Buses are large vehicles used for transportation of passengers. It is easy to buy a bus, but is it easy to maintain one? Over the years, this commercial vehicle has been involved in thousands of accidents, of which most have been caused by improper maintenance. A typical bus have thousands of moving parts and improperly or irregularly maintained vehicle is a serious threat to the passengers and all other traffic participants. Whether used or new, when you buy a bus, make sure it comes with an owner’s manual as this booklet contains valuable information on how to care for your bus to ensure peak performance.

Even if no one gets injured in a bus accident, the result is extremely expensive repairs. Regardless of whether you are traveling the country with passengers or transporting kids to and from school, knowing that your bus is in good condition is important. Even if you are not the driver but the owner, you are responsible for maintaining the bus. Here are few simple ways that can ensure your bus is safe and operating at peak performance.

Daily Inspections Done by the Driver – The most important think you can do to ensure peak performance and superior safety is to have the driver check the bus on a daily basis. Even though the bus has probably been checked by a team of mechanics, a quick re-check by the driver certainly will not do any harm. Train the driver or yourself (if you are the operator) how to do daily inspections and to ensure the bus is roadworthy before every trip. Indeed mechanics are experienced and rarely make major mistakes, but they are not exempted from making mistakes. Bus accidents can be prevented only by making sure the engine and all other parts are working properly. Besides the engine, check the brakes, the air conditioner and the steering wheel to keep your passengers safe and comfortable.

Clean the Bus Interior – The bus interior may not be so important for the performance of the bus, but it is certainly important for your business success. There are passengers who will not tolerate a smelly environment or trash and garbage. Therefore, you should keep your bus interior clean and shiny. Take carpets out to air them to get rid of the dust. You can also vacuum carpets and wash them once a month with a detergent. Also, make sure you clean and disinfect the seats and the handles to keep the interior of your bus in superior condition.

Inspect the Entire Bus – Before going on a trip, either short or long distance, inspect the entire bus and make sure everything is working properly. One of the most important things you must check is the gas level, since running out of gas in a middle of a highway is something you certainly do not want. Next, inspect the exterior. You certainly know how to. Check the brakes to ensure the safety of everybody on the bus. If you maintain your bus properly, there will be no need to buy a bus any time soon.