Heavy snow forces closure of bus garage
Forest Lake Area Schools officials cite structural concerns since the garage, a pole barn that was built in 1961, has broken beams. It was being used to house 25 of the district’s vehicles and is expected to be torn down.
FOREST LAKE, Minn. — Ross Bennett, a spokesperson for Forest Lake Area Schools, told The Associated Press (AP) that the district closed its bus garage this week because of heavy snow and ice accumulating on its roof, leading to structural concerns.
The garage, a pole barn that was built in 1961, has broken beams. It was being used to house 25 of the district’s more than 100 vehicles, but the buses have been moved.
School officials expect the building to be torn down and rebuilt, according to AP.
To read the full story, click here.
More Maintenance

The essential guide to school bus maintenance and student safety
Reactive maintenance puts students at risk of breakdowns, delays and roadside emergencies. This guide gives transportation directors a data-driven framework to predict failures, extend bus lifespans and improve fleet reliability across every route.
Read More →
Kerry Brothers Grows Michigan School Bus Repair Network
The acquisition of Downriver Truck and Bus expands Kerry Brothers’ school bus maintenance footprint across southeast Michigan, adding repair capacity, diagnostic resources, and state inspection support.
Read More →
Noregon Introduces CAN Bus Diagnostic Tool, Expands JPRO Features
CAN Mentor and the latest JPRO update aim to simplify vehicle network diagnostics and improve repair efficiency for technicians of all experience levels.
Read More →Cummins on Smarter, Simpler Engine Innovation
Cummins discusses its first-ever gasoline engine for school buses, EPA 2027, and why bus fleets still want durable, simpler internal combustion options.
Read More →
Report: 72% of Diesel School Buses Now Use Advanced Low-Emission Engines
New data shows advanced low-emission diesel technology continues expanding across school bus fleets, even as electric bus adoption gains momentum.
Read More →
Vampire Tools' CAIMAN 7.5-Inch Multi-Purpose Screw Extractor Long-Nose Pliers with Crimper
Vampire Tools introduced the VAMPLIERS Caiman 7.5-inch multi-purpose pliers, combining screw extraction, cutting, crimping, and gripping functions into a single tool designed for fleet maintenance professionals.
Read More →How Advanced Diagnostics Helps Bus Fleets Stay Ahead of Repairs
Chat with Noregon’s Kevin Smallhorn at ACT Expo about bus diagnostic tools, telematics integration, CNG maintenance support, and strategies to help reduce downtime and improve uptime.
Read More →
How School Bus Fleets are Getting Ahead of Breakdowns
Don’t let bus downtime wear you down. Here’s how bus operators are shifting from manual processes to AI-powered, data-driven maintenance systems for improved reliability and safety.
Read More →
Pennsylvania School Bus Maintenance Team Praised for Dedication to Safety
Matthews Bus Company’s West Jefferson received a letter of commendation from the Pennsylvania State Police for their fleet inspections.
Read More →
From Chaos to Clarity: How School Districts Are Running Leaner Transportation Operations
Covering 38 routes on a Friday afternoon. Buses idling while routes overlap. Parents calling nonstop about late arrivals. Sound familiar? This whitepaper explores how district transportation leaders solved these exact problems — and what measurable results followed.
Read More →
