Mid-Size Bus Manufacturers Association (MSBMA) was founded in 1993 to enhance professionalism, safety and product quality in the mid-size bus industry. The group defines mid-size buses as passenger-carrying motor coaches, built on a cutaway or rail chassis or on monocoque construction, less than 40 feet in length and having a gross vehicle weight rating of 33,000 pounds (Class 7) or less. MSBMA members include bus manufacturers and other supporting companies such as component, system and service suppliers.
Many mid-size buses are purchased with Federal Transit Administration (FTA) grant money. To qualify for funding, grantees must ensure their bus models have undergone the New Model Bus Testing Program — known as Altoona testing, as the evaluation site is in Altoona, Pennsylvania.
As customers receiving FTA funds must prove purchased buses have undergone testing, they rely on manufacturers to provide proper verification. Under MAP-21 Act, Altoona tests include pass/fail criteria, designed to ensure a minimum performance level. As needed, MSBMA works with FTA to extend equivalence to applicable chassis in an effort to reduce testing for its bus manufacturing members.
In its meetings, MSBMA benefits from participation of key FTA and test facility representatives, as this enables the group to offer ongoing program improvement suggestions.
MSBMA monitors other recommended changes to federal requirements that may affect its members, and is actively developing relationships with liaisons from various chassis manufacturers linked to the mid-size bus industry. During meetings, routine discussion points include all aspects of upfitting, promoting and distributing buses built on various chassis. OEM participation plays a key role in these conversations.
How to join
To be eligible for MSBMA membership, an applicant must be an NTEA member in good standing and be engaged in the manufacture of mid-size buses for the North American market or a supplier supporting the manufacture of mid-size buses for the North American market (defined to include United States, Mexico and Canada). For more information or to join, visit ntea.com/msbma or email Steve Spata, NTEA senior technical assistance director.