Trans Tech
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Bus manufacturing |
| Predecessor | U.S. Bus Corporation |
| Founded | 2007 |
| Headquarters | Warwick, New York , United States |
| Products | Type A and Type A-II school buses, commercial bus variants, electric school buses |
Trans Tech Bus, operating under Transportation Collaborative Inc., is a U.S.-based producer specializing in traditional and eco-friendly electric Type A school buses. Founded in 2007 as the successor to the former U.S. Bus Corporation, the firm manufactures Type A and Type A-II school buses along with several commercial bus variants, all constructed on cutaway vehicle chassis platforms.
The company’s main office and manufacturing operations are situated in a facility located in Warwick, New York, United States.
History
Following the closure of U.S. Bus Corporation, Trans Tech Bus was established in November 2007, relocating its operations to Warwick, New York. Initially, the company launched three school bus models: single and dual rear wheel configurations built on Ford and GM van chassis, plus a medium-duty model utilizing a GM medium-duty truck chassis. Production of the medium-duty bus ceased after 2009 due to General Motors discontinuing the C4500/5500 chassis.
In 2012, Trans Tech revamped its product range by introducing the ST Aero, SST, and Roadstar models featuring aerodynamic designs. The CST (Child-Safe Transporter) represents an SST-based variant designed for MFSAB (Multi-Function School Activity Bus) applications.
A new model named "Trans Star," built on a Ford Transit chassis and accommodating up to 20 passengers, was launched in 2017.
Models
- 2012–present
| Model name | ST Aero | SST | Roadstar | Trans Star | eTrans |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pictures | |||||
| Available versions |
School bus |
|
School bus |
School bus MFSAB |
School bus |
| Configuration | Type A | Type A | Type A | Type A | Type A-2 |
| Chassis provider |
General Motors |
Ford Motor Company General Motors |
Ford Motor Company Transit |
Motiv Power Systems | |
| Notes | Single rear-wheel Type A school bus |
|
Narrow-body dual-wheel Type A school bus |
Narrow-body SRW and DRW both Type A bus |
Battery-powered fully electric school bus |
- 2007-2011
| Model name | Single rear wheel | Dual rear wheel | Medium-duty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pictures | |||
| Available versions |
|
|
|
| Configuration | Type A | Type A | Type A-2 |
| Maximum seating capacity | 20 |
|
42 |
| Chassis provider |
Ford Motor Company
General Motors |
Ford Motor Company General Motors |
General Motors
|
Trans Tech’s adaptable manufacturing process supports extensive customization options, including:
e-Trans
In October 2011, Trans Tech unveiled the first factory-produced electric school bus powered by batteries at the National Association of Pupil Transportation conference. The e-Trans, designed to carry 42 passengers, utilized the Newton electric truck platform from Smith Electric Vehicles, which was produced in the Bronx, and the complete assembly took place within New York State. Featuring two lithium-ion battery packs, this model provided a driving range of up to 130 miles on a single charge and required approximately eight hours to fully recharge. Although this initial version never received operational certification, the initiative was subsequently advanced by Motiv Power Systems. Their Motiv Powered SSTe model has been presented at venues such as the Green California Summit and is available for purchase through Trans Tech. This fully electric bus is promoted as offering considerable reductions in fuel expenses and maintenance costs for educational institutions.