Frequently Asked Questions - FAQ
Q - What are
some of the differences between vans & buses?
A - Below is our comparison table:
|
Bus
|
Van
|
Capacity
|
10 - 30
|
15
|
Designed to transport children
|
YES
|
NO
|
School bus rollover protection
|
YES
|
NO
|
Padded school bus seats
|
YES
|
NO
|
Fuel tank integrity
|
YES
|
NO
|
Aisle down center
|
YES
|
NO
|
Rear emergency door
|
YES
|
NO
|
School bus entrance door
|
YES
|
NO
|
Joint strength construction
|
YES
|
NO
|
School bus windows
|
YES
|
NO
|
Front crossover mirrors
|
YES
|
NO
|
Steel cage construction
|
YES
|
NO
|
Side crash rails
|
YES
|
NO
|
Rear heat
|
50,000 BTU
|
15,000 BTU
|
Rear A/C (Optional)
|
40,000 BTU
|
15,000 BTU
|
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Q - Isn't a van safer
than a school bus since the van has seat belts and
school buses do not?
A - No. In fact comparable sized small school buses are required to have seat belts because they weigh less than 10,000 pounds. School buses have far superior per road mile safety records than that of all other vehicles, regardless of the seat belt issue. School buses are designed with a "compartmentalization" concept, which keeps children within and near their seats by placing the seats forward to them very close. School buses also have significant interior padding and include other safety features.
School buses have many safety features, including emergency exits, heavily padded seats and reinforced sidewalls and roof. School buses are the safest form of motorized transportation.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration calls school buses the single safest form of transportation that exists.
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Q - Aren't school buses significantly
more expensive than vans?
A - The initial cost of a 15 seat school bus is approximately $3,000 to $5,000 greater than that of a comparable sized van. However, the school bus has a significantly longer road life and is less expensive to maintain. Recent calculations have determined that the per road mile cost of a 15 seat school bus is actually cheaper than that of a comparable sized van. Also more passengers can ride in buses; therefore, the per passenger and per mile transportation cost is much less for small buses.
Most have discovered that the cost of leasing a school bus is equal to or less costly than existing van leases. Your program cannot afford not to comply - both for the safety of your students and your liability exposure.
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Q - I can drive a van, but I am
not sure if I can drive a bus. Any suggestions?
A - The 14 passenger childcare safety vehicle drives and handles just like a van. If you can drive a van, you can drive this bus!
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Q - I run a small center and have limited
funds. What are my options?
A - We have very attractive leasing-financing options to fit your budget. We also have a large selection of used activity safety vehicles.
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Q - What can I do with the vans my
activity center is currently using?
A - We accept trade-ins. We will appraise your vehicles and give you
the option to trade them in toward the purchase of new activity safety vehicles.
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Q - When can I take delivery of my
new activity vehicle?
A - Midwest Transit Equipment carries
a large selection of new activity vehicles. In-stock
vehicles can be picked up with 1-2 weeks of your order.
Midwest Transit Equipment can
also arrange delivery for an additional cost. Contact your
sales representative for details.
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Q - Where can I get more information?
A - We recommend that all activity
centers immediately consider safer transportation and
abandon the use of the non-conforming vans.
You can contact Midwest Transit Equipment here or by calling toll-free (800) 933-2412.
"We are the experts on activity safety vehicles."
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