“The biggest downtime is when we must transport the bus to the main shop,” he said. “Whether the driver must do it or the tech, we are taking time away from their primary jobs. The other would be when the bus must sit until the following morning if no one is available to transport right away or at additional cost when it must be towed to shop for repairs. It is still less expensive to open another shop and hire repair staff.” But the challenges in distributing the right person,


at the right time, to the right person also rely on strong supplier relationships and communication with vendors and other suppliers. “Communication and teamwork are key,” said Hill. “Our maintenance and parts teams work closely togeth- er to move parts between locations as needed, whether that’s across town or across the district. When a part isn’t available locally, strong vendor relationships become extremely important. Supply chain disruptions over the last few years have taught all of us the value of plan- ning ahead, maintaining critical inventory and having contingency plans in place. Sometimes it’s as simple as expediting a shipment. Other times it requires cre-


28 School Transportation News • AUGUST 2026


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