Choosing the Correct Church Vehicle
By: Eric Sebast

Churches today have the largest selection of vehicles to choose from, and while this may seem to be beneficial, this can be the cause of some real consternation. Choosing the most appropriate vehicle can be very time-consuming and difficult if you are not familiar with the types of vehicles that are available to you.

Two options are Multi-Function School Activity Buses (MFSAB) and shuttle buses.

Multi-Function School Activity Bus or MFSAB
The MFSAB category is relatively new to the market. It was created by NHTSA to give organizations an alternative to using large vans. An MFSAB is a school bus that is not required to be painted yellow or have a crossing gate, stop arm or flashing lights.

MFSABs are not like the school buses that you and I rode on. Most have front and rear air conditioning, can be equipped with lap and shoulder belts for the passengers, and are much more comfortable than a regular school bus.
           
If your church has a childcare, and you will be transporting the children from location to location, an MFSAB is the most excellent choice for you. The most popular choice is for a 14-passenger (plus the driver) vehicle, as most states do not require you to have a commercial driver’s license to operate it. There are many options when choosing this type of vehicle; here are just a few of the more important options.
           
If you are transporting children, you will want to consider having a child reminder system on your bus. This system will require the driver to walk through the bus and check for any sleeping children before departing from the bus and turning it off.

Air conditioning is a very important option. The inside of a bus can heat up very quickly, especially if you have hot summers, so you will want to make sure that your bus has front and rear air conditioning.

Make sure that all the required safety equipment comes with the bus at purchase, such as a first aid kit, triangle kit and fire extinguisher.

Shuttle Buses
Shuttle buses offer a huge variety of features, options and configurations for churches. They can be as small as nine passengers and as large as 45 passengers, with every configuration in between--the options are virtually limitless on a shuttle bus.

When selecting a shuttle bus, the first thing you should decide is what seating capacity you will need. In most states you do not need to have a commercial license if your bus is 14 passengers or less (not including the driver). However, this may not be large enough for your church. You may want to get a larger bus, and spend the time and money to have a driver trained.
           
Shuttle buses up to about 25 passengers are typically built on smaller chassis and are easier to drive. Larger shuttle buses for 26 to 45 passengers are built on much larger chassis that will require some training. If you decide to get a large shuttle bus, you will want to make sure that you have a driver that has a commercial license and knows how to drive such a large vehicle, or one who is willing to get training to learn how to operate it properly. Your bus dealer should offer training on operation when you take delivery of your vehicle.
           
After you decide what size vehicle you would like, the next step is to decide is what its main purpose will be. This will help you decide what options you will need.
           
If you decide to purchase a shuttle bus, you will need to verify with your state if you are able to transport children on the bus. In most states, shuttle buses are strictly for use with adults only and are not allowed to transport children under the age of 18.
 
When looking for your bus, make sure that you have plenty of time before you will need your new bus. While most of the larger bus dealers will have buses that are ready to go, this does not mean that it will be what you are looking for. If they do not have the vehicle that you are looking for, you will most likely have to wait anywhere from three months to up to seven months for an ordered vehicle to arrive.

A very important factor in the bus is price; every church is run on a budget, and you need to stay within that budget in order to be able to meet all your commitments. When looking at a bus, it is not always the best to just find the cheapest one and buy it. Over time, that bus may need far more repairs than one that would have cost just a little more.

One way to get a general idea of how a bus will hold up is to look at its “Altoona Tested” rating. Altoona is the Federal bus testing facility, and will get a year and mileage rating. This rating will give you an idea where the bus rates with other buses in the same category, and about how long it will be until the bus needs any real service.

In order for your new bus to have a long life, it is necessary to make sure it gets serviced regularly. It is a good idea to have a mechanic look it over, and get the oil changed bi-monthly. Some service centers will make a deal with you to bring it in every other month, and give you a discount on the services that you will need.

You will want to ask the dealer these questions:

* How long have you been in business?

* What model do you recommend and why?

* What are the most common problems that you see with this model?

* Do you have any references that you can provide, preferably those who have this model?

* How long are the manufacturer’s warranties?

* What type of financing do you offer?

* How long will it take to get my bus?

These are just some examples; it is a very good idea to write down what you would like to know before you call, so that you do not forget to ask a question and have to call back several times.

Choosing what type of bus is right for your church may not be as hard as it seems. If you operate a daycare, and you plan on taking the children on field trips, then you will want to research the MFSAB. If your church is only going to use the bus to shuttle adults to and from the church, you will probably want to look into a shuttle bus. If your church takes long trips, or weekends, you may want to look into a large shuttle bus.

Eric Sebast is the vice president of Corbeil Northeast.

Product Roundup

Collins Multi-Function School Activity Buses (MFSAB)
Multi-Function School Activity Buses by Collins provide safe alternatives to non-conforming van transportation.  Features include:

• Reinforced, galvanized steel body
• Smooth, sturdy ride for added comfort
• Safety of a small school bus without the added expense of hiring commercial drivers

Collins builds every certified bus from the chassis up. Buses are available in a variety of models and floor plans. 
www.collinsbus.com

Freedom/Freedom XL from ChurchBus.com
Freedom and Freedom XL by ChurchBus.com offer safety, comfort, reliability and affordability. Features include:

• Dual rear wheels for stability
• Steel cage construction
• 158-inch wheel base and 22-foot body, providing ample leg room
• Reclining seats
• Overhead reading lights
• Ford chassis

Churchbus.com selects top bus manufacturers to build the shell of the vehicles.
www.churchbus.com

Master’s Transportation
Master’s Transportation, Inc. is one of the leading bus distributors in the Midwest and is a major supplier to the church market across the U.S.  Master’s specializes in sales, leasing and servicing of:

• New and late-model Van Terras (15-passenger van replacement)
• People movers
• Shuttles
• Coaches
• Church/school buses

Churches can choose from more than 100 new/late-model buses in stock, or Master’s can customize a new vehicle to meet a church’s needs from one of the company’s five bus manufacturers. 
www.busesbymasters.com

Aerotech by ElDorado National
ElDorado National manufactures a complete line of cutaway buses available in a variety of lengths and configurations. Seating capacities vary from 12 to 41 passengers, and all vehicles can be adapted to meet ADA requirements. The Aerotech features:

• Steel-reinforced composite body, highly resistant to impact, rust and corrosion.
• Gelcoat exterior with glossy finish, which absorbs temperature at a much lower rate than metal, making the bus easier to heat and cool.
• Fiberglass body panels, allowing minimal sound transmission and providing a quieter interior for improved passenger comfort. 

www.enconline.com

SPIRIT/MFSAB by Turtle Top
Turtle Top’s Multi-Function School Activity Bus, named SPIRIT, is a great way to move people safely and in style. The SPIRIT features:

• Superior passenger comfort
• Outstanding handling
• Design that exceeds government standards for passenger safety

Before the first SPRIT rolled out of the Turtle Top plant, the company conducted a grueling 12-month product development program, in conjunction with tough safety testing guidelines.
www.turtletop.com

Carpenter Bus Sales
The only impression some people will have of a church may be formed by that church’s mode of transportation. An old beat-up van or bus might make them wonder if their children would be safe getting to church. The 25-Passenger, Ford 450 ElDorado National from Carpenter Bus Sales will let them know that a church is a ministry on the move and that members are taking their responsibilities seriously. The Ford 450 ElDorado features:

• 6.8L, V-10 gas engine
• 25-foot construction
• Many options, like TV/DVD

Carpenter Bus Sales has many other models from which to choose.
www.carpenterbus.com