Print
E-mail
Comment
Nuts & Bolts: School district mechanics make sure buses are safe for students
Statistically, children are safer riding on a school bus than in the family car.
By By: Susan Dage-Ruby
Statistically, children are safer riding on a school bus than in the family car.
One reason can be found in the construction of the bus, but most of the greater safety is because of intensive inspections and maintenance, said Larry Kirby, Douglas County School District's Castle Rock shop foreman.
In the school district, there is a cadre of mechanics dedicated to making sure that the county's most precious cargo - the children - remain safe on a daily basis.
"Along with our bus drivers, our mechanics are key to keeping our vehicles safe," said Scott Benefield, district director of transportation.
Bus drivers go through 80 hours of training, Benefield said. Part of the drivers' job is to check the bus before it begins its route and again after it returns. Any problems are reported to the mechanics.
The district's mechanics are trained to check for key maintenance issues, Kirby said.
"Every person that works on a school bus carries a state certificate in the repair and service of buses," Kirby said. They are certified in air brakes, diesel emissions and have a commercial drivers' licenses with a permit to operate a vehicle which transports more than 19 persons.
District mechanics are hired based on their background and scores on a nationwide standard proficiency test which earns an Automotive Society of Excellence certificate.
"The school district has some high standards," Kirby said.
However, no one quibbles with the requirements.
School bus mileage is tracked each time the driver fills the tank, Kirby said. The mileage is put into a database and at the 8,000-mile mark, the bus is pulled off the line for a 40-point inspection.
That inspection involves myriad checks and adjustments that include oil and filter changes, greasing the gears, adjusting brakes, checking heat and comfort levels and road-testing the vehicle.
Even to inspect a bus in which no mechanical problems are found, Kirby said, the safety-check process takes about four hours for a mechanic to go over the 40-point checklist.
Each year, buses are pulled off the line for a 120-point inspection which checks everything from the wheels to the engine, he said.
During the yearly inspection, a bus can be off-line for any time from one-and-a-half to two days and up to four days, if repair work is needed, Walk said.
The bus fleet keeps about 20 percent of its vehicles available for replacements when a bus has to go into the shop, Benefield said.
The database keeps records of bus inspections and repairs, Kirby said. These records can track the frequency of tune-ups, tire mileage and other unscheduled or scheduled maintenance on any of the district's 213 buses, he said.
The mechanics not only work on the engines and brake systems, but are capable of doing body work and replacing windows and upholstery.
One longtime employee retired several years ago but comes back 110 days a year to continue working, Kirby said.
"At [age] 76, he can still run circles around me," he said. "Dick [Correy] can heat, cool, shrink and pull metal back into shape like no one I've ever seen."
Before coming to the school district, Correy owned a body shop, Kirby said.
Most of the mechanics came to the district from some place else, Kirby said.
A mechanic for nearly 40 years, Kirby worked as a truck mechanic for a local drilling company. He's been with the district for 17 years. Another mechanic has a background in aircraft.
"Every man here is good at what they do," Kirby said. "They are dedicated to keeping the fleet up and running."
The motto at the district seems to depict "safety first" and "Anything I know that can help you, I'll share," Kirby said.
Sharing takes many forms, Kirby said.
Any other school district that finds one of its buses stranded in district can call mechanics for help, said Gary Walk, district service manager.
"And we know that if we are stranded somewhere else, they will do the same for us," Kirby said.
One early morning, Kirby got a call after a church bus from Divide blew a tire on Interstate 25, he said.
"We went down and fixed the bus with one of our tires and got them home," Kirby said. The church later returned the tire after it theirs was repaired.
"We don't charge for these services," Kirby said. "Those we help usually replace the part we give them."
The same holds true for a Douglas County School District bus, Walk said.
"If any of our buses breaks down we know who to call," Kirby said. Such services between school districts prevents a lot of down-time because it cuts the wait for assistance.
The district also contracts with the Elbert County School District for all of its bus repairs and maintenance.
"It works well for both of us," Walk said. "Elbert doesn't have the space and we can get them a better rate for parts."
District buses also were used during the Hayman fire in June to transport evacuees, firemen and anyone else who needed to get somewhere, Walk said.
"The mechanics almost were called on to help with fire engine repair, but things slowed down before then," Walk said. "For a while there it was a 24-hour a day job."
Keeping the fleet up and running is only part of the mechanics' jobs, Kirby said.
"We are in charge of keeping all district vehicles running," Kirby said. "That includes passenger cars, pickup trucks, delivery vans and the like."
The district is self-contained, with the ability to do towing, run buses through a wash and fuel the fleet.
The 10 mechanics at Castle Rock or the five mechanics in the Parker bus garage are kept busy with inspections and repairs.
Each new bus that comes to the district undergoes a thorough inspection before it's put on the line.
"Each bus is built to district specifications," Kirby said. "Once a bus is received, every bus is measured, inspected and documented to make sure the bus meets the state and district requirements."
The district reserves the right to refuse a bus if it is substandard or requires the manufacturer to make corrections before the bus is accepted, Walk said.
"Buses need to conform to Colorado Department of Education minimum standards as well as the school district's," Kirby said. "It takes about three-and-a-half to five days to complete initial the inspection."
Once a bus is ordered it takes about 180 days for delivery, Walk said.
"When we receive the bus we inspect it to make sure the taxpayer is getting exactly what they paid for," Walk said.
It is at that time the district installs two-way radios, video cameras and other features specific to district buses, he said.
The district maintains bus terminals in Castle Rock and Parker. It also is looking to open a terminal in Highlands Ranch, Walk said. The Highlands Ranch shop would be staffed with four more mechanics.
The mechanics at the district terminals are committed to doing an excellent job, Benefield said.
"After working here a while, we all bleed yellow," Kirby said.
One reason can be found in the construction of the bus, but most of the greater safety is because of intensive inspections and maintenance, said Larry Kirby, Douglas County School District's Castle Rock shop foreman.
In the school district, there is a cadre of mechanics dedicated to making sure that the county's most precious cargo - the children - remain safe on a daily basis.
"Along with our bus drivers, our mechanics are key to keeping our vehicles safe," said Scott Benefield, district director of transportation.
Bus drivers go through 80 hours of training, Benefield said. Part of the drivers' job is to check the bus before it begins its route and again after it returns. Any problems are reported to the mechanics.
The district's mechanics are trained to check for key maintenance issues, Kirby said.
"Every person that works on a school bus carries a state certificate in the repair and service of buses," Kirby said. They are certified in air brakes, diesel emissions and have a commercial drivers' licenses with a permit to operate a vehicle which transports more than 19 persons.
District mechanics are hired based on their background and scores on a nationwide standard proficiency test which earns an Automotive Society of Excellence certificate.
"The school district has some high standards," Kirby said.
However, no one quibbles with the requirements.
School bus mileage is tracked each time the driver fills the tank, Kirby said. The mileage is put into a database and at the 8,000-mile mark, the bus is pulled off the line for a 40-point inspection.
That inspection involves myriad checks and adjustments that include oil and filter changes, greasing the gears, adjusting brakes, checking heat and comfort levels and road-testing the vehicle.
Even to inspect a bus in which no mechanical problems are found, Kirby said, the safety-check process takes about four hours for a mechanic to go over the 40-point checklist.
Each year, buses are pulled off the line for a 120-point inspection which checks everything from the wheels to the engine, he said.
During the yearly inspection, a bus can be off-line for any time from one-and-a-half to two days and up to four days, if repair work is needed, Walk said.
The bus fleet keeps about 20 percent of its vehicles available for replacements when a bus has to go into the shop, Benefield said.
The database keeps records of bus inspections and repairs, Kirby said. These records can track the frequency of tune-ups, tire mileage and other unscheduled or scheduled maintenance on any of the district's 213 buses, he said.
The mechanics not only work on the engines and brake systems, but are capable of doing body work and replacing windows and upholstery.
One longtime employee retired several years ago but comes back 110 days a year to continue working, Kirby said.
"At [age] 76, he can still run circles around me," he said. "Dick [Correy] can heat, cool, shrink and pull metal back into shape like no one I've ever seen."
Before coming to the school district, Correy owned a body shop, Kirby said.
Most of the mechanics came to the district from some place else, Kirby said.
A mechanic for nearly 40 years, Kirby worked as a truck mechanic for a local drilling company. He's been with the district for 17 years. Another mechanic has a background in aircraft.
"Every man here is good at what they do," Kirby said. "They are dedicated to keeping the fleet up and running."
The motto at the district seems to depict "safety first" and "Anything I know that can help you, I'll share," Kirby said.
Sharing takes many forms, Kirby said.
Any other school district that finds one of its buses stranded in district can call mechanics for help, said Gary Walk, district service manager.
"And we know that if we are stranded somewhere else, they will do the same for us," Kirby said.
One early morning, Kirby got a call after a church bus from Divide blew a tire on Interstate 25, he said.
"We went down and fixed the bus with one of our tires and got them home," Kirby said. The church later returned the tire after it theirs was repaired.
"We don't charge for these services," Kirby said. "Those we help usually replace the part we give them."
The same holds true for a Douglas County School District bus, Walk said.
"If any of our buses breaks down we know who to call," Kirby said. Such services between school districts prevents a lot of down-time because it cuts the wait for assistance.
The district also contracts with the Elbert County School District for all of its bus repairs and maintenance.
"It works well for both of us," Walk said. "Elbert doesn't have the space and we can get them a better rate for parts."
District buses also were used during the Hayman fire in June to transport evacuees, firemen and anyone else who needed to get somewhere, Walk said.
"The mechanics almost were called on to help with fire engine repair, but things slowed down before then," Walk said. "For a while there it was a 24-hour a day job."
Keeping the fleet up and running is only part of the mechanics' jobs, Kirby said.
"We are in charge of keeping all district vehicles running," Kirby said. "That includes passenger cars, pickup trucks, delivery vans and the like."
The district is self-contained, with the ability to do towing, run buses through a wash and fuel the fleet.
The 10 mechanics at Castle Rock or the five mechanics in the Parker bus garage are kept busy with inspections and repairs.
Each new bus that comes to the district undergoes a thorough inspection before it's put on the line.
"Each bus is built to district specifications," Kirby said. "Once a bus is received, every bus is measured, inspected and documented to make sure the bus meets the state and district requirements."
The district reserves the right to refuse a bus if it is substandard or requires the manufacturer to make corrections before the bus is accepted, Walk said.
"Buses need to conform to Colorado Department of Education minimum standards as well as the school district's," Kirby said. "It takes about three-and-a-half to five days to complete initial the inspection."
Once a bus is ordered it takes about 180 days for delivery, Walk said.
"When we receive the bus we inspect it to make sure the taxpayer is getting exactly what they paid for," Walk said.
It is at that time the district installs two-way radios, video cameras and other features specific to district buses, he said.
The district maintains bus terminals in Castle Rock and Parker. It also is looking to open a terminal in Highlands Ranch, Walk said. The Highlands Ranch shop would be staffed with four more mechanics.
The mechanics at the district terminals are committed to doing an excellent job, Benefield said.
"After working here a while, we all bleed yellow," Kirby said.
Submit a Comment
|
You must be logged in to post a comment.
|
Not yet a registered member?
Click here to become one. |
