Bus and Charter Manufacturers Key Terms

Learn the different types of buses and the terms that describe them

By Catherine Ryan

When you work in the bus and charter manufacturing industry, it's imperative to be knowledgeable about the differences between all of the styles and models of buses. While some terms, such as school bus, are common knowledge, there are many industry-specific terms, such as special and articulated, that you need to keep straight in order to be successful. As you brush up on your bus and charter manufacturers key terms, don't forget to learn about flat front, big cowl and chassis, as well as advanced design buses.

Articulated

Articulated describes buses with two passenger compartments that are connect by flexible a section able to bend and twist when the bus turns a corner. Articulated buses generally run 55 feet or more in length.
Try: Read a description of articulated bus and other related terms at the University of Michigan website.

Big cowl and chassis

Big cowl and chassis describes buses that are mounted on a truck-based, flat-back cowl. Big cowl and chassis buses do not include school buses.
Try: TheCDLtest.com provides a great definition of big cowl and chassis buses.

Flat front

Flat front describes transit and shuttle buses that have a flat nose and either front, mid-ship or rear engines.
Try: Get an expanded definition of flat front buses and a host of other bus-related terminology at idrivetrucks.com.

Special

The term special describes a bus manufactured for a specific task. Such buses include promotional buses, prison transport buses and hospital buses.
Try: Used-buses.net describes the term special as applied to buses and provides examples.

School bus

School buses are buses manufactured to meet a specific set of federal motor vehicle safety standards for the transport of children. There are seven types of school buses.
Try: School Transportation News offers a website where you can learn about the differences between the seven types of school buses.

Advanced design

Introduced in 1977, the advanced design bus ushered in a new era of transit buses with new designs. Prior to this renovation of design, buses used the same designs, which originated in 1959. General Motors Corp.'s RTS was a significant example of the new wave of transit buses that came into operation during this time.
Try: To learn more about this term, read the definition of advanced design at the American Public Transportation Association website.