Mid-Columbia Bus Company

How do I pursue contracting out transportation with your company?

• Contracting begins with a Feasibility Study, Board action/review, a decision to Request for Proposals, advertising, and a decision by the board to accept a specific proposal.  We can help you with all those steps.

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Where can I find information on pupil transportation?

We are happy to provide any information that we have at our disposal and there are numerous Federal and State links that offer a wealth of information.  We would suggest the following:

• State Dept. of Transportation
  : Idaho – www.sde.idaho.gov/site/transportation/
  : Oregon – www.ode.state.or.us/search/results/?id=182
  : Washington – www.k12.wa.us/transportation

• State Associations of Pupil Transportation
  : Idaho - IAPT www.sde.idaho.gov//site/transportation/pupil_trans.htm
  : Oregon – OPTA www.optaschoolbus.org
  : Washington – WAPT www.wapt4u.org/

• National Agencies
  : National Highway Traffic Safety Administration www.nhtsa.gov
  : National Association of State Directors of Pupil Transportation Services www.nasdpts.org
  : National Association for Pupil Transportation www.napt.org
  : National Child Passenger Safety www.ntsb.gov/surface/highway/childseat.htm

 

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Why don't school buses have seat belts?

• NHTSA does require seat belts on buses with a gross vehicle weight rating of under 10,000 pounds.  These are the smaller buses with a seating capacity which usually does not exceed 20 occupants.

• NHTSA has not required seat belts for school buses over 10,000 pounds gross vehicle weight.  A few states, on their own initiative, require seat belts on these larger buses.

• Seat belts are not required on school buses because a large school bus is not a car.  Most automobiles place the passenger’s feet approximately 18 inches off the road surface; the head is normally within 30 inches of the windshield in the front seats; the frame is intended to support the automobile design, and many automobiles augment the use of a safety belt with an air bag system.

• The design of a bus body places the passenger’s feet approximately 30 inches above the road surface which protects the occupant from direct side impact crashes.  This is the main reason over-the-road motor coaches, transit buses and school buses are not required to have either seat belts or safety belts for passengers.

• For the passenger, there are no dashboard protrusions on a school bus.  The child slips into a seat which is comprised of a passive safety system.  The system is called ‘compartmentalization.’

• Seat belts are not required on school buses because compartmentalization has proven to be a passive, effective form of school bus passenger restraint.

• The Federal School Bus Passenger Seating and Crash Protection standard requires strong, well padded, evenly-spaced, forward-facing, energy-absorbing seating which does not require the child to do anything to be safe.  In the event of a crash, the system provides for impact against the energy-absorbing seat in front of the occupant or the padded side panel.

• School buses are built to the specific Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS), the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Highway Safety Guideline #17 – Pupil Transportation Safety, and the particular State Requirement Codes.

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Who is the founder of your company?

• Mid Columbia Bus Company, Inc., the parent company of Mid Columbia Bus Company, Inc, has been in the school bus business since 1956 which husband and wife, Bill and Peggie Flatt, began transporting students for the Condon School District in Oregon.  Bill continues his role as Chairman of the Board for Mid Columbia Bus Company and continues to reside in Condon, OR. 

• From this small beginning in 1956, Mid Columbia Bus Co., Inc. has grown from a two school bus, one school district operation, to a professional transportation service company providing school buses, motor coach, and shuttle services.

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What is Midco's Safety Rating?

• Mid Columbia Bus Company, Inc. (Midco) is proud of our No. 1 Safety Rating.  Our top rating is established through an auditing process by both the U.S. Military and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.  We have adequate safety management controls in place to meet the safety fitness standard established by the U.S. Department of Transportation.  This top rating also is a result of our location facilities, equipment inspections and driver files.

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How does an interested person become a School Bus Driver?

• No matter how a candidate is introduced to MIDCO/WSBS, A company Application, Consent for Procurement (Background Check), Authorization for Release of Information , and an Affirmative Action Form must be completed before the interview process is started.  The steps are as follows:

  • Completed Application.
  • Personal & Professional Reference Checks are completed.
  • Interviewing Processes of applicant.
  • Company Background Check for Criminal Convictions completed.
  • A three year DMV Report is obtained (MVR).
  • A CDL Permit must be obtained (four written DMV tests includes CDL General Knowledge Test, CDL Passenger Knowledge Test, CDL Air Brake Knowledge Test, and CDL School Bus Knowledge Test).
  • A School Bus/CDL Physical must be passed.
  • A Pre-Employment Drug Test must be passed.
  • Fingerprints Completed and sent to the State for the FBI Check.
  • The Company Hiring Packet Begins as well as the minimum of 15 hours of the Behind the Wheel Training.
  • CDL Behind the Wheel Test Performed.
  • Mandated Initial Classroom Training (State and Company requirement to complete classes which includes First Aide & CPR).
  • Ongoing Classes continue the MIDCO safety focus and commitment!

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