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Bus and Charter Vehicle Dealerships Key Terms

Learn definitions to words commonly used in bus and charter vehicle dealerships

By Kristina Seleshanko
Buying any vehicle can be overwhelming, but when you consider that your choice of buses and bus dealers can greatly affect the profitability of your business and the safety of your employees or customers, the task can seem especially stressful. That's why it's important to understand bus and charter vehicle dealerships key terms.

Bus dealership and vehicle terms may be divided into three broad categories. Understanding the most common words in each of these categories can greatly smooth the process of buying new or used buses. These categories are:

1. Terms used by bus dealerships to define bus types,

2. Terms describing bus manufacture or mechanics, used by general and charter bus dealerships,

3. And terms bus dealers use during the actual buying process.

 

Understand terms used to describe bus types in new and used bus sales

When you're shopping for buses, you'll hear a variety of terms applied to bus vehicle types. Some may be confusing because they aren't always used in a specific way. Some of these terms include "charter bus" (any bus used for a specific trip), "conversion bus" (a bus that's been converted into an RV), "shuttle bus" (any bus carrying passengers from one point to another), "MFSB" ("Multi-Function School Bus," or a bus that's built with school bus standards but does not look like a school bus) and "mobility vans" (small buses with wheelchair access). Buses are often broken down into more general categories, too, like small, medium and large buses.
Try: For a helpful FAQ on MFSBs, check out Don Brown Bus Sales. For a look at what qualifies as a small, medium or large size bus, visit Commercial Bus Sales.

Learn the mechanical terms used by a bus dealer

Although no one expects buyers to know the lingo of mechanics, some mechanical and manufacturing terms are helpful to understand when buying buses. These include "articulated bus" (a bus that has two passenger compartments that connect with a flexing middle), "flat front" (a typical transit or shuttle bus that's "flat-nosed") and "type A," "B," "C" and "D" school buses (each with a different mechanical configuration).
Try: The University of Michigan offers an excellent glossary of bus and truck terms, including definitions of the different types of school buses. Interaction Media Group provides a glossary of charter bus terms.

Research buying terms used by a general or charter bus dealership

When it comes to the nitty-gritty of buying, many terms may be unfamiliar to you. These include "contract hire" (when you lease a vehicle), "grey import" (a vehicle that's been imported to the United States without permission from the manufacturer and may not meet U.S. safety and emission standards), "certified pre-owned vehicle" (used vehicles meeting certain high standards set by the manufacturer) and "gross polluter" (a vehicle that fails emissions inspection).
Try: Read "Glossary of Auto Dealer Terms" at LemonLawOffice.com for a glossary of terms you'll commonly hear at a dealership. See "Glossary of Terms" for information about jargon you might see on a bus's Carfax report.

 

  • When working with a general or charter bus dealer, always ask to see the Carfax report yourself; if you have any questions about the terms used on the report, look for definitions on Carfax's website.

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