School Bus Fleet, March 2017

27 MARCH 2017 SCHOOL BUS FLEET Photo courtesy Zonar Contributing to productivity On the other side of the equation a mechanics helper can maintain or increase the shops work output It is possible for the helper to lighten the workload for some or even all of the other mechanics by assisting them in their work or performing separate tasks altogether When a helper is effective in limiting distractions and taking care of relatively menial tasks the mechanics are unbridled and as a result can be more productive Increasing bus safety A respected mentor once told me that the ultimate goal of everything we do in the shop is making it safer for the students I took his words to heart and that philosophy is one that I always keep whether pursued through direct or indirect means For school bus drivers safety is No 1 For someone working in the garage the means may change but the goal is the same As a mechanics helper working directly on buses can certainly make them safer Ensuring the structural integrity of seats functioning of brake lights and proper labeling and function of emergency exits among many other items enhances the safety of our students However there is more to it than that For one thing having someone walking through the bus yard for various tasks gives you an extra set of eyes and ears and even a nose Despite being in the yard for a totally unrelated reason the mechanics helper might happen to spot a loose axle bolt hear a crossing arm motor running or notice coolant leaking onto the ground Such incidental catches can help save time and money in addition to preventing a safety risk They shift the paradigm from being reactive to being proactive A mechanics helper who is also a driver may get to know fellow 3 5 A school bus driver who also works in the shop can enhance communication between mechanics and drivers keeping both abreast of vehicle particulars Focusing on specific tasks Mechanics have an array of issues to deal with They are often responsible for a large number of vehicles Inspection repair and maintenance are incessant Unpredictability can never truly be eradicated no matter how new or well maintained a fleet may be By nature a mechanic must be able to perform many tasks well By contrast a helper may actually have a greater opportunity to become a specialist As opposed to focusing on particular buses focus can instead be placed on particular tasks Examples could be seat repair light replacement fluid checks or ensuring that paperwork is up to date in each vehicle A mechanic may have exceptional ability but by nature of the job may lack the opportunity to focus on specific areas like a helper can By focusing on a particular task and learning its intricacies a helper may become quite skilled He or she may also devise methods to enhance efficiency For example creating a station to add diesel exhaust fluid washer fluid coolant and motor oil in one spot can save time compared to doing each individually 4 Photo by John Horton For the mechanics helper getting to know fellow drivers and their tendencies can reveal what to pay attention to on particular vehicles