What are the key questions to ask if you’ve been elected to buy the bus for your church, agency or organization?
- Who will ride the bus and what is their mobility level? Is anyone riding in a wheelchair or bringing a walker or cane?
- Adults of all ages who are members of our community
- Children under 14
- A mix of passengers in wheelchairs and ambulatory passengers
- Passengers who are sensitive to noise
- Passengers who are sensitive to dust
- Passengers who expect comfort and accommodation
The standard interior features of a Diamond VIP bus include Freedman seating with a variety of material options and colors including vinyl (easy to clean stain resistant, antimicrobial and antibacterial resistant) or cloth. Interior LED lighting. Para transit packages. BraunAbility or Ricon wheelchair lift and wheelchair restraints for safety and security.
And there are many optional interior features including upgraded seating packages, 19-inch TV screens, rear luggage storage, audio systems, cup holders, and luggage racks.
2. How often will the bus be on-the-road?
- Daily/multiple times daily
- 1-2x per week
- As needed for organizational trips
- Don’t know
An award-winning vacuum-cured composite coach body separates a Diamond bus from the competition. This means that your bus is significantly lighter than traditional materials used by other manufacturers thereby reducing the overall weight of the bus and improving fuel efficiency. A Diamond bus is manufactured of composite panels for exceptional durability and resistance to dings, dents, and corrosion. This reduces maintenance costs and extends the life of your bus. A Diamond bus is also a “tighter” bus – a quieter ride, more dust-free and with interior seat construction options for greater passenger comfort.
3. Who will drive the bus?
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- A volunteer who does not have a CDL license
- A volunteer with a CDL license
- A professional bus driver
- Multiple drivers with limited experience
Our Diamond VIP series buses come in multiple sizes and multiple floor plans starting with the VIP 2000 and VIP 2200 which offer four different floor plans from 14 passengers with a mix of wheelchair passengers and ambulatory passengers, but all staying below the requirement for drivers to have a CDL license. The VIP 2500 to 2800 series buses are larger buses (25 feet to 28 feet) with passenger configurations from 16 passengers to 29 passengers. Upgraded packages include navigation/touchscreen systems, upgraded dash kits, and wireless key fob entry.
4. Where will you have your bus serviced/repaired?
Experience and reputation matter. Kansas Truck Equipment Co., Inc. has been in the “bus business” since 1959; that represents a 67-year knowledge base. We have people – technicians and parts sales staff – who have worked at Kansas Truck for 40 years. They’ve seen it all! Their knowledge is greater than a computer diagnostic program or internet search! And our relationships with suppliers are equally strong.
Diamond Coach is a Kansas grown 69-year-old company located in Oswego, KS, employing 125 Kansans. Diamond – exquisitely built and appointed – with a long-standing Midwest value-based reputation for quality.
So, if you’re in charge of selecting a bus for your organization, call us. We have the expertise, relationships and selection to help you design and build a bus that’s just right for your community.
Brian Leis, School and Commercial Bus Sales, 316-722-4291 or bleis@kansastruck.net.
