How do I check a school bus contractor’s spare buses and backup drivers?
Ask for the list of every bus, its age and its current state, then see which ones are held as spares. Ask for the list of drivers who can cover a route on short notice, and how often backups were actually used last season. A plan on paper is not a plan until it has been used.
Spare buses first. Ask the seller to separate the buses that run routes from the ones kept in reserve, and walk the lot to match the list. A spare that is parked for parts, or that needs repairs to start, is not a spare. Ask what happens when a route bus fails mid-morning and how long a replacement usually takes to reach the stop.
Now the backup drivers. Ask who covers a sick driver, and whether those people are employees, retirees or friends of the owner. Ask how many can drive each bus type, and who has covered the hardest routes before. If the owner drives a route personally, the business has one fewer backup than it looks like.
Last, ask for the call log or notes from days when cover was needed. They show how the schedule really held up. Talk to the dispatcher or shop lead separately from the owner. Ask your lawyer to review driver agreements, and ask your accountant how spare buses sit on the books. Check how seasonal gaps, such as summer, are handled for pay and retention.
Key takeaways
- Walk the lot and match each spare bus to the list before you believe it.
- Ask who covers a driver’s absence, and whether the owner is part of that cover.
- Review the notes from days when cover was needed, and talk to the dispatcher alone.
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Sources
This answer is checked against primary sources. Links were last confirmed on the dates shown.
- 01Business Development Bank of CanadaGovernmentHow to conduct due diligence when buying a business
- 02Transport CanadaGovernmentMotor carriers, commercial vehicles and drivers
- 03Business Development Bank of CanadaGovernmentHow to reduce employee turnover
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