Bus driving legalitys

[SEmerson]

A freind of mine is planing on buying several city busses on the east coast. We would have to drive them back to the west coast. Are there any problems doing so with no cdl? Thay will be personal busses to be converted.

 

[rrausch]

I have no idea about the legality but it sounds like FUN!

 

[SEmerson]

I am not positive about the fun part myself. I am getting to hate driving. I drive about 60k a year.

 

[MMeier]

Might want to check into that further before you do it, sure would suck to get stuck by DOT once you have them!! If you need a CDL driver let me know!!!

 

[Ram4Sam]

East coast?

SE, why go all the way to the east coast, hasn't your friend seen that used bus lot on the I-215 down by Murrieta? There must be 20 acres or more of used transit and city type buses.



Sam

 

[SEmerson]

We have looked at them. But thay are about 15 to 20 times more.

 

[JohnE]

I think you are required to have a license with a transit bus endorsement until they are reclassified as an RV. Our VINS specificaly list them as transit bus.

You must also be air brake endorsed if they are air systems.

You will be subject to weigh stations and transit buses are frequently over weight on one axle.



Be very careful when purchasing a used transit bus. These buggers get many hard miles in a very short amount of time. Many bus manufacturers are no longer in business and difficult to get custom parts. Some bus configurations are not highway friendly.



I almost bought an old AM General articulated many years ago. sure glad I passed it up.

 

[Mad Bomber]

East coast bus

Be carefull about getting a east coast bus the road salt eats it up.

 

[SSage]

Never heard of a bus going through weigh stations, is that a non-southeast thing? I drove a MCI-8/9 coachs in the past and some Bluebirds.



Yes you'll need at least a Class B CDL. A passenger endorsement would be a good idea too, untill the buses are converted. Those buses are not great runners when they're cheap, really check them close and have an "expert" on hand to inspect. Thats a long trip, if you go transit, a slow trip probably. Watch the age too, make sure you can still get parts for the brake systems, cooling, etc.



What model of bus are you planning on?

 

[JohnE]

Operation of transit buses are usually exempt from weigh stations.

Transit of buses is considered a commercial venture and subject to weight stations.



I think Atlanta (MARTA) is still unloaded junker buses from the Olympic Games.

 

[SEmerson]

What about rvs that have air brakes? There are rts buses. And I only have a class c. This is a bummer. I am already commited if the deal goes though.

 

[SEmerson]

What is required for it to be a converted so a c would be ok.

 

[MMeier]

SE, how many of these things are you getting?? A class C is probably out of the question mainly due to the GVWR of the things! Are you getting driveaway permits for them? Where on the east coast and where exactly are you in SoCal? Sorry for so many questions but I feel you need several answered rather quickly!!

 

[SEmerson]

2 or 4 of them probably. With me and a Friend. So it would be 1 or 2 trips. They are coming from north carolina. To Moreno valley ca. We should be getting permits but we are still checking on that for sure. I thought originally that we where OK as long as they are personal vehicles use as a RV. It wasn't till later I found out that there was a problem. :{

 

[Speedo]

Buses and CDLs

You'll need a class B CDL with passenger and air brake endorse-

ments. It doesn't matter if you are hauling passengers or not.

At least that is the way it is here in Alaska.



Gus

 

[hammersley]

Once converted you're OK

But prior to being converted they're still a bus - and I'd bet if you have an accident - LOOK OUT!

 

[SEmerson]

What is the definition of them being converted?

 

[SSage]

You may try to register the buses as RV's before you transport. But highly unlikely. In the long run, your probably better off buying closer to home.



I would hire a driver (or flat bed) with the proper knowledge/CDL and advoid the legal problems you could have and probably will have with the DOT/weigh station people. Plus, you should know what your doing, do you know how to test air brakes? Do you understand how they work and what pressures are normal? You never said how old a transit bus your buying, but these things will probably have problems on that length of trip. Do you have a diesel tech with you? Take plenty of tire money too.



A CDL Class B is easy to get here in GA. Check your local tech/community schools. Here it cost about $250 to $400 to take a Class A course. But, it does take time. Its not very hard to pass, you won't really need to learn how to shift with the auto. The (private school) bus driving course I went to cost $1350, took two weeks I think, been a long time.

 

[JohnE]

tires

Good point SSage that I completely overlooked.

Most transit buses use a Metro style universal tread tire. They are only rated for 55 mph. Our drive-aways have a hard time with some of the NEW tires making it through the delivery trip.



Converted means different things depending on where you relicense.

 

[SEmerson]

As far as it running I feel ok there. And as far as tires thay do have 6 and I supose I could drive on 4 if I had too. I know enough about diesels to keep it going if it has issues. And I have drove many rvs with pushers and air brakes go I feel ok about driving it. I have even drove a 525 cat with a 13 speed in a peterbuilt before. At one time I was considering a cdl but I never went through with getting it. It is just getting pulled over and ticketed that scares me. :{