In today’s rapidly evolving industrial landscape, sustainability has become a global focus. But what does that even mean? For Thomas Built Buses, it’s about defining our commitment to our organization, our industry and the communities we serve. While our electric school bus, the Saf-T-Liner® C2 Jouley®, and its many milestones (including the recent delivery of our 1,000th) often come to…
Upgrading the C2’s User-Experience for a New Era of Drivers
Student safety is in the hands of school bus drivers. The more comfortable and confident drivers feel, the more safely they drive.
For the last 20 years, Thomas Built Buses has supplied the industry with advanced electronics engineered with safety prioritized in every detail. Our Saf-T-Liner® C2 was designed…
As electric school buses continue to gain momentum across the U.S. through federal incentives like the EPA’s Clean School Bus Program, school districts are looking for help in transitioning their traditional bus fleets to electric, including building out electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure.
Building and implementing charging infrastructure can be a daunting task, with challenges…
From Kendra Eads, VP of Engineering and Technology at Thomas Built Buses
As we gear up for the back-to-school season, it’s important to recognize the significant advancements in school bus technology that enhance the safety and well-being of our students during their daily journeys.
At Thomas Built Buses, our commitment to safety is evident in our mission and…
Corrosion protection has never been more important than it is today, especially since winter weather de-icing chemicals are stronger than ever. Road salt is a major corrosion culprit, but even worse are newer de-icing formulas, which include calcium chloride and magnesium chloride.
On any bus, protective finishes can wear off over time, or become damaged from rocks or gravel. When corrosive elements such as acid rain or de-icers settle on the body or up in the undercarriage, they slowly eat away at the chassis, bumpers, or even wiring of the bus, resulting in destructive and costly damage.
The Federal Highway Administration estimates that damage from corrosion costs around $276 billion each year for school buses and trucking combined. Because buses are expected to have a longer lifecycle than many other vehicles, premature bus retirement due to corrosion damage is not a wise risk to take.
Spending a little more time and money to prevent corrosion can drastically decrease your maintenance costs down the road, lower your overall total cost of ownership, and keep your bus on the road longer.
One of the easiest ways to protect your investment is with corrosion protection such as the Fleetshield™ corrosion protection treatments offered by Thomas Built Buses, which include Tuffcoat, EdgeCover, and UnderGuard.
In addition to protective treatments, it is also important to keep buses clean. Be sure to wash buses with a soap and water mix often to eliminate corrosion causing agents. Also, don’t forget about the undercarriage of the bus.
Lastly, if there is existing damage due to corrosion, repair and coat the area to prevent further spot corrosion that can spread. If your fleet is experiencing corrosion issues or if you are interested in preventing corrosion on you current fleet, talk to one of the Thomas Built dealers to learn how they can help.