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    1. Bus
    2. Maintenance

    First Transit and First Vehicle Services Locations Awarded ASE Blue Seal of Excellence Climbs to 72

    Feb. 20, 2019
    First Transit and First Vehicle Services added five new maintenance locations that have earned the Blue Seal of Excellence.
    Related To: First Transit
    Photo courtesy of First Transit
    Left to right: Poly Chan (Technician), Mang Lian (Technician), Charles “CJ” Hobbs (Tech in Charge), Randy Robbins (Maintenance Manager), Gerald Crawford (Tech in Charge), Gerald Scherr (Technician).
    Left to right: Poly Chan (Technician), Mang Lian (Technician), Charles “CJ” Hobbs (Tech in Charge), Randy Robbins (Maintenance Manager), Gerald Crawford (Tech in Charge), Gerald Scherr (Technician).

    First Transit and First Vehicle Services added five new maintenance locations that have earned the Blue Seal of Excellence. This brings the current number to 72 certified shops across North America.

    “We are dedicated to maintenance excellence, and it shows in our ever-growing number of ASE Blue Seal shops,” said Todd Hawkins, First Transit senior vice president of maintenance. “I’m proud of my team leading the way with more ASE Blue Seal shops than any of our competitors.”

    The Blue Seal of Excellence is given by the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE). To receive ASE's Blue Seal of Excellence, 75 percent of the service technicians at a location must be certified by ASE. In addition, there must be a certified technician in each area of service offered.

    First Transit maintains and provides vehicle maintenance services for more than 12,000 buses, including traditional transit and double-decker buses, alternative fuel, electric and shared autonomous vehicles.

    First Vehicle Services maintains and provides vehicle maintenance services for more than 36,000 pieces of equipment, ranging from vehicles for law enforcement, fire, and emergency medical service to trucks, construction equipment and aerial lift trucks.

    The First Transit and First Vehicle Services locations received ASE’s Blue Seal certification for their achievement in recruiting the best employees, supporting their training, and providing the best equipment to maintain the vehicles.

    These locations are among the 145 to have achieved Blue Seal status throughout FirstGroup America, the parent company of First Transit. FirstGroup America includes school bus operator First Student and Greyhound Lines, Inc. This is the most of any transportation company in North America.

    ASE, an independent nonprofit organization, was created in 1972 to improve the quality of vehicle repair and service by testing and certifying automotive professionals. The Blue Seal of Excellence is the highest certification level given by the organization.