School Bus Size Considerations: Factors to Keep in Mind When Making a Decision
School bus sizes and capacity vary, and some might better suit your needs than others. When purchasing a school bus, there’s a misconception that larger is always best. For some groups this might be the case, but excess space will also come with excess costs to consider. And yet, this is only one consideration when deciding the appropriate size of a school bus.
To choose the school bus size that meets your needs, consider the following.
Different Sizes of School Buses
It’s common knowledge that school buses aren't all the same size. But what’s less commonly known are the details pertaining to the different sizes of school buses. For instance, do you know the capacity of an average school bus size? Knowing these details can help inform your decision.
The average school bus size has a capacity of more than 70 passengers. These buses are known as Type C and have a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of over 21,500 pounds. And these factors bring up the question of whether your driver requires a commercial driver’s license (CDL).
A bus driver must have a CDL if transporting more than 16 passengers, or the bus has a GVWR of more than 26,001 pounds. If your organization doesn’t have a driver with a CDL, you’ll likely have to hire one for trips. On the other hand, your standard driver can always become certified.
Type A buses and Type B buses are also common, though not the standard. Type Type A buses transport between 14 and 33 Passengers, while Type B buses carry between 20 and 38 passengers in most configurations. If these align with your transportation needs, then they might be worth looking into.
Or perhaps your needs are greater, in which case you might consider a Type D school bus. Type D buses are more commonly known as “transit” buses and boast a passenger capacity of up to 84 passengers.
Passenger capacity isn’t the only difference in these bus varieties, but they’re likely where you’ll start. However, once you start thinking more about your bus needs, you’ll have other considerations to make.
Consider The Details
When considering different sizes of school buses, consider your reason for needing one. If you’re transporting a musical group, for instance, then storage is crucial for instruments. And if these trips are going to last more than a day, additional storage for luggage is required.
Remember that the needs of your group are more than space alone. When choosing a school bus size, consider all the factors. From the purpose of travel to comfort of passengers, every detail plays a role.
Safety plays a role in the bus size too. And safety means awareness as much as physical space. For example, the most important space around a school bus is called the “danger zone.” This is the area around the bus where the risk of being hit is the highest.
For any size of bus, this parameter is ten feet in all directions. However, since every school bus size isn’t the same, your driver might need to adjust. It’s important that the driver is comfortable with the new school bus size, whatever that size might be.
Consider Your Budget
Different types of school buses come in different sizes and with different amenities. Therefore, it’s obvious that they come with different price tags. But again, the price on the tag isn’t the only cost you need to consider.
If you’re considering buying a bus, as opposed to renting one, then you’ll have maintenance costs. Even so, these costs might be worth it instead of dealing with constant rentals. This is why it’s important to compare your need for the bus with your ongoing budget.
There are benefits to buying a new or previously owned bus. It all comes down to your needs and the type of school bus that meets those needs. And to help you navigate these options, it’s worth reaching out to the professionals.
Our dedicated team can help you understand the ins and outs of the various school bus sizes. Ultimately, they can help you choose the school bus size that addresses your needs. From space to capacity to maintenance to budget, there’s a school bus designed for you.
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Look at our inventory and get started on finding the right school bus size for your organization. We have a full range of school bus sizes, and one is just waiting for you.
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