School Bus Specifications - Texas Department of Public Safety

BUMPER, FRONTSchool buses shall be equipped with a front bumper. The chassis manufacturer for all schoolbus types shall furnish the front bumper unless there is a specific agreement between thechassis manufacturer and body manufacturer.1. The front bumper shall be of pressed steel channel or equivalent material at least 3/16"thick and not less than 9 1/2” wide (high). It shall extend beyond the forward-most partof the body, grill, hood and fenders and shall extend to the outer edges of the fendersat the bumper's top line. “Type A” buses weighing 14,050 pounds or less may beequipped with an OEM supplied bumper.2. The front bumper, except breakaway bumper ends, shall be of sufficient strength topermit pushing a vehicle of equal gross vehicle weight without permanent distortion tothe bumper, chassis, or body.3. The bumper shall be designed or reinforced so that it or the chassis frame rail(s) will notdeform when a chain or air bumper type jack is used to raise the bus from a properlifting location on the bumper.4. The bumper shall be black. Bumpers for “Type A” school buses shall be themanufacturer’s standard color.5. A means shall be provided to mount the license plate for an unobstructed view.COOLING SYSTEMThe cooling system radiator shall be engine manufacturer’s recommended type and shall coolthe engine at all speeds in all gears. The cooling system fan shall be reinforced type with a fanclutch.DAYTIME RUNNING LAMPSA Daytime Running Lamp (DRL) system meeting chassis or body manufacturer's specificationsshall be provided on all school buses.DRIVE SHAFT GUARDS AND SHIELDSEach drive shaft section shall be equipped with protective metal guard or guards to prevent theshaft from whipping through the floor or dropping to the ground when broken.ENGINE EQUIPMENTEngines shall meet or exceed the minimum engine listed in the tables found on pages B-7 andB-8.ENGINE POWER REQUIREMENTSEach bus shall be furnished with an engine that meets or exceeds the following minimumrequirements, when tested at or above the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) required for agiven bus capacity and with all engine related accessories on and operating.1. Acceleration from zero to fifty miles per hour (0 - 50 mph) in sixty (60) seconds or less.2. Grade ability of one and one half percent (1.5%) minimum at fifty miles per hour (50mph).3. Grade ability of five (5) percent minimum at twenty five (25) miles per hour.4. Start ability of twenty (20) percent minimum.Section B-3