willing to learn how to use data, with access to education for technicians an important factor for leaders to consider.
Finding the Right Balance Regardless of the size of the fleet or the types of vehicles, substantive plan- ning can aid in achieving the right balance in this area. For his part, Patrick advised being assertive in developing a replacement
schedule and investing in new buses. “While extending the life of existing vehicles may appear cost effective
initially, you have to consider the long-term expenses—major component replacements, higher maintenance hours, fuel inefficien- cy and unpredictable failures,” he said. “These can quickly exceed the investment in new buses.” He noted that evaluating cost
over the full lifecycle often shows that newer school buses provide better return on investment and greater stability in budgeting. The enhancement of features over time is another factor to be considered. “Modern buses come equipped
with updated safety systems, improved braking and electrical systems, and enhanced driver-as- sistance technologies,” Patrick said. “These improvements not only support student safety but also re- duce risk exposure for districts.” “Stop playing catch-up,” Terry
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(925) 938-6565 32 School Transportation News • APRIL 2026
advised. “If you’re making decisions based on which bus broke down this morning, you’ve already lost the battle.” He said it’s important to look at TCO and build a replacement cycle that can be defended with data. “A younger fleet isn’t a luxury, it’s
a stabilizer,” he noted. “It keeps your drivers happy because they aren’t stuck on the side of the road, and it keeps your community’s trust because you’re running the safest equipment possible. This means planning for five years out, not five days out.” Anderson suggested buying school buses from a single man- ufacturer to cut down on needing to buy parts from multiple vendors as well as sticking with one drive train to keep from purchasing multiple diagnostic software and tools. This can also apply to other parts, even something as simple as one type of tire. His approach is one anyone can embrace. “Our number one goal is safety of
our drivers and students,” Anderson concluded. “But a close second is being a good steward of the funds that we are entrusted with.” ●
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