"As a church volunteer, I was somewhat apprehensive about driving a 'bus' on mission trips and youth events around town," said Dr. Jon Austin, a church volunteer at Trinity United Methodist Church in Hutchinson, Kansas. "However, bus manufacturers have done a tremendous job of building safe small buses that are easy to drive. When full of teenagers, these buses handle well and provide ample leg room and storage space."

A church must have a safe and cost-effective way to reach out and embrace the community they serve. And the church bus has become one of the most effective tools available for outreach over the past few years. The bus has done wonders to bring individuals into church activities, as well as enabling the church to participate in activities outside its local area.

However, all too often churches think they are doing the right thing by buying a bus to replace a non-conforming van, but, in reality, the bus they're buying may not be certified and could put the church at risk from a liability standpoint. A school bus offers one of the most economical and safest methods of transportation to and from the church.

What's A "Certified" Bus?
A certified bus, or Allowable Alternate Vehicle, must meet numerous mandated Federal Safety Standards. These include standards unique to school buses, including Rollover Protection, Body Joint Strength, Passenger Seating and Crash Protection, and Pedestrian Safety Devices.

In addition, they must have multiple horizontal and vertical steel beams welded together in such a manner that essentially wraps the occupants in a cage of steel. The inside and outside of the bus is further reinforced by thick sheets of steel, which is substantially different than many fiberglass buses used in shuttle and commercial bus applications.

A certified bus is generally heavier than a comparable sized passenger vehicle and has exit doors, superior roof structure, an interior aisle, significant interior padding and a lower center of gravity.

Is a Certified Bus That Different?
It's important to remember that certified buses are encased in a steel cage, providing the ultimate structural strength in the case of accident, representing one of the safest forms of transportation in the world. The choice of vehicle types can be a life and death decision in the case of a serious accident.

While many of the children's ministries provided by the church--like nursery, Vacation Bible School and Sunday school--may not be totally legislated by federal guidelines per se, the courts may interpret a public responsibility to provide criteria of equivalent safe transportation.

In addition, the liability issue of safety should not be relegated to a lower level administrator; this purchasing decision needs a much higher priority and understanding. With the constant challenge of constrained budgets, we must apply the best of our ability to address the transportation needs of our ministries.

Church Schools Understand the Issues
Some churches have already made the commitment and moved from the passenger vehicle mode to the smaller school bus. In some larger church schools, the full-size school bus is the preference, and some schools are transitioning with planned replacement purchases based on their capital budgets and fund availability.

There is a notable shift in the business toward making a change, however, because of a growing recognition and understanding of these federal mandates, social and moral responsibilities, and the financial liability issue.

"Federal law requires that students be transported only in vehicles that have been certified to comply with federal safety standards for school buses," said Nick England, President of Lasseter Bus & Mobility in Dallas, Texas. "This puts churches with schools in a situation where they could potentially find themselves in violation of that regulation by transporting children for school-related activities in a non-compliant bus. Especially in these instances, the safest and most prudent choice is to operate compliant MFSABs that can transport the youth, whether for school or church activities."

Insurance companies have also begun to take notice and form alliances with bus manufacturers to offer education and preferred rates to their policyholders. Many insurance companies won't insure vehicles that don't meet certain FMVSS regulations.

Where Do You Go?
Always provide your drivers with proper training and always make sure the bus you are purchasing meets all the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS).

Any church that is contemplating a purchasing decision should contact their local distributor and ask for a demonstration of the product.

Churches should always do everything they possibly can to make sure they are providing the safest form of transportation to their children possible.

Kent Tyler is the corporate vice president of sales and marketing for Collins Industries, www.collinsind.com.

Product Roundup

Elite XTRM from El Dorado
The new Elite XTRM has big coach styling in a mid-sized cutaway. At 26,000 GVWR, the Elite XTRM will easily accommodate up to 41 passengers plus the driver. It's the perfect upscale mid-sized coach for all vocational applications. Features include:
* Mor Ryde suspension as standard
* Robust, integrated steel frame structure
* Non-corrosive FRP composite exterior with a high gloss gel-coat finish
There are a variety of configurations and options to suit your needs.
www.enconline.com

Collins Multi-Function School Activity Buses (MFSAB)
Collins Multi-Function School Activity Buses (MFSAB) provide safe alternatives to non-conforming van transportation. Buses are available in a variety of models and floorplans.
Features include:
* Reinforced, galvanized steel body
* Smooth, sturdy ride for added comfort
* Safety of a small bus without the added expense of hiring commercial drivers
Collins builds every certified bus from the chassis up.
www.collinsbus.com

Creative Bus Sales
Creative Bus Sales is one of the nation's largest commercial bus dealerships, representing:
* ElDorado National
* Startrans
* Goshen Coach
* Krystal
* Turtle Top
A large selection of new and used buses are in-stock and available for quick delivery. Founded in 1980, Creative Bus Sales has a staff that knows and understands the industry and necessary requirements.
www.creativebussales.com

Glaval Concorde II from Carpenter Bus
Built on the rugged Ford F-650 airporter-style chassis with a Cummins engine and 2200 Allison transmission, full air suspension and 22.5-inch wheels, the Concorde II provides the ultimate in:
* Performance
* Comfort
* Durability
With sleek, aerodynamic styling, seating for up to 44 passengers, a cutting edge front upper panoramic window for better viewing and durable "steel-cage" construction, the Concorde II is brawn and beauty, built for a long service life at an economical price.
www.carpenterbus.com

StarTrans TourLiner
The new StarTrans TourLiner blends:
* Precise engineering
* Impeccable design
* Luxurious comfort
* Affordability
Available in 15 models with passenger capacities from 23 to 39 in five different lengths, the TourLiner safely surrounds passengers with distinctive amenities and superb construction. From its sleek exterior with limousine-like tinted windows, to the plush seats positioned to provide ample leg room, the TourLiner presents a touring coach experience without the touring coach price.
www.startransbus.com

Federal Coach
Every Federal Coach Bus is custom handcrafted to meet the exact requirements of individual clients. Passenger capacities from 14 to 36 are available. Features include:
* A co-pilot seat
* Decorative ceiling runners
* Front mounted TV/DVD players
* Unique overhead luggage systems
The Cross Country Bus starts with a GMC 5500 chassis and a steel cage, along with proper weight compliance. Federal Coach takes pride in engineering and producing high quality, safe and most-desired vehicles.
www.federalcoach.com

Glaval's Titan from Illinois Bus Sales
Glaval's Titan payload is a quiet, comfortable, durable steel-frame ride for church shuttle services. With a full range of floor plans for up to 45 passengers, the Titan is versatile, economical and flexible enough to suit a wide variety of applications for the mid-size buses in a church's fleet. The Titan has:
* Duramax Diesel, 6.6-liter engine and Allison Transmission
* Either a 198-inch or 272-inch wheelbase
* 17,500/26,000 GVWR
* "Steel-Safe" construction
* Wide selection of interior designs and seating choices
www.bestbussales.com

Ford 2007 E-Series Passenger Wagons
Ford E-Series wagons are available in:
* E-150
* E-350 Regular Length
* E-350 Extended Length versions
Seating choices range from 7 passengers to 15 passengers, and trim levels include XL, XLT and Chateau. Roll Stability Control (RSC) is standard on the E-350 Regular and Extended Length wagons equipped with the 5.4L Triton V-8 engine. RSC can help in many real-world situations such as when you're driving on slippery surfaces.
www.ford.com

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
www.churchbus.com