School Bus Fleet, February 2021

26 SCHOOL BUS FLEET FEBRUARY 2021 WWW SCHOOLBUSFLEET COM KEYS TO MAINTENANCE SAVINGS The school year looks a little different now with a significant number of school districts still operating remotely and not transporting as many students to and from school Yet many districts still have buses in service and even those that dont may be looking for ways to keep fleet maintenance costs low and improve productivity and safety in their fleets Proper maintenance is key to keeping buses on schedule not to mention the fact that a well maintained bus is a safer bus and having the right equipment to service the fleet can help increase productivity and decrease downtime FINDING THE RIGHT LIFT A vehicle lift is a must for any school bus maintenance facility and there are several options available the most popular of them being platform or runway lifts or traditional in ground lifts Both have their benefits however they both require significant dedicated shop space A third space saving option is mobile column lifts These lifts come in four or six columns with adjustable wheel forks for different wheel sizes Mobile columns offer versatility since they do not require a dedicated bay and can be moved wherever they are needed and then moved out of the way once a repair is complete Moreover some mobile models are remote controlled offering even greater flexibility Maintenance managers thinking about adding a lift to their facility should consider these factors before buying one Facility layout Major considerations include space availability traffic flow concrete and soil quality vehicle lengths turning radius and whether the facility is leased or owned Types sizes weights of vehicles to lift Consider lifting capacity and available accessories too If the facility is used to service vehicles other than school buses such as work trucks or other district vehicles it is best to plan for any new vehicles that might be added to the fleet Flexibility is key for a mixed service fleet Services performed The style of lifts selected can have a significant impact on the speed and quality of the work performed Will it be general or heavy maintenance work or will wheel work like brakes or alignments be done as well Lower Costs With the Right Maintenance Equipment Using the best suited vehicle lift wheel service equipment and tire balancers and changers is key to saving money and keeping buses on the road By Doug Spiller Photo courtesy Rotary Lift