COVER STORY MARKET Te only school bus segment turning in production numbers on par with pre-recession volume


is Type A. It signals continued interest in the small school bus by pupil transporters nationwide for various reasons, the most obvious being the lower cost of the vehicles as school districts continue to struggle with shrinking budgetary dollars. As more and more school districts and contractors are seemingly eyeing Type A purchases, the


small bus manufacturers are responding with new options, especially on the alternative-fuel side. Te industry also saw a historic turn of events in the fall when IC Bus entered the Type A space for the first time by introducing the first fully-integrated small bus chassis and body. Meanwhile, pupil transporters find a landscape devoid of a Ford diesel chassis for its E-Series, which


is scheduled to be phased-out by 2013 in favor of the Ford Transit Connect Commercial Van. A rede- sign of the 6.7L V8 Super Duty engine does not fit inside the E-Series. Along with IC Bus, GM remains the only other Type A bus chassis provider in the diesel market, and according to a company spokes- man, GM spent a lot of money to remain a player. “I understand where our competitors kind of struggled. We struggled with that same decision,” said


Joe Langhauser, GM’s van product manager. “But given the fact that our Duramax 6.6L that we share with the pickup truck stayed similar in size, we had no problem with 2010.” Both Ford and GM, of course, also continue to supply gasoline options, and both continue partner-


ships with school bus OEMs and third-party engine modifiers on liquid propane systems. GM also announced late last year that it would be bringing to market its own factory-supplied, liquefied pro- pane chassis sometime this year, certified and warranted by the automaker. Langhauser added that the industry will see an increase in production-oriented calibration work appropriate to engine manufac- turer standards available through dealer networks. Te goal is ease of vehicle service and longer vehicle life. Another new item coming from GM will be making B20 biodiesel standard for its entire line of truck, van and cutaway models. So Type A customers will have their hands full of options in 2011 and beyond. Following is a break- down of what to expect from each of the six Type A school bus manufacturers in 2011. ■


32 School Transportation News Magazine January 2011


Nothing SMALL About Today’s Type A


Options abound, now and on the horizon, for small school bus purchasers


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