Once again, Dallas-based Coach America rolls in at the top in METRO's annual motorcoach survey. Despite the lagging economy, two-thirds of carriers reported a substantial increase in business.

While demand for LCD widescreen monitors continues to grow, motorized flip-down monitors look to be the next big thing in on-board entertainment systems. Digital media players operated via USB flash drives appear to be on the horizon.

As we look to expand the industry and procure new equipment to meet the growing demand for public transportation, governments and agencies must fund the talent side of our growing need.

Previous EXPO themes of security took a back seat to issues such as fuel prices and global warming. Major evidence of this shift was the dominant presence of hybrid vehicles on the show floor, as well as other eco-friendly product offerings. Off the show floor, session topics focused on dealing with rising operational costs, federal reauthorization, public-private partnerships, customer service and sustainability.

With bus travel, the primary impression of a trip is typically related to driver performance. Having a good attitude and sharing information on board are some of the best ways to build positive passenger relationships.