Keeping a school bus yard in diesel and DEF

Tank at the depot or fuel at the bus

Most districts fuel one of two ways. Buses pull up to a depot tank, or a distributor fills each bus where it parks, often at night. Some districts use both, with wet hosing at a satellite lot with no tank.

For depot tanks, tell the distributor the tank sizes, how many gallons a week the yard uses, and where the fill points are. For wet hosing, say how many buses, where they park, and the hours the lot is empty.

DEF is its own supply line

DEF is not a fuel. It goes in its own tank on the bus, and engines built for it can lose power when it runs out. Check each bus model to see which ones need DEF and track how much the fleet uses.

DEF comes in jugs, drums, totes, and bulk for a storage tank. Keep it sealed, clean, and away from extreme heat and cold. Never use a funnel or hose that has touched diesel. Check for the DEF badge on a profile.

Winter fuel for early starts

Buses start in the dark and sit outside overnight. In cold areas, ask the distributor what winter blend or additive they deliver and when they switch over, so buses do not gel on the first hard cold morning.

Check depot tanks for water before winter. Water settles to the bottom of a tank, feeds sludge, and can freeze in a filter. A clean tank is the cheapest insurance a transportation director can buy.

What to put in a bid or quote

Many districts buy fuel through a bid or a co-op contract with its own rules. Follow your purchasing office. The details a distributor needs are the same either way: products, gallons, tanks, sites, and hours.

Spell out the product, including any biodiesel or winter blend requirement, the DEF format, and the ticket you want on each drop. Itemized tickets by site and product make the monthly reconciliation simple.

Questions