Keeping track of vehicle warranty information, service schedules and part replacement dates ensures that fleets run as efficiently as possible. All too frequently, however, this vital information gets lost in a sea of paperwork, emergencies and day-to-day business. Fleet managers need a system that lets them focus on their work — maintenance — instead of wasting time sifting through files and wondering what is still covered by warranty.

While this information traditionally hasn’t been organized in an “easy access” manner, products have emerged that help track and organize vehicle information so fleet maintainers do not have to. IC Corp., for example, offers the Bus ISIS comprehensive service-information tool for all models within its school bus line.

The easy-to-use, Internet-based program provides enrolled bus managers immediate access to complete service information for the entire bus, including the engine, chassis and body — all of which are not available on other similar systems. It is a smart, common-sense tool that makes it easy to pull up service information, making maintenance easier and lowering the cost of ownership.

Through the IC Website, www.IC-Corp.com, enrolled customers access a world of information, including original service manuals and updated service bulletins, campaigns, newsletters, operators manuals, warranty coverage and coding manuals, recall information, bus body-service information and links to related supplier and industry sites.

How it works
Using the Bus ISIS service is as easy as typing in the vehicle identification number (VIN). With the VIN, owners and maintainers access a library of service and repair information about the bus, including components, serial numbers and service contracts. With a click of the mouse, technicians can pinpoint maintenance problems faster, thereby minimizing downtime and cost.

Bus ISIS not only connects customers to the history of a bus, it furnishes the recorded history of all its components, eliminating the guessing game when the time arrives to service or sell the vehicle.

The publications menu alone offers users access to all of the information usually stored in a file cabinet and not easily found. The following information can be found in the publications section of ISIS:

Service manuals — manuals, technical bulletins, trouble-shooting guides and circuit diagrams.

Service bulletins — scheduled maintenance alerts.

Campaigns — recalls and authorized field campaigns.

Parts publications — engine and bus parts reference manuals.

Warranty information — standard repair times and warranty coverage documents.

The Bus ISIS maintenance system also directly provides all VIN-specific information, including warranty start date, miles and history, recall status, service-contract applicability, major component serial numbers and component information. Using an organized system, owners and maintainers can easily track, order and replace all components of a vehicle without wasting time “in the office.” David Hillman is marketing director of International Truck and Engine Corp.’s Bus Vehicle Center.