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From left: Brian Gillis, vice president Ambassatours Gray Line; Chato Patterson, OEM Account Manager, Allison Transmission; and Patricia Ziska, vice president Sales and Marketing MCI, are joined by Ron Zima, 'The IDLE-FREE Guy', Founder/Chair, The Children's Clean Air Network.

MCI honors Ambassatours Gray Line efforts to cut emissions

SCHAUMBURG, IL — February 16, 2012 — Supporting industry initiatives to reduce emissions, MCI honored Ambassatours Gray Line of Halifax, Nova Scotia, at UMA EXPO. MCI presented Ambassatours with a poster-sized photo of its MCI J4500 used to launch the operator's emission-cutting policies in cooperation with IDLE-FREE Guy Ron Zima, founder of The Children's Clean Air Network.

The presentation, co-sponsored by Allison Transmission, took place at the MCI booth at the industry equipment show held in Long Beach, California, February 8 through February 10.

Since joining the Children's Clean Air Network two years ago, Ambassatours has experienced substantial fuel savings and reduced its carbon dioxide emissions by an amount equivalent to the weight of six motor coaches, according to Brian Gillis, Ambassatours vice president of charters.

While drivers sometimes do have to idle coaches, Ambassatours has a program in place to encourage each driver to limit the practice to an average of five minutes a day and uses GPS systems for tracking data. The company has a fleet of 72 coaches.

The Children's Clean Air Network began as a grassroots campaign in 2006 at Kingswood Elementary School, near Halifax. Zima attended UMA EXPO on behalf of MCI and Allison Transmission to encourage more companies to follow Ambassatours' example. Go to www.idlefree.org.

Ambassatours Gray Line is one of Canada's largest motor coach operators, serving Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland & Labrador and New Brunswick. To learn more visit: www.ambassatours.com.

About MCI

Motor Coach Industries (MCI), based in Schaumburg, Illinois, is the leading manufacturer of intercity coaches in the U.S. and Canada. Reliability driven, MCI builds expertly engineered, best-selling models for the tour, charter, line-haul, commuter and transit markets. MCI also offers 24-hour technical support, industry-leading technician training and the most extensive aftermarket parts and repair service.

Press contact: Patricia Plodzeen Public Relations, 847-283-0883; or Motor Coach Industries Marketing Department, 847-285-2035.

 

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