Related: Collins parent Allied Specialty Vehicles changes name, tagline
Collins reveals new small bus on Ford Transit chassis
Key features of the new Type A include enhanced driver visibility, improved fuel economy and a narrow body with easier maneuverability, company officials say.
Thomas McMahon・Executive Editor
Key features of Collins' new Ford Transit chassis Type A include enhanced driver visibility and improved fuel economy, company officials say.
1 min to read
RICHMOND, Va. — Type A school bus manufacturer Collins unveiled its new bus on a Ford Transit chassis here on Monday night.
The new bus is available in single rear wheel (SRW) and dual rear wheel (DRW) models. The SRW transports up to 20 passengers, while the DRW can carry up to 25.
Company officials pointed to the vehicle’s large view-out window on the passenger entry side, which they said reduces blind spots and enhances visibility when loading and unloading students.
Matt Scheuler, president and general manager of Collins Bus Corp., said that the new bus is now in production, and the company has already started taking orders for it.
Scheuler said that some of the key features are the enhanced driver visibility, improved fuel economy and a narrow body with easier maneuverability. He also noted that the air-conditioning system is flush against the rear wall.
The bus is Altoona tested, simulating seven years and 200,000 miles of wear. Collins offers a five-year body warranty and a limited lifetime paint warranty.
More Management
5 Questions: How CharterUP Brought a Marketplace to Student Transportation
What does it take to bring a transportation marketplace into K-12? Hear firsthand what CharterUP has learned about the unique needs of schools and bus operators.
Read More →
EverDriven Expands TripCentral Transportation Management Platform to All Partner Districts
The platform provides school districts with real-time trip tracking, student transportation scheduling tools, and pickup and drop-off management capabilities.
Read More →
6 School Transportation Trends to Watch: 2026 District Survey Results
School bus buying is up, fuel choices are shifting, and driver shortages persist. This and more in the latest K-12 public school survey, plus the largest fleets in the U.S.
Read More →
The 100 Largest School Bus Fleets in America: 2026 Rankings
Which public K-12 school districts are the largest in the nation in terms of bus fleet size? Here are the new standings of the top 100 district fleets.
Read More →
EverDriven Launches Route Consolidation Calculator to Estimate Diesel Savings
As diesel prices hit record highs, the largest alternative transportation provider says a 10% route consolidation could save a 120-route district more than $78,000 a year in fuel alone.
Read More →
Zum Secures Continued Financing Support for School Bus Expansion
Generate Private Credit has financed approximately $75 million in school bus deployments across three states, supporting more than 500 buses as Zum expands across the county.
Read More →
Beyond Discipline: A Different Approach to Student Behavior on the Bus
After implementing a dean of students program in Oregon, North Clackamas is seeing positive improvements. Here’s how it worked. The Route is brought to you by IC Bus.
Read More →
A Dean of Transportation's Different Approach to Student Behavior on the School Bus
After implementing a dean of students program in Oregon, North Clackamas is seeing positive improvements on the bus. Here’s how it worked.
Read More →
Inside NAPT ACTS 2026: Highlights from Louisville
From federal updates and student behavior strategies to new school bus technology and industry awards, see highlights from NAPT ACTS 2026 in Louisville.
Read More →
Meet the 2026 School Bus Driver Hero Winner: Annette Brown
We caught up with Wa-Nee Community Schools' Annette Brown on site at SBFX, where she was named the 2026 School Bus Driver Hero Award winner. Hear about her reaction, what she loves most about being a school bus driver, and more!
Read More →