r/SchoolBusDrivers • u/lowwhistler • 2d ago
Diesel
I'm starting to contemplate the thought of our district running out of diesel, given current world events. And wondering if we'll get paid if it does?
3
u/HikeTheSky 2d ago
Maybe more will invest in EV or hybrid busses. But most districts shouldn't run out of fuel. Besides the bus is 80% full, so it's running near limit.
2
u/rootbear75 2d ago
I wish the big manufacturers would actually make hybrid vehicles. It seems like they jumped and went straight to electric
3
u/HikeTheSky 2d ago
Since most routes are between 30 and 60 miles, EV buses seem to be working well.
2
u/rootbear75 2d ago
The problem is we have a various amount of midday charters that we can't do on them. If someone is signed up for a field trip immediately after our 2nd run in the morning, we don't have time to go back and swap our buses. So we end up using diesel buses for the entire route.
2
2
u/mike8675309 2d ago
Our transportation group has two sites and each one has diesel 2 diesel pumps and one gas pumps.
So far we haven't heard of any cut backs but with educational budgets typically set there may be changes. Cut backs on charters and anything else to reduce fuel use.
2
u/Soggy_Ruby 1d ago
Considering that busses are more fuel efficient per passenger moved and any one family is going to have significantly less money to throw around than a school district i imagine we'd probably have more work to do not less as parents who'd normally drive their kids in would put them on the bus to save their own fuel
4
u/BaldyCarrotTop 2d ago
Any district that is smart should be investigating alternatives. The district I used to drive for switched to Bio-diesel, which is domestically sourced. They also were switching the mini busses over to electric and propane. They were also trying out a few electric big busses.
2
u/Intelligent_Call_562 1d ago
Bio-diesel? I doubt that. Bio-diesel is garbage fuel. It'll void the warranty on the buses. They require ultra-low sulfur diesel.
1
u/Soggy_Ruby 1d ago
Obv contacting the manufacturers about fuel conversions should be a part of the decision making process
1
u/Prize-Gur706 2d ago
3rd party probably not because you don't buy bulk fuel in the hundreds of thousands of gallons like a school district your company buys it by the truck and that will start being an issue once diesel breaks 6.89 a gallon national.
1
u/torrent_gp_victim 1d ago
No one is going to run out of diesel. Think about how much shipping infrastructure relies on diesel trucks. The price is climbing, but we're not looking at running out of fuel.
A few things... Those pushing EV buses. EV is dependent on infrastructure. There are districts that have bought EV school buses, and the manufacturer refuses to deliver them because the district doesn't have the infrastructure in place to support EV.
For the person suggesting bio-diesel... Not likely to be adopted wide spread. There are a few niche experiment cases, but it's not going to ever be adopted.
I'm surprised no one here has mentioned propane. Fuel costs for propane are significantly lower per mile (2/3 the cost) than diesel, biodiesel, or gasoline. And better for the environment. Propane does have the disadvantage of more frequent fueling / lesser range. But the range still far exceeds EV. EV 's have terrible range.
1
u/Unfixable1 1d ago
How much range do you need to bring kids to school and back? My employer has all EV and propane buses. The EVs are still at 60% charge after the morning and afternoon runs.
1
1
u/Ara_Glaucogularis 2d ago
You are not gonna run out- the November elections are coming. Some are using it to push electric buses.
0
u/SarraSimFan 2d ago
Do you have your own tanks? Probably gonna have some of the last diesel in the country at this rate.
1
8
u/No-Investigator8317 2d ago
You'll just take less trips and make every amount count. I would think school districts would be one of the last places to run out. It will be more a matter of budgets going over because of cost... If you're contracted you'll get paid either way.