30 S C H O O L B U S F L E E T • S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 0

In the second edition of SCHOOL BUS FLEET’s Equip-

ment Survey, we delved into the topics of technology and

the EPA’s 2010 emissions standards.

When the survey was conducted in mid-July, 32 percent

of respondents had begun running school buses equipped

with engine technology to meet the 2010 standards.

Of those who are running 2010 buses, 43 percent said it

was too early to rate their quality and dependability. Still, 36

percent were ready to deem them good or excellent.

Perhaps refl ecting the budget crises that many school dis-

tricts are facing, 55 percent of respondents don’t expect to

get their fi rst 2010-compliant buses until after the 2010-11

school year.

Elsewhere in the survey, we looked for trends in school

bus operations’ implementation of routing software and

GPS. The percentage of respondents (61) who use a com-

puterized program for routing stayed the same as last year.

But the percentage of those who use GPS to monitor their

buses jumped from 19 to 31.

Another fi nding was that 26 percent of respondents

have video surveillance systems on their entire school bus

fl eet, while 16 percent don’t have surveillance on any of

their buses.

Thirty-nine percent of respondents have lap-shoulder belts

for passengers on some or all of their school buses. Seventy

percent have lap belts on some or all of their buses.

Not represented in a chart: We asked respondents what

one type of equipment they would most like to have on their

buses that they don’t already have.

By far, the most common answer was GPS, at 24 percent of

respondents. Fourteen percent said they want video surveil-

lance systems, and 10 percent said air conditioning.

Other responses included engine preheaters, student ID

card readers, remote-controlled mirrors and wireless Inter-

net access. On the other hand, several respondents said that

there’s no other equipment they want, with one person even

noting, “Too much already.”

For this survey, a questionnaire was e-mailed to directors

and managers at school district transportation departments

and school bus contractor companies with a variety of fl eet

sizes. A total of 134 responses was received. Our thanks to

everyone who participated. thomas.mcmahon@bobit.com

This year’s survey fi nds that the percentage of

respondents using GPS jumped from 19 to 31.

The tracking technology is also the most-wanted

type of equipment.

BY THOMAS MCMAHON, EXECUTIVE EDITOR

GPS Is in

Demand for School Bus Fleets

2010 equipment surveyw

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31S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 0 • S C H O O L B U S F L E E T

Yes

32%

No

68%

Running 2010 buses yet?

At the time of the survey (mid-July), about a third (32 percent) of respondents had begun running school buses equipped with engine technology to meet the EPA’s 2010 emissions standards.

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60%0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50%

After 2010-11

2nd half 2010-11

1st half 2010-11

Before 2010-11

Percentage of Respondents

16%

16%

13%

55%

If not yet, when do you expect to get them?

Among those not yet running 2010-compliant buses, more than half (55 percent) don’t expect to get their fi rst models until after the 2010-11 school year.

Good

24%

Fair

11%Poor

10%

Too early to tell

43%

Excellent

12%

If so, how do you rate them?

While close to half (43 percent) of respondents who are running 2010 buses say it’s too early to rate their quality and dependability, more than a third (36 per-cent) deem them good or excellent.

Positive

9%Somewhat

positive

16%

Neutral

25%

Somewhat negative

15%

Negative

11%

Not sure

24%

Impact of the 2010 standards?

Respondents are spread across the spectrum when it comes to how they de-scribe the overall impact of the 2010 emissions standards.

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32 S C H O O L B U S F L E E T • S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 0

Percentage of Respondents

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80%0%

100%

75-99%

50-74%

25-49%

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How much of your fl eet has …?

LAP-SHOULDER BELTS

Percentage of Respondents

0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35% 40% 45% 50%0%

100%

75-99%

50-74%

25-49%

1-24%

0%

44%

Perc

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et

2%4%

11%8%

31%AIR CONDITIONING

Percentage of Respondents

0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35% 40%0% 5% 10%

100%

75-99%

50-74%

25-49%

1-24%

0%

37%

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12%8%

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30%LAP BELTS

Percentage of Respondents

0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30%0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25%

100%

75-99%

50-74%

25-49%

1-24%

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15%

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et

26%20%

15%8%

16%VIDEO SURVEILLANCE

Nearly two-fi fths (39 percent) of respondents have lap-shoulder belts for passengers on some or all of their school buses. Seventy percent have lap belts on some or all of their buses. Just over a quarter (26 percent) of respondents have video surveillance systems on their entire school bus fl eet, while 16 percent don’t have surveillance on any buses.

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33S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 0 • S C H O O L B U S F L E E T

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Yes

61%

No

39%

Use routing software?

About three-fi fths (61 percent) of the operations surveyed use a computerized program for routing. The percentages were the same last year.

Yes

31%

No

69%

Use GPS?

In a big jump from last year’s survey, 31 percent (up from 19 per-cent) of respondents are using GPS to monitor their buses.

SBF9survey_revised.indd 33SBF9survey_revised.indd 33 8/30/10 7:32:41 AM8/30/10 7:32:41 AM

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Because every mile matters.SM

did its best to make

the world a greener place.

Imagine if every

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www.schoolbusfleet.com/freeinfo/19125

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