Of course, it is possible that you absolutely adore keeping a check on the roadworthiness of the school minibus. Or it might be the case that someone else has taken the job on and is doing the checks for you.
If either case is true, then I’d like to offer my congratulations – because the truth of the matter is that in most schools looking after the minibus is actually listed within the school’s risk assessment as being down to your department.
But if you are the person with whom the buck stops, there is something you can do the lessen the load.
First off, it is fairly obvious that the newer the minibus, the less likely there is to be a problem. But, as we all know, few schools have the money to buy a new minibus – hence the ageing fleet.
However, where a minibus is leased the huge upfront payment for a new bus disappears. And. what’s more, there is an second benefit. And it is this…
Maintenance and servicing, (including tyres, clutch, battery, etc) can be covered within a leasing agreement.
So you get a double benefit. A new minibus, which is less likely to have problems plus the option of having a professional undertake all the standard maintenance and servicing.
This effectively reduces the onus that is put on the person who is nominated in the school’s transport policy to look after the minibus. Indeed, it was to overcome issues and difficulties such as this that we introduced full maintenance as part of our minibus leasing.
Not only do the schools that use our service get a new minibus without having to use current capital to buy it, they also get our certification that the bus has been checked by qualified engineers.
Given that the majority of school minibuses on the road are over five years old, this approach can be particularly valuable.
If you would like to know more take a look at our website – www.minibusleasing.co.uk/school-minibus.php.
Alternatively email us at Minibus@benchmarkleasing.co.uk or call us on 01753 859 944.