At Thomas Built Buses, we view safety as a journey, not a destination. Safety is at the core of everything we do—from our manufacturing processes to our testing protocols and focus on continuous innovation. It is more than just a feature; it’s an interconnected facet of all our operations.
Let’s look at how this commitment to safety is woven into every phase of our process, from our people and materials to the technology that drives our innovations.
A Culture of Safety
Our commitment to delivering a safer student transportation experience starts at the manufacturing plant. Before the first joint is welded on a bus, our employees complete rigorous training to prioritize safety—theirs and the vehicles they’re building.
For more than 20 years, Thomas Built Buses has supplied the industry with advanced electronics engineered with safety prioritized in every detail. Safety is a core value ingrained throughout our organization and our parent company, Daimler Truck North America. From our leadership to our manufacturing staff, our team takes pride in ensuring every bus we build is crafted to the highest standards by well-trained, safety-conscious team members. To hear more about our commitment to safety, check out this podcast episode with School Bus Fleet magazine and Kendra Eads, our VP of engineering and technology.
Safety From the Inside Out
Safety is considered at every stage of our manufacturing process, starting with material selection. We search the world to source durable, eco-friendly materials that ensure longevity and crash resistance. By the time our vehicles reach the final assembly stage, they’ve been examined and assessed meticulously to validate that they represent the highest-quality workmanship.
Our industry-leading body and chassis integration is the backbone of our manufacturing leadership. We use advanced structural adhesives that secure components with unmatched strength and are applied precisely using robotic technology. While more expensive than mechanical fasteners, we invest to ensure the strongest structures.
Thomas Built school buses are expertly engineered and built to meet or exceed the rigorous safety standards set by regulatory organizations. Each bus undergoes extensive validation before it hits the road, including crash tests, durability assessments and environmental stress testing. We also employ virtual testing techniques to assess every design aspect before manufacturing and optimize each vehicle’s performance for various route types. Every detail is scrutinized to safeguard students and protect them in all driving conditions, including inclement weather and varying terrains.
A Safer Experience
Our relentless pursuit of excellence comes down to one goal: getting students there safer. For the safety of all passengers, we are pioneering innovations in seat design, reinforced frames, shatterproof glass and other child-specific safety measures. We are also dedicated to driver safety and designs customized to drivers’ needs. From improving visibility, enhancing ergonomics and minimizing distractions, our mission is to help drivers operate buses more safely.
Spanning safety technology to driver comfort, we offer tools and features designed to let drivers focus on their most important job—keeping kids safe. Our acoustic ceilings reduce noise and distractions while driver-specific heating and air conditioning controls, haptic feedback and ergonomic improvements improve the drivers’ environment—allowing them to focus on the road.
We continuously enhance the driving experience with safety innovations that improve bus visibility and driver performance. Camera systems, backlit signs and Saf-T-Zone pedestrian detection tools improve bus operations, while our SmartTrac Electronic Stability Control (ESC) helps reduce the risk of rollover. Our factory-installed Collision Avoidance System can help prevent accidents before they occur.
Safer Together
Our vision is to continue advancing our technology and manufacturing capabilities to deliver the safest possible bus transportation for all students. In doing this, we collaborate with our customers to keep safety at the forefront of each conversation and integrate it into everyday operations. Learn more about Thomas Built school bus safety systems and features on our website or contact your local Thomas Built dealer to discuss your unique transportation needs.
