Having a transportation business is an expensive endeavor. However, it’s a good choice of industry to be in because commuting is needed everywhere. Many rely on paid transportation to get around, including students who ride the school bus regularly.
A school bus has long been a fixture for students in many countries. Growing up, children would ride them going to and from school. It’s been part of many student’s routines and will remain as-is for more years to come.
To start your business, you first need to have a vehicle to operate. When buying one, you need to do your due diligence and research to buy a quality model. Here are things you should look out for when buying a school bus.
Bus Types
When you look for a school bus for sale, you’ll see different shapes and sizes. You need to consider the size of your school bus depending on how many passengers you’d like to accommodate and room for their belongings as well. There are three common types of school buses that you can find.
1. Flat-Nose Rear Engine
The flat-nose type makes less noise than its other two counterparts. Thus, the ride to and from school will be quieter. However, it has less storage space in the back of the bus because its engine is located in the rear. It also costs more to repair because of the said engine placement.
2. Flat-Nose Front Engine
This type is the opposite of the rear-engine school bus. Instead, its engine is placed in front, giving you more convertible space, should you want to convert it someday. However, it has the drawback of being loud when you drive it.
3. Dog-Nose
A dog-nose school bus is the traditional school bus. It’s cheaper than the flat-nose rear engine type and has more size choices. They’re also a great choice for beginners as they’re relatively easier to learn how to drive. It’s also more agile due to its shorter wheelbase.
Safety features
Safety is always a top priority in transportation, especially for a school bus. Thus, you need to make sure that it’s safe to ride and drive. Safety features that a school bus should have includes the following:
1. High Visibility
School buses are painted yellow because it’s intended to be highly visible. It also has to have blazing lights to see other vehicles and pedestrians among different vehicles moving on the road.
2. Secured Seating Arrangements
School bus seats are exclusively designed for the safety of children, therefore these should all be well-fastend and in place. School bus seats also have added cushions to avoid accidents and injuries. Lastly, these seats most likely have high backs and are designed to stick to their positions in case of any jolting movements caused by a collision or an accident.
3. Optimally-Placed Mirrors
School bus mirrors are strategically placed for the driver to see vehicles and objects outside of and passengers and understudies close to and inside the bus. Its adjusted mirrors should also comply with road safety standards.
Transmission
The transmission moves power from the engine to a vehicle’s wheels. You can also consider this as a safety feature because a faulty transmission can cause road accidents.
That’s why you should ask the dealer if you can take it for a test drive to hear if its gears change normally. If you’re buying a manual bus, you should ensure that it does.
Delivery
Once you’ve decided on a model you’ll buy, you should ask the dealer about delivery. That’s because delivery costs may be higher if you bought it further from your location. So it’d be better if you crunch the numbers to determine a good deal for you based on the distance the delivery will cover.
Wrap Up
These are some of the essential things to look into when buying a school bus. Remember to also prepare for maintenance expenses and be sure to drive safely once you’re operating.
