Some of the issues identified for the buses that were removed from service included problems with brakes, steering and emergency exits, a statement accompanying inspection reports stated.
Related links:
Brake issues among problems Service NL flagged on latest school buses taken out of service
School bus company, mechanic face 100 charges in total under Highway Traffic Act
One 2005 bus taken out of service was found to have a brake line leaking at the rear, corroded brake lines, an emergency door latch issue, a muffler issue and exhaust leak, the rear bumper pushed in and low brake fluid. A note on the inspection report said the brake test could not be completed due to leaks.
Another 2005 bus taken out of service had some brake issues as well, including some rotor rust.
And a third bus taken off service, also from the same year of manufacture had brake fluid leaking from a rear caliper, and exhaust and power steering leaks. The rear emergency also needed lubrication.
Another of the buses was found to have rusted brake lines although that one was not taken out of service.
Meantime, Kelloway Investments owner James Kelloway said Thursday most of his buses are brand new and he fears Service NL and the English School District is forcing him out of business.
“I’ve got 60 people gone home with their papers,” Kelloway told The Telegram.
“I’ve got to get something done or those buses are going back out of the province. It’s shocking.”
Kelloway said he bought 18 brand new buses in 2015 and 16 new buses in 2016 and problems that can put a bus out of service include heated mirrors that don’t work, first aid kits missing some items, missing reflective tape on emergency exits and burnt-out interior dash bulbs.
Kelloway insisted that when he bought seven buses in November from another company that had its contract with the board cancelled, attention focused on him.
He said the board told him 6 p.m. Wednesday night his contract was suspended, leaving 3,500 kids at 22 schools scrambling to find a way to school until Monday when a substitute plan kicks in.
The buses were then surprise-inspected Monday, according to Kelloway.
“There’s no need of having all these 3,500 people with no busing today,” Kelloway said, adding mechanics are working on addressing the issues and he’s trying to get in contact with the board.
“Why did they cancel all my work?”
Kelloway claims his fleet is worth $5 million and he fears what the debacle will do to his company.
“I got banking people saying ‘Hey Jim, what’s going on?’”
Until the suspension, Kelloway was providing a fleet of 50 buses to various schools in the metro area.
Alternate contracts providing accessible mini buses have also been suspended.
[email protected]
Twitter: @bsweettweets
Some of the issues identified for the buses that were removed from service included problems with brakes, steering and emergency exits, a statement accompanying inspection reports stated.
Related links:
Brake issues among problems Service NL flagged on latest school buses taken out of service
School bus company, mechanic face 100 charges in total under Highway Traffic Act
One 2005 bus taken out of service was found to have a brake line leaking at the rear, corroded brake lines, an emergency door latch issue, a muffler issue and exhaust leak, the rear bumper pushed in and low brake fluid. A note on the inspection report said the brake test could not be completed due to leaks.
Another 2005 bus taken out of service had some brake issues as well, including some rotor rust.
And a third bus taken off service, also from the same year of manufacture had brake fluid leaking from a rear caliper, and exhaust and power steering leaks. The rear emergency also needed lubrication.
Another of the buses was found to have rusted brake lines although that one was not taken out of service.
Meantime, Kelloway Investments owner James Kelloway said Thursday most of his buses are brand new and he fears Service NL and the English School District is forcing him out of business.
“I’ve got 60 people gone home with their papers,” Kelloway told The Telegram.
“I’ve got to get something done or those buses are going back out of the province. It’s shocking.”
Kelloway said he bought 18 brand new buses in 2015 and 16 new buses in 2016 and problems that can put a bus out of service include heated mirrors that don’t work, first aid kits missing some items, missing reflective tape on emergency exits and burnt-out interior dash bulbs.
Kelloway insisted that when he bought seven buses in November from another company that had its contract with the board cancelled, attention focused on him.
He said the board told him 6 p.m. Wednesday night his contract was suspended, leaving 3,500 kids at 22 schools scrambling to find a way to school until Monday when a substitute plan kicks in.
The buses were then surprise-inspected Monday, according to Kelloway.
“There’s no need of having all these 3,500 people with no busing today,” Kelloway said, adding mechanics are working on addressing the issues and he’s trying to get in contact with the board.
“Why did they cancel all my work?”
Kelloway claims his fleet is worth $5 million and he fears what the debacle will do to his company.
“I got banking people saying ‘Hey Jim, what’s going on?’”
Until the suspension, Kelloway was providing a fleet of 50 buses to various schools in the metro area.
Alternate contracts providing accessible mini buses have also been suspended.
[email protected]
Twitter: @bsweettweets
