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BlueBird44
Top Member
USA
1639 Posts |
 Posted - 06/14/2001 : 5:27:01 PM
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Should Spare buses be in good condtion? SO they have atomatic Trans? Air doors? Should they be 7 years old or 15?? What should the limit be and what should the condtion and features be??
Tyler-Formly known as Wayne Lifeguard. |
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thomas86_a
Top Member
USA
4413 Posts |
Posted - 06/14/2001 : 8:09:41 PM
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Features don't really matter in a spare bus, safety is more or less the issue and all buses must go through safety inspections to transport students. The age limit? I am not sure no bus built before 1977 should be allowed but other than that if they meet safety requirments it shouldn't matter.
Automatic transmission and air doors have nothing to do with being a spare because their are still a lot of schools specing manual doors on their new buses, and transmission presonally I like the manuals over the automatics, but a driver must be good at driving a manual transmission, because not only do you have to deal with shifting, you are turning on lights, opening doors, and communication over a 2 way radio, and if you are having a hard time operating the bus it just makes it worse.
"Thomas Built Buses-The best buses on the Road." |
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Busrepair
Senior Member
121 Posts |
Posted - 06/15/2001 : 05:26:31 AM
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I think I would have to agree with Thomas86-a. As long as the bus passes inspection it should be okay to use. Regaurdless of the options.
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Bus Boy 39
Top Member
USA
1315 Posts |
Posted - 06/15/2001 : 05:29:23 AM
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We have two 1993 and two 1996 spare. Both of them are automatics and they don't have air door. Like the others said, it doesn't matter what options it has, just if it's safe and it gets us from point A to point B, it's good enough!
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BlueBird44
Top Member
USA
1639 Posts |
Posted - 06/15/2001 : 06:42:14 AM
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Should it be in reliable shape to run? IF you have a bus that broke down alot and then took it off the rode should you make it a sub or just get rid of it?
Tyler-Formly known as Wayne Lifeguard. |
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wagonmaster
Top Member
USA
2298 Posts |
Posted - 06/15/2001 : 07:25:39 AM
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Our spare buses are used regularly by our regular drivers while their buses are in the shop for scheduled preventive maintenance. They must, by Florida statute, undergo the same p.m. inspection that the regular buse go through every month. Our spares now are 1993 and 1994 models and they are in good condition. Usually the drivers don't keep them as clean as their regular buses but they are in good mechanical condition and they look good as well.
Joe
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Bus Boy 39
Top Member
USA
1315 Posts |
Posted - 06/15/2001 : 07:26:12 AM
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That's what they did with spare buses #6 and #31. Bus 6 made a clicking noise that was coming from the wheels and they took it off. And 31 I dunno what was wrong with that one, but I do know there was something wrong because it was taken out as a regular bus for more than half the school year. And the others are just taken off because they are old.
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thomasvista2012
Top Member
USA
747 Posts |
Posted - 06/15/2001 : 1:18:34 PM
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Spare buses should at least run good and be physically safe and sound. Our spares are 1989-1993 buses. The funny thing is that earlier this year, M-DCPS made their 1993 lift buses spares and gave those drivers 1990-91 Carpenters, and the Carpenters are in really bad shape compared to the 1993s. Wagonmaster, isn't 1993-94 a little too early to make a bus a spare?? Our districts have a lot of the same buses......do you have Vistas for 93-94?
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wagonmaster
Top Member
USA
2298 Posts |
Posted - 06/15/2001 : 6:47:39 PM
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Like most school districts, we use our oldest buses as our spares. Since we didn't buy any 1992 buses (we didn't want any Thomas/Fords that were the conventional bid that year), our oldest buses are 93's and 94's. We are a high mileage district and many of those buses have closed in on 200,000 miles. We run many more miles per bus than most districts. These are excellent buses in good condition, FYI.
Joe
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thomas86_a
Top Member
USA
4413 Posts |
Posted - 06/16/2001 : 08:42:00 AM
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Our spares for this past school year were a 91 BlueBird/International Conv. 77 pass.
89 BlueBird/International Conv. 77 pass.
87 Thomas/International Conv. 65 pass.- this bus was used for the career prep center, so it really wasn't a spare for regular routes.
And last an 86 Thomas/International 65 Pass. This bus and 87 have a gas engine, and a manual transmission, I was the only one to drive this bus, no one else knows how to. But I love the manuals so I drove it.
In May bus 86 was retired, and at the end of the school year bus 87 was retired. We have a new 01 Thomas on the way, so next year we will have a 93 Blue Bird in addition to the 89 and 91 to use as spares.
"Thomas Built Buses-The best buses on the Road." |
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BlueBird44
Top Member
USA
1639 Posts |
Posted - 06/16/2001 : 09:08:00 AM
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Here the contractor who do feild trips they have sub buses in the 90's. Some of the drivers recently got rid of there 80's they decided to keep them so if the new bus broke down they have a sub. But there sub buses are in really bad condtion.
Duttons- 1990's Carpenters that was the lest he switched over to all BB's and one Internaitonal RE to replace his Carpenter FE
Glascos- 1990's Blue Bird International became sub this took that route All American FE
Stevenson- 1988 Thomas Saf T Liner if needed and a 1990 Thomas International.
Walton- 1990- Blue Bird International
Then all the other people borrow from them or they use some of there friends old beat up 80's Blue Birds.
Tyler-Formly known as Wayne Lifeguard. |
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John Farr
Top Member
USA
642 Posts |
Posted - 06/18/2001 : 4:38:30 PM
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A problem with spare buses is that no drivers have "ownership," and they tend to get thrashed. We solved that problem. At 5:00 AM an instructor inspects all spares, PLUS any assigned buses where the regular driver is absent (keeps regular drivers from laeving a dirty bus for a sub to clean). I get the inspoction results daily and drop them into the site file. This info is later used in the annual performance review.
Works like a champ! Spares are very clean, now.
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Ricky
Advanced Member
USA
352 Posts |
Posted - 06/18/2001 : 6:19:40 PM
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All of our spare buses pass the same safety inspections that the route buses must pass. Usually the spare buses are the oldest buses in the fleet, but there are exceptions. We have 2 1984 model buses and a 1986 model bus that are spare buses while we are still running 1981 - 1983 model buses. The 86 model is in excellent shape, as well as one of the 84 models. Alot of times the spare buses are in as good a condition as the route buses, but aren't taken care of as well by drivers since they are only spare buses now. Many drivers think that there is no need to take care of it (sweep it, drive it right, etc.) since they will only be driving the bus for that 1 morning or 1 afternoon. We have had several spares that were in excellent condition when they became spares, but by the time they were retired completely, they were the worst buses that we had.
Stephen R. Adamson |
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Bus Boy 39
Top Member
USA
1315 Posts |
Posted - 06/19/2001 : 04:53:44 AM
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quote:
All of our spare buses pass the same safety inspections that the route buses must pass. Usually the spare buses are the oldest buses in the fleet, but there are exceptions. We have 2 1984 model buses and a 1986 model bus that are spare buses while we are still running 1981 - 1983 model buses. The 86 model is in excellent shape, as well as one of the 84 models. Alot of times the spare buses are in as good a condition as the route buses, but aren't taken care of as well by drivers since they are only spare buses now. Many drivers think that there is no need to take care of it (sweep it, drive it right, etc.) since they will only be driving the bus for that 1 morning or 1 afternoon. We have had several spares that were in excellent condition when they became spares, but by the time they were retired completely, they were the worst buses that we had.
Stephen R. Adamson
I have on thing to add to the top quote: some of our spares aren't just used for one day. I've seen spares being used for more then three months. And the drivers around here do tend to beat them up.
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Captain Larz
Senior Member
USA
78 Posts |
Posted - 06/19/2001 : 08:25:07 AM
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Since we pride ourselves on our mostly Blue Bird fleet our spares are a bunch of Thomases that we inherited when we bought out another bus company. They are manuals with manual doors, but we keep them in perfect condition. We also have a few blue birds with wheelchair lifts that we use to back up our wheelchair busses. We also have charter school buses that we can use in a pinch. The thing to remember is that spare busses are no good to you if they don't work and work well, so keep them in good condition!
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BusBoy
Top Member
USA
2042 Posts |
Posted - 06/23/2001 : 11:30:31 AM
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Most Schools in my state only keep their spares for 12 years. And the contractors can keep them longer but they have to be inspected twice a year!
"Blue Bird Rules"
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busguy34
Senior Member
USA
100 Posts |
Posted - 06/27/2001 : 4:16:22 PM
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 HERES A VERY GOOD IDEA THAT NOT TOO MANY COMPANIES FOLLOW.
SPARE BUSES SHOULD BE IN EXCELLANT SHAPE,SPOTLESS,AND FUELED ALL THE TIME.I FOUND OUT BY DOING THIS WHEN WE TAKE A BUS IN FOR SERVICE WE DO NOT HEAR WHERES MY BUS???LOT OF CRYING.........AND DRIVERS WILL NOT BE AFRAID TO WRITE THIER BUS UP FOR ANY SMALL PROBLEM BECAUSE THEY KNOW THEY WILL BE GETTING A GOOD BUS OR EVEN BETTER.
MARK R. EGAN |
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Bus Boy 39
Top Member
USA
1315 Posts |
Posted - 06/28/2001 : 11:03:01 AM
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I would say that all spares have to be treated the same as regular route buses. Even know they're spares, they're still buses who tranport children.
You also have to take into consideration that some of the garages can't affored to give up some of there older buses as spares, so they have to make-due with the old ones that they already have.
"Bus 39--For Ever!" |
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Thomas00
Top Member
USA
546 Posts |
Posted - 06/28/2001 : 3:21:10 PM
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Ours spares buses are treat the same as the regularly buses.When the drivers drive the spares they must clean the bus,fuel it up,and most of all treat it as if it was their bus.The Spares go through every months inspection as the regularly buses.Mostly ours spares are now 90's,and 91's.All ours spares buses are in good shape just as the regularly buses.
Good Day yall!
Thomas265
Edited by - Thomas00 on 06/28/2001 3:22:54 PM |
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Carpenter Bus_19
Advanced Member
USA
286 Posts |
Posted - 06/30/2001 : 05:58:36 AM
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Our Fleet has 2 Spares One 1985 International Wayne Its in Brand new condtion... The other spare Last year was a 95 Blue Bird. And a 94 Blue bird (that goes only on sports trips and used as a spare if a bus is getting serviced. At the end of each year the bus with the Most miles (no matter age) sits as a spare to save on the amount of miles This year comming The spare will be a 96 Blue bird and the 85 the 94 will be put on a run we are Lowering the seze of our fleet to 10 buses instead of 11
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BusBoy
Top Member
USA
2042 Posts |
Posted - 06/30/2001 : 1:27:59 PM
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I remember when I had to drive a spare bus! I hated it and the bus was never clean and the last person to use it never filled the gas tank!!
Kevin "Blue Bird Rules"
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Bus Boy 39
Top Member
USA
1315 Posts |
Posted - 07/03/2001 : 05:07:38 AM
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That's how it is at our school with the older spares--they're always so dirty! Drivers should clean up there spares after they're done using them.
"Blue Birds For Ever!" |
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wagonmaster
Top Member
USA
2298 Posts |
Posted - 07/03/2001 : 05:31:29 AM
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When somebody finds the secret to getting drivers properly clean spare buses, please let me know! In our fleet we have about 100 spares, and theres not really a way to check them all every day, that I know of. They get paid to do it but somehow it seldom gets done.
Joe
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Thomas00
Top Member
USA
546 Posts |
Posted - 07/03/2001 : 11:54:22 AM
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Hey wagonmater,
Your fleet almost seem the same size as our fleet.
How many buses do you have in all?
We have 1113 buses all together.947 buses are on a regularly routes.166 buses are spare buses.I don't know about the other fleets in others states but in the Metro area of Georgia if have that many buses that a normal size fleet.I know I talked to other drivers from other states and they would say that alot of buses.We have don't contractor that run ours buses.They are all own by the school district and not by the state.We get new buses every years.The district really take care of ours buses,driver,and the rest of the people that work for the transportation.To tell you the truth I knew noting about contractor runing schools district transportation,driver owning their own buses, and contractor combine with schools district fleet.I only saw Laidlaw one time in Georgia and don't know they did school service.The SBF really open my eyes to the school bus world.I am just glad that I can say the I am bless to be part of my school district transportation fleet.
Thank you my friends.
Good Day yall!
Thomas265 |
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wagonmaster
Top Member
USA
2298 Posts |
Posted - 07/03/2001 : 4:11:29 PM
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We have about 800 buses. 600 route buses, 100 spares and a little over 100 school based activity buses.
Joe
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thomasvista2012
Top Member
USA
747 Posts |
Posted - 07/03/2001 : 5:38:34 PM
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Thomas00,
I vacationed for a week in Georgia last week in Dalton, and I seen quite a few Laidlaw buses. I don't know what district they're from though. My district is the same as yours bascially.....all district owned and operated.
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Thomas00
Top Member
USA
546 Posts |
Posted - 07/03/2001 : 6:50:16 PM
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Man thomasvista2012,
Isn't Dalton a great place to spent the summer.Hope you enjoy yourself!
O.k. maybe that why I never seen the Laidlaw buses because I live outside the City of Atlanta/Dunwoody.Dalton is quite far from where I live.
Good Day yall!
Thomas265
Edited by - Thomas00 on 07/08/2001 5:16:27 PM |
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BusBoy
Top Member
USA
2042 Posts |
Posted - 07/08/2001 : 2:59:10 PM
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Hey Joe, (WagonMaster)
Do you have one or two garages with a fleet that big?
Kevin "Blue Bird Rules"
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BusBoy
Top Member
USA
2042 Posts |
Posted - 07/09/2001 : 4:50:41 PM
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^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
How did that get here?
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Stevebus42
Advanced Member
USA
363 Posts |
Posted - 07/22/2001 : 09:14:30 AM
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We generally maintain about 10 spares they age generaly the 10 oldest formerly route buses. We have more this year than in previous years because we have redone some routes thus elemenating several older route buses. These buses are all in good working condition they are all capable of making a long in state trip. That is not to say we would ever let one go on a long trip except for coaches. They get the older sub buses. The general rule is that we don't even send our non deisel fleet to Oklahoma City which is only 30 miles away.
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largebus
Advanced Member
USA
468 Posts |
Posted - 10/05/2001 : 08:19:38 AM
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Our district's spares are safe, but much less comfertable than new buses, many of them are what my driver calls "ancient". They have none of the nice features and they can't go as fast. For some strange reason sub drivers usually take spare buses and not the regular bus-even if the regular bus is working. I have no clue why that is. I guess the administration feels subs don't deserve the good buses. Soemtimes another regular bus will be pulled in as a spare (?) and a spare bus to cover for said regular bus. I just don't get it.
When school buses are taken on trips the newewer ones with more seats are taken, leaving the regular drivers with the old buses.
Edited by - LARGEBUS on 12/01/2001 08:02:34 AM |
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largebus
Advanced Member
USA
468 Posts |
Posted - 12/01/2001 : 08:01:19 AM
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As long as spares run and are safe that's the point. They should still look decent, be halfway comfortable and extra features would be nice-of course that you can live without, but still...All buses deserve a level of some comfort. Spares should always be kept ready to roll...if the spare breaks there's a problem!
"If it's long, wide and high with wheels it's a bus. If it's yellow with black stripes it's a school bus" |
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Steven A.Rosenow
Top Member
USA
1926 Posts |
Posted - 12/01/2001 : 10:02:28 AM
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I've said it before, and I'll say it again.
Age generally has nothing to do with a bus's safety level.
Here' we keep some spares that are still 30 years old, with some exceptions of some buses that are 40-50 years old as spares.
As long as they run good, and parts are readily available for them, there's no reason to take them off the road.
Equipment wise, I prefer manual transmissions in my buses, with the essentials only. I'm not a fan of modern gadgetry in school buses. I like mine to be simple and easy to use.
"Preserving America's best - THE GILLIG! - THE BEST NEVER REST" http://www.geocities.com/gilligcoaches/ |
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wagonmaster
Top Member
USA
2298 Posts |
Posted - 12/02/2001 : 06:00:03 AM
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Kevin,
We have five garages with a sixth under construction now to open in '03. Our county is bigger than the state of Rhode Island! The buses need to be reasonably close to where they run with fuel costs being what they are these days. In addition, service requirements dictate a certain amount of shop time per bus per month, so it's not practical to take each one some place else to service or repair them. They ALL park at one of our compounds at night, so they need to be accessable for the drivers to get there every day.
Joe
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thomasvista2012
Top Member
USA
747 Posts |
Posted - 12/02/2001 : 08:26:09 AM
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Wagonmaster,
Just out of curiosity, what part of Palm Beach is your new compound opening?
If it's big and yellow, then it's a school bus!
http://www.geocities.com/jasonsbuspage |
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wagonmaster
Top Member
USA
2298 Posts |
Posted - 12/02/2001 : 6:05:16 PM
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2012,
Central part near the airport. It will be an ESE compound, very near an existing one.
Joe
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Topic |
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Condition of Spare Buses
