Spartan Chassis Delivers Exclusive Training to Tec

CHARLOTTE, Mich., Oct. 14, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Maximizing value through preventive maintenance was the focus of the five-day 19th Annual Fire Truck Training Conference (FTTC) hosted by Spartan Chassis, Inc. , a subsidiary of Spartan Motors, Inc. (Nasdaq: SPAR ). The event was attended by 144 fire truck service personnel from across the United States and Canada, for wide-ranging service training on the company's products and services. Additionally, several Spartan suppliers exhibited and answered questions for attendees.

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The Fire Truck Training Conference, held in Lansing, Mich., October 6-10, allows fleet operators/technicians access to exclusive training on multiple Spartan Chassis products. As more communities face increasingly stringent budget limitations,Spartan Chassis anticipates growth in the number of departments performing their own vehicle inspections, preventive maintenance and repairs. The annual event allows technicians to tailor their education track to meet their training needs. Throughout the duration of the event over 147 EVT certification tests were completed during the event.

"Encouraging improved fleet management, minimizing the cost of repairs and reducing equipment downtime have always been our focus, but are now major priorities for fire departments already facing intense financial pressures," said Bill Foster, co-founder and Vice President of Spartan Motors. "Communities depend on these emergency vehicles to keep them safe and it is vital that we offer the formal training needed by technicians to maintain and service their equipment to help keep them operational."

The conference featured over 44 seminars with a focus on three professional tracks including: (i) Basic Operation and Maintenance, (ii) Service Repair, (iii) Heavy Repair. Each seminar offered emergency response vehicle technicians a comprehensive understanding and hands-on demonstrations of the technical components and systems of the vehicle.

Courses were led by training specialists from Spartan Chassis in partnership with major suppliers of emergency response equipment and systems. Technicians prepared for Emergency Vehicle Technician (EVT) certification exams held during the week.

The 20th Annual Spartan Chassis Fire Truck Training Conference will be held October 5-9, 2014 at the Lansing Center in Lansing, Michigan. Additional conference information and registration will be available online at spartanchassis.com in mid-2014.

About Spartan Chassis, Inc.

Spartan Chassis, Inc. is a world-class leader in the engineering, manufacturing and marketing of chassis and aftermarket parts for emergency-response, recreational vehicle (RV), defense and specialty vehicles. End users recognize and request the Spartan Chassis brand, which consistently delivers superior performance, exceptional safety ratings and innovations which distinguish us from the competition. Visit Spartan Chassis at www.spartanchassis.com .

About Spartan Motors

Spartan Motors, Inc. designs, engineers and manufactures specialty chassis, specialty vehicles, truck bodies and aftermarket parts for the recreational vehicle (RV), emergency response, government services, defense, and delivery and service markets. The Company's brand names – Spartan™, Spartan Chassis™, Spartan ER™, Spartan ERV™ and Utilimaster® - are known for quality, performance, service and first-to-market innovation. The Company employs approximately 1,800 associates at facilities in Michigan, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Indiana, Florida and Texas. Spartan reported sales of $471 million in 2012 and is focused on becoming a global leader in the design, engineering and manufacture of specialty vehicles and chassis. Visit Spartan Motors at www.spartanmotors.com .

This release contains several forward-looking statements that are not historical facts, including statements concerning our business, strategic position, financial strength, future plans, objectives, and the performance of our products. These statements can be identified by words such as "believe," "expect," "intend," "potential," "future," "may," "will," "should," and similar expressions regarding future expectations. These forward-looking statements involve various known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and assumptions that are difficult to predict with regard to timing, extent, and likelihood. Therefore, actual performance and results may materially differ from what may be expressed or forecasted in such forward-looking statements. Factors that could contribute to these differences include operational and other complications that may arise affecting the implementation of our plans and business objectives; continued pressures caused by economic conditions and the pace and extent of the economic recovery; challenges that may arise in connection with the integration of new businesses or assets we acquire or the disposition of assets; issues unique to government contracting, such as competitive bidding processes, qualification requirements, and delays or changes in funding; disruptions within our dealer network; changes in our relationships with major customers, suppliers, or other business partners, including Isuzu; changes in the demand or supply of products within our markets or raw materials needed to manufacture those products; and changes in laws and regulations affecting our business. Other factors that could affect outcomes are set forth in our Annual Report on Form 10-K and other filings we make with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), which are available at www.sec.gov or our website. All forward-looking statements in this release are qualified by this paragraph. Investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements as a prediction of actual results. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements in this release, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

Russell T. Chick Corporate Director of Marketing Spartan Motors, Inc. 517.997.3852