When school buses get too old, most school districts sell them off in order to have some capital to invest in a new buses. It is the most obvious and simple way to handle the issue, and many of the retired buses get a new life transporting another group of passengers. But, it isn’t always the best option.
Older school buses can also easily be given a second lease on life by replacing their engines, which can save you money, cut down on emissions, and keep your fleet running more efficiently.
This is especially useful if your school district is dealing with more budget cuts and belt tightening. Once buses get around the 20-year-old mark, it is much more cost efficient to buy a newer used school bus compared to purchasing a new bus off the lot. Even if you have to replace the engine on the newer used bus, you’ll find you still paid a fraction of the price for a bus that drives like new.
When replacing the engine, you are also given some options that could save your fleet money down the line. Instead of replacing the engine with a new cleaned up version of the same engine, you are able to swap out the standard diesel powered engines with something more energy friendly, such as natural gas or compressed natural gas (CNG). Bus engines that run off these types of fuel systems release drastically less amounts of emissions, while simultaneously cutting the costs of fuel.
Used or older buses can still be a reliable and important part of your fleet, and they are often the smarter choice for school districts looking to keep costs down while they maintain a quality fleet service for their students. It might not be fresh off the lot, but your passengers will never know the difference.
