HISTORY
School bus safety vehicle inspection programs vary greatly from state to state. Some states have no regulatory inspection program. In others, third-party inspections performed by regulatory agencies range from a biennial, detailed, and complete inspection by a single inspector or team to annual spot inspections of a limited number of components.

The personnel who conduct inspections have varying degrees of qualifications and experience, which range from former mechanics or police officers to administrative safety officials.

STATE INSPECTION PROGRAMS
Each responsible party is urged to establish a neutral third-party inspection program. Some states have a system of self-inspection by individual school districts or contractors. While such programs can be effective with no governmental oversight, the effectiveness of the program will likely be scrutinized more thoroughly than programs where governmental oversight exists. Personnel conducting school bus safety inspections should be knowledgeable in the mechanical components of a school bus and should be aware of all the applicable construction standards, laws, rules and all other requirements of their jurisdiction. States should also develop specific inspection regulations, rules, procedures and out-of-service criteria for all vehicles utilized for pupil transportation.

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INSPECTION PROCEDURE
School bus safety inspections should consist of a standardized inspection where vehicles are placed out-of-service based on standardized criteria. Such criteria should not, under any circumstances, exceed the manufacturers recommendation for component condition, wear level or other tolerance for a particular vehicle. The procedure for individual bus inspections will vary depending on the number of components to be checked in accordance with local rules and regulations, number of buses to be inspected, number of inspection personnel available and the type of inspection facility (whether equipped with a pit or lift or if inspections are performed on a "creeper") available.

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THE CRITERIA
The purpose of these criteria is to identify critical school bus components and provide criteria that an inspector(s) can utilize to determine if a school bus is safe for pupil transportation. While it is recognized that each state may have its own list of components to be checked and tolerances for each, these criteria are intended to establish a nationwide minimum criteria for inspecting and placing school buses out of service.

All items relating to the safe operation of a school bus should be inspected, and these criteria are not intended to be used as a complete list of components to be inspected. The inspection criteria used in this document are recommended for inspections other than pre-trip, preventive maintenance or enroute. ADDITIONALLY THESE CRITERIA ARE NOT INTENDED TO REPLACE, MODIFY OR ALTER THE VEHICLE MANUFACTURER'S RECOMMENDED PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE (PM) SCHEDULE OR DRIVER PRE-TRIP INSPECTION.

The inspection items are numerically coded so that, if desired, a database of the findings can easily be developed. The checklist includes the inspection item and a brief but concise description of the component or condition. If any listed component meets the defect criteria specified for that component, the school bus should not be placed in service until the component is repaired.

It is intended that these criteria will provide a working document for both the inspector and the operator's maintenance program.

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