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School Transportation News Magazine is published by STN Media Group


5334 Torrance Blvd., 3rd Floor, Torrance, CA 90503


Tel: 310/792-2226 Fax: 310-792-2231 stnonline.com


Publisher Tony Corpin


Editor Ryan Gray


Creative Consultant Vincent Rios


Senior Designer Kimber Horne


EXTENDING BUS LIFE Tis month, we take a look at refurbishing or reconditioning projects that


can breathe additional life into older model school buses, especially when operators don’t have the budget room to buy new. And as we learn, starting on page 56, these projects can entail much more than a new coat of paint. Tese buses can be completely overhauled from top to bottom, inside and out, powertrain to body. We turned to our LinkedIn followers in April to find out their thoughts


on this topic. Back in ’84, when I first started driving school bus, the district in Texas


I was working for had two buses that had been renovated by prisoners at Huntsville Prison Unit B-2. Apparently they stripped everything down to bare material, patched, painted, re-upholstered, and rebuilt the engine and transmission. Te buses were 1969 International Harvester Waynes with 5-speed transmissions, gas engines and ‘Armstrong’ steering. Loved that bus! Bruce Cram, School Bus Driver Gainesville (Texas) City Schools


Not seeing any realistic reason to refurbish an antiquated bus unless


it’s going to be used for something other than student transportation. I see a number of reasons not to, and unless the vehicle spent its career in a low-humidity environment, the body will be spent. I’ve seen 8-year-old buses that make the Titanic look good. Besides the fact that it will not meet anything resembling modern emissions or safety standards. You would be better off taking the money wasted on 20-year-old junk and invest it in new equipment.


Rich Skibitski, Fleet Manager Wayne (Ind.) Board of Education


I have specialized in school bus body repair (collision and refurbishment)


for over 30 years. Having done it so long there are things that can be done that will get districts another five to seven years out of a bus. Te major thing I see here in Michigan is the structure and panels rotting out from all the salt on the roads. A lot of our customers (60 districts) are putting money to keep their older buses running as a cost savings and because of all the problems they are having with the newer buses in their fleets. Greg Taber, Body Shop Manager/Sales Speed Wrench in Hudsonville, Mich.


Te problem I find is the new buses are not reliable. EPA restrictions


have ruined the reliability of brand-new buses. Tese new buses are far more expensive to maintain. I have had more issues with starting my 2014 buses in the cold than my 2002 buses. Tat being said, buying some early 2000 buses from the Southern states is looking better each day. Pat Boyd, Head Mechanic


Manchester (Ohio) Local Schools 8 School Transportation News June 2014


The views and opinions in School Transportation News are those of the editorial staff. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the members of the Editorial Advisory Board or their organizations. Individuals serving on the board are advisors only and are not responsible for the editorial content.


Graphic Design Maria Molina


Senior Editor Michelle Fisher


Technical Editor Robert T. Pudlewski


CONTRIBUTING EDITORS Linda Bluth, Peggy Burns, John Whelan, Ned Einstein, Art Gissendaner, Julie Metea, Eric Woolson, Barb Fasing


Vice President Colette Paul


Ad Sales Tony Corpin


Circulation Andrea Hernandez


Events Manager Sylvia Arroyo


Marketing Assistant Keelyn Young


Chairman of the Board Bill Paul, STN Media Group


EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD:


Denny Coughlin, Consultant; Judith Dupille, Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles; Dick Fischer, Trans-Consult; Ron Love, Delaware DOE; Randy McLerran, National Bus Sales; Pete Meslin, Newport-Mesa Unified; Nancy Netherland, Migrant- Seasonal Head Start; Marshall Casey, Consultant; Alexandra Robinson, NAPT; Launi Schmutz, Washington County


Schools


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