Considerations When Ordering Buses or Medium & Heavy Trucks Tom Martin, Gary Hunt & Peter Mielke Vehicle Engineering Branch
GSA Fleet Value Proposition Right Vehicle Right Price Great Service and the data required to effectively and efficiently manage a fleet. 2
How to Spec a Bus Shuttle Buses School Buses Adult Work Buses Intercity Coaches Transit Buses Our intent is to familiarize you with things you should consider on a Bus when ordering in GSA AutoChoice.
Adult Work Buses Types of Buses School Buses built for Adult Transportation Simple, rugged Ideal for on-facility, moving troops or employees locally Light Duty Shuttle Buses Built on light truck chassis Use for local transportation, low intensity service
Types of Buses Medium Duty Shuttle Buses Built on Medium Duty Truck chassis Suitable for heavier service than light shuttles Higher weight capacity and heavier components Intermittent route service Intercity Coaches Used for comfortable long distance transport Greyhound type buses
Types of Buses Transit Buses Most Expensive Most Durable Heavy Duty components and construction. If you are running fixed, constant route service, this is the bus. Contact GSA if unsure!
Things to consider Passenger Capacity how many people do you plan to transport? CDL Requirements in most states a CDL (Commercial Driver s License) is required for more than 14 Passengers (not including driver). Future Growth? Have you considered future growth when considering capacity?
Things to consider Handicapped Transport Wheelchair Lifts are available. Two handicapped spaces are provided on most vehicles with lifts. THIS WILL IMPACT SEATING CAPACITY. Flip Seating Options (SFD2) are available to recover some of this capacity. Contact GSA prior to ordering to confirm floorplan/capacity as built
Things to consider Other options also will impact seating capacity. Luggage racks Rear doors Perimeter seating Rear luggage storage Contact GSA if unsure
Other Option Considerations Fuel Type Diesel Standard on almost all GSA Buses Gasoline Available in some shuttles and school buses Alternate Fuels (CNG, LPG, B20) widely available Luggage Storage Interior racks, overhead racks, rear storage, underbody are all available in many buses. Again, will affect seating.
Other Option Considerations Seat Belts Standard where listed in AutoChoice Otherwise both Lap and 3-point available Seating Options Seat type High, Low, Mid back, perimeter Fabric selections Amenities Reading lights, interior video and audio options, etc.
How to Spec a Medium Van Truck Our intent is to familiarize you with things you should consider on a Medium Duty Van Truck when ordering in GSA AutoChoice.
Things to consider How many items do you need to transport? What is the cubic size and weight of the items you want to move? In other words, what is the load density? If you are moving lead you don t need a truck with a big cargo area. Load distribution even or concentrated? Do you need to keep something at a particular temperature?
Things to consider Do you need to drive a forklift into the van body? Translucent roof or solid?
How cold is it were you operate the vehicle? Will it be stored in a garage or left to the elements? Will you need to carry special tools or tire chains? Things to consider
Things to consider Will the cargo be tightly strapped and wrapped on pallets or stacked loose inside the van body? Do you need a means of securing the load to the walls or the floor?
Things to consider Do you need a tailgate lift? What kind will work best for you?
Things to consider What size engine do you need? What type and size of transmission do you need? When do you need to change axle ratios? What type of tires do you need? Do you need to tow a trailer? How much fuel do you really need?
Fuel Capacity 19
Things to consider How many hours are your drivers behind the wheel? How frequently will it be used? CDL driver s license required above 26,000 lbs. FET tax kicks in above 33,000 lbs. Required payload?
Payload How much weight can my truck actually carry? 21
Legal Load Is my truck street legal? Under the Bridge Formula, the gross weight limits are determined by the length of the vehicle, the number of axles it has and how they are spaced. The formula is: W= 500 [(LN/N-1) + 12N + 36] W is the maximum weight (lbs.) that can be carried on a group of two or more axles to the nearest 500 lbs. L is the spacing in feet between the outer axles of any two or more consecutive axles. N is the number of axles being considered. All combinations of axles on a vehicle must be within the bridge formula limits. 22
Legal Load Is my truck street legal? In addition to the Bridge Formula, Federal law limits the weight on any single axle to 20,000 lbs., and axles closer than 96 in. apart are limited to 34,000 lbs. In some states, gross weight and axle weights may be higher due to "grandfather" rights. When the Federal Bridge Formula limits were set, states were allowed to keep, or grandfather weight limits that were higher for trucks operating on state roadways. Some regions of North America don't follow the Federal Bridge Formula if you are not on the Federal Interstate system. 23
Pusher and Tag Axles Auxiliary Axles 24
How Lift Axles Work By definition, lift axles are non-powered, and are installed ahead of or behind the driving tandem axles on a straight truck or tractor. If it's ahead of the tandem, a lift axle is called a "pusher." If it's behind, it's a "tag." Such axles can also be installed ahead of or behind a trailer's tandem. And a lift axle is occasionally applied to a single-rear-axle straight truck. Lift axle suspensions use air bags to carry weight, and either air bags or steel springs to raise the axle when it's not needed. If two sets of air bags are used, one set is inflated while the other is deflated. If steel springs raise the axle, the weight-bearing air bags must first be deflated to allow the springs to retract the axle. All this is controlled by the driver, using electric switches or air valves close at hand. 25
How Lift Axles Work Lift axles are also known as "cheater axles," because unscrupulous truckers raise them or reduce air pressure on them while running loaded. They think they're saving tire money, but weight that's supposed to be borne by the extra axles are now concentrated on those whose wheels still on the ground, putting abnormal wear on both the components and pavement. States like Georgia discourage this by requiring controls to be mounted outside the cab, or avoid enforcement issues altogether by disregarding the liftables. Thus a truck could have a dozen lift axles, but its allowable gross weight is limited to what can legally be carried on its steer and drive axles, and those extra axles are useless. 26
How Lift Axles Work A non-steerable lift axle needs to be raised prior to turning a tight corner, or its tires will plow asphalt and scrub concrete, and will scuff tire tread and impose high lateral stress on wheels and chassis components. In that case the controls must be in the cab. Authorities in some states allow this, even though the truck is technically overloaded on its remaining axles when the lift axle is up. 27
Pusher and Tag Axle Pros and Cons PRO - Pusher and tag axles help increase legal carrying capacity. The payload-optimized truck may be able to haul as much as one and a half trucks configured without tags and pushers. CON - Adding extra axles can reduce maneuverability on the jobsite. Tire scrub also becomes an issue, adding significant wear. 28
Other Option Considerations If all else fails AREQ (Additional REQuirements) Option in AutoChoice select on your order You can describe your requirements beyond options on contract GSA will review obtain pricing from vendors Once you agree to pricing and other conditions on vendor s quote, items will be added to your order.
Read this! Minimum Requirements Tab
Options Tab
Price Comparison Tab (via Compare Prices button at bottom of Options Tab)
Price Comparison Tab Continued Option Info!
Important Info here Clarifications Tab
Federal Vehicle Standards Link on Homepage of AutoChoice http://vehiclestd.fas.gsa.gov PLEASE READ THEM! - Additional info on options - Additional info about base vehicles
Federal Vehicle Standards http://vehiclestd.fas.gsa.gov
Federal Vehicle Standards Always call BEFORE your order if you are unsure about vehicles or options. 703-605-CARS (2277) vehiclebuying@gsa.gov
QUESTIONS? THANK YOU! 38