Transportation Officials Get Early Start So Buses Run On Time On Cold Days

Columbus Schools transportation officials must get an even earlier start in their day when temperatures drop.

Crews were on the job at 2 a.m. on Wednesday. They were prepping buses to avoid delays.

That work includes using auxiliary engine heaters that are equipped on half of the Columbus City School buses. The driver sets the heater to come on at 4 a.m. when temperatures are below 20 degrees.

“That heats up the water. It runs off diesel fuel, the same fuel in the vehicle. And it heats the water up so the bus will start up and give us better creature comfort faster than we could before,” said Steve Simmons, CCS Transportation Coordinator.

Other crews start up the rest of the buses to make sure they are warmed-up and ready to roll.

While it’s a day-to-day process, officials said they have not had any issues yet this week.

Columbus City Schools work on a tiered busing system so it is tough for them to delay school, although they said they have done it in the past.

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