation will be completed by October.

The products are Diesel Oxidation Catalysts, which can cost between $600 and $2,000. For Dousman Transport, the cost is estimated at $1,450 per bus.

By a simple definition, a Diesel Oxidation Catalyst is a different type of muffler containing chemicals and filters to break down pollutants into less harmful components and reduce emissions of particulate matter (exhaust that is visible).

"There should be a reduction in emissions of 30 percent," Nelson said. Since the technology has already been proven, Dousman Transport is not required to do any testing.

According to Nelson, EPA standards are becoming more stringent, aiming for engine manufacturers to cut emissions by 90 percent by January of 2007.

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources is also working with a group of approximately 15 school bus companies to try the technology Dousman Transport will be using through their grant, Nelson said.

In specific, the DNR is targeting areas that need to reduce ozone emissions. Part of that effort involves the use of reformulated gases.

By 2006, oil refineries will have to produce "ultra low" sulfur diesel fuel in another effort to reduce emissions.

While there are many types of trucks, that use diesel fuel, "a school bus is a little more visible to people," Nelson said. "We stand out. We're more controversial."

A large part of that controversy is concerns over the effects pollution might have on the children riding those school buses.

According to information from the EPA, exposure to diesel exhaust can cause lung damage and respiratory problems, including exacerbating asthma and existing allergies. Long-term exposure is thought to increase the risk of lung cancer.

For that reason, the EPA recommends that schools limit the amount of time school buses idle in the school yard to prevent buildup of exhaust in the yard that could also pollute the inside of the school.

Engine and emission standards have changed a lot over the last 25 years to reduce pollutants, Nelson said.

Besides the standards set by the EPA, many school districts have requirements written into their contracts with busing companies to ensure newer vehicles.

For example, the contract for Arrowhead High School and its elementary feeder districts requires that the average age of all the buses in the fleet to be no more than eight years old, Nelson said.

"Usually, it's because they want to make sure it's good, reliable equipment," Nelson said. If a company took over a route using older equipment, buses could break down and "service is not as good as it should be."

Of Dousman Transport's 104 buses, 87 are used for regular routes.

The others are used for special trips or as a spare in the place of a bus needing maintenance. Those can be between 10 to 12 years old.

The oldest of the 87 regular buses is from 1996.

"When we got the Arrowhead contract in 1996, we had to go buy 40 new buses," Nelson said.

SInce the company doesn't want to have to replace 40 buses at once again, the company regularly replaces a number of the oldest buses.

"We take a lot of pride and take care of our buses," Nelson said, adding that with a proper maintenance a bus can last more than 12 years.

"Our owner is very proactive thinking," Nelson said.

Owner Magda Dimmendaal started at Dousman Transport as a driver and worked her way up to vice president before buying the company in 1988.

Since then, Dousman Transport has received the NSTA School Bus Contractor of the Year award and Dimmendaal has served as a president of the Wisconsin School Bus Association and is on the board of directors for NSTA.

"She (Dimmendaal) saw this (grant) as an opportunity to show that we're trying to look out for the best interest of the kids," Nelson said. "It seemed like a good match and, fortunately, they did pick us."