Bus-Repair and Service Key Terms

Learn relevant bus-repair terms and acronyms
By Nikki Davis 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.

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).
Try:  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.
Try:  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.
Try:  Find out about DDA training from the Atlantic DDA. 

Retrofits

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