FARIBAULT, Minn. ABC Companies is expanding its marketing of Van Hool motorcoaches and ABC midsize buses in Canada, using its recent acquisition of Muncie Transit Supply and its subsidiary, Baker Transit Parts, to support the effort.

ABC said it has appointed its first Canadian account executive, John McFarlane, and designated two key executives to provide parts support and technical assistance.

As part of the push, ABC said it sold 10 new Van Hool C2045 coaches to Traxx Coachlines of Medicine Hat, Alberta.

McFarlane, working with senior ABC executives, completed the sale to Traxx, which is a 75-year-old company that began by offering taxi service. It moved into school buses in the late 1940s and began motorcoach and charter service 14 years ago.

Through the years it has operated under the names Radcliff Bus Lines and Tot-em Transportation but, when it was sold three years ago and began expanding into the U.S. Pacific Northwest, it ran into trademark and brand name conflicts, changing its name to Traxx Coachlines.

A native of Scotland and raised in Toronto, McFarlane lived and worked in Calgary, Alberta, prior to moving to the United States. His background includes being director of operations for a large California retail chain and vice president of sales for a West Coast specialty electronic components group.

Supporting McFarlane and the Canadian expansion will be Marv Borntrager, ABC technical support manager, and Craig Parsley, vice president and general manager of Baker Transit Parts of Sombra, Ontario.

ABC said it planned to offer new and pre-owned equipment to Canadian operators, including the full line of Van Hool coaches, as well as ABCs private-label midsize buses.

A Canada-based parts distribution center, plus leasing and financial support, via ABC Financial, are planned to support the business.