Types Of School Buses
Whether you’re managing a fleet of school buses or looking to drive them, it’s useful to know exactly what vehicle you’re dealing with. School buses tend to come in a lot of shapes and sizes, but there are four types that are most common. We here at McCandless Truck Center want to make sure you’re armed with the right information, so we’ve put together a brief guide to those types of school buses. If you want to know more, or you’d like to browse the school buses we have for sale, contact our stores across Colorado and Wyoming, today!
Type A
Type A school buses are either van conversions, or are constructed from a cutaway front section with a left-side driver’s door. These are smaller than most buses and are divided further into two subgroups. Type A1 buses have a Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) of 10,000 pounds or less, while Type A2 have a GVWR of over 10,000 pounds. These buses are designed for between 10 and 30 people.
Type B
These are less common on the road these days, but they’re still around and still deserving of their own category. They have a GVWR of over 10,000 pounds and can seat over 10 passengers, like Type A. What makes them unique is the design. The body of the vehicle is attached to a front-section chassis and a portion of the engine is near the driver’s seat, just behind the windshield.
Type C
Type C buses are typically much larger. Technically, they’re all over 10,000 pounds, but their GVWR tends to land somewhere between 23,500 and 29,500 pounds. Capacity-wise, they only need to be able to carry more than 10 passengers, but they tend to carry significantly more.
The biggest difference here is that the entire engine is placed in front of the windshield like you might expect in a truck or car. These are pretty much everywhere and are the most common option.
Type D
This is the largest of the four. Again, a Type D technically only needs a GVWR of over 10,000 pounds and a capacity for more than 10 people, but these are “transit-style” buses. That means they’re fairly close in design to public or city buses. They have a body installed on the chassis with a front-, mid-, or rear-mounted engine. To indicate engine location, the abbreviations FE and RE (front engine and rear engine, respectively) are often used.
We hope this guide helps you find the exact school bus you need! If you have any questions, or if you’d like to explore the school buses we have in stock, contact us at McCandless Truck Center. We proudly serve the people of Colorado and Wyoming—let us serve you today!