School Bus Fleet, Factbook December 2020

24 SCHOOL BUS FLEET FACT BOOK 2021 WWW SCHOOLBUSFLEET COM glossary glossary s z split brake system A service brake system with two separate hydraulic circuits that upon failure of either retains full or partial braking ability stanchion An upright post or bar usually installed from floor to ceiling in a bus that provides support for other structural members and or provides a hand hold for passengers state director The chief government administrator in charge of a states student transportation program and responsible for oversight of regulatory functions stop arm A device in the form of a red octagon extending outward from the side of a school bus to signal that the bus has stopped to load or unload passengers meets FMVSS No 131 also known as stop semaphore and stop signal arm stopping distance Braking distance plus reaction distance braking distance The distance a vehicle travels between the time the brakes are applied and the time forward motion ceases reaction distance Distance a vehicle travels during the time it takes for a driver to recognize the need to stop and to apply the brakes strobe light A bright short duration light that flashes as a result of an electronic discharge of electricity through a gas stroller A lightweight folding mobility aid student Any child who attends a school as previously defined student rides The number of students transported in a given system multiplied by the number of one way trips in a school bus For example a school district that transports 1000 students provides 2000 student rides daily or 360000 student rides to and from school annually assuming 180 school days To determine the total number of student rides annually the district would add the actual or estimated number of students transported on activity trips times 2 to the figure above substitute driver A driver who is not assigned to a regular route but is employed to provide immediate coverage when necessary due to driver absences or emergencies also known as spare driver and extraboard driver suspension system The components of the vehicle that transmit the load of the vehicles weight from the chassis framework to the ground including the springs axles wheels tires and related connecting components t temperature control system The means of heating or cooling the interior of the vehicle tether An upper anchor strap used in addition to a seat belt to hold certain types of restraint devices in place tiedown system See securement system tier Any level of separate runs and routes designed to allow a single bus to complete multiple routing assignments Multiple assignments typically require the use of staggered school schedules permitting multiple levels or tiers for the daily assignment s tire cords The strands forming the reinforcement structure in a tire to and from school Transportation from home to school and from school to home also transportation from school to school or from school to job training site tour Transportation of a group on a longer trip usually by charter bus e g senior class trip to Washington track seating A seating system in which seating units including mobility aids are secured to the vehicle structure by attaching them to tracks on the vehicle floor transverse Perpendicular to the longitudinal centerline of the vehicle i e from side to side trip The transportation of students from school to any destination followed by a return trip back to school The two together make a round trip tripper service Regularly scheduled mass transit service that is open to the public and that is designed or modified to accommodate the needs of school students and personnel using various fare collections or subsidy systems Must be part of the regular route service as indicated in published route schedules TSA Transportation Security Administration an agency of the Department of Homeland Security turbocharger A device that uses the pressure of exhaust gases to drive a turbine that in turn pressurizes air normally drawn into the engines chambers turnkey Partial privatization in which a school district hires a company to supply drivers maintenance management and or vehicles also known as management contract two way radio Electronic communication system that uses a designated airway for transmission between a bus and a base station u ULSD Ultra low sulfur diesel Diesel fuel that has a sulfur content of not more than 15 ppm parts per million Regular diesel fuel has a sulfur content of 200 ppm unload To discharge passengers from a school bus unloaded vehicle weight The weight of a vehicle with maximum capacity of all fluids necessary for operation but without cargo or occupants or accessories that are ordinarily removed from the vehicle when they are not in use UST Underground storage tank v vapor lock Boiling or vaporization of fuel in the lines from excessive heat which interferes with liquid fuel movement and in some cases stops the flow vehicle miles The aggregate number of miles a vehicle travels in a given period video system A means of monitoring student behavior in a school bus The system includes one or more video cameras to tape activity Camera housing units mounted in each bus appear to hold a camera whether or not one is actually in place also known as surveillance VIN Vehicle Identification Number a series of Arabic numbers and Roman letters that is assigned to a motor vehicle for identification purposes viscosity A measure of internal resistance to flow or motion offered by a fluid lubricant w walking distance The maximum distance a student can be required to walk to school before transportation must be provided also known as non transportation zone weather emergencies Weather conditions that require a deviation from normal transportation procedures e g flooding snowstorm WC 19 A voluntary industry standard that establishes minimum design and performance requirements for wheelchairs that are occupied by users traveling in motor vehicles The standard applies to a wide range of wheelchair types and styles including manual wheelchairs powerbase wheelchairs three wheeled scooters tilt in place wheelchairs and specialized mobile seating bases with removable seating inserts weight distribution The distribution proportion of the vehicle load divided between the front and rear axles wheelbase The distance between the centerline of the front axle and the centerline of the rear axle wheelchair A seating system comprising at least a frame a seat and wheels that is designed to provide support and mobility for a person with physical disabilities For the purpose of this standard this term encompasses standard manual wheelchairs powered wheelchairs power based wheelchairs three wheel scootertype wheelchairs and specialized seating bases also known as mobile seating device Wheelchair lift See power lift z ZEB Zero emissions bus ZEV Zero emissions vehicle