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DATA, STATISTICS AND TRENDS


Kinks in Supply Chain Dampen Pandemic Manufacturing Recovery


WRITTEN BY RYAN GRAY | RYAN@STNONLINE.COM


the least amount of school buses produced since the height of Great Recession effects hitting the industry a decade ago. But the reasons for only about 31,500 school buses that OEMs reported to School Transportation News for the North American production cycle of Nov. 1, 2020 through Oct. 31, 2021—and a more than 14-percent decrease from the year prior—go much farther. In some places, the pandemic resulted in increased demand for new school buses, thanks to federal emergency relief funds, even if there were no school bus drivers to operate them. In fact, over half of the attendees at the STN EXPO Transportation Director Summit in both Indianapolis and Reno, Nevada, last fall indicated that Type C and Type D buses led their purchasing wish lists for 2022. “We are seeing strong demand for school buses, but we question the industry’s ability to delivery because


I


t was only about five years ago that school bus manufacturing exceeded 46,000 units. But it feels like another lifetime. It would be easy to blame COVID-19 for


of all the supply chain concerns,” noted Steve Tam, vice president at truck and bus analyst firm ACT Research in Columbus, Indiana. “Unless I miss my guess, part of the demand is buyers queueing up for EV units, particularly where there is purchase price assistance being offered.” Indeed, electric school bus orders jumped to nearly 700 units, up from just short of 400, and the number figures to only increase amid $2.5 billion in dedicated federal infrastructure funding passed by Congress and signed into law by President Joe Biden. Diesel still leads the industry in terms of specified fuel at an estimated 85 percent of the national fleet, but the gaps between gasoline, propane and electric are narrowing. However, supply chain disruptions are throwing a


wrench into purchasing plans, whether those are for electric models or ones powered by a more traditional internal combustion engine, as mostly finished school buses are driving off the assembly line but without key components. When these buses are missing, for example, a roof hatch or stop arm because of a shortage of plastic parts, they can’t be certified for delivery to


School Transportation News Annual School Bus Manufacturing Data


School Year 2020-2021


2018-2019 2019-2020


2017-2018 2016-2017


2015-2016 2014-2015


2013-2014 2012-2013


2011-2012 MFSAB 1,448 1,870


2,231 1,761


2,000 (est.) 1,061 (est.) 1,585 (est.)


2,500 (est.) 1,500 (est.)


3,000 (est.) Type A-1 2,827 3,361


1,948 2,589


2,338 2,978 2,084


2,303 3,924


5,406 Type A-2 2,932 4,404


6,671 6,641


7,356 6,424 6,132


6,017 3,921


1,912 Total Type A 5,759 7,765


8,719 9,230


9,694 9,402 8,216


8,320 7,845


7,378 Type C 23,101


31,554 31,834 25,965


32,291 29,757 28,640 27,071 25,230 21,563 Type D 2,616 2,948


4,508 3,790


4,145 4,143


4,344


3,662 4,098


3,953 Totals* 31,476 36,678


44,634 44,781


46,130 43,302 41,200 39,053 32,594 33,034


*Total count does not include MFSAB, AAV or “white” buses that are typically used for commercial applications. Source: School Transportation News


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