School Bus Fleet, October 2018

prestolite com sales@ prestolite com 800 354 0560 2018 Prestolite Electric Inc Every minute you spend worrying about the electrical system on your bus is a minute wasted At Prestolite were helping you focus on more important matters You need buses Not drama Superior electrical output even at idle Maximum starting torque Increased battery charge Unsurpassed reliability 40 SCHOOL BUS FLEET OCTOBER 2018 WWW SCHOOLBUSFLEET COM type of bus and specifications they want including size capacity and options such as air conditioning a wheelchair lift or air brakes and do research to determine which vehicle components such as powertrains and engines they prefer Brinkley says that Google and online forums are useful tools for researching components 4 Create a timeline maintenance plan Tinsley recommends starting to do research for a used school bus purchase in the winter and starting to look in early spring before summer gets underway Thats when there is the greatest opportunity to select from the largest portion of our incoming inventory he says See whats out there before school is out and prepare for the following school year Do your homework put a budget together before summer break and get the bus for the upcoming school year in a timely manner Tinsley explains that dealers experience a time crunch during the summer with school bus deliveries so shops can get backed up Hays recommends that buyers figure out in advance how much maintenance they are capable of performing or having performed Factors in determining this could include whether the buyer has their own garage or uses an outside garage and how old or new a vehicle they plan to purchase Understand that you are buying a previously owned piece of equipment and there is a certain level of maintenance that will come along with it he says Buhle advises investing in new tires and professional paint work if the bus is being repainted 5 Find a reputable dealer offering additional services Buying from a larger reputable dealer as opposed to a broker or smaller company that has been in business for a long time understands the product and pupil transporters needs and provides servicing capabilities is worth possibly paying more money and is a better investment in the long term We try to steer people in the right direction and not put them in a vehicle that they may not be able to use Hays says Some smaller organizations may not be able to provide that level of care Corey Muirhead director of contracts and business development at Logan Bus Co says that his company buys used buses ance Tom Buhle used bus sales manager at Midwest Transit Equipment in Lansing Michigan says that customers should figure out how much insurance coverage they will need 3 Research components list preferences With their budget in mind customers should consider what BUS SHOPPING TIPS Tom Hays director of business development at Don Brown Bus Sales in Johnstown New York recommends that buyers determine in advance how much maintenance they will be able to perform on a used bus creating a budget before looking Within that budget set aside a maintenance account advises Chad Brinkley used and commercial bus manager for Midwest Bus Sales Put a little aside for possible breakdowns he says If something happens you can get it fixed and get back on the road That budget should also include insur