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bwest
Administrator
United States
3820 Posts |
 Posted - 04/17/2012 : 09:10:49 AM
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I want to start by saying this probably belongs on the management side of this forum but I think techs. have a much better perspective on things than management anyway. That being said I am wondering how you guys keep records on your units. I keep a book with all work done, not down to the light bulb, but any work done that takes over 15 minutes lets say. I am thinking of making a form up that I can get a little more detailed with so if there are questions I will know what is going on, right down to the light bulb. Used to I could tell you exactly what I did on each unit years and years after I did it. Not so any more, the older I get the harder it becomes.  I am forever trying to do things better & I am looking to do just that with this question. |
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willism
Advanced Member
United States
250 Posts |
Posted - 04/17/2012 : 10:30:20 AM
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| Using Diamond connections solutions for records parts repairs and pms with a paper file backup. |
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slippert
Top Member
USA
630 Posts |
Posted - 04/17/2012 : 10:49:01 AM
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I suppose it depends on how large your fleet is what you do to track repairs, when I first started here 8 1/2 yrs ago everything was written and recorded then put in a three ring binder for that particular unit. needless to say very labor intense and doesn't take long to build quite a library.
I've got a good feet software program now, it was here when I started but wasn't being used, that as long as I enter all parts and info correctly when repairs are made and bus is fueled. It tracks mileage and sends maintenance reminders and puts yellow flag on file when bus is coming due or red when overdue for pm or whatever maintenance wanted as program was customizable to fleets needs. I think it works well as I can log in, open any bus file I want to look at, due a search and in a few seconds see the last time, date and miles a particular part was installed be it PM's, tires, brakes or a headlamp with out having to look through a whole bunch of papers and you know, Save a Tree. ;-) |
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Wolf0r
Top Member
USA
2181 Posts |
Posted - 04/17/2012 : 11:20:22 AM
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| I use Napa Tracs as they have me down as a service center. I get to use it since I buy lots of parts. Most of my usual labor ops are already there. I can add recommended service, see history etc. |
“The good thing about science is that it's true whether or not you believe in it.”
Neil deGrasse Tyson |
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tigger2
Advanced Member
USA
470 Posts |
Posted - 04/17/2012 : 11:47:16 AM
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| We run a fleet software package same as slippert. We used to do all the records on paper and put them in the bus file now only the paper copies of sublet work goes in the file after recording on an electronic w/o. The software tell what parts are getting low ect. also has an area for the drivers to request work to be done. |
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Mechan1c
Top Member
USA
853 Posts |
Posted - 04/17/2012 : 12:31:25 PM
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| I use Versatrans Fleetvision, and keep any service hard copies in a bus file. 300 vehicles, w/145 buses. |
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bluebirdvision
Top Member
USA
1081 Posts |
Posted - 04/17/2012 : 6:59:34 PM
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A program called VersaTrans which is linked between the district and the place that repairs our out of warranty buses. New York Bus Sales keeps all warranty related repairs on their system (obviously) My district runs 28 buses
My place of work uses excel to keep data on their computers. Very inefficient in my opinion. |
Facebook Page: Blue Bird Corporation Fans
https://www.facebook.com/home.php?sk=group_212311114614&ap=1
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Bus Tech II
Senior Member
121 Posts |
Posted - 04/18/2012 : 04:24:20 AM
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| We run a big software package called FleetFocus that tracks everything we need it to (and could do far more if we wanted it to!). It's the only way to keep up with large numbers of vehicles. We have 113 buses 121 trucks 30 staff cars and all the tractors and grounds equipment out at 54 different school locations. We also use an auto fuel system which controls fuel and then imports all data to the fleet program. |
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turbine
Active Member
United States
49 Posts |
Posted - 04/18/2012 : 04:33:06 AM
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| We use Dolphin Fleet Management program.It has been working good for us. All work orders all parts/inventory stored in the data base.It took some time to set it up but it sure makes looking up bus maint history/tracking parts/fuel/setting up automatic Pm schedules easy. 73 buses + all the other district vehicles are loaded in. |
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Fastback
Top Member
1500 Posts |
Posted - 04/18/2012 : 05:32:30 AM
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I use the Fastback Longhand program.  Too small of fleet, too old to change. 15 buses, 12 cars/vans/Suburbans/pickups |
Why yes, the ORIGinal CHARGER is a Fastback |
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slippert
Top Member
USA
630 Posts |
Posted - 04/18/2012 : 10:29:16 AM
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| Is that ^^^ available on cd-rom? LOL. |
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Mechan1c
Top Member
USA
853 Posts |
Posted - 04/18/2012 : 12:04:32 PM
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| ^^^Or 8-Track?^^ |
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Fastback
Top Member
1500 Posts |
Posted - 04/18/2012 : 12:53:10 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by Mechan1c
^^^Or 8-Track?^^
LOL
I long to inhale the smell of papers fresh from the mimeograph machine, oh the blue printing, oh the aroma, oh the 60s........ |
Why yes, the ORIGinal CHARGER is a Fastback |
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Thomasbus24
Administrator
USA
4546 Posts |
Posted - 04/18/2012 : 1:01:33 PM
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| We have this Rizzo machine (or somthing like that), it's a modern day mimeograph...drop by for a sniff anytime! |
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bwest
Administrator
United States
3820 Posts |
Posted - 04/18/2012 : 1:46:16 PM
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| LOL!! You guys are a hoot! I appreciate the input. I have a comparable fleet to fastback. 17 buses, two trucks, a white bus, a driver ed car, & various engine driven equipment on one campus (pre-k through 8). I can't see getting a software program unless they price them based on size of fleet. I would love to learn how (I'm never going to be that old, lol). I think if I just made up some kind of work order template and kept a file on each unit that would give me the information I need. What does your work order look like Fastback? |
Bryan |
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partsman_ba
Administrator
United States
377 Posts |
Posted - 04/19/2012 : 1:11:04 PM
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| We use a software package from Edulog which has a parts and service component called FleetPro. FleetPro is an old Unix-type program which will probably migrate to a web-based system soon. The software package includes routing and active GPS components which our administrator loves. |
"Growing old is mandatory. Growing up is optional." |
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Yardmonkey
New Member
9 Posts |
Posted - 04/19/2012 : 2:18:37 PM
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| My programe of choice is Asset manager, not designed for School Bus but I keep records of all service and parts, mech who worked on it. with a printable report on any unit. running 40 units and 13 in a satalite yard to date. |
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Carp_26
Administrator
United States
170 Posts |
Posted - 04/19/2012 : 2:45:34 PM
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| partsman_ba do you know what Modules you have activated with Edulog Fleetpro and an approximate cost to your annual license? I run EdulogNT for routing and was just looking at Fleetpro on their website. Though i'm not the mechanic we need to move to a more modern record keeping system for bus maintenance where there is some accountability on work being done or at least expected to be done. |
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partsman_ba
Administrator
United States
377 Posts |
Posted - 04/20/2012 : 11:11:30 AM
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| From the "Launch Pad" screen, we have Personnel, Reports, Vehicles, Maintenance Requests, Request Review, Work Orders, Parts/Materials, Fuel/Lubrication and Inventory Requests. The three I see that are not active are Assets, Zonar Tracking and Tire Tracking. I don't know the license cost but I can email my sales rep and get back to you. |
"Growing old is mandatory. Growing up is optional." |
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Carp_26
Administrator
United States
170 Posts |
Posted - 04/20/2012 : 4:47:50 PM
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| I can call product support. I just wasn't sure if you knew a cost or not. Thanks for the info. |
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Wolf0r
Top Member
USA
2181 Posts |
Posted - 04/24/2012 : 2:36:45 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by turbine
We use Dolphin Fleet Management program.It has been working good for us. All work orders all parts/inventory stored in the data base.It took some time to set it up but it sure makes looking up bus maint history/tracking parts/fuel/setting up automatic Pm schedules easy. 73 buses + all the other district vehicles are loaded in.
I got a demo cd from them. The program worked pretty good till expired. :( I tried to talk management into getting it when we had the dealership. Also Fleet Maintenance Pro is good but it's a demo too. |
“The good thing about science is that it's true whether or not you believe in it.”
Neil deGrasse Tyson |
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partsman_ba
Administrator
United States
377 Posts |
Posted - 04/24/2012 : 4:45:37 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by Carp_26
I can call product support. I just wasn't sure if you knew a cost or not. Thanks for the info.
Don't see an invoice in our files, so it must get paid downtown. Ask them about the web-based version as well. We have FleetPro 2000 Plus. |
"Growing old is mandatory. Growing up is optional." |
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BJ Henderson
Advanced Member
USA
280 Posts |
Posted - 05/01/2012 : 5:35:12 PM
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| We use Mitchell on Demands Manager program. We use the Mitchell on Demand information system also as we use it on support vehicles. It will crunch the numbers for you to know where the dollars are going pretty well. We can also take in any automotive work we want to the way we are set up, but we usually only work on employees' cars. |
CMTT,CMAT,CMBT |
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gmacdougall
New Member
2 Posts |
Posted - 05/11/2012 : 07:03:10 AM
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We are using an asset management program-it generates work orders and tracks parts inventory & purchasing as well as asset profiles. it has been working well for last 7 years-however data is only as good as the writer-still GIGO...if records are kept by one person the quality id more likely to be consistant. We have had to go back for research on several buses and this system has been a god-send, memories fail but computers go on forever.
quote:
Originally posted by bwest
I want to start by saying this probably belongs on the management side of this forum but I think techs. have a much better perspective on things than management anyway. That being said I am wondering how you guys keep records on your units. I keep a book with all work done, not down to the light bulb, but any work done that takes over 15 minutes lets say. I am thinking of making a form up that I can get a little more detailed with so if there are questions I will know what is going on, right down to the light bulb. Used to I could tell you exactly what I did on each unit years and years after I did it. Not so any more, the older I get the harder it becomes. I am forever trying to do things better & I am looking to do just that with this question.
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Record keeping
