Before creating the Vanabode travel style I ran a motorcoach website. This page is one of many bus articles I wrote for coach buyers before closing that website.

Church Shuttle Bus

When planning on the purchase of a passenger van for your church or civic organization it may seem simple at first. Then you realize the costs of maintenance, insurance and the biggest issue of all SAFETY come in to play.

Above: 15 passenger van. Right: Shuttle Bus. A little research is in order to know the difference. Plan now so you won't be sorry later.

Here is some information on the church shuttle bus verses the passenger van, which things you should consider before buying either one, and which platform to go with. There have been many warnings against using the 15 passenger vans by the National Transportation Safety Board. They actually have said in the past that the vehicles are not safe when fully loaded with people! I have found that they tend to oversteer some and can be difficult to avoid small obstacles in the road which you come across sometimes. Swerving is NOT fun in these long top heavy vans. Fifteen passenger vans have been declared very unsafe by the National Transportation Safety Board. The National Transportation Safety Board recommends a mini-bus as opposed to these 15 passenger vans for safety reasons. These vans are very unsafe, in many states, car dealerships are not allowed to even sell these 15 passenger vans to schools or churches. In the past decade, there has been many recorded deaths involving these vans.

One of the craziest things to me is that many insurance companies no longer provide insurance coverage on 15 passenger vans when used by organizations to haul humans. This fact alone should be cause for concern. In some states you cannot even get registration or plates on these vehicles.

The 15 passenger vans roll 100% of the time in roll tests. The tests are done making an evasive maneuver going 40+ miles an hour. Very scary. NOTE: CBS aired a special report where engineers of of 15 passenger vans admitted the design wasn't safe and there is a big safety risk, namely that of rollover.

The 15 passenger vans do cost less and for many this is the deciding factor when purchasing one. Most people don't consider shuttle buses because they think they are expensive. However used shuttles from local distributors can really be a blessing for churches trying to obtain reliable and safe transportation. Many shuttles can be had for less than $600 a month.

Be aware that sometimes you need a CDL license to operate the shuttle buses and fifteen passenger vans. Check with your Department of Motor Vehicles for the requirements in your location. In the majority of states, the driver is NOT required to have a CDL license to drive the bus if the bus seats 14 or less passengers. The driver is usually required to have a GVW addendum to their driving license if it is heavier than 26,000 pounds. Another bus that does not require the CDL license in a lot of states is the ones built to accommodate wheel chairs because these typically seat 12+2.

Shuttle buses are nice because they come with overhead luggage bins, cloth seats that recline, retractable seat belts, CD sound systems, arm rests, reading lights, DVD players, tinted windows to keep the bright sun out, air conditioning, etc. The majority of these commercial style buses are built to make long trips very comfortable and enjoyable. The driver can enjoy power brakes & steering, tilt wheel and instruments all located within reach, and cruise control for those long roads.

Also, there are some exterior comforts offered on these church shuttle buses. To minimize the bouncing in the rear of the bus, they have an extended wheel base, rear wheels that cut down on the sway in the back axle, the walls are insulated and the floors are made thick which will give you a quite ride. These church shuttle style buses can be more comfortable and safer for long trips than the vans.

Most of the shuttle buses use regular unleaded fuel but some used for more miles will carry the diesel. They are built on an E350 chassis and get about 9-11 MPG depending on length of trips. The cost of fuel is no higher than that of a 15 passenger van. Most of the time insurance is 10% cheaper for a church bus than on a 15 passenger van of the same year and model.

The manufacturers of these shuttle bodies usually add steel cage construction and dual rear wheels for the church bus versions for safety and reliability.

Fluid checks and oil changes can be done at your local Ford or Chevy dealership for the same cost of a SUV. Most new buses come with a 5 year warranty on the drive train and engine, which can be helpful if something goes wrong. It will save the purchaser money as most of the repairs will be taken care of by the manufacturer's warranty. Hope this helps in making your decision on whether or not to buy a 15 passenger van or a church shuttle bus.

There are some minimum safety requirements that need to be considered as well when thinking about purchasing a bus. First of all, seat belts do not usually come on these buses so you will need to pick a company that will install this safety feature on your bus before leaving the lot.

Other options to consider are that dual rear wheels create much better stability, and steel beams. Make sure that in the side walls and roof there are steel beams placed every few feet.

The majority of buses come with the same standard family car features. These features are power brakes, power steering, tilt wheel, stereo systems, cruise control, front and rear A/C, heat, and more. All of these features usually come on the majority of church buses. There is a lot of extra optional features as well that are available including, upgraded cloth, reclining seats, electric entrance doors, overhead parcel bins that have reading lights and many more. You can also get some neat customized designs added to your bus sometimes at no extra charge.

Sometimes you will be able to find your exact needs in a bus for a good price and find it in stock. Generally it will take 3-4 months to get your bus when you have ordered it. In stock buses are usually delivered in a week to ten days. You can get service on your bus at a local car dealership, usually, of the same model. The most common warranty on the chassis is a 5 year or 60,000 mile warranty and covers the power train of the vehicle. A 3 year or 36,000 mile warranty covers the rest of the chassis.

Never let your fear of asking good questions hold you back from getting a bus that fits your needs. There are toll-free phone numbers you can call to find a representative that will answer all of your questions. Or get an information packet from the dealership that will show you specs, pictures, and a lot of other very important info about these vehicles.

There are a lot of different sizes and styles of buses. And because there is no set price for these buses you will have to look around. There is usually a big difference in prices and products when looking at used or new buses.

If you are going to have babies or adults on your church bus or if you're going to Africa or just down the block, make sure you let your sales person know the needs and the uses of this bus your inquiring about. Not all buses automatically come with wheel chair access so check into that if it is something you will need. And make sure to discuss your churches budget upfront with the salesperson using your church transportation checklist.

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