School Bus Maintenance in 2026: Costs, Tech & Workforce Gaps
As gasoline use rises, maintenance teams face tighter budgets, limited training, and slow wage growth. This and more trends and analysis in our annual survey report. Survey sponsor: Dayton Parts.
Small fleets lead the way again. More than half of survey respondents this year maintain fewer than 50 vehicles, reinforcing that most school bus maintenance operations are lean by necessity.
Credit:
Dinh Tran via Sulphur Springs ISD/School Bus Fleet
3 min to read
Maintenance teams reports rising gasoline usage amid limited training opportunities and budget constraints.
School Bus Fleet's annual survey report highlights the issue of slow wage growth impacting school bus maintenance.
Analysis reveals significant trends affecting the efficiency and effectiveness of bus maintenance operations in 2026.
*Summarized by AI
Keeping school buses running reliably in 2026 is about far more than turning wrenches. We asked around school bus shops across North America to share these results that reveal a growing squeeze on operations as technicians and managers struggle to keep pace with demand, budget, and daily needs.
TLDR: Top Takeaways from This Year’s Maintenance Survey
Cost pressure has overtaken parts availability as the top maintenance challenge, followed closely by emissions and electrical components. This shift could signal that inflation, the complexity of technology, and compliance are weighing heavier on shops these days.
Type C buses are unsurprisingly the majority of school vehicles on the road, with Type A buses and vans/SUVs also widely used. Yet, OEM diversification increased this year, with our highest number maintaining five or more makes.
Diesel still dominates, but every fuel type saw increased use this year. Gasoline jumped a notable 42% year over year!
The average age of yellow buses dipped below nine years for the second year in a row. The modest increase from 2025 may indicate fleets are balancing replacement with budget realities rather than accelerating purchases. This coincides with buying intent: More fleets have plans to buy new soon, aligning with the trend of younger fleets.
Administrative disconnect is compounding maintenance challenges. One respondent expressed district leadership that seemingly believes that buses last forever, technology never changes, and electronics and emissions are easy. This leaves shop staff under-supported where it matters most.
Staffing shortages are forcing alternative maintenance models. Shops with no in-house techs often have to rely on mobile mechanics, contracted labor, or dealership support (and cost) when things go wrong.
The training and resource gap is real. Multiple respondents noted the desire for access to technical information or service bulletins, while another suggested public-speaking development for maintenance staff to present to others with more confident in front of people instead of under buses.
Other respondents noted ongoing quality control issues on new buses and the constant budget squeeze on transportation departments.
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Note: All data was compiled and averaged from qualified survey respondents representing transportation directors and fleet managers at public school districts and contractors in North America in January 2026.
To see your voice represented in these results next year, watch for announcements about 2027 survey dates and share your insight to help us identify challenges, opportunities, and accurately report on the state of school bus maintenance.
“Other” answers included driver’s treatment of buses, limited bay and shop space, mechanics having to drive due to the driver shortage, and having to outsource inspections and repairs. Last year, parts availability was the top challenge.
Credit:
School Bus Fleet & BBM Research Dept.
Not surprisingly, conventional buses are in nearly every fleet, followed by Type A buses and vans as most popular. Type Bs and Ds declined in popularity compared to last year’s respondents.
Credit:
School Bus Fleet & BBM Research Dept.
Diesel’s usage is nearly unchanged from last year, and all fuel types jumped in use this year. Gasoline saw the biggest gains, increasing by 42% compared to last year.
Credit:
School Bus Fleet & BBM Research Dept.
For the second year in a row, the average age of yellow fleet buses is under 9 years, continuing a younger trend over the past 15 years.
Credit:
School Bus Fleet & BBM Research Dept.
The average starting wage for school bus technicians rose just 35 cents per hour compared to last year. A much less steep increase from the $1.56 rise from 2024 to 2025. Converted to an annual salary, that’s about $53k/year.
Credit:
School Bus Fleet & BBM Research Dept.
There’s a slight increase in certified technicians this year. In 2025, 14% of fleets had at least one certified, and 41% had some certified technicians.
Credit:
School Bus Fleet & BBM Research Dept.
The driver shortage is barely better according to respondents this year, with 6% fewer having their techs covering any route over the school year.
Credit:
School Bus Fleet & BBM Research Dept.
More School Bus Maintenance Stats & Trends
Average school bus retirement age
Small (Type A/B): 13 years
Large (Type C/D): 14.5 years
Average annual miles per bus: 2,587,058
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Average number of maintenance bays per shop: 4.5
Percentage of school bus techs who are women or non-binary: 1.7%
Watch for the full results in our March 2026 print issue!
Limited training restricts mechanics' ability to tackle modern technological advancements in school buses, leading to potential inefficiencies and longer repair times.
Slow wage growth can lead to workforce retention challenges as maintenance professionals may seek better-paying opportunities elsewhere, affecting the availability of skilled labor.
The survey identifies trends such as budget constraints, inadequate training opportunities, and slow wage growth, all of which impact the efficiency and effectiveness of school bus maintenance.
The survey report was sponsored by Dayton Parts, a provider of automotive and other vehicle parts.
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