School Bus Fleet
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

Renowned school bus tech retires

Brad Barker, a maintenance expert and past winner of the America’s Best school bus technician title, steps down from his district position but will work for a dealership. “I will still be involved heavily in the school bus industry,” he says.

July 22, 2010
Renowned school bus tech retires

Brad Barker, a maintenance expert and past winner of the America’s Best school bus technician title, has stepped down from his district position but will work for a dealership.

2 min to read


PARK CITY, Utah — Brad Barker, a school bus maintenance expert who has won a national title and shared his knowledge with many in the industry, has retired from his school district position.

The longtime shop manager for Park City School District will begin working for Lewis Bus Group, a Thomas Built Buses dealership in Salt Lake City, as service manager/technical trainer in early August.

Ad Loading...

“I will still be involved heavily in the school bus industry,” Barker said.

Barker has written many maintenance-related articles for SCHOOL BUS FLEET and served on the magazine’s editorial advisory board.

Barker has accrued more than 30 years of experience in the industry. He started working on school buses in high school during work release from auto shop class.

In 2006, Barker earned the top technician title in the National Association for Pupil Transportation’s annual America’s Best competition. He has also been involved with state training and standards committees, and he represented technicians on the National Congress on School Transportation subcommittee for school bus specifications.

As he shared the news of his retirement from Park City School District, Barker expressed his admiration for the pupil transportation industry.

Ad Loading...

“The experience gained through the years and people involved in school transportation everywhere that I have come to know have been very rewarding to me,” Barker said. “I firmly believe there is not a better group of individuals anywhere, in any business, public or private.”

 

More Maintenance

The Essential Guide to School Bus Fleet Maintenance
Sponsored•September 21, 2026

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 →
Graphic showing a DEF header beside the text, “Better DEF Header Technology Can Mean Fewer Repairs.”
Maintenance•September 18, 2026

The Evolution of DEF Header Technology: What School Bus Operations Should Know at Replacement Time

See what school bus fleets should consider when replacing DEF headers to improve reliability, reduce repeat repairs, and control maintenance costs.

Read More →
School buses at a Southeast Michigan facility illustrate Kerry Brothers’ growing regional maintenance network following its acquisition of Downriver Truck and Bus.
Maintenance•by Amanda Huggett•August 11, 2026

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 →
Ad Loading...
A black and green Noregon CAN Mentor graphic.
Maintenance•by Staff and News Reports•July 24, 2026

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 →
Andrea Lukas of Cummins stands beside a large red engine display at ACT Expo, with on-screen text reading “Cummins Turns to Gas” during a School Bus Fleet interview about new gasoline engine technology.
Maintenance•by Amanda Huggett•May 28, 2026

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 →
Rows of yellow school buses parked in a lot with “Diesel Still Dominates” graphic overlay highlighting continued diesel use in school transportation fleets.

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 →
Ad Loading...
Vampire Tools VAMPLIERS multi-purpose screw extractor long nose pliers with crimper designed for maintenance, wiring and damaged fastener removal.
Maintenance•May 11, 2026

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 →
A Noregon representative stands at the company’s ACT Expo booth promoting smarter vehicle diagnostics, telematics integration, and maintenance tools for commercial and school bus fleets.
Maintenance•by Amanda Huggett•May 9, 2026

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 →
Fleet manager reviews maintenance and performance data on dual computer monitors.
Maintenance•April 27, 2026

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 →
Ad Loading...
Matthews Bus Company maintenance team members stand in front of a yellow school bus, recognized by Pennsylvania State Police for fleet safety, cleanliness, and inspection performance.
Maintenance•by News/Media Release•April 22, 2026

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 →