Bus Reports
Thomas Built Buses regularly publishes the BUS REPORT to provide important information and keep you informed.
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June 2015
Do You Have A Total Cost Reduction Plan?
As summer approaches, it’s the perfect time to begin developing a total cost reduction plan. Today, more and more transportation departments are focusing on Total Cost of Ownership, which includes initial purchase, fuel costs, maintenance, repairs and replacement parts. To learn more about TCO, watch this short animation.
The first step in creating a total cost reduction...
Total Cost of Ownership Pro Tip: Inspect Your Buses and Save Money
As the school year comes to an end, be sure to perform a thorough bus inspection. Inspect the entire bus and note any necessary repairs or replacement parts needed.
Proactively maintaining worn parts will save you money down the road and keep your buses out of the shop longer when the school year starts next fall.
March 2015
Decrease Downtime With Thomas Built Platinum Support
Thomas Built Buses has introduced a comprehensive new service program that focuses on getting your buses out of the shop and back out on the road. Known as Platinum Support, this new program ensures that certified dealers will provide fast turn-around on service and repairs, so you can save time and lower your overall service costs.
Each Platinum Support dealer undergoes rigorous trainin...
Total cost of ownership pro tip: Let our buses take your technicians to school.
A properly-maintained bus is safer, lasts longer and saves you money on every mile it travels. It’s one of the key factors to lowering the Total Cost of Ownership for each bus in your fleet.
So how do you make sure your in-house maintenance team is doing things right? Let Thomas Built educate them. At the Thomas Built Buses Technician Institute we can equip your technicians with the skills needed to keep your fleet running more efficiently. They’ll get hands-on training and up to 28 credit hours in less than a week! Register by April 11 to participate in our May session.
January 2015
Protect Your Biggest Investment From Corrosion
Winter is the perfect time to think about corrosion protection. In recent years, new de-icing materials have been implemented by many municipalities and states across the country. While they are more effective at keeping the roads safe, they are also harsher than traditional products and can increase corrosion of bus bodies and undercarriages. The chassis, bumpers, stepwell and even the wiring...
Total Cost of Ownership Pro Tip
Adopt these budget-friendly New Year’s Resolutions
The new year is a great time to implement strategies and tactics that can lower the total cost of ownership of every vehicle in your fleet. And, just like an effective New Year’s diet, you can start small and end up with big results. So here are a few resolutions we recommend:
- Start measuring all of your costs for each bus (capital costs, fuel, parts and service, etc.). This is vital. If you want to set goals or make incremental improvements, you must measure.
- Choose longer-lasting, more durable replacement parts at your next repair. That’s right: cheap parts can cost more in the long run, so consider using higher quality parts. And measure the results.
- Take your buses in for regular maintenance. Prevention saves you money.
- Trim fuel costs by cutting unnecessary idling time, aggressive driving and inefficient routes. Small adjustments can save big money over time.
By this time next year, you could see results that will help you run a much more efficient fleet. And remember: your local dealer is always ready to help you find even more ways to start saving.
December 2014
Thomas Built Bus Saf-T-Liner® C2 Propane: Better Fuel Efficiency Through Integration
After the initial purchase price of a bus, fuel is the most significant expense over the life of the vehicle. That’s why school districts across the country are looking for ways to operate more fuel-efficient fleets. Often they turn to alternative fuels. And lately, there has been a lot of buzz in the media about propane autogas.
Propane is all the rage, and everyone is talking abo...
Total Cost of Ownership Pro Tip: Know Your Financing Options
Sometimes the best way to run a more cost-effective fleet of buses is to replace old vehicles with new ones. Unfortunately, the initial purchase price can seem like a major hurdle for school systems in today’s economy. But it doesn’t have to be.
By working with a vehicle financing company like Daimler Truck Financial, school systems have access to specialized expertise that isn’t available elsewhere. Schools now are taking advantage of a variety of flexible financing options, like tax-exempt municipal financing or competitive retail loans and leases with the option for periodic payments on terms up to seven years. When school systems stay focused on lowering their total cost of ownership, the purchase price doesn’t stand in the way of operating the best fleet possible.
To learn more, speak with your local dealer or visit www.daimlertruckfinancial.com.