General Bus Questions
Q: Do I need a special license to drive a bus?
A: Yes. If you wish to drive any vehicle with more than 10 passengers, including driver (in the State of California, other states may vary)... you require more than just a Class C license. (However, 10 and under you can drive a passenger van with a Class C California Drivers license).

Q: Can I use any type of bus to transport kids to or from a school?
A: No. Transporting school children requires a school bus. School buses are built with safety in mind...and nothing is more important than our kids safety.

Q: What bus types does Bus West offer?
A: BusWest sells buses that can be used for just about any purpose... however the most common bus types we deliver are, hotel shuttles, church transportation, transit buses, para-transit and dial-a-ride vehicles, mini-buses,minivans, corporate shuttles, parking shuttles, contractor buses,  pupil transportation and school buses, activity buses, tour buses and motor coaches.

Q: What brands of buses can I purchase from BusWest?
A: Currently, BusWest is an authorized dealer for the following new bus brands, Starcraft, ThomasBuilt, Caio and Designline. However, since we are also used bus dealerships, we normally have other common vehicle brands such as Champion, International, Krystal Koach, Daimler, Ford, Mercedes, Turtle Top, Ameritrans, Volvo, Van Hool, Setra, Goshen, and just about any other bus brand if we buy your trade in.

Q: How do I buy a bus?
A: Just about everyone has bought a car at some point in their lives, and so most people think buying a bus is similar. From some smaller bus dealerships, that may be true, but not when you decide to buy from BusWest. Our sales team are not set to compete with one another which normally leads to poor customer service, instead, we have trained all our salesforce to work together to help you the customer find your ideal bus. At BusWest, we've simplified the whole process to make it easy to buy a bus which allows you to start helping your clients and to make money as soon as possible. All you have to do is call us, then we will help complete all the paperwork you need to do, and we'll even work with the DMV for you as well. We are the bus experts, so you don't have to be.

Q: What do I do if my bus breaks down... can I just call a regular tow company?
A: It depends on the size of your bus. Normally, typical tow companies can't accomodate larger buses. Your safest bet in an emergency is to call BusWest on 800.458.9199. Our service departments have the contacts you need to safely tow your vehicle to the nearest BusWest/Velocity Vehicle Group service facility. Once the bus arrives at any of our locations, our techs will work diligently to resolve the issue with your bus, and fix it, with your permission, as fast as possible, so you can go back to your business with the least amount of down time.

Q: Where can I find parts for my bus, its not a common bus?
A: BusWest, or rather Velocity Vehicle Group can help. We operate several bulk warehouses across multiple VVG locations, with dedicated truck, bus, motorhome and trailer parts for just about every type of vehicle around, old and new. We can find you most parts and get them to you very fast, and at a great price too. If you don't want to pay shipping, we have an internal shuttle system that can take parts to any of our local facilities where you can go to pick it up at no extra cost. PLUS, we also operate a 24/7 parts hotline to give you access to our parts anytime. Call 877-PartsLA for 24/7 parts.

Q: Do you sell environmentally friendly buses?
A: Everyone is concerned with the environment and our impact on air quality, especially in California. We have several models of buses that our manufacturers have introduced to try and reduce the carbon diesel impact we produce. We offer a CNG version of our larger ThomasBuilt HDX school bus, and we are bringing to the market a Hybrid Conventional C2 School bus this year. On the commercial side, we offer a great Hybrid Transit style bus, that can run on battery power, i.e. zero emissions. We can also build our regular shuttle bus types with low poluting diesel engines, or CNG/LNG conversions for some models. Call us and we can help find you the best solution for your company and the planet.

School Buses

Q: Is a Freightliner chassis the only chassis choice for a new Thomas conventional school bus?
A: Yes. Due to the outstanding features of the Freightliner chassis, demand for a Thomas body mounted on other brands of conventional chassis has declined significantly. Continuing to produce low volume models increases manufacturing and support costs to Thomas and its dealer organization because there are numerous exclusive parts required to interface with various chassis brands. Continuous improvement of our processes will ensure the level of quality you expect and deserve from a Thomas Built bus. So that we can focus our efforts on delivering the finest integrated conventional bus on the market, we are only accepting orders for Freightliner/Thomas conventionals.

Q: How many school buses are in service nationwide and how many students ride them?
A: Approximately 450,000 school buses transport 25 million students about 23 million miles...every school day!

Q: Why are school buses yellow?
A: This distinct color is called "National School Bus Yellow." It has been the standard color for school buses built after 1977 due to its high visibility characteristics. The color is immediately recognizable to motorist who should always proceed with caution when near a school bus.

Q: Is a day care center required to use a school bus to transport children?
A: Recently, school bus law interpretations have been extended to any group that regularly transports children to and from school or school related activities. It is a violation of federal law for a new car dealer to sell a van to anyone that will transport children to and from school or school related activities. Some states specifically require day care centers and private schools to use school buses. Contact your state officials or your insurance carrier for more information.

Q: Do you have to have a commercial driver's license to drive a Minotour, one of your smaller buses?
A: A commercial driver's license is required if you are driving a vehicle capable of carrying more than 15 passengers, or if you are driving a vehicle carrying more than 11 passengers to and from school or a school-related activity. Some states have additional requirements for drivers. Thomas' Minotours typically carry more passengers and thus require the driver to possess a valid commercial driver's license. At Thomas, we encourage anyone transporting children for a public or private organization to obtain a commercial driver's license and take any special school bus training that a state or school district requires.

Q: What is the Thomas position on lap belts in large school buses?
A: Thomas Built Buses, Inc. is a leader in the design and manufacture of school buses that incorporate proven, state-of-the-art features to protect passengers in the event of a crash. School bus transportation is one of the safest forms of transportation in the U.S., in part because of the stringent safety requirements and many heavy-duty design features of the modern school bus. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), during 2000, twelve passengers died in school bus crashes; compared to the 8,027 children (ages 5-20) who died in all vehicle crashes. Since 1990, on the average, approximately eight passengers per year die in school bus crashes; compared to more than 41,000 overall annual traffic fatalities.

Compartmentalization is one effective technique that Thomas Built uses to protect occupants in the event of a school bus crash. Adding padded seats with energy-absorbing backs and placing them in a close and geometrical configuration creates a protective envelope that provides measurable crash protection. The NHTSA's Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards mandate this configuration as well as many other safety requirements to improve protection in rollovers and impact crashes, including, emergency exits, reinforced roof structures, protected fuel systems, and strong body joints.

Thomas Built also provides lap seat belts for customers who specify them. This currently includes customers in Florida, New Jersey, and New York. Thomas Built and Freightliner support the NHTSA in its efforts to establish the "Next Generation Safety Research Plan" for school buses and will support the NHTSA and other federal agencies, including the National Transportation Safety Board, as research and analysis is conducted on school bus crashworthiness. Thomas Built and Freightliner are committed to proactively improving the safety of children and other school bus passengers.

Q: Why SCR with DEF?
A: The advantage of using DEF is that it enables the engine to use less EGR and higher oxygen levels, offering more efficient combustion. DEF allows us to avoid the disadvantages of increasing EGR to extreme levels and meets the EPA’s requirements of near-zero NOx emissions (0.2g/hp-hr NOx). The results are maximum fuel efficiency and an emission of nitrogen and water, which are elements in the air we breathe every day.

Q: What is DEF?
A: DEF stands for Diesel Exhaust Fluid, which is an aqueous solution of 32.5% urea and 67.5% deionized water. It is clear, non-toxic, biodegradable and non-flammable.

Q: Is DEF easy to obtain?
A: There will be an ample supply of DEF in North America as engine manufacturers are working closely with distributor and dealer networks. DEF will be available for customers to purchase through distributors, dealers, truck stops and central fueling stations for fleets.

Q: What is the shelf life of DEF?
A: The shelf life of DEF is expected to be six months to one year, which is similar to most automotive fluids.

Q: How much DEF will I need?
A: The DEF to diesel fuel consumption ratio is approximately 2~5%, dependent on the vehicle. The recommended vehicle tank size is 11 gallons. DEF weight per gallon is 9.21 lbs. On average for every 100 gallons of diesel fuel a bus uses, you will need 2.5 gallons of DEF. If the average vehicle gets 7 mpg and travels about 12,000 miles per year, you will use about 1,700 gallons of diesel and 43 gallons of DEF. With an 11 gallon DEF tank, you will only need to refill your DEF tank 4 times per year.

Q: How much does DEF cost?
A: DEF is expected to cost the same as diesel fuel.

Q: How does temperature affect DEF?
A: The SCR system is designed to provide heating for the DEF tank and supply lines. The freezing point of DEF is 11°F. If DEF freezes, start up and normal operation of the vehicle is not inhibited. DEF is not damaged or destroyed if it is frozen and is fully usable when thawed. The EPA will allow a vehicle to run for a period of time while DEF thaws.

Q: How do I know when my vehicle is low on DEF?
A: A dash-mounted gauge will notify drivers via an escalating driver-warning system as DEF tank levels reduce. Ample warning will be given before the DEF tank empties. An empty tank will not cause the bus to shut down while driving. A five mph de-rate will only occur after the bus has been turned off and restarted.

Q: Is SCR compatible with current Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF) systems?
A: SCR systems are designed to be fully compatible with DPF systems with minimal body changes required to the vehicle.

Safety, Security, Health and Environment

Q: How safe is the school bus? How can it be safer than a car with airbags and seatbelts?
A: The National Academy of Sciences, the U.S. Department of Transportation and other authorities agree that school buses are the safest form of transportation for getting children to and from school. Some 475,000 school buses transport 25 million children – more than half of America’s school children – each day, and complete 10 billion passenger trips and 4.3 billion miles per year, almost always without a serious incident.

Riding in a school bus is much safer than using any other form of transportation – including personal vehicles and railroad and airline travel. According to the Transportation Research Board, part of the National Academy of Sciences, a child is 13 times safer in a school bus than in other modes of travel. Children driving to school or riding with other teenage drivers are 44 times more likely to be fatally injured than in a school bus. (“The Relative Risks of School Travel,” 2002.)

Q: Why don’t school buses have seat belts?
A: School buses are the safest way to transport your children to and from school. The color and size of school buses make them easily visible and identifiable, their height provides good driver visibility and raises the bus passenger compartment above car impact height; and emergency vehicles are the only other vehicle on the road that can stop traffic like a school bus can.

School buses are carefully designed on a different transportation and protection model than the average passenger car. The children are protected like eggs in an egg carton – compartmentalized, and surrounded with padding and structural integrity to secure the entire container. The seat backs are raised and the shell is reinforced for protection against impact.

There are other differences to consider between your car and your child’s school bus. In your car, you can supervise your child and ensure that your child’s belt remains properly secured. School buses use what is called “passive restraint,” meaning all a child must do to be protected is simply sit down in a seat. School buses also must be designed to be multi-purpose, fitting everything from a six year-old to an 18 year-old senior on the high school football team in full uniform. Sometimes it’s two to a seat, other times three. Because of this, emphasis is placed on protecting the entire valuable cargo.

Q: The school bus looks like it’s hardly changed in decades. Where’s the modernization?
A: Although school buses have been the safest mode of transportation on the road for decades, the school bus industry is continuously working on new technology and safety features to make our children as safe as possible.

School buses have remained distinctive in color and basic shape for years – preserving their easy identification by the rest of our communities. However, beneath this familiar shape is a modern generation of school bus with dozens of improvements. New buses regularly incorporate new safety features, all designed with the goal of keeping our children safe. You may not see all of them, as improvements are constantly being made both internally and externally with each new model. Different buses from different manufacturers will include different new features, but some examples are:

* Gate arms attached to the front of the bus help guarantee children walk out where the driver can see them at all times.
* “Sleeping child alarm” in the rear of the bus guarantees the driver checks each seat at the end of his or her route.
* New designs of the front windows, mirrors and the driver’s seat location give drivers a better view of the road and of students.
* Reinforced side panels resist side impacts.
* Increased emergency exit space allows quick and easy evacuation if necessary.
* Higher seat backs to increase the effectiveness of passenger protection.
* High visibility exterior markings to increase traffic awareness.

Q: What kinds of regulations must school buses abide by?
A: School buses abide by a host of federal, state and local regulations that govern their production, maintenance and operation. For full details on school bus guidelines, please visit our list of safety attributes and mandates.

Regulations vary slightly from state to state, but certain federal guidelines ensure that every bus in every state meets high safety and upkeep requirements. Unfortunately, many of these laws are unfunded mandates, placing the onus to pay for compliance on states, local school districts or school bus operators.

Although the federal government sets requirements for school buses, such as pollution limits and safety features, it does not provide any direct, regular funding to meet these or other expenses. With federal funding to complement these federal regulations, school buses in all states could adhere to even higher safety standards and expand their service.

Q: How are school bus drivers trained? [Can they be trusted with my child?]
A: School bus drivers are the most highly trained, tested and scrutinized drivers on the road. All school bus drivers must obtain a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) and must pass written and skills tests to obtain a School Bus Endorsement.

Once they have their licenses, drivers receive specialized classroom and behind-the-wheel training in driving a school bus, student loading/unloading procedures, student evacuation, student behavior and security management, and emergency medical procedures. School bus drivers are carefully monitored by the school district and/or company that manages school bus fleets to ensure that they continue to meet strict safety standards.

In addition, all school bus drivers are required to participate in pre-employment, random and post-accident drug and alcohol testing, undergo frequent driving record checks, and pass periodic medical exams to ensure they are physically qualified. Many of these drivers also must pass background checks prior to employment.

Q: Is bus driver a safe person?
A: In addition to their rigorous training, all school bus drivers are required to participate in pre-employment, random and post-accident drug and alcohol testing, undergo frequent driving record checks, and pass periodic medical exams to ensure they are physicaly qualified. Many of these drivers also must pass background checks prior to employment.

Q: How can I be sure that my child is safe from bullying on the bus?
A: The American School Bus Council is concerned about bullying on school buses, just as our educators are concerned with bullying in the classroom. School bus drivers are being trained with new techniques to manage student behavior and are partnering with school administrators to address the issue. Many school buses now have cameras installed, both inside and out, to monitor students and help with identification and resolution of problems. Another benefit of this technology and training is to enhance the security of our students while they are on the school bus.

Q: Is it healthy for my child to ride the school bus?
A: The school bus keeps children – and the environment – safe. By providing convenient transportation for millions of school children, school buses reduce the number of cars that would otherwise be on the road. The school bus helps parents save money on gasoline, reduces traffic congestion (especially around school walking zones, where our children are most vulnerable) and also reduces the nation’s dependence on oil.

Model year 2007 school buses are 60 times cleaner than those built before 1990, and, as older buses are replaced with newer, cleaner burning ones, they will further reduce our pollution and fuel usage. In addition, since 2003 school bus operators have retrofitted more than 12,000 school buses with emissions-reduction technology through the help of the Environmental Protection Agency’s Clean School Bus grants. If all 25 million children who ride the school bus each day were driven by their parents instead, a substantial amount of additional carbon monoxide would pollute the air each year. School bus manufacturers also are making large investments in new diesel, natural-gas, electric hybrid and other engines to further reduce pollution.

Q: What can parents do to help keep kids safe on and off the school bus?
A: The American School Bus Council is working hard to keep children safe, but there are things you and your child can do to take an active role in staying safe.

* Walk your child to and from the bus stop. If possible, wait with him or her until the bus arrives.
* Be alert to traffic. Check both ways for cars before stepping off the bus.
* Wait for the bus driver’s signal before crossing the street.
* Walk in front of the bus; never walk behind the bus to cross the street.
* While waiting for the bus, stay in a safe place away from the street.
* Before leaving the sidewalk, look for the flashing lights.
* Never go under the bus to retrieve something you’ve dropped.
* Teach your child the importance of staying seated on the bus.
* Get to know your bus driver. He or she is a trained professional who sees your child every day; he or she would be happy to tell you about the safety features on the bus and the responsibility drivers have for keeping their young passengers safe.
* Get to know the parents of other riders. You will learn about the other children your riding along with your child.
* Sign up for American School Bus Council updates to stay informed about the latest news and information on school buses.
* Read "Carmen Loves the Bus" with your child.