“
Twenty years ago, all it took to work on buses was a box full of analog hand tools and some elbow grease. — Don Harder, Tahoe Truckee (Calif.) Unified School District
And although picking up the machine might be com-
pared to first learning to ride a bike, once you have your balance, it helps you get to your final destination — or diagnosis — quicker. When an issue arises, Harder im- mediately pulls out his laptop and hooks it up to the engine. A few minutes with a laptop can sometimes point him to a failed part or sensor that can easily be replaced. Transmissions, anti-lock brake systems, brake retarders, and even some particulate traps can be elec- tronically controlled via USB computer access. “Make no mistake, basic mechanical skills are
still the foundation of any school district bus ga- rage,” said Harder, suggesting that it is best to have individuals in your shop with different skill sets or employees that are willing to learn and adapt to newer technology.
Cut the Cord... Go Wireless
But the garage is hardly a place for equipment that
could get easily damaged, like the A-typical com- puter. Many of the mechanics we spoke to employ a number of strategies to protect this “higher-end” tool, including purchasing heavier-duty computers, sometimes known as Toughbooks. Tese laptops are tested for drops up to six feet, have shock-mounted hard drives and are surrounded by a protective cas- ing. Others use protective covers for the keyboards and keep them in the transportation office when not in use to keep accidents from occurring.
Training: In Class, Online and Beyond With all the new tech out there, many mechan- ics, both young and old, have had to break out their
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FM39947 50 School Transportation News Magazine March 2010
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