First, what is an MFSAB? The MFSAB category is relatively new to the market and stands for Multi Function School Activity Bus. It was created by NHTSA to give organizations an alternative to using large vans. An MFSAB is a school bus and meets all FMVSS standards of a school bus. An MFSAB, however, is not required to be painted yellow. Also, it is not required to have a crossing gate, stop arm, or flashing lights.

The good news is that MFSABs are not like the school buses that you and I rode on. Most of these vehicles 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.

The most popular choice is a 14-passenger (plus the driver) vehicle, since most states do not require you to have a commercial driver's license to operate this size vehicle.

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 also 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 flare kit, fire extinguisher, and, possibly, a body fluid clean-up kit.

Here are some of the most frequently asked questions churches have about purchasing a bus for their transportation needs.

Can we use a shuttle bus?
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 ask is, "Will this vehicle ever be used to transport children?" If the answer is yes, then you may want to again consider an MFSAB since a shuttle bus does not meet all the FMVSS standards of a school bus.

Do vehicle passenger laws apply to our church?
This is where it gets tricky. Most of the laws are written in a manner that is confusing to just about everyone. Usually, one law requires you to research a second, and then a third law and so on and so on.

Let's help clarify some of this confusion. In most states, any vehicle designed to transport children to and from school or school-related activities is required to meet all FMVSS standards of a "school bus."

Initially, as a church, it seems as though you would not need a school bus unless you are running a "school" as part of the church. This is a mistake often made by many churches. You should contact your local DMV, State Patrol or DOT office to determine what is defined as a "school" or "school activity." Most states define a school as such: every place of academic, vocational or religious service or instruction for persons under the age of 21 years. It shall include every child care center, every institution for the care or training of the mentally or physically handicapped, and every day camp. Most states take the position that all children being transported should ride in the safest vehicle possible at all times, regardless if it is a school, church, camp or residential program.

Do I need a special license to transport children?
Most states do not require a special license for vehicles designed to seat 14 passengers plus one driver as long as the vehicle does not have traffic stopping equipment or is School Bus yellow. It is important to contact your State DMV for specific licensing requirements. Also check with your State Patrol office as well.

There may be some exemptions for different organizations. Take Ohio, for example; the Ohio BMV (Bureau of Motor Vehicles) is one of the few states that require all drivers of vehicles defined as a School Bus to have a CDL License, even a 14-passenger MFSAB. However, the Ohio State Patrol does have an exemption for child care centers using MFSABs and do not require child care drivers to have any special licensing.

How will this affect our insurance?
This is a great question. When you get a federally approved vehicle to transport children, rest assured your insurance company will work with you. Having a safe vehicle will lower your liabilities and will be easier to insure. Some insurance companies will only allow federally approved vehicles to be used when transporting eight or more passengers, especially children. Your insurance will vary depending on your organization's history and type of vehicle you choose.

How will this affect our budget?
A very important factor in ministry is cost. 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 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.

Of course, 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.

Before you begin your vehicle search, make sure you write down the questions that are most important to your church. Here are a few questions you may want to ask a transportation dealer:

* 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 vehicle?

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.

Hopefully, now you have a better understanding about how to handle your church transportation program. While you search for the right vehicle for your ministry, keep safety a top priority, and if you're unsure about something, don't stop asking questions.

Dominick Cox is the district sales manager for Don Brown Bus Sales, Inc., www.buscrazy.net.