a) BUMPER, REAR

PROCEDURE/SPECIFICATIONS:

Manufacturer's standard for vehicle and so attached or shielded between body and bumper as to prevent hitching rides or tows. Black color is not required.

Exception:  A bus manufactured in October 1978 or earlier is exempt from having a non-hitchable bumper.

REJECT VEHICLE IF:

Rear bumper does not meet requirements. Bumper is not solidly attached. Sharp edges are present. Rear bumper is hitchable.

b) CERTIFICATE AND REGISTRATION CARD HOLDER

Not required for Type II School Bus.

c) CERTIFICATION LABEL (FEDERAL)

PROCEDURES/SPECIFICATIONS:

Inspect federal certification label if the chassis (incomplete vehicle) was manufactured after November 10, 1978.

The manufacturer's label must contain the following information:

1)

Name of vehicle (bus) manufacturer and the month and year in which manufacture of the vehicle was completed;

2)

Name of incomplete vehicle (chassis) manufacture and the month and year in which he performed his last manufacturing operation on the incomplete vehicle;

3)

Gross vehicle weight rating, or ratings (GVWR);

4)

Gross axle weight ratings (GAWR);

5)

The statement, "This vehicle conforms to all applicable federal motor vehicle safety standards in effect in (month/year)";

6)

The vehicle identification number (VIN);

7)

The vehicle's classification (usually "BUS"). (49 CRF 567.5)

Alterer's certification:  A certified vehicle might have been altered before its purchase for use as a school bus. The alterations may have included, but are not limited to classification changes, gross weight rating changes, or changes to the application/effective date of a federal motor vehicle safety standard. If any such alteration occurred, the bus must carry an additional federal label that identifies the alterer, shows when alteration was completed, "as altered" GVWR, GAWR and classification (if changed). It must also state that the altered vehicle conforms to all applicable federal motor vehicle safety standards in effect in (month/year). (49 CFR 567.7)

REJECT VEHICLE IF:

A required label is absent, defaced, destroyed, not riveted, or not permanently affixed. "Permanently affixed" means the label cannot be removed without destroying or defacing it.

A certification label does not contain the required statement and all other information required for that label.

d) CROSSING CONTROL ARM

PROCEDURES/SPECIFICATIONS:

1)

Required on school buses manufactured after December 31, 1997. [625 ILCS 5/12-807.2] (See P.A.  90-108, effective July 14, 1997.)

2)

Must meet or exceed SAE J1133.

3)

Must be capable of full operation between, and including, the temperatures -40º F and 160º F.

4)

The arm, when activated, must extend a minimum of five feet from the front face of the bumper.

5)

The arm must be mounted on the far right side (entry side) of the front bumper.

6)

Appropriate brackets shall be used to attach the arm to the front bumper for proper operation and storage.

7)

All component parts must meet or exceed any applicable federal motor vehicle safety standards in effect at the time of manufacture.

8)

The arm must extend at the same time the stop arm panel extends. An independent "on/off" switch is prohibited.

9)

If the driver can stop the arm from extending with the use of an optional override switch, the arm sequence must automatically reset once the service door is closed.

10)

Red lights and/or red reflectors are prohibited.

REJECT VEHICLE IF:

If equipped, arm does not meet requirements.

e) DEFROSTERS

PROCEDURES/SPECIFICATIONS:

Defrosting equipment shall keep the windshield and the window to the left of the operator and the glass in the service door clear of fog, frost and snow, using heat from heaters and circulation from fans. Must conform to federal standard 49 CFR 571.103. (Auxiliary fans are not considered to be a defrosting and defogging system.)

REJECT VEHICLE IF:

Defrosting system does not function properly. Auxiliary fans are not securely mounted or blades are not protected.

f) DRIVE SHAFT GUARD

PROCEDURES/SPECIFICATIONS:

Shall be of sufficient strength to protect each segment of the drive shaft and prevent it from going through the floor or dropping to the ground if broken.

REJECT VEHICLE IF:

Drive shaft guard is missing, not firmly attached, or does not properly protect each segment of the drive shaft.