While a breakdown of a passenger car or vehicle can be a hassle for the driver, a bus breakdown is a much bigger headache. Many people count on buses for their transportation, whether it’s to go to town, to reach special events or to get to school. At the very least, a bus that’s out of service is a headache, and if something goes wrong on the road, it can be downright dangerous. This is true for school buses, city buses, coaches or any other type of bus you have in your fleet.
To avoid frustrating breakdowns and potentially serious accidents, bus maintenance is critical. A regular maintenance and service schedule doesn’t necessarily cost much and usually saves big money over the price of emergency repairs when something breaks because it wasn’t serviced. Our Rohrer Bus team understands the importance of bus maintenance, and we make sure all the buses we have for sale and rent are clean and properly maintained to improve comfort and reliability. Here are some bus maintenance tips to help you keep your fleet fully operational.
Taking regular care of your bus is often enough to prolong its life and avoid reliability issues. Start with a simple cleaning schedule inside and out. This can help you identify problems before they occur, such as issues with windows, doors, seat mounts, etc. Keep dirt from accumulating in heaters and vents to avoid problems with the heating and ventilation system. Check all bulbs and switches in the seating areas, as well in the driver’s zone, to make sure everything is functioning properly.
On the outside, simple, low-cost maintenance items like checking tire air pressures, verifying the fuel cap, inspecting the body for damage, and tightening any loose screws on lights, signals, handles, and moldings only take a few minutes and help ensure everything is in tip-top shape.
Next, it’s time to get your hands dirty. While a bus requires a mechanic’s attention on a regular basis to check everything over, there are a few cost-effective bus maintenance items you can take care of before every trip to help avoid and identify issues before they occur. Check things like:
A qualified professional can perform other routine checks and maintenance services like greasing fittings, changing filters, checking brake pads and shoes, and verifying the overall integrity of the bus chassis, drivetrain, body and electrical systems. When they spot a problem as it starts — for example, a coolant leak or worn brake pads — they can generally repair it for less than if you continue to drive the bus and it requires emergency attention. In serious cases, a lack of bus maintenance can lead to an accident, so create your daily, weekly, and monthly bus maintenance checklist today to make sure you don’t forget anything.
You can contact us here at Rohrer Bus if you have any questions about additional cost-effective bus maintenance and preventive cleaning tips for your buses. We would be happy to help you find affordable ways to maintain your fleet and ensure safe and convenient passage for all your bus riders!
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