Church shuttle bus considerations comparing
the typical 15 passenger van to a real church shuttle style bus 
Church
Shuttle Bus
When planning on the purchase of a passenger van for your church or civic organization it may seem simple at first. Then you realize the costs of maintenance, insurance and the biggest issue of all SAFETY come in to play. UsedBusList.com has shuttle buses for sale
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Here is some information on the church shuttle bus verses the passenger van, which things you should consider before buying either one, and which platform to go with. There have been many warnings against using the 15 passenger vans by the National Transportation Safety Board. They actually have said in the past that the vehicles are not safe when fully loaded with people! I have found that they tend to oversteer some and can be difficult to avoid small obstacles in the road which you come across sometimes. Swerving is NOT fun in these long top heavy vans.
One of the craziest things to me is that many insurance companies no longer provide insurance coverage on 15 passenger vans when used by organizations to haul humans. This fact alone should be cause for concern. In some states you cannot even get registration or plates on these vehicles. |
The 15 passenger vans roll 100% of the time in roll tests. The tests are done making an evasive maneuver going 40+ miles an hour. Very scary. NOTE: CBS aired a special report where engineers of of 15 passenger vans admitted the design wasn't safe and there is a big safety risk, namely that of rollover.
The 15 passenger vans do cost less and for many this is the deciding factor when purchasing one. Most people don't consider shuttle buses because they think they are expensive. However used shuttles from local distributors can really be a blessing for churches trying to obtain reliable and safe transportation. Many shuttles can be had for less than $600 a month.
Be aware that sometimes you need a CDL license to operate the shuttle buses and fifteen passenger vans. Check with your Department of Motor Vehicles for the requirements in your location. In the majority of states, the driver is NOT required to have a CDL license to drive the bus if the bus seats 14 or less passengers. The driver is usually required to have a GVW addendum to their driving license if it is heavier than 26,000 pounds. Another bus that does not require the CDL license in a lot of states is the ones built to accommodate wheel chairs because these typically seat 12+2.
Shuttle buses are nice because they come with overhead luggage bins, cloth seats that recline, retractable seat belts, CD sound systems, arm rests, reading lights, DVD players, tinted windows to keep the bright sun out, air conditioning, etc. The majority of these commercial style buses are built to make long trips very comfortable and enjoyable. The driver can enjoy power brakes & steering, tilt wheel and instruments all located within reach, and cruise control for those long roads.
Also, there are some exterior comforts offered on these church shuttle buses. To minimize the bouncing in the rear of the bus, they have an extended wheel base, rear wheels that cut down on the sway in the back axle, the walls are insulated and the floors are made thick which will give you a quite ride. These church shuttle style buses can be more comfortable and safer for long trips than the vans.
Most of the shuttle buses use regular unleaded fuel but some used for more miles will carry the diesel. They are built on an E350 chassis and get about 9-11 MPG depending on length of trips. The cost of fuel is no higher than that of a 15 passenger van. Most of the time insurance is 10% cheaper for a church bus than on a 15 passenger van of the same year and model. The manufacturers of these shuttle bodies usually add steel cage construction and dual rear wheels for the church bus versions for safety and reliability.
Fluid checks and oil changes can be done at your local Ford or Chevy dealership for the same cost of a SUV. Most new buses come with a 5 year warranty on the drive train and engine, which can be helpful if something goes wrong. It will save the purchaser money as most of the repairs will be taken care of by the manufacturer's warranty. Here's more information on shuttle buses. Hope this helps in making your decision on whether or not to buy a 15 passenger van or a church shuttle bus.
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