On a lift bus, the wheelchair lift is the door for some of your students. If it won't come down at a stop, a student misses school; if it fails with someone on it, the result can be far worse. That's why the lift gets its own check every morning, before the bus leaves the yard, and its own service on the maker's schedule.
Here's a school bus wheelchair lift inspection checklist for drivers and aides, what the shop does on top of it, and how to keep the record.
The daily lift cycle
Run the lift through a full cycle with nobody on it, with the bus parked and the parking brake set:
- Open the lift door and check it stays open on its hold.
- Unfold and lower the platform to the ground. It should move smoothly, without jerking, noise or leaks.
- Check the roll stop (the outer barrier) flips up and down as it should.
- Raise the platform to floor level and check it lines up with the bus floor, and the inner barrier or bridge plate works.
- Stow the lift and close the door. Check the lift's warning light or buzzer goes off.
- Try the manual backup (the hand pump or release) so you know it works if the power fails.
What else to look at
| Item | What to check |
|---|---|
| Interlocks | The bus shouldn't move with the lift out, and the lift shouldn't work unless the bus is parked, as the maker designed |
| Platform and handrails | No cracks, bent edges or loose bolts; the non-slip surface is in place; handrails are firm |
| Hydraulics and wiring | No leaks under the pump or along the hoses; cables and the control pendant are undamaged |
| Lights | The lift area lights and the platform's warning markings work and are clean |
| Securements | Four tie-downs for each wheelchair position, plus the lap and shoulder belt, all there, not frayed, and the tracks clean |
| Belt cutter | In its place, within the driver's reach, not missing or dull |
Tip: Write the defect, not just "lift bad": which part, what it did, and whether the bus can run without the lift. A bus with a broken lift can still run a route with no students in wheelchairs, but not one that has them.
The periodic service
On top of the daily check, the lift maker sets a service schedule, often by the number of cycles or by months: lubricating the pivots, checking the hydraulic fluid, tightening the mounting bolts, testing the load and checking wear. Many states add the lift to the bus's yearly or twice-yearly inspection. Keep the maker's manual in the shop and use its list.
Good to know: Lift equipment must meet federal motor vehicle safety standards, and states set their own inspection rules for lift buses and wheelchair securement. Follow the maker's manual and your state's rules.
Doing it in FleetCommander
Which buses have a lift. On a school bus's record, tick Wheelchair lift under the safety equipment, and set the Wheelchair capacity. Both show on the bus's page.
The checklist. On Inspections › Templates, Manage › New template makes a lift checklist: give it a Template name like Wheelchair lift daily, a Type (Pre-trip or Daily), and tick the lift buses' vehicle type under Applies to vehicle type. Add each item above under Vehicle components inspected and mark Safety-critical on the ones that should stop the bus, like the interlock or a missing belt cutter. When a safety-critical item fails, the inspector can take the bus out of service right there, a defect is opened for each failed item, and managers are told. For the periodic service, add a Monthly or Quarterly template the same way, or a maintenance schedule. See the Inspections guide and the Defects guide.
Ava (Beta), the assistant in the app, answers Any failed inspections this week? or Any open defects on Bus 103?. More on her page.
Related reading
Questions people ask
- How often should a school bus wheelchair lift be inspected?
- The driver should cycle it every day before the route, and the shop should service it on the maker's schedule. Many states also check it at the bus's yearly or twice-yearly inspection.
- What is a wheelchair lift interlock?
- A safety system that stops the bus from moving while the lift is out, and stops the lift from working unless the bus is parked, as the maker designed it.
- Can a bus run with a broken wheelchair lift?
- Not on a route with students who use the lift. Write it up as a defect and use another lift bus until it's repaired.
- What should be checked on wheelchair securements?
- That all four tie-downs and the lap and shoulder belt for each position are there and not frayed, the tracks are clean, and the belt cutter is in its place.