First of all, let us be clear about what a bus mechanic does. If you think that the person’s only job is to focus on fixing and maintaining vehicles alone, then you’re quite mistaken. Secondly, under normal circumstances, a bus mechanic is under the guidance and supervision of his Transportation Supervisor, as in the case of a bus fleet. Here below are the specific tasks usually done by a bus mechanic:

What are the Duties of a Bus Mechanic?

The overall job entails inspection, diagnosis, repair and maintenance of all types of diesel engines on top of preparation and maintenance of records related to the function.

Inspection

The bus’s mechanical components as well as its engine have to be checked on a regular basis and especially before embarking on a long haul. This is to prevent any unexpected breakdown while the bus is in motion.

Diagnosis

With the use of certain diagnostic instruments, a bus mechanic will be able to identify and analyze what’s wrong with his unit so that he can adjust, repair or even overhaul an entire bus or truck. In this technological age, the tools could either be hardware or a software program.

Repair and Maintenance

Beforehand, a bus mechanic has to make a plan and schedule way before the vehicles go into these routine tasks. Preventive maintenance is a must if you want your fleet to be up and running without the unnecessary expensive downtime and failure of equipment and/or engine. Bus operators and owners should be happy to note that a fleet maintenance app is now available to help make the task of planning and scheduling quick and easy.

On top of those mentioned above, the bus mechanic has to render assistance in maintaining trucks, cars and other motorized equipment. That being said, it’s not very easy to find a bus mechanic that’s worthy of your trust with all those seemingly tedious tasks. Follow these steps below that can help you find what you’re looking for.

Steps in Finding a Reliable Bus Mechanic

Finding a trustworthy and reliable bus mechanic these days could be a bit daunting at the same time challenging because you wouldn’t know what will happen to your vehicles if you leave them in the hands of a total stranger. To minimize feelings of stress and anxiety, here are the steps in finding an expert.

Get referrals from friends and family

Pretty sure, there’s always a relative or two or a best friend perhaps who already has a trusted serviceman or service center. If your bus is similar to what they own, you may ask them for recommendations. Likewise, search for the shops in your vicinity that service large fleets and including your brand of bus. For your information, there are also garages that focus on particular makes and your vehicle type could be what they specialize in. Most certainly, they will have a crew that has undergone the latest training and is equipped with modern tools for fixing and maintaining buses.

Try out local shops

If you are not satisfied with the referrals, then it would be good to try out first the services of a smaller or local shop nearest you for minor work such as filter and oil change. However, you have to check first if its business hours don’t conflict with your schedules because your presence during the service is necessary. You must see for yourself how the bus mechanic handles your vehicle and if his kind of service passes your standards. Then you may proceed to asking the center for warranties for common bus repair jobs like brake work. Different shops offer different guarantees so it would do you good to have a comparison.

Other Options

Connect with the business bureau

Surely, the business bureau has a complete and updated list of the shops, with recommendations on which shops to go to and which to avoid. Most definitely, the must-go-to shops have the better-performing bus mechanics.

Ask for a certification

Once you find an expert, you might as well ask if the person is certified by the ASE or National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence. This independent non-profit organization founded in 1972 is said to have been improving the quality of repair and service by conducting tests to aspiring automotive professionals. Anyone who has completed the required training is granted a certification for Automotive Service Excellence and can be called a Certified Master Technician.

Pick one from AAA approved shops

If you’re in need of a trusted mechanic, you can go to a shop that has a triple A approval. The AAA network claims a membership of over 7,000 auto repair shops. With such an approval, it means money-saving benefits customers get for excellent services.  

Search for a dependable bus mechanic on the Internet

The Web offers an ocean of information for all kinds of professionals including those in the automotive industry. Just type “bus mechanic near me” on Google Search and it will show you a hundred different websites to start with. 

If you want your fleet running smoothly and give your buses a longer lifespan, get the services of a reliable bus mechanic. And, if you’re also in search of used coach buses and trucks for sale, visit UsedVending.com for the best deals.