March 2019 - trackschoolbus

School Bus Driver Salary 2020

Posted on March 27, 2019 by TSB Super Admin

500,000 school buses ply the road daily in the US alone. This calls for a requirement of an equal number of drivers well experienced in transporting students safely. The school bus drivers require responsibility and a high level of commitment. The driver should love to drive and must be aware of traffic laws.

Job Description of a School Bus Driver

School bus drivers are engaged mainly to pick up students from the bus stops, bring them to school and at the end of the day drop them back home. He also transports them on extra-curricular activities, field trips and class picnics.

The driver starts off his day from the school-yard ensuring that the bus is safe to drive and has enough fuel for the day’s trips. He must make sure the bus is properly maintained, should perform mechanical checkups on a weekly basis and properly keep a driving log.

He drives on pre-assigned routes, always keeping to schedules. He makes certain that the student is picked and dropped off at bus stops at the appointed times despite traffic jams, bad weather, and accidents on his route.

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Safety is the prime aspect of a school bus driver. He has to be on constant look-out for erring vehicles on the road to avoid accidents. Drivers must know traffic rules and follow them diligently.

The next important quality in a driver is his level of maturity and calmness. He has to manage student discipline in the bus, fights and bullying among students. In addition to this, he has to handle irate parents and school authorities.

Qualities of a School Bus Driver:

Customer service skills- School bus drivers often interact with parents, students and school authorities, so they must be courteous and helpful to their needs.
Hand-eye coordination- A driver needs to be alert all the time while driving. He/she requires to have normal use of one’s arms and legs and should have good hand-eye coordination as well.
Hearing ability- it is required that a driver needs to have good hearing ability. He should be able to hear a forced whisper with or without using a hearing aid.
Patience- A driver may overcome stressful situations like heavy traffic congestions, unruly passengers, etc, so a driver should be able to overcome these situations calmly and must maintain enough patience.
Physical health- A bus driver should have sound physical health. Federal and state regulations do not allow people facing health issues like high/ low blood pressure, epilepsy, etc to operate a bus. Because these health issues can interfere with driving.
Good vision- Bus drivers should pass vision tests. People with poor vision or color blindness must keep away from becoming a driver. Federal regulations require at least 20/40 vision in each eye. He should be able to distinguish traffic colors also.

Pay of school drivers

The average annual salary of school bus driver, as per the Bureau of Statistics, is $29,250 which works out to $14.05 an hour. The lowest-paid school bus driver gets under $18,800 a year or $9 an hour. The highest-paid drivers receive above $47,800 annually which approximates to around $23 an hour.

Also Read: 15 Best School Bus Driving Games 2020 [Updated]

Most of the bus drivers are part-time employees. This is possible as school timings are fixed. They usually work in other places during their down-time.

The regular employees help in doing basic vehicle maintenance and do administrative jobs when not on school duty. This way the drivers make extra money as well as keep themselves gainfully occupied.

The schools normally pay the drivers for the hours and days worked. Doing extra runs during vacations for summer school activities, field trips, school picnics add to their earnings.

The actual wages offered to school bus drivers depend on the previous driving experience of the driver, prior driving history, the employer, location of work and the hours worked.

School Bus driver Salary Based on Location

SL no	Location	School Bus driver Salary
1	Seattle, USA	$39,465/ Year
2	Washington, USA	$38,797/ Year
3	Baltimore, USA	$34,024/ Year
4	Akron, USA	$32,344/ Year
5	New York City, USA	$40,851/ Year
6	Minneapolis, USA	$39,943/ Year
7	Toronto, ON Area	CA$ 18/hr
8	Canada	CA $ 1,133/month
9	Australia	A$ 2,502/month
10	Alabama	$35,223/ Year
11	San Francisco	$43,841/ Year
12	India	Rs 16,255/ month
13	United Kingdom	£ 10.35 per hour
14	Switzerland	CHF 68,699/ Year
15	Germany	€ 27,300 / Year
16	London	€ 28,853 / Year

NB: “The above information is collected from various websites like Glassdoor, Indeed, Payscale, neuvoo, etc“

Factors considered while deciding the wages of school drivers

Driving experience

The pay mainly depends on the driver’s prior experience in driving. The driver should obtain his Commercial Driving License as per state requirements and pass all federal alcohol/ drug tests and physical examinations.

School bus drivers undergo rigorous classroom and road training. Drivers on completion of a licensing exam obtain an endorsement to drive a school bus. Some states require drivers to take refresher courses to retain their licenses.

Drivers have to take road and knowledge tests at specific intervals, the number of years being specified by each state. Some employers pay for and train the drivers to attain the necessary standards.

As the drivers gain experience their earnings also increase. An entry-level school bus driver salary is $30,000 on average annually. A driver with an experience of 5 to 10 years can earn $31,000 annually in wages.

The earnings go up to $34000 annually for drivers with experience of 10-20 years. Drivers with driving experiences above 20 years earn approximately $35000 annually.

Also Read: 27 Best GPS Tracking Apps for Android and iOS

Prior driving history

This means a track record of accident- free driving, clean criminal record and incident- free behavior of drivers.

School buses are the safest mode of transportation for students to and from school. Hence school bus drivers have to exercise extreme caution while driving.

School bus drivers, in addition to driving safely, are responsible for maintaining discipline inside the bus. They have to report misbehaving students to school authorities. They settle skirmishes and fights among students on the bus.

They have to answer parents and school authorities. Dealing with students and parents require tact and diplomacy. Drivers with a high level of maturity handle this with ease.

An excellent school bus driver is one with superb driving skills and an enormous amount of patience. They should be friendly and enjoy driving.

How many trips they make

Schools pay drivers on the basis of the number of trips they make in a day. Some schools hire them on a monthly salary. In addition to the daily trips, they are required to transport children on school field trips, museums visits and other extracurricular activities.

Some schools stagger their school timings so that the drivers get to drive multiple routes in a day. On average, drivers spend 20 hours per week behind the wheel.

Most of the drivers work during the school months and are off during summer months when the schools are closed.

Some of them work year-round with limited time off. There are drivers who consider school bus driving as a part-time job due to the fixed hours of working.

Some districts in the US have year-round schools. So they have full-time drivers. Special needs students attend extended year programs at school during summer.

Whom they work for

The school bus driver’s pay depends on whom they work for. Wages differ slightly from employer to employer. School districts for elementary and secondary schools pay their bus drivers an average of $15 an hour.

Those who work for transportation services earn slightly higher at $ 16.5 an hour. Those working for charter bus services earn around $16 an hour.

Since there is no prescribed standard wage, the employer can use his discretion to fix wages. Private school operators and charter bus services pay higher.

Location of work

The salaries of the drivers depend on the geographic location where they operate on. Average annual wages in the range of $39,000 to $43,500 are paid in cities like Washington, DC, New York etc.

Southern states of US, like Alabama, offer lesser annual wages ranging from $18500 to $21,000. Major metropolitan cities, like San Francisco, tend to pay higher annual packages of $52,500 approximately.

Children need to go to school and transporting them safely is a huge responsibility. Hence well-experienced school bus drivers are always in demand. Job security is the advantage of being a school bus driver. Inspite of this school bus drivers are not without complaints.

This is proved by the high attrition rate. They earn lesser than their counterparts with commercial driving licenses in other industries. There is a limit to the hours one can work.

The extra runs made by them are paid at lower rates than the normal. Drivers cannot afford the high premiums for health-care. The training for school bus driving is expensive with the aspirant paying all of it on his own.

Lack of support from the management of school and bus companies is a major reason for drivers leaving the school bus fleet.

Honest, dedicated, friendly and safety abiding drivers are always needed and in great demand. In addition to being professionally experienced, the school bus driver has to be humane to perform his duty cheerfully and responsibly.

Pros And Cons of Outsourcing School Transportation

Posted on March 25, 2019 by TSB Super Admin

By outsourcing school transportation via contract terms and conditions, school districts can free themselves to focus on their core function – education. Outsourcing transportation is now the most cost-effective option for the school district as well as its taxpayers.

Running your own buses has its own risk for any educational institution or organization. To avoid such risks and consequences, many schools are now considering outsourcing their student transportation services.

The major concern is that schools are worried about aging bus fleets, rising fuel prices, administration, routing headaches, bus stop approval, complaints from parents and more.

Shortage of skilled drivers is also a reason for school districts to rely on such professional services.

According to the recent news sudden shortage of drivers has forced the School Transportation Authorities to cancel transportation of various bus routes. Such unexpected shortage is also making school districts to consider outsourcing its transportation needs to private vendors with low bids.

The key is choosing a customized transportation service that fits each individual school’s needs. Keeping an eye on the pros and cons of outsourcing is important to make the right decision whether to outsource or not.

Pros Of Outsourcing School Transportation

Bus services are often outsourced, as private companies are able to meet the needs of these schools and save money on

Operating bus fleets
Replacing old buses
Repair costs
Fuel charges

As transportation providers are responsible for everything related to transportation, school districts don’t have to worry about

driver training and safety
specialized transportation like that of handicapped transportation
service issues that parents and community members come up with
routing concerns
administrative headaches related to transportation

Many such vendors also provide facilities to transport the students to and from sporting events and field trips. They often use newer vehicles for transporting children to schools, which improves safety as well.

With such benefits, districts would no longer have to worry about repair costs or fuel. They can focus completely on the educational matters.

Other responsibilities of such outsourcing companies also include adhering to changing equipment standards and environmental policies, which requires buying and maintaining buses, hiring expert staff, staying compliant with state and federal transportation rules, road policies, traffic rules and more.

Such contractors will also have years of experience in planning school bus routes and scheduling accordingly, resulting in well-organized service that too at a low cost.

In most contracts, they can also benefit from economies of scale, corresponding services, shared facilities as well as skilled personnel which help to improve both efficiency and the bottom line.

Cons Of Outsourcing School Transportation

Let us consider the disadvantages of outsourcing your school’s transportation. It may happen that the personnel employed by such outsourcing companies need not be a professional.

There is also possibility that with inadequate training, such people can even be dysfunctional in a school culture. To avoid any such staff issues, make sure that the partner company hires only qualified staff, if not it can lead to serious consequences for the school district.

Companies may bring in new drivers who may not be experienced in driving a school bus or even communicating with students. Other potential problems that may arise while outsourcing to a private vendor include

Hidden costs

Impact on administrative time

Restricted flexibility

Billing more than the base amount in the contract

Lack of quality operation

Flaws in hiring, training and supervision

Poorly run systems can also lead to delay of transportation, leading to further problems. School districts can avoid such issues by clearly explaining the required services in their contract.

Common outsourcing models include districts requiring full service, retaining ownership of buses, continuing driver employment, retaining a part of the system, only management, or a coordinated service.

In cases if the district’s concern is that they can keep hold of both the fleet and its drivers but need to get rid of the difficulty in operating the system, a management contract would be ideal. In such a contract make sure to clearly explain your concern to avoid any further issues.

Another approach is that district can consider contracts only for certain services, just like only to maintain fleets. They can even consider outsourcing only for certain routes, where there is a shortage for drivers.

The concern here is that schools will not be able to enjoy all the benefits from outsourcing. Small or rural districts can consider outsourcing by co-operating with other districts of similar size and transportation requirements.

These districts can jointly find a contractor with better routing expertise and specific equipment, which helps not only to reduce costs but also to provide better transportation service to students.

Read Also: Top 10 School Bus Companies

Schools must consider developing a strong, performance-based contract with their outsourcing partners to achieve streamlined transportation operations.

They should also monitor the vendor’s performance during the contract period and take expert opinion on whether to continue with that particular company’s services and extend the contract. Also consider reviews from students and their parents, which help avoid any complaints in future.

Also consider reviews from students and their parents, which help avoid any complaints in future.

School Bus Drivers Health Problems And Solutions

Posted on March 22, 2019 by TSB Super Admin

The job of the school bus driver comes with immense responsibility and requires utmost patience. Transporting students to and from school safely requires the drivers to adhere to rules and regulations strictly.

In addition to safe driving, dealing with students, parents, schools authorities and bus companies on a daily basis requires a lot of effort. These occupational hazards take a toll on the health of the school bus driver. The driver’s regular, hectic schedule relegates personal fitness to the lowest level of priority.

Major health issues faced by the School Bus Drivers and solutions:

Stress

Raises blood pressure and increases the level of stress hormones leading to heart problems

The job of the school bus driver involves high stress which causes in numerable diseases. Drivers have to drive the school buses safely through the busiest streets in the cities through peak hour.

He has to deal with other errant drivers on the road. The process of maneuvering the school bus through traffic jams and road accidents is extremely stressful.

School bus driver’s has to oversee the overall discipline of students on the bus. Student fights, bullying has to be solved promptly. Unruly student behavior is a strain on the driver causing lack of concentration.

Another aspect of strain to the driver is dealing with the parents. Parents having varying requests can be very demanding and irritable handling them is a disturbing process to the drivers.

The drivers very often do not get adequate support in his activities from the school or bus management. The authorities are not receptive to school bus driver grievances. This again makes drivers unhappy and irritable when on duty.

After driving through heavy traffic and handling boisterous young children, the drivers are hardly in a frame of mind to exercise or go for gym activities.

Driving safely, watching out for rogue drivers and controlling their emotions leave them mentally and physically exhausted at the end of the day.

Stress relieving programs for drivers are of prime importance. Exercise and yoga are of help in reducing stress. Schools have to institute mandatory sessions for drivers during their down-time.

Periodic motivation classes, rewarding drivers for their good deeds can help improve morale of the drivers.

The feeling of being looked after makes the drivers more loyal to their job. The feel-good factor makes them cheerful and stress-free while on duty.

Insomnia

This leads to psychological disorders. High levels of stress and anxiety cause insomnia. This makes the drivers lethargic and nervous during their daily operations.

Their inability to concentrate will endanger the safety of the students. Extended periods of insomnia will cause disturbances in the health system causing mental disorders.

Obesity

Obesity increases the risk of contracting diabetes at a younger age. This increases blood cholesterol levels which increase the risk of a heart attack.

The drivers sit for long periods of times on the bus. Drivers continue sitting between work hours also.Sedentary nature of the job leads the drivers to become over-weight. Stress also leads to obesity. This makes them high-risk candidates for heart diseases and other serious health issues.

Studies have shown that the drivers are sedentary for more than 12 hours on a normal working day. Most of the drivers are over-weight. These two factors together rank them as a priority group for health interventions. Lack of exercise leads to reduced levels of cardiovascular fitness.

Raising the levels of physical activity during the bus driver’s off-time is a solution to this serious issue. Increasing the driver’s movement will reduce the risk of potent heart problems.

Alternatively, being over-weight does not necessarily equate to being unhealthy. Over-weight could be a catalyst in raising the risk. Prevention being better than cure it is always better to be active and keep check of the weight.

Walking, jogging, aerobics and bicycling are activities suggested to keep the drivers healthy. They can pursue these activities during their off-time. Short durations of 10-20 minutes of exercise reduce the risk for illnesses and improve health. Free use of the school gym is also recommended to keep fit.

Schools can arrange sports events and challenges to motivate them into action. Bus companies can allow them in their basketball, volleyball, softball teams. They can be encouraged to take part in tournaments and matches.

Muscular pains

Aches and pains in the back, neck, shoulder and knee are experienced by the drivers due to nature of their job.

The driver’s cabin does not allow for much movement or stretching.Constant use of the leg on brakes and accelerators causes wear and tear of the knee and calf muscles.

Frequent turning of the head, when students board and get off the bus, lead to neck pains. Back-aches are attributed to the stressful, stiff posture the driver holds while on the driver’s seat. Vibrations of the bus and frequent crossing of humps result in lower back pain.

Exercising and stretching while off the bus is the only solution. Ergonomically designed seats help alleviate this problem to an extent.

Food habits

High-calorie diets increase cholesterol levels. Eating junk food causes gastro-intestinal problems. Reduced intake of water causes dehydration.

Poor eating habits of the drivers result in health issues. School bus drivers on early morning trips and late field trips do not find time to have proper healthy meals.

They most often end up having high-calorie donuts and fast food instead of well-balanced meals. The long hours of sedentary off- time tempts them to over eat.

The schools can provide a nutritional healthy pack at least once a day at a low cost or even free. The schools need to arrange periodic health check-ups for the driver. A diet plan can be prescribed for each driver. They can be persuaded to eat regular healthy meals.

Inhalation of diesel exhaust fumes–causes respiratory and cardiovascular diseases.

School buses emit fumes from the exhaust which enters the bus when the doors are opened and closed and through the ventilation systems. Constant exposure to these fumes cause asthma, bronchitis, lung damage and may even turn fatal.

The only way to reduce the emission of fumes is to reduce the idling time of the engines mainly at the school parking area and at the bus-stops. Use of newer buses with cleaner engines will help in reducing the emissions. The best option would be the use of electric buses as they will in total eliminate this risk.

Infectious diseases

Drivers are prone to fall ill due to virus and bacterial infections like the flu, common cold, hepatitis B.

This is mainly contracted through helping sick children on the bus. Using gloves and surgical masks can prevent spreading of the virus.

Wellness programs

The individual driver’s inclination and his desire to use the facilities provided to him is finally the key to his health.Periodic presentations on health and nutrition can create awareness ofthe health problems associated with lack of fitness. The wellness programs should motivate the drivers to make full use of what is offered in improving their health.

Wellness programs instituted have to be low cost and convenient for the drivers to avail them. Swimming pools and gymnasiums in school districts can be made available for their use at a low fee or even for free.

The programs are to be personalized. They should be sensitive to age and the driver’s needs. The programs have to be made voluntary and flexible.

The programs have to be recorded and evaluated frequently. Stress management programs have to be incorporated. Informal programs will allow drivers to relax, bond and share their thoughts with their colleagues.

Schools spending on wellness programs for drivers will reap proportionate benefits. There will be less absenteeism. The number of drivers reporting sick without prior information will fall. This will be of great relief to the school as there will be less disruption in the bus schedules.

A level of physical fitness in school bus drivers is imperative. They should be alert, agile and efficient to attend to the needs of the students on the bus, in cases of emergency. Safety being the priority, the driver’s health issues should not impede their ability to drive the big school bus safely.

New Traffic Rules In UAE – [Fine List Included]

Posted on March 20, 2019 by TSB Super Admin

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) amended the traffic law to include new regulations. This has been done with an aim to reduce casualties from traffic accidents to 3 per 100,000 from about 6 at present. Making roads safer and protecting the lives of road users is an important target of ‘UAE Vision 2021’.

The traffic violations recorded were re-examined. The rules were revised in terms of the existing fines and the black point system. The penalties of some of the violations were increased. This was necessitated due to the increase in the number of traffic offences from that in the past.

New Traffic Rules in UAE

Driving License

Driving license is issued to drivers who are 21 years or above.
The driver’s license issued initially will be valid for a period of 2 years for citizens, GCC nationals and those belonging to other nationalities.
On renewal, the license will be issued for 10 years to citizens and GCC nationals and for 5 years tothose belonging to other nationalities.
For drivers aged less than 21 years, the initial validity of the license issued, renewed or replaced will be one year. This is applicable to UAE citizens, GCC nationals and other expatriates.

Seat Belts

Seat belts have been made mandatory for all persons in the vehicle including passengers in the rear seat.
Children below the age of 4 should be seated in a child safety car seat.
The driver is fined AED 400 and 4 black points if any of the above rules are not complied with.

Speed limit

Drivers exceeding the speed limit by 60km/h will be charged AED 2000, 12 black points, and have their vehicles confiscated for 30 days.
If the speed exceeds the limit by not more than 60km/h, AED 1500, six black points, and confiscation of vehicles for 15 days are applicable.
Drivers speeding above the specified limit by not more than 50km/h, 40km/h, 30km/h and 20km/h are fined AED 1000, 700, 600 and 300, respectively.

Driving Regulations (for light vehicles)

Drivers who drive recklessly incur a fine of AED 2000, 23 black points and confiscation of the vehicle for a period of 60 days.
Drivers that cause damage to public or private property and are inconsiderate to the lives of others are punished with a heavy fine of AED 2000 and impounding of the vehicle for 60 days.
Driving of Quad bikes (Buggy) or tricycles on public roads is prohibited. This offence is fined AED 3000 in addition to 90 days’ impoundment of the vehicle.
Driving with a learner’s license is not allowed. Doing so will result in suspension from driving for a period of one year and 24 black points. Driving under the influence of alcohol, drugs or other substances affecting the brain is strictly prohibited. UAE follows a zero tolerance policy towards alcohol.
Jumping red signals are punishable with a fine of AED1000, 12 black points and confiscation of vehicles for a 30-day period.
Blocking traffic and stopping cars on the road for non justifiable reason incurs a fine of AED 1000 and six black points.
Sudden swerving or turning of a vehicle without signaling will entail a fine of AED1000.
Motorists who ignore traffic signals will be fined AED 1000, 12 black points and the vehicle will be seized for one month.
Crowding or rubber-necking at accident sites disrupting traffic flow will receive a fine of AED 1000.
Driving on the hard shoulder and overtaking from the left will incur a fine AED 1000 and 6 black points.

Read Also: Road Safety Rules In Australia

Driving Regulations (for heavy vehicles)

Heavy vehicle drivers are regulated by the whole gamut of rules for light vehicles.
Heavy vehicle drivers receive a fine of AED 3000 and have their licenses suspended for one year for any and each traffic violation committed. On completion of the term of suspension they have to take training sessions once again.

Other regulations

Driving without a license plate entails a fine of AED 3000, 3 black points and impounding of the vehicle for three months.
Driving without insurance/car registration entails a fine of AED 500. Drivers that are driving a vehicle that violates technical and safety stipulations and do not comply with the security and safety measures are fined AED 500.
Talking and texting on mobile phones incurs a fine of AED 800 and four black points. A similar fine is charged for any other distractions during driving.
Drivers who litter the road are fined AED 1000 and 6 black points.
Transporting dangerous or flammable materials without official permission incurs a fine of AED 3000, 24 black points, and 60 days’ vehicle impoundment.
Driving a noisy vehicle is not allowed. A fine of AED 2000 and 12 black points will be charged.
All vehicles, with the exception of trucks and taxis, can have a 50%tint on all windows except the front windshield. Rental and company cars can also use darker tinting. Any tinting that exceeds this limit attracts a fine of AED 1500.
Motorcycle riders riding without a helmet will receive a fine of AED 500 and four black points. Conducting car rallies on special occasions require permission from the authorities. Non-compliance will incur a fine of AED 500, four black points, and 15 days’ confiscation of the vehicle.
Pedestrians jaywalking on the streets are fined AED 400.
A minimum fine of AED 50 and a maximum of AED 3000 are imposed for failing to collect the vehicle after the period of impoundment.
Black points will be cancelled only 12 months after date of payment of fine.

White Point System

This system rewards non-errant motorists with a total of 24 white points in a year, two for each month. Motorists who have not incurred traffic fines, including road tolls (Salik) and parking fines are chosen as winners.

The new rules, black and white point systems and revised fines along with the existing regulations will be a deterrent to motorists indulging in traffic rule violations. These have been instituted by the Government to reduce traffic fatalities and to make the roads safer for motorists and pedestrians.

6 Tips To Follow Before Buying A Used Bus

Posted on March 18, 2019 by TSB Super Admin

Before you try to invest in the transportation industry you should have a clear decision on which type of bus you should purchase. If your budget is low and the use is for short term then used buses are the one to go with.

Compared to newer bus models used buses are much less expensive. But while purchasing a used school bus you should move in with complete caution, make sure you do a complete check-up of the vehicle otherwise you would end up with a lemon in your hands.

Just because the price is lower than a showroom vehicle doesn’t mean it’s a good deal. When you compare the total cost of ownership, repairs, and maintenance of the used vehicle it may end up being much expensive than a new one.

There are a lot of mediums for buying used buses even there are services online which auctions used buses. But when it comes online it’s always buyers beware situation.

Like this, whatever you’re buying medium is you should do a complete inspection of the vehicle especially if you want to convert it into a perfectly functioning school bus.

If your intention is to buy a used bus then you should follow through our list described below

1. Condition

When you complete your inspection go through the condition of the bus it’s the most important thing if you’re considering to buy a used bus. Go through its interior, drive-train, and frame, check whether they are in good condition.

Verify whether the bus has been maintained over time. Inspect the bus interior check for wear and tear look for any other damage inside the bus. Search for rusting between the joints and test the interior features like HVAC systems and audio equipment and make sure they are working or not.

2. Maintenance Records

If your bus was part of a fleet, then it’s sure to have a maintenance record. It’s always good to be aware of where your vehicle has been for the last 10,000 miles.

You can get a comprehensive view of the repairs and maintenance works made to the vehicle over the years. Since it’s a government regulation to keep the maintenance records in the bus you can understand more about the vehicle you are buying.

3. Engine and Transmission Health

Before buying the vehicle make sure you test drive the bus, some transmissions start out fine but as they reach higher gears they tend to slip.

In this age, an automatic transmission is preferred over manual transmission so it would be wise to choose the preferred one. Same goes for engines, diesel engines work better with a heavier load. When selecting an engine you should consider the fuel efficiency and the weight of the engine.

Read Also: Top 10 School Bus Companies

4. Rust and Leaks

When it comes to steel bodies rust is like cancer, once the body is affected it only gets worse and there won’t be any going back. While inspecting the vehicle, make sure there isn’t any rust on the frame or underneath the body.

Look out for leaks, automatic transmissions are particularly found leaky. Some transmissions constantly start to leak as the vehicle gets hot (in long trips).

If your vehicle is found with leaks and rust, replacing the infected parts is the only quick fix, and that would be costly considering the availability of the parts.

5. Size and Space

You should consider the space and size of the vehicle as an issue. Make sure you buy a bus which suits your requirements. Select a bus which has an overhead as well as rear entrance storage room. The bus should also have enough seating capacity and the standard seating capacity for a bus is 30.

6. Body style

The body style of the bus is based on your preference. There are a couple of bus models to choose from

Dog nose model
Flat nose model

When you are settling for a body type make sure you pick a body that satisfies your needs such as, head space, storage and interior space, multiple exits and emergency exits. Safety and comfort should come of importance when you settle on buying a used bus.

Some extra points to keep in mind
Do not look out for low mileage alone
Check whether the chassis has been properly maintained
Observe to see the tires and the depth of their tread
Check the quality of the car paint and whether the exterior has been regularly polished and waxed and whether any touch-up has been done
Take a qualified vehicle inspector, if possible, to inspect a bus before the purchase
Check the floor of the bus for spots of rust or corrosion. A solid floor is an indicator of the longevity of the bus as well as its safety
Check the federal guidelines as well as state laws before buying used buses. This will give an idea of the items that need to be updated or replaced
It is important to check out financing options to buy used buses that may be available with the dealer or financial institutions

You can put these tips in use when you visit an authorised dealer for purchasing a used bus. If the vehicle satisfies your inspection then you are probably looking at a dependable machine.

School Bus Rental Companies in Chicago

Posted on March 15, 2019 by TSB Super Admin

Student transportation is wrought with complexities, though it is a fundamental issue to the school’s operation.

However, bus rental companies that are run by private transport contractors make the job easy by providing safe and reliable everyday transportation for the students to and from the schools.

Read Also: Top 10 School Bus Companies

This gives the chance for the school authorities to focus on the core assignment of education.

1. Alltown Bus Service, Inc.

For more than 27 years now the “Alltown Bus Service, Inc” has been providing safe, timely and reasonable bus service for school going children in Chicago.

They offer buses for field trips (in and out of the state) from the school, sports trips, and grad-nite celebrations. The drivers representing the organization are professionally trained and reliable.

The company operates over 600 buses over six different locations: with three locations spread over the suburbs of Skokie, Harvey and Decatur, the other three are scattered in the north, south and west sides of Chicago.

The fleet owned by the Alltown Bus Service Company consists of both modern and conventional style buses. They are also suited for transporting special needs students (lifts for physically challenged children, wheelchair accessible ramps, and air conditioning as a medical requirement for some students).

2. First Student

First Student is a 100+-year-old bus rental company that ferries children to and from their schools in North America. This company transports more students in total per day than all Airlines combined in the country.

They are connected to 1100 school districts for providing daily student transportation. In Chicago, they have offices in Skokie, Hodgkins and Elk Grove.

The company offers turnkey contracts as well as specific arrangements as required by specific schools. They are specific in appointing local people for operations and management.

For the parents and authorities, access to the local operations team is complete. The fleets are well maintained by trained and certified technicians.

The First Student buses are equipped with real-time tracking technology as well as relevant engagement and communications tools. The buses are also equipped with onboard Wi-Fi and digital cameras thus controlling student behaviour while on the bus.

3. AM Bus Company

The AM bus company is a family-owned business which has been operational since the year 1993. The mission of the company has been to provide safe, timely and reliable transportation for students to and from school daily. Their services are sought by numerous public schools in Chicago and they have over 2500 clients in the city and Chicago Park District.

4. Sunrise School Bus and Charter Services

Sunrise has been partnering with school districts for over 30 years now. The company offers regular bus transport for ferrying children to and from school daily, charter services for special school trips (field trips, sports trips, etc.) and transport services for students with special needs.

Sunrise buses are implemented with GPS systems so that the location of the buses can be tracked at all times. Their buses are well-maintained and they have a long track record of safety.

5. United Quick Transportation

This company has been working since the year 1990 with school districts, private and charter schools in providing daily transportation for students back and forth schools.

Their services are reliable, economical, environmentally friendly and safe. They also cater to school students’ field trips and sports groups that have to be taken to different places.

The driver acquiring procedure in United is done with great care. The drivers should be above 23 years of age and must have clean records with minimum three years’ driving experience.

The drivers should be adequately-trained by a certified team of mechanics and must be aware of the aides that are responsible to keep the buses well maintained.

6. Latino Express

Founded in 1988 Latino Express is one of the leading companies that provide daily student transportation for school districts, charter schools, day-cares, etc. The company runs over 36000 student rides in a year.

The company claims that its success is mainly due to its staff and drivers that help to transport the students safely every day. The company also specializes in transporting students with special needs.

By implementing GPS systems and digital cameras their entire fleet is modern and well equipped. Their bus fleet holds a Gold Level Green Fleet certificate which recognizes the company’s environmentally responsible practices.

7. Children’s Caravan Transportation, LLC

The service provided by Caravan Transportation is perfectly suited to transport the children of working parents to and from day-cares, private, public, and charter schools, and appointments that they have to keep up, etc.

The bus drivers have years of driving experience and are well trained in CPR and first-aid treatment. They are trustworthy and have the safety of the children as their utmost priority.

The pick-ups and drop-offs are timely and the parents are duly kept informed of route changes and any delays in pick-up or drop-offs.

The buses have entertainment options and maintained by qualified technicians. The children are picked up from and dropped off from their doorsteps or any specified designated location.

8. Walls Transportation, Inc.

Walls Transportation was established in 1977 as a family owned Transportation Company. Started with one school bus they grew large over the years, now having a fleet that has over 30 buses and other motor coaches. The school buses can carry from 16 to 71 passengers.

Contracted with the Public School System in Chicago, the buses run in several routes. The buses also transport homeless children and special education children.

Walls Transportation provides charter services to schools outside of Chicago as well. The company staffs are courteous, well-groomed and professionals.

Top 8 School Bus Rental Companies

Posted on March 11, 2019 by TSB Super Admin

Outsourcing transportation of students in a school has been successful in majority of the cases, where the authorities have partnered with private bus rental companies.

The transportation contract has stipulations under which the contractors work. This allows the authorities to focus more on the core function of education.

Schools usually engage private bus rentals when the school bus fleet is aged and there are no funds available for bus upgrades, increased transportation costs, and administrative headaches.

All these problems can be solved by outsourcing the school bus service. Private bus contractors have the singular aim of providing this service in the most cost-effective and efficient manner while maintaining the highest levels of safety and reliability. Some of the best-known school bus rental companies are listed below.

Read Also: Top 10 School Bus Companies

1. First Student, Ohio

First student ensures that students have a safe and reliable transport system to and from school. They are the leading school bus provider in the USA. With over 50000 employees and over 44000 school buses, they have transport contracts with over 1100 school districts.

Their Specialities

They provide end-to-end school bus transport solutions and route optimization advice
The staff and drivers are locally hired from among the familiar communities with a view to transporting the students safely
They have implemented technologies and innovations to improve operating performance, driver output and safety
They follow stringent maintenance programs to keep their fleet in a well-maintained condition
They have over 100 years of expertise in transportation

2. Royal Coach Tours, California

This company provides School Pupil Activity Bus services in California. This includes school-sponsored events such as Proms, Field trips, Sports events, Grad Nites, etc.

The buses are certified to transport children during school-sanctioned events. They have the requisite charter bus certification called SPAB (School Pupil Activity Bus) and are regulated by the California Highway Patrol.

Why they are special

They are extensively trained in defensive driving techniques, vehicle inspections, and mechanical flaw detection.
They offer modern fleets with different sizes of coaches, configurations and seating capacities; they have 56-seater, 47-seater, and 36-seater coaches
They have all the safety features that are required
They have been in business for about 60 years
Their buses are equipped with event data recorders, tire monitoring systems, and fire-fighting systems.

3. StorerCoachways, California

This company started off in the year 1952 when the need for transporting students with special needs increased. This company was founded by Walter and Gladys Storer after they submitted a bid and volunteered to transport 13 handicapped children from their homes to the school.

After the contract that was in force for one year, Storer Transportation Services was contracted to carry mentally retarded children to the Prescott School. Soon children with hearing and visual disabilities started using this service.

This company specialized in the door-to-door transport of these handicapped students. The original station wagons and stretch limousines that served as buses were painted school bus yellow and fitted with flashing lights. Some of the later vans of STS had electric lifts installed onto the rear side of the van.

Why they stand out

They have a modern fleet of motorcoaches.
They offer different sizes of coaches, configurations and seating capacities; they have 54-seater, 45-seater, and 21-seater and 11-seater coaches.
The coaches are embedded with the latest amenities.
Their rental rates are very competitive in the marketplace.

4. Transportation Charter Services, California

Transportation Charter Services (TCS) has been serving the people of Southern California with SPAB certified coaches for a long time now. The company services educational groups that are inbound in addition to local ones.

The company has been functional in the Los Angeles and Orange County areas for more than three decades now. The company’s mission has been to provide end-to-end safe, reliable and comfortable group transportation for any client.

Why choose TCS

The company has the highest safety rating in the charter bus industry
Their buses have all the amenities including luxury seating, Wi-Fi on board, and AV hook-ups.
The bus fleet are new (2008 model or newer)
The school buses can hold 54 passengers
The drivers are trained to be courteous and are always on time during the trip
The company staff is always willing for last-minute route or itinerary changes
The school buses are available for sports groups transfers, day trips or overnight trips from schools and ferrying students to and from campsites
The buses are SPAB certified
The buses undergo the requisite inspections by the CHP regularly (every 45 days or at the completion of 3000 miles), fully insured and licensed by the state

5. DATTCO, Inc, Connecticut

This company operates over 1000 school buses in Rhode Island and Connecticut every single day.The company is family owned and has been providing service for over six decades. DATTCO provides charter services to school groups of all sizes for different kinds of trips.

This company started providing school bus services in 1949 and now services over 30 school districts. The company currently transports over 110000 students on a daily basis during a school year.

Their Specialities

They have over six decades’ experience in transporting children to and from school
The company has a fleet size of 1350 school buses
Dattco is an authorized dealer for the IC brand of school buses
Their training & Safety department has two Master Instructors and 19 State Certified Instructors on rolls
They run student safety programs in schools
Their buses are designed to cater to special needs students
They are known for their high-quality driver training programs
The company provides an instantaneous and unique way for parents to find their ward’s route information
The company has 60 certified mechanics and 8 road service vehicles (fully-equipped)
DATTCO is affiliated to the Association of Boards of Education, State School Transportation Association and many more organizations connected to the administration of schools

6. The Free Enterprise System, Indiana

The company was started in the year 1976 as a family-owned business and they started serving the US Postal Service by hauling mail for them. They are still providing this service.

Maintaining consistent and superior levels of service they have been able to reach very high levels of reputation. They provide a gamut of services including school trips. They provide safe and premium transportation for school groups on their different trips.

Why Choose Free Enterprise

They have a diverse fleet and different coach options that can accommodate student groups of any size
Their coaches feature disc brakes, no tires that are recapped, automatic slack adjusters, reflective decals, LED lights, ABS brake systems, etc., among others
Their coach driver are chosen after a rigorous background check and are trained frequently
The coach drivers are subject to random drug screening
The drivers are regularly trained in customer service aspects

7. Northfield Lines, Minnesota

Benjamin Bus has been ferrying schoolchildren in Minnesota for many years now. Truly caring about the children they transport, they have established a reputation for themselves.

They work in close contact with the school district administration to plan their bus stops and bus routes. Their services include daily student transportation, special needs students’ transportation, and field trips for students, summer school and camp trips.

They are known for the expert training they provide to school bus drivers. In addition to behind-the-wheel training, they provide training manuals and videos to the drivers.

The new drivers are even subjected to a ride-along evaluation by a driver with experience. They have to attend regular safety meetings. The drivers have to do a pre-trip safety check before any bus departure.

Why they stand out

They are experts in routing and scheduling
They adhere to strict fleet preventive maintenance schedules with first-rate facilities and equipment
They conduct numerous school bus safety programs for school children and the school authorities
They subject their drivers to random drug testing procedures

8. Arrow Stage Lines, Nebraska

Started in the year 1928, this company provides many services including school bus rentals. This bus rental company offers school bus transportation for students in select markets such as Omaha and Lincoln in Nebraska.

With a high safety record, the bus service providers are known for their on-time record. Their buses are known to travel long distances without any kind of mechanical disruption.

Their specialities

They employ top drivers and have a nationwide network operating in many states. They follow an elaborate preventive maintenance system. Their drivers are well trained in safety procedures, customer service and operational procedures.

They are expected to be physically fit from the fitness tests that held regularly. The company is known to have invested millions of dollars on its buses to keep customers safe.

Wrap Up

School districts are under great pressure to deliver safety to the students and to give them a good quality education experience. Contracting student transportation helps the school districts to make substantial savings which they can redirect to making education better and therefore more sought after.