METRO Magazine, in collaboration with Complete Coach Works (CCW), is launching a new industry-focused video/podcast, “Bus Tech Talk,” which will center on the unsung heroes of the transit industry: maintenance professionals, technicians, and operations leaders working behind the scenes to keep fleets moving.

The podcast will be hosted by Mark Hollenbeck, national business development manager at CCW, and Alex Roman, Executive Editor of METRO. 

The first episode is slated to launch in June 2025.

Why You Should Tune In

While many transit industry podcasts lean toward conversations with CEOs and policymakers, Bus Tech Talk aims to spotlight the day-to-day realities of the maintenance workforce, including heads of maintenance, shop supervisors, and technician teams. 

Episodes will explore how agencies across the U.S. manage aging fleets, adapt to new technologies, and build resilient workforces.

“There’s a clear need for this platform type,” said Hollenbeck. “Maintenance professionals are the backbone of every agency. With supply chain issues, vehicle longevity stretching past 16 to 20 years, and a transition to more complex propulsion systems, a lot of knowledge needs to be shared.”

Topics on the podcast will include recruitment and retention of technicians, technician training programs, veteran workforce integration, managing multi-propulsion fleets, and the growing importance of automation and electrification in bus maintenance operations. 

The show will also feature stories from agencies of all sizes, highlighting creative strategies used nationwide to tackle workforce and operational challenges.

“We talk all the time about the importance of frontline workers in public transit,” said Roman. “Bus Tech Talk is about giving those workers a platform to share their insights, experiences, and challenges. These people keep buses rolling day in and day out, and their stories matter.”

About the CCW/METRO Partnership

Hollenbeck brings over 25 years of experience to the video/podcast, starting in the bus industry at a young age through family ties and eventually holding leadership roles at METRO Magazine, School Bus Fleet, Proterra, and, more recently, CCW. 

His familiarity with transit maintenance operations and his editorial background make him uniquely positioned to lead the show.

CCW, a Riverside, Calif.-based company, has provided bus rehabilitation, electrification, and heavy-duty maintenance services to the transit industry for nearly 40 years. 

Its partnership with METRO on this project reflects a shared commitment to knowledge-sharing and industry support.

“We’re excited about this partnership and the opportunity to re-engage with the industry in a new way,” said Hollenbeck. “We already have guests lined up from across the country — from large urban agencies to smaller systems in rural areas — and we look forward to bringing their experiences to light.”

“Bus Tech Talk” will be available on all major podcast platforms and will be promoted through METRO and CCW’s digital and social channels.