Buses - Motorcoaches Consultants: 3

Areas of Expertise: Accident analysis, testimony and mediation in vehicle and pedestrian accidents involving transit, paratransit, schoolbus, motorcoach, special education, non-emergency medical transportation, taxi, shuttle, child transport systems and services; slips and falls; crossing, boarding and alighting; wheelchairs; seatbelts; ADA and accessibility; passenger safety, security and sexual abuse; vehicle design, specification, crashworthiness, quality assurance and product liability; industry standards and practices; driver training and vehicle operation; management, monitoring, supervision and enforcement; maintenance; NHTSA, FTA, FMCSA and USDOT regulations; vehicle testing and certification; contract negotiation and compliance; risk management; planning and system design.

The Firm: Transportation Alternatives is a passenger transportation and automotive consortium engaged in consulting and forensic accident investigation and analysis (more than 600 cases). Specializes in elderly, disabled, schoolchildren. 

Education: MURP (Urban and Regional Planning): George Washington University, 1975 BA, English Literature: Rutgers University, 1969 

Professional Experience:

• President, Transportation Alternatives (1980 to present). Consulted to USDOT, transit agencies, private contractors, social service agencies, municipalities and school districts. Designed several major transportation systems
• Chairman/General Manager, PTS Transportation (1982-1992). Directed operations of a 70-vehicle paratransit system for physically and developmentally disabled individuals and a non-emergency medical transportation (NEMT) service
• President, TAM-USA (1989-1995). Formed and directed a U.S.-Slovene joint venture company which coordinated the design, testing, certification and marketing of a European-manufactured school bus and motorcoach. 

Appointments and Memberships:

• American Public Transportation Association
• National Association of Pupil Transportation
• United Motorcoach Association
• American Bus Association
• Community Transportation Association of America
• Association Internationale pour la Sécurité du Transport des Jeunes
• National School Transportation Conference (1995, 2000, 2005)
• Committee on School Transportation Safety, National Academy of Sciences
• Bus Industry Safety Committee (ABA)
• Access Committee (APTA)

School Bus Training, LLC has worked with many transportation shops and school transportation departments to evaluate their departments and offer recommendations to make them more efficient and function better as a unit. Training is offered in staff development and process improvement. Shop Evaluation Services Include:

Principal, Denny Coughlin is a nationally recognized School Bus Expert. Mr. Coughlin entered the school bus industry almost 40 years ago. He has toured every major school bus manufacturing plant in the country, and some in Canada. He stays current with the industry and understands the construction and design of the school bus from all the manufacturers. Mr. Coughlin has been the fleet manager for a fleet of over 400 vehicles for 25 years. Responsible for purchasing, maintenance, and disposal of the fleet, his annual state school bus inspection scores were among the best in the state. Mr. Coughlin has successfully instructed over 14,000 Firefighters, Law Enforcement, and EMTs on the characteristics and Safety of School Buses. He has overseen the destruction of almost 200 school buses in drills and demonstrations and currently offers multiple Fire Department and Law Enforcement Training Courses. Mr. Coughlin has worked with the Minnesota legislation concerning school buses for many years, and served on two governors' task forces, 1994 and 2006. Mr. Coughlin has successfully presented annually at the School Transportation News (STN) EXPO conference and at the National Association for Pupil Transportation (NAPT) every year since 1999. He presents at state and regional conferences on a regular basis. He has had many articles published in School Transportation News Magazine and conducted many webinars for the school bus industry. View Denny Coughlin's Expert Witness Profile.

DLH Associates specializes in Commercial Driver Training, including behind the wheel and classroom, curriculum, course design, course certifications and accreditation, and student evaluation and assessment.

Proper commercial driver training is critical in preparing safety-conscious and well-prepared drivers. Many are surprised to learn that there are very few state regulations requiring any training whatsoever for new/entry-level drivers, and the recently passed federal rule contains no required minimum number of hours for the knowledge or behind-the-wheel portions of any of the individual training curricula, but training providers must determine that each CDL applicant demonstrates proficiency in all required elements of the training in order to successfully complete the program.

Donald L. Hess, President of DLH Associates, Inc., has over 25 years of experience in training drivers, authoring classroom and range material, designing and administering training courses and programs, and visiting and evaluating well over 100 commercial driving schools to determine eligibility for Professional Truck Driver Institute course certification.

With well over one million miles of safe cross-country trucking experience, followed by over 20 years as a driver trainer and creator / administrator of commercial driving programs, Mr. Hess is well-qualified to provide analysis of what drivers are trained to do in specific situations and circumstances, what federal and state regulations call for and require, and all aspects of the safe and proper operation of commercial motor vehicles. 

Mr. Hess has been nationally-recognized as a leader in safety and training issues, is a recipient of the American Trucking Associations Million Mile Safe Driving award, and was recipient of the Truckload Carriers Association Lee Crittenden award. Over his long and successful career in trucking and education, he has held numerous national board and officer positions in trucking and education.

View Donald L. Hess' Expert Witness Profile.