Fleet Operations & Vehicle Maintenance Flashcards

A supervisor wants a fleet replacement plan. Which metric best supports deciding when to retire a bus?

Answer: Life-cycle cost analysis comparing rising operating and repair costs with replacement cost

Life-cycle cost analysis finds the point where keeping an aging bus costs more than replacing it.

Which key performance indicator is most commonly used to compare operating efficiency across a school bus fleet?

Answer: Cost per mile

Cost per mile normalizes fuel, maintenance, and labor costs so buses and routes can be compared fairly.

Federal maintenance rules require inspection and repair records for a vehicle to be kept how long after the vehicle leaves the carrier's control?

Answer: 6 months

49 CFR 396.3 requires the records to be kept for 1 year while the vehicle is in service and 6 months after it leaves the carrier's control.

Which practice best reduces corrosion damage to school bus undercarriages in northern districts?

Answer: Regular undercarriage washing to remove road salt, plus periodic inspection of the frame and brake lines

Road salt speeds up corrosion of frames, brake lines, and wiring, so regular underbody washing and inspection are essential.

Under CVSA out-of-service criteria, finding a vehicle out of service means what?

Answer: The vehicle may not be operated until the condition is corrected

An out-of-service condition is an imminent hazard, so the vehicle cannot be driven until it is repaired.

Which parts inventory method helps a bus garage focus control efforts on the few high-value items that make up most of the inventory cost?

Answer: ABC analysis

ABC analysis ranks parts by annual dollar value so the high-value 'A' items get the tightest control.

Why do many districts install engine block heaters on diesel buses in cold climates?

Answer: To ease cold starts, cut engine wear, and reduce warm-up idling

Block heaters keep coolant and oil warm, so engines start easily with less wear and less idling.