1. Have a Stock of Parts
Making sure your mechanics have a stock of parts on hand will help maintenance move smoother and faster. A bus being out of commission can cause scheduling problems and financial issues, so the quicker you can get it back on the road, the better. You can find used school bus parts for sale for a lower price than buying them new, or stock up on used parts for your luxury buses or charter vans. Having some commonly used items on hand is a good way to avoid having to wait for something to be ordered in to finish a repair. You can search for used school bus parts for sale online, at local scrap yards, or at parts stores.
2. Employ Experienced Mechanics
Having parts on hand won’t help much if you don’t have a staff that knows how to use them. Employing a few experienced mechanics to keep up with repairs will be a great. They can perform general maintenance to all of your buses as well as bigger fixes when parts start to go bad. You want to make sure they have experience with buses, because although most vehicles work in a similar fashion, there are differences between working on a sedan and repairing a school bus.
3. Don’t Forget Basic Maintenance
Maintenance doesn’t just mean fixing what breaks. It also means keeping up with regular tasks like oil changes or checking tire pressure and batteries. The more effort is put into basic maintenance items such as those, the less likely it is that larger problems will arise. It also gives each bus a chance to be looked over regularly so that any issues can be found and addressed.
So long as these three tips are followed, there shouldn’t be any major problems. With the right parts on hand and a knowledgeable team, your fleet should be able to keep on moving for years to come.