The DeKalb County School System has taken delivery of three new buses for the 2013-14 school year.
The new Blue Birds have Cummins 6.3 turbo diesel engines with systems that reduce emissions and boost mileage.
Transportation Director Jimmy Sprague told the Review that he is pleased with the advances in safety, emissions and fuel mileage in the new units, particularly the new emissions measures and safety features.
“There have been a lot of improvements in the last few years in buses,” Sprague said.
“The service door on these buses is 2.5 inches taller and 2.5 inches wider than older buses, and the driver’s compartment is more ergonomically designed and roomier. The Blue Bird also has the tightest turning radius of any school bus on the market.”
The new buses also feature diesel emissions fluid (DEF) injection.
DEF is an additive that reduces emissions and increases mileage.
“It reduces emissions to zero percent,” Sprague said. “You won’t see any black smoke out of these buses, and it makes them much quieter, too.”
The buses also pick up about two more mpg with the system, according to the transportation director.
Sprague said tough economic times affect the bus garage as well, and any savings he can squeeze out is welcome.
“It’s all about the budget, and we are doing everything we can to save money,” he said.
“The new buses come with ‘steer tires’ (tires required for the front, or steering end of the bus) all the way around, but we can run recaps, which are completely safe and much cheaper than ‘steer tires’ on the rear.
“What we do is take the new tires from the rear and save them for the front of the bus. The new tires are around $400 each, so it saves a lot of money.”
“We have also started buying bulk oil, which saves $2 a gallon on oil, and almost $3 a gallon on the DEF additive.”
Sprauge said new equipment in the shop has proven to be a money saver as well.
“We have purchased new computer-diagnostic programs that allow us to fix almost everything in house, which saves more money,” he informed.
“Last year we had two Caterpillar buses that had to be taken to the dealer to be fixed. Now we can do that same job in house, which saves money and time.”
Sprague said that above saving money and polluting less, his main concern is the safety of DeKalb County’s children.
“The safety of these kids is our main objective,” he said.
“The new buses have a three-camera DVR system. There is a camera in the back of the bus, one in the front, and one pointed at the stairwell to monitor who enters and exits the bus,” Sprague continued. “If a student comes up missing, I can review the video and see if the child got on or off the bus, and when. The tapes is not going to tell any fibs, whether it is a safety or a discipline issue.”
He said the lighting systems on the new buses even have safety back-up systems.
The buses have wig-wag lighting and l.e.d. flashers to allow them to be more easily seen, and an electronic system that instantly tells the driver if a bulb is out anywhere on the bus.
“If a driver loses a bulb while he’s on a route, he is informed right away,” Sprague said.
“We buy 16-ply tires with a thicker sidewall to withstand being run up against curbs while loading and unloading. Anything we can do to provide a safer trip to and from school is a plus. Taking care of these kids is the main priority.
“My own kids ride the bus, and I feel very comfortable with the safety aspect. I am proud to have good drivers and safe buses, and I’m looking forward to a new school year,” Sprague concluded.