Trojans Making a Difference in the Bus Industry

On October 19, 2023, USC ITE hosted five bus industry professionals for a special panel event. Our guests included USC alumni Lauren Deaderick, Senior Manager of Customer Experience and Transportation Planning at Metro and past Senior Transit Operations Analyst at Big Blue Bus (MPL ‘19); Griffin Kantz, transportation planner at Fehr & Peers (BS ’17); Axel Hellman, co-founder of OurBus (‘MPL ’17); Carlo Di Bernardo, founder of USC’s SCUP and Transportation Planning/Traffic Operations Analyst at Kimley-Horn (BSCE ’22), and Sophia Sousa of Monrovia Public Works Department (incoming MPL candidate). Lauren Deaderick facilitated the night’s discussion.

To start, Lauren asked our panelists what a day in their life looks like. For entry-level positions, day-to-day tasks are more hands-on, as Griffin and Carlo noted the many projects they balance in a typical work week. For more senior employees, day-to-day tasks involve more meetings. Axel mentioned how his day is a majority of meetings and damage control. Sophia offered a unique perspective coming from the public sector, sharing the additional outreach and education she has to do alongside her projects.

Panelists were then asked to reflect on the past five years of the bus industry, as well as where they think the industry is headed. Lauren commented on the pandemic’s effects on the industry, specifically on the bus operator shortage. She shared how the bus operator shortage worsened in 2020, greatly affecting operations. The other panelists agreed on this major setback.

In terms of the future, Axel mentioned how he believes buses are going to become smaller as autonomous vehicles become more feasible. Lauren said she has high hopes for the future of the bus industry, quoting its continued ridership during and after the pandemic. New to the bus industry, Sophia and Carlo too have high expectations for the industry.

Finally, Professor Shen, USC ITE faculty advisor, asked the panelists whether or not they believe the traditional bus industry will ever disappear. While personal responses varied, the panel as a whole agreed that urban and intra-regional buses are here to stay, largely due to their versatility and demand that work in different cities around the world.

The evening ended with casual small talk in the Kaprielian lounge. We would like to thank these panelists for taking time out of their day to educate us on their industry. Their knowledge of the field is invaluable for our developing passions, and we hope to host them again in the future.