CHARLOTTE, Mich., Feb. 12, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Spartan Chassis, a unit of Spartan Motors, Inc. (Nasdaq:SPAR), held its annual Sales Training Conference in Miami, Fla., Wednesday-Friday, Feb. 6-8. The annual Sales Training Conference provides original equipment manufacturers (OEM) an opportunity to share their ideas and learn about other upcoming product launches through several training sessions. The conference is a vital element in the training of Spartan Chassis OEMs and their dealers. The company also utilizes the event to recognize OEM accomplishments and celebrate the prior year's successes.

"I'd like to thank every one of you for a great year in 2012," said Dennis Schneider, President, Spartan Emergency Response. "In a relatively flat emergency response industry, we have seen our market share increase over the past year. If we continue to improve together, 2013 will be an even better year. If you look at the Advanced Protection System (APS), it is now the benchmark in the industry, and it is our desire to extend that best-in-class reputation across every dimension of the cab. Since being fully implemented in August, the APS has been specified on over 70% of our orders."

Director of Sales, Emergency Response Chassis, Michael Bowman echoed Schneider's comments. "Our plan in 2012 worked, and it worked very well. Within the industry, there is a real buzz of excitement around Spartan Chassis products. We are seeing the success in the market due to our products, our strategy and our team effort. We look to build off of this momentum and carry it forward into 2013."

The APS includes safety features not previously offered in the cab of the chassis. Several industry firsts include: full side curtain airbags that are seven times larger than competitors', driver-side knee airbags to lock the lower body into place, and outboard sensors to provide a zone of safety for occupants. Additional industry firsts include side impact protection to deploy airbags in the event of a rollover accident and advanced seat belts to help control the strain on each occupant.

During various training sessions throughout the week, attendees were updated on subjects such as forthcoming emissions regulation, safety systems, custom chassis engineering projects and industry trends.

In addition to Spartan Chassis' training classes offered, the conference attendees had the opportunity to participate in an exhibitor event with several of Spartan Chassis' suppliers. Each supplier provided the attendees a chance to learn more about several products used in each Spartan chassis.

Spartan Chassis reported year-over-year growth in both total attendees and exhibitors.

The week concluded with the annual awards ceremony to honor those who experienced exceptional sales in 2012. Spartan Chassis recognized those who obtained silver status (5-9 units), gold status (10-14 units) and diamond status (15+ units) last year.

The 2012 award winners are:

Top Sales
Metro Fire Apparatus Specialists, Inc.

Excellence in Customer Satisfaction
Profire Emergency Equipment, Inc.

Diamond  
Campbell Supply Co., LLC  
Dependable Emergency Vehicles  
Metro Fire Apparatus Specialists, Inc.  
Safetek Emergency Vehicles Ltd.  

Gold  
Hendrickson Fire Rescue Equipment  
Redstorm Fire & Rescue  

Silver  
Atlantic Coast Fire Trucks  
C & S Specialty, Inc.  
FESCO Emergency Vehicles  
Fire Apparatus & Supply Team  
Fire Truck Headquarters  
New England Fire Equipment & Apparatus  
New Jersey Emergency Vehicles  

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, emergency response, government services and defense, delivery and service markets. The company's brand names - Spartan™, Spartan ERV™ and Utilimaster® - are known for quality, performance, service and first-to-market innovation. The company employs approximately 1,700 associates at facilities in Michigan, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Indiana, Florida and Texas. Spartan reported sales of $426 million in 2011 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.