when he begins tracking National Weather Service updates, and tuning in to various local channels and apps. Parents are kept informed of weather-related route changes by an automated email and text system. A unique weather threat is the area’s propensity for


flooding, when heavy rain causes river systems in Kansas and the upper Midwest to crest and cause flash floods. As a result, Empting even watches out for flood conditions that are hundreds of miles away for their po- tential, eventual effect on local roads and routes. While many Oklahomans instinctively keep a close


eye on the weather, Empting reminds his drivers that forecasts are seldom precise. That means the district has to be prepared for sudden changes that can turn life-threatening within minutes. “Forecasts change. They’re valuable, but you have to take them with a grain of salt, too,” he cautioned. Empting said a recent super


cell was predicted to spawn dozens of tornadoes over the area. But these failed to materi- alize, because temperatures on one side of the front fell more dramatically than expected. Ultimately, Empting said he


urges fleet managers to trust their drivers’ judgment when they demonstrate caution in po- tentially dangerous situations. “We have a couple of routes


buses each year began to include four gasoline-powered models. “With these gas buses, you can start them at zero (degrees) and they’re warm in five or six minutes,” Johnson said. “The drivers love it because it’s a quieter engine, too.” Gas buses also require less oil, and fewer fuel additives


and oil changes. “We’re seeing they have an advantage over the diesel


on the routine maintenance end. The only downside is they get a little worse fuel mileage, but their starting cost is significantly lower—so you’re already $8,000 to $10,000 ahead,” Johnson said. From Johnson’s point of view, “The gas buses have


With these gas buses, you can start them at zero [degrees] and they’re warm in five or six minutes.”


where if there’s significant rain, we can have running water over the roads. I tell my drivers, ‘If you pull up to the water and you think you shouldn’t go any farther, don’t,” he reported. “Your brain is telling you that for a reason. You may not be able to articulate why, but your brain is telling you it’s not safe.’” Instead, Empting instructs his drivers to return to the schools, and transportation then calls the parents to come pick them up. “I never second guess,” he added.


answered all of our questions. Because of their popular- ity with drivers and mechanics, I do see a day when we could go to an all-gas fleet.” Johnson said he also recommends preventive tank maintenance. That means the district hires a company to clean its 12,000-gallon diesel storage tank every three or four years. During that procedure, the company cleans all of the contami- nants and microbial growth out of the tank. “We have a lot of moisture


— Jason Johnson, Service Equipment Manager, Horseheads Central School District in New York


in New York state,” Johnson explained, “whether it’s 90 degrees and high humidity, or zero with snow on the ground. That’s something we have to stay on top of.” The district also balances the twin priorities of safety


and minding the budget. To ensure that buses that navi- gate hilly routes have sufficient winter traction, tires with higher miles are rotated with newer ones for the winter. After the last snowflake falls, the older ones are returned to service. Meanwhile, Kalispell (Montana) Public Schools Trans-


Vehicles Communicate, Too Jason Johnson, service equipment manager at the


Horseheads Central School District, and president of the New York Head Mechanics Association (NYHMA), said he has found that being prepared for harsh winters means listening to the language of vehicles and fuel systems. “We have two seasons: Winter and construction,” he joked. A self-described “diesel guy from beginning to end,” he


conceded that his fleet was struggling to get started and warmed up on many cold days. “If they can’t get up and go when it’s five degrees out, it really defeats the whole purpose,” Johnson noted. In 2017, his department’s schedule to replace eight


portation Supervisor Annie Doolan noted that her state has similar seasons as New York. “The school year is basically winter,” she stressed. For that reason, winter preparation is a year-round


focus for the district’s transportation staff. Mechanical work that is performed in the summer is focused on readying vehicles for the winter cold and snow. The annual 15 hours of state-mandated driver in-service sessions always cover winter conditions. Doolan said a willingness to experiment with parts and


equipment can reap benefits. For instance, the district recently tested several types of windshield wipers. “We tried heated wipers, but they really didn’t work for our weather. They still iced up,” she cautioned. “We tried a


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