Common School Bus Classifications
Many different sizes and shapes of school buses exist. You’ve likely seen at least a few different types on the roads, and perhaps you have wondered about why there are so many different ones. Some of the common differences that you have likely notices are the length, the shape of the front end, and in some cases even the colour of the bus – they are not all always the classis school bus yellow!
All vehicles used for public transportation to and from schools need to fall under one of a few categories to ensure that they meet proper safety regulations. This is to ensure that our kids are as safe as possible on their travels to and from school.
Types of School Buses
Some of the common types of school buses are listed below.
Type A School Bus
A “Type A” school bus is designed to carry 10 or more people. This bus type has a left-side driver door and utilizes a cutaway front section. This type of school bus has two subtypes – one for buses that are less than 10,000lbs GVWR, and one for buses that are more than 10,000lbs GVWR.
Type B School Bus
A “Type B” school bus has a GVWR of more than 10,000lbs and is designed to carry over 10 people. This bus type is constructed on a front-section vehicle chassis and has part of the engine beneath the windshield or beside the driver’s seat. The entrance door on this bus type is positioned behind the front wheels.
Type C School Bus
A “Type C” school bus is what people generally picture as a “traditional” school bus. This type also has a GVWR of more than 10,000lbs and carries more than 10 people. In this style, the entire engine is in front of the windshield and the entrance door is behind the front wheels.
Type D School Bus
A “Type D” school bus has a GVWR of more than 10,000lbs and carries more than 10 people. This type of school bus is usually flat in the front with the engine behind the windshield and beside the driver’s seat, or at the back of the bus. This type of bus has an entrance door in further forward than the front wheels.