Bus maintenance training will prepare people to work with a variety of large automobiles. Many who repair buses work with school buses, but they also have the opportunity to work with shuttle buses, charter, buses and even luxury touring buses. To work in bus repair, a person must develop the skills needed to repair any type of motorized vehicle, plus additional skills to work specifically with buses.

Whether it's shuttle or school bus repair, a technician must learn skills that include routine maintenance, knowledge of diagnostic tools, and safety guidelines that apply to these vehicles. You can find bus repair and service education and training opportunities through:

1. Vocational training that teaches the basics of mechanics for large vehicles.

2. Seminars and workshops provided by a bus repair shop or organization.

3. Online courses for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) certification.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Learn how to fix a bus through vocational programs

Many vocational programs exist for auto mechanics. But to get the skills necessary to work on large vehicles, you need to have specific training in heavy machinery and buses. Many vocational schools and programs do offer these courses in conjunction with regular auto mechanics courses.

I recommend: Miami Lakes Educational Center offers people as young as 16 years old the opportunity to train as maintenance and repair technicians for buses and heavy duty trucks. Universal Technical Institute provides a comprehensive, hands-on training program designed for buses and other diesel equipment.

Attend seminars for bus repair service that teach additional skills

Anyone who has completed a vocational program can go to work directly for any bus repair shop. But to make your skills more marketable, attend seminars that teach additional skills. Seminars can also provide you the opportunity to work with the latest technology in bus repair systems.

I recommend: Auto Safety House provides seminars on a variety of bus repair topics, including sessions designed for different electrical and mechanical systems on buses. Nelson's Bus Service offers seminars and workshops that provide troubleshooting topics for bus repair.

Earn certification for repairing a bus

A degree from a vocational program is just one type of certification you can get for bus repair. Others include certification for specialized systems, including electrical and air conditioning. You may also decide on an ASE certification, which provides you with additional merit when seeking out new customers.

I recommend: The National Institute for Auto Service Excellence provides online tools and test prep features to become an ASE-certified technician. Fayette Area Coordinated Transportation (FACT) provides certification in air conditioner repair for buses, which can be an asset when working with charter or luxury buses.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  If you plan to work in a large bus repair facility, it may be to your advantage to train for a particular bus system, such as the engine, electrical or suspension systems.

Although all vehicle maintenance is important, it's tough to imagine a more important job than keeping buses carrying loads of people—sometimes all of them children—safe through bus repair. Whether you’re looking for a qualified company to handle your bus repair and service or a repair shop to service your motor coaches or other buses, there are plenty of bus maintenance and repair facilities out there.

Whatever bus maintenance shop you choose, ask if they do field repair or offer free towing. Also confirm they'll do bus repairs on vehicles still under warranty. And be sure to keep records of all repairs and servicing done to your fleet. Then, before making a final selection, consider whether you need:

1. Bus repair services specializing in school buses,

2. Bus repair facilities for motor coaches,

3. Or bus repair parts for your own mechanics.

Action Steps
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Find the right service for school bus repair

Although a general bus servicing center can probably repair your school bus fleet, it's better to choose a company with specific school bus repair experience. Find a shop you're comfortable with, have your buses repaired and then make sure to schedule regular, preventative maintenance service, too.

I recommend: Reichert Bus Service offers school bus maintenance and repair, plus other bus services. DATTCO is a bus repair shop that works on fleets of school buses; they conduct on-site repairs and general maintenance.

Select the best bus repair facility for motor coaches

Many repair companies that service school buses also work on motor coaches and other types of commercial buses. With motor coach repair, it's particularly important to choose a company that has access to the correct manufacturer's parts.

I recommend: King Bus and Truck Repair, LLC does motor coach bus maintenance and repair. C & J Bus Repair services motor coaches and other types of buses.

Locate the best repair parts for buses

If you have your own fleet mechanics, you'll need to find a good selection of bus parts. With motor coaches, look for manufacturer parts. For school buses, look for a source that can not only supply you with mechanical parts, but also safety equipment and accessories.

I recommend: Coach Maintenance Company sells parts for motor coaches of several models; email them for current availability. Bus Parts Warehouse offers a large selection of parts and accessories to repair buses, including school buses. DirectBus.com also has a good selection of items such as chassis, window repair items, air conditioning components and more.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  The National Highway and Traffic Safety Commission recommend that once a school bus has been through an accident, all child restraint systems (CRSs) be replaced--except in the case of minor crashes where the bus was able to drive away from the crash site and no children were harmed in their CRSs.

Knowing the appropriate bus-repair, service terms and acronyms will help you wade through your next bus fix or inspection. Because buses often carry a large number of people publicly, they are held to higher standards on the road than traditional family vehicles. Thus, you should be aware of the terms, phrases and acronyms to better understand what's going on during your next maintenance check and keep your vehicle in top shape and stay compliant with your state's laws. Start with knowing what the basic terms mean. Educate yourself on the acronyms and find out what the terms are in regards to improving your vehicle.

Action Steps
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Diagnostics

Diagnostics testing on a bus is determining the state of the bus or capability of part of the bus in relation to how it can perform its function(s).

I recommend: Find out about diagnostics as a part of maintenance and training sessions for school bus technicians from School Transportation News.

Chassis

The chassis is the base frame for the bus.

I recommend: Find out more about the bus chassis from Daimler Trucks North America.

DDA-trained technicians

DDA-trained technicians are those trained by a company called Detroit Diesel, Allison. The company has over 800 locations and over 10,000 trained technicians.

I recommend: Find out about DDA training from the Atlantic DDA.

Retrofits

Retrofitting is when you add new technology to an old system.

I recommend: Check out the bus retrofit program brought on by the Regional Air Quality Council and the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. Utah also had its own retrofitting program called the Utah Clean School Bus Project.

Conversion

Converting a bus means changing it from its original purpose to another purpose. Oftentimes older bus shells are converted into more practical family uses like motorhomes for recreational use, or they can be used for charitable or promotional uses.

I recommend: Bus Conversion magazine offers an entire publication dedicated to the topic of what you can convert your bus into. CJ's Bus came out of a Midwestern tragedy. It is a converted bus that is used to entertain and watch children while parents work to recover from natural disasters such as tornadoes, which are common in the Midwest area that it serves. Bus conversions have many practical or fun and entertaining uses. It's up to the designer to implement the new look of the vehicle.

DOT

DOT stands for the U.S. Department of Transportation, which is the overseeing body for bus vehicles. Buses must meet DOT inspection standards to be fit to be on the road.

I recommend: Find out about the school bus safety program from the DOT's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Learn about the New York state bus inspection program. Check out Indiana's school bus inspection program.