SPECIAL REPORT
from my [many years in the industry] that he might call for a particular part or a connection to that particular part,” he said. “That’s time, effort and, ultimately, money. It’s also led to, and we’re not the only ones doing it like the military does, cannibalizing existing equipment.” Jim Hessel, transportation director
for the Cameron School District in Wisconsin, said parts delays have been exacerbated by rising prices. “Lately, it hasn’t been too bad, but last fall, I had a bus that needed a tie rod assembly and I think it was over three months before it arrived,” he said. Some parts delays have been caused
by problems at the production level, he added, while others have resulted from the shortage of over-the-road truckers. When a distributor told Hessel to expect a six-month wait for a new DEF pump, he found one at an after-market
parts supplier. “I paid about four times more than I normally would have or should have, but I couldn’t have a per- fectly good bus sitting for six months because it needed one part.” The Cameron district doesn’t have an
on-staff mechanic, so servicing is done at a local large truck dealer. Another type of shortage—a lack of specialized mechanics—creates other delays for Hessel’s fleet. “They’re short-staffed so a bus will
sit for a couple weeks before they can get to it sometimes. That’s been within the last year to year and a half,” Hessel said. “Buses have gotten more complex. They have a number of mechanics who can do a number of things but only a few can work on those systems.” While the parts backlog has improved since last fall, there’s one thing that Hessel doesn’t expect to ease. “Things are
Last fall, I had a bus that needed a tie rod assembly and I think it was over three months before it
arrived.” Jim Hessell, Cameron School District in Wisconsin
18 School Transportation News • JULY 2022
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64
