As the school year winds down and your bus fleet gets a well-deserved break, summer is the ideal time to catch up on routine maintenance. It is essential to use this downtime to inspect, repair, and replace key components.
Many school districts take advantage of the summer lull to address both routine wear and safety compliance. Outlined below are the most commonly requested parts in our shop during this season.
Tip: Don’t delay when ordering parts—some items, like seat foam, tend to have longer lead times during summer due to high demand.
Key Maintenance Items for Summer
Air Filters
- Regular inspection and timely replacement of air filters ensure your fleet runs efficiently and helps extend engine life.
Seats
- Seat Foam – More than just cosmetic, well-maintained seat foam is essential for student safety, particularly due to compartmentalization design in non-belted school buses.
- Seat Covers – For worn or torn covers that can’t be patched, replacements are a must.
- Vinyl Repairs – Small rips or punctures? A vinyl repair kit might be all you need to keep seats looking and functioning well.
Paint Touch-Ups
- Fresh paint can restore your bus’s exterior and interior appearance, helping you maintain a professional and well-kept fleet.
Chains
- After a tough winter, inspect your bus chains for wear and replace as needed to stay safe on the road.
First Aid & Bodily Fluid Cleanup Kits
- These are required items for your Annual Inspection and Maintenance Test. Be sure to check and restock any depleted kits.
Roof Hatches
- Hail damage can compromise roof hatches. Now is a good time to inspect and replace any that aren’t in optimal condition.
While these are the top items we see in demand, summer is the perfect opportunity to review your entire fleet for any other needed repairs. Safety is always the top priority, and proactive maintenance ensures your buses are road-ready when the new school year begins.
From all of us at Colorado/West Equipment, Inc. and Nebraska/Central Equipment, Inc., we thank you for trusting us with your school bus parts and maintenance needs. We are here to help—contact us today to get started!