SCHAUMBURG, Ill., May 7, 2009 -Believing in safety first--and being first--Louisiana Trailways has taken delivery of  two new Motor  Coach Industries D4505 coaches featuring three-point seatbelts.  These are the first two tour and charter coaches in Louisiana Coaches' fleet to feature seatbelts. 

"It's a big advantage to be the first company to offer three-point seat belts for increased safety, " said Louis Sanders, vice president and general manager. "Our customers are beginning to request the feature, and we have the opportunity to continue to be the leader in safety."

While there are no official regulations requiring seatbelts in passenger coaches, Louisiana Trailways is taking voluntary action to add the new MCI option to its latest tour and charter models. All together, Louisiana operates a fleet of 22 MCI coaches and nine seatbelt-equipped mini buses.  

Louisiana Trailways' new D4505s come equipped with  SmarTire,^TM a tire pressure monitoring system designed to improve safety, fuel efficiency and tire performance; a clean-diesel Caterpillar engine and ZF-Astronic transmission power train; and seatbelt-compatible Amaya seats. The coaches also feature a state-of-the-art entertainment system with 10- inch flat-screen video monitors.

Louisiana, an affiliated Trailways company, is based in the New Orleans suburb of Marrero, La. It serves a diverse customer base including tour, charter, corporate and employee commuter shuttles for energy companies.  "Business is pretty good," said Sanders, pointing out New Orleans' vital role in the U.S. economy with the presence of energy and oil companies.  Convention business is coming back, and a new cruise ship is expected in the fall.  Louisiana Trailways is already sold out for a private shuttle during the city's annual Jazz Festival.

Louisiana Trailways was founded in 1990 by Don Sanders.  Sanders, a former Greyhound driver, started the company with a single pre-owned MCI 96A3 and a partnership with Trips Unlimited, a local travel agency. By 1994, the company grew to four coaches and Don's son Louis joined.  Today, it's one of the premier operators in the industry with a philosophy of quality, service and safety first.

To learn more, visit  www.louisanancoaches.com

Motor Coach Industries (MCI), headquartered in Schaumburg, Ill., is the leading builder of intercity, over-the-road coaches for the tour, charter, line-haul, scheduled service, commuter transit and conversion markets in the U.S. and Canada. The company builds the industry's two best-selling models and also operates seven sales centers and eight service centers in the U.S. and Canada. MCI offers a network of aftermarket services including parts supply for most makes and models. For more information on the company, visit  www.mcicoach.com.