beyond the warranty period. Te company is the only one to receive Tomas' Dealer of the Year Award five times. “We offer a full line of service
repairs after the warranty period for customers that either do not have adequate staffing, technical training or the proper tooling to complete certain jobs,” said Brady Childress, vice president of parts and service at Sonny Merryman.
OTHER COMMON JOBS Childress said other common ser- vices include engine and powertrain repairs, as well as simpler jobs like electrical adjustments and cosmetic touch-ups. According to Eckert, collision repair and full body paint jobs are also relatively common, as it is crucial that the paint on the bus remains the proper shade of yellow. “Te California Highway Patrol
is very particular about the color of your bus,” he said. “If your yellow fades too much and falls below their standard, they will red tag the bus and mandate that you get it painted to bring it back up to the proper color.” Te frequency of certain jobs can also depend on the time of year. For
example, repairs and maintenance on climate control systems can peak right before winter or summer. “In the winter we may see more
replacement on heater motors that have not been in use for many months and we certainly see a peak in air conditioning maintenance as we approach summer,” said Childress. Eckert noted that the need for these types of service can sometimes be due to the lack of use of climate control systems for most of the year. “Usually, you’re not running your A/C at all during the winter time, so there’s always a possibility that parts will get dry just from not being in use, and then you’ll get leaks by the time that summer gets here,” he said. Tere are also certain jobs that
are typically done at certain points during the year. “Tere are certain times of the year when particular service work needs to be performed. For example, we find that in the spring customers are coming in for new batteries,” said Rob Stiteler, director of fixed oper- ations at Leonard Bus Sales, an IC Bus and Trans Tech Bus dealer based in New York. Not surprisingly, some of the bus-
Maintenance Tips
“Preventive tips for winter include checking the engine coolant system is properly maintained to ensure freeze points, corrosion inhibitors, and water to Glycol ratios are correct. Fuel systems are also very important. Trace amounts of water or contaminants may cause some is- sues in the summer months; however, they can become very problematic during the winter. To alleviate these issues, customers should consid- er requiring fuel quality standards and periodic testing from fuel vendors during the initial fuel bid process. Customers can also implement their own on-site fuel inspections. And lastly, when temperatures drop, so will the air pres- sure in tires. Properly maintained tire pressure ensures safety and will save money through improved fuel economy and prolonged tire life.”
Brady Childress, Sonny Merryman, Inc.
“It’s important for the customers to make sure that they’re maintaining their diesel particulate equipment and having their filters cleaned on a regular basis. The manufacturers state that you should do it at least once a year. The older the bus gets and the higher the miles get, the customer may want to reconsider changing it to maybe twice a year. It will lessen the break- downs and the bus will run better. It won’t burn as much fuel, you won’t lose horsepower.”
Rick Eckert, A-Z Bus Sales
A-Z Bus Sales service center
“Some of the things we have our school trans- portation partners plan for ahead of New York’s harsh winters is to make sure they keep their engine fluids full and to check all their belts and hoses. Also, it may seem obvious, but it is very important to check tire pressures at least once a week, especially in the winter.”
Rob Stiteler, Leonard Bus Sales
Preventative
48 School Transportation News • FEBRUARY 2016
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