Ste.-Claire, Quebec, 2/9/10 - Vanderhoof Transportation Co., Inc. of West Orange, New Jersey, recently took possession of a new Prevost X3-45 motorcoach. The new addition brings the number of Prevosts in Vanderhoof’s 22 vehicle fleet to 14.

E. Vanderhoof & Sons, founded in 1918 and currently employing 32, is very much a family operation. Ed Vanderhoof, who heads the company, is pleased to be seeing more X3-45 models on the road of late. After all, he says, it’s a “top of the line bus with a low profile that makes it ideal for the East coast, where it’s not unusual to encounter low overpasses and tight fits.”

Vanderhoof uses its X3-45s for charter operations, serving schools, companies, seniors, sports teams, and other groups. The specs of its newest Prevost include a Volvo engine, electronic stability program, independent front suspension, and three-point seatbelts. “Equipping buses with seatbelts is the wave of the future,” Ed Vanderhoof says. “School groups frequently ask us about it.”

He has also observed that when passengers travel on seatbelt-equipped vehicles, there’s less traffic in the aisles. “It’s a good way to encourage people to stay in their seats. And drivers definitely appreciate that.”

Vanderhoof’s passengers also appreciate the new X3-45, especially its welcoming interior and smooth ride. “I’ve had customers tell me on several occasions that riding on these buses is ‘like being on an airplane’,” Ed Vanderhoof says, “but without the delays and hassle of air travel.” Proof that after nearly a century in business, Vanderhoof’s slogan, “Traveling Your Way,” is as timely as ever.

Sainte Claire, Quebec, November 6, 2009—Cyr Bus Lines, a fourth-generation transportation company and tour operator based in Old Town, Maine, is driving the Northeast’s first Volvo 9700 coach.

Joe Cyr, proprietor of the family-owned and operated company that claims it has gone “from buggies to buses,” explains that Cyr Bus Lines purchased its first new model, an X3-45, in 2007, after owning a used Prevost in the 1980s. They quickly found that the “many good things” they had heard about Prevost’s legendary service were true, and have enjoyed a good relationship with the Sainte Claire-based company.

When Volvo coaches became available in North America, Mr. Cyr was eager to see how one would perform in his vast market, which stretches throughout the eastern U.S. and Canada. It goes without saying that Cyr Bus Lines needs reliable, functional, and well-designed vehicles that can stand up to the oft-bracing weather of coastal and inland Maine. And in classic entrepreneurial fashion, purchase price and operating efficiency also entered into the decision. After inspecting the Volvo 9700 at numerous industry shows, Joe Cyr was convinced that it might fit the bill and began actively lobbying to obtain one for a demo.

After putting the bus through its paces for a month up and down the East coast, Joe Cyr, his drivers, and passengers were smitten with the Volvo 9700. “It’s almost perfect,” Mr. Cyr says, adding—with typical coastal Maine understatement—that he thinks “it’ll hold up well.” The vehicle, a base model equipped with standard features and interior, is a hit with drivers who appreciate its communications capabilities and quiet, smooth-operating I-shift transmission. Joe Cyr—who also likes “the fact that it’s backed by Prevost”—is impressed with the Volvo’s established track record, and plans to have the coach serviced by a Volvo dealer in nearby Bangor.

In the state that’s said to exemplify “the way life should be,” Cyr Bus Lines and its brand new Volvo 9700 might just represent “the way travel should be.”

About Prevost

Prevost is a leading manufacturer of premium intercity touring coaches and the world leader in the production of bus shells for high-end motorhome and specialty conversion. Owned by Volvo Bus Corporation, it has access to the financial strength, research capability, and manufacturing expertise of the group. Volvo Bus Corporation is part of the Volvo Group, the world’s largest manufacturer of heavy-duty diesel engines. Prevost has its main manufacturing facilities in Sainte-Claire, Quebec, Canada and has seven Parts and Service Centers located in Canada and the United States. www.prevostcar.com