Every bus is a passenger vehicle because its sole purpose is to transport people from one point to another. But the gross weight of each bus differs from others depending on several factors. For example number of seats, luggage capacity, engine type, transmission type, number of axles etc. Passenger carrying capacity is the number one factor determining bus weight. A 15 seater bus for sale will weigh less compared to a 24 seater bus. They both will weigh less than a full sized luxury coach bus for sale that can seat up to 50 passengers.
Any bus will have its gross weight mentioned on its owners manual. It will also have instructions on how not to exceed the total weight. Overloading can cause imbalance in the weight distribution across the body thus causing the vehicle to tilt in a certain direction which can severely damage its steel body structure even after being emptied. This damage can further lead to unwanted repairs or even accidents. The weight also determines the type of licence the driver should carry. For example a minibus for sale is comparatively lighter in weight hence it can be operated with a regular licence. However medium and full sized coaches require special training to be operated and the driver must obtain a commercial licence before driving them.
Heavier buses are longer, broader and taller compared to lighter buses. But the drawback is that they are expensive to purchase, difficult to park, operate and maintain. They have a large turning radius which makes them difficult to navigate through heavy traffic. These vehicles extend 4 to 5 feet beyond the rear wheel, so when they turn right the rear end oscillates towards the left and vice versa. Drivers have to be extremely cautious operating them making sure they don't hit someone or something at the back. The driver will have to obtain a CDL licence to operate them. It's a lengthy process to acquire a CDL licence and once its issued the owner gets stuck with the same driver. Drivers with CDL license command a higher wage compared to those with regular licence. Thus maintaining a team of CDL licensed drivers can soon become a financial headache for many businesses and organizations. Thus first time buyers should start with minibuses for sale, acquire knowledge and experience operating them and then upgrade to bigger and heavier buses after a few years. Also, bus registration fee depends on its weight, hence heavier buses will be charged a higher fee compared to lighter buses.
These vehicles should not be overloaded due to the problems it creates as mentioned above. However, in the rare event they exceed their weight restrictions then its tire pressure should be checked and maintained up to specification as suggested by the manufacturer to ensure a smooth driving experience. This information will be available in the owner's manual that comes along with the vehicle. Owners should never exceed the weight limits set for their vehicles. Research has found that fully loaded buses put more stress on their engines to carry the weight forward, as a result the engine emits more nitrogen and carbon dioxides compared to empty buses. This difference can be up to 9%. Fifteen average passengers can easily cross one tonne but with the obesity epidemic, 10 obese passengers can make up to a tonne of weight on the bus. Buyers should check out the gross and net weight of a bus before making the purchase. Coach buses have big powerful engines and can easily carry extra weight but this is not the case with smaller mini and medium sized buses. All buyers should be aware of the terminologies related to weight in the automobile industry. They are as follow:
1. Unloaded vehicle weight - The weight of your vehicle at the factory
2. Gross vehicle weight - Vehicle weight plus passengers, luggage etc
3. Gross vehicle weight rating - Exceeding this number could damage your vehicle.
Staying under these numbers is essential for safe operation of the bus and timely braking.
Major Vehicle Exchange is a used shuttle bus for sale dealership and has been selling mini, medium and full sized buses to customers across the United States for more than thirty four years. Checkout the 40 plus motorized vehicles mentioned on our website and call the owner Charles Kaufman today for more information about buses and their weights.
No comments:
Post a Comment