Dave Meyerhofer doesn’t say much, but his work has spoken for him for more than three decades.
The longtime technician with Kobussen Buses LTD, was among the first to be inducted into the United Motorcoach Association’s (UMA) Ring of Honor, during this year’s UMA Gala Awards. The honor recognizes a 35-year career marked by technical excellence, consistency, and mentorship.
Known by colleagues as “the quiet one,” Meyerhofer is widely respected in the industry for his deep knowledge and unassuming approach.
“Dave Meyerhofer? He’s the quiet one—but when he speaks, everyone leans in to hear what he has to say,” said Kevin Whitworth, who leads UMA’s annual Maintenance Competition and Maintenance Interchange. “His boss, Joe Kobussen said, ‘When we order a coach, I let Dave handle it. He knows what works.’ That’s how respected he is.”
Meyerhofer, who has spent his career working on MCI motorcoaches, is the only technician to finish in the top three nine times in the UMA competition. He won the national title three times, in 2013, 2018 and 2022.
“Kevin is right, I’m a man of few words,” Meyerhofer said while accepting the honor at the 2025 UMA Motorcoach EXPO in Oklahoma City on Feb. 23. “Thank you to UMA for having this competition, and to Kevin for organizing it. Thanks to Joe Kobussen and Kobussen Buses. I’ve had 35 years to learn and refine my skills. No two days are the same. One day it’s an engine replacement, the next it’s software.”
Began career out of high school
Meyerhofer, the shop supervisor at Kobussen Buses in Kaukauna, Wisconsin, started in the field straight out of high school.
“I went to Fox Valley Technical College and Kobussen Bus was right down the road from me. They hired me out of high school,” he said.
He credits his success to a willingness to keep learning, particularly as technology has changed how technicians work.
“Embrace the new technology,” he advises. “If you don’t understand it, you can’t fix it. You have to understand what you’re working on before you can fix it.”
Meyerhofer has also been an active member of the UMA Maintenance Interchange, a peer forum where technicians share knowledge and troubleshoot daily issues.
“The Maintenance Interchange room is full of knowledge that’s unbelievable,” he said.
He said helping others through sharing what he knows has become an important part of his work.
“When you help people, you’ve got to know what you’re fixing and be good at it,” he said.
Meyerhofer began attending UMA events after his company’s owners invited him to join them. That led to his first competition.
This year, Whitworth invited him to serve as a judge, a role he said he looks forward to continuing.
“I enjoy the competition, so I’ll enjoy that as much as competing,” Meyerhofer said.
