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A lot has changed since 1982.

$1.22 bought you a gallon of gas and 100 million fewer people called the United States home.

It’s also the year Cliff Zehr joined Kerlin Bus Sales & Leasing. Since then, the school bus industry has remained anything but stagnant. As he reflects on the last four decades, these are the big changes and trends that come to mind:

Early Installation

Cliff spent the early years installing strobe lights, heated mirrors, radios with two speakers, wheelchair lifts, and lift doors.

In those days, Kerlin would only service the body of the bus because the chassis dealer would service the chassis itself.

Multiple Engines

Even Cliff’s 40 years of service can’t match the number of engines available during that time. Ford. GM. International. Mercedes. Detroit. Cummins. The list goes on and that doesn’t even include various emission years, horsepower, etc.

The fuel source has also evolved. Gas engines ruled the 1980s, some were then converted to propane engines. However, this change resulted in excessive maintenance. The industry pivoted to more fuel-efficient diesel, which has continued to evolve into today’s clean diesel. And now electric school buses are gaining popularity.

The Buying Process

Even the buying process has evolved.

40 years ago, schools wrote their own specifications. Chassis dealers and body companies bid. Schools would then choose, often based on the lowest price or local service. The winning dealer would then take their chassis to the body company and assemble the bus.

Interior Changes

Kids of today may not even recognize the school buses of the 1980s.

Back then, buses featured black floors and green seats. Even the foam-backed seats were somewhat of a recent upgrade. Before 1977, students sat on metal-backed chairs, which made long commutes feel even longer.

More Sizes

Decades ago, most school buses hauled 54 or 66 passengers. There was no Type A designed for smaller groups. However, there was a “P” model which Thomas Built Buses referred to as the Mighty Mite. This was a bus mounted on a delivery truck chassis.

Today, you can find buses of all shapes and sizes.

No one knows what the next few decades will hold. The only certainty is more changes will come. And we’ll be here to help. If you’re looking for new or used school buses, contact us today.