Thomas Built Buses Training

Thomas Built Bus Customer Training

Peach State Customer Relations 

When counties or municipalities purchase school buses from Peach State Truck Centers, the sale is just the beginning of a long-term relationship. It’s built into the sales contract that certified trainers and technicians on staff at Peach State will maintain close contact with the customer to ensure that operators and mechanics are educated on all aspects of the vehicle.

Personal Training Courses

One of the main ways Peach State educates the customer is through personalized training courses done on-site at the customer’s own facilities.

Driver Orientation, Electrical Troubleshooting, & School Bus Engine Mechanics

These courses range from driver orientations and familiarization classes to more in-depth curriculum for electrical troubleshooting and engine mechanics.

“We’re always there to support the product we’ve sold, whether it’s a recent sale or one from years before,” said Dwayne Bethune, one of Peach State’s bus trainers and road tech coordinator. “We like seeing our customers face-to-face, so doing the training courses in person at their facilities is important to us.”

School Bus Driver Orientation 

One of the first classes Dwayne and his crew put on for the customer is for the school bus drivers. In this orientation course, drivers are shown how to perform all the normal, everyday functions of a bus, like sitting in the driver seat, operating the switches and reading the gauges on the dashboard, how to open the door, turn on the radio and dome lights, as well as safety features like child reminders.

Mechanic & Diesel Tech Class

A more technical class is then taught to the customer’s mechanics and diesel techs. For this group, Dwayne demonstrates how modules communicate, how the body and chassis comes together and how to troubleshoot common issues. Parts, diagrams, schematics are given over to the class so that these individuals can work on the buses themselves without having to take the bus to a nearby dealership or autobody facility. Login credentials to OEM online resource tools are given as well, which can help with diagnosing vehicle issues.

“Knowledge is power when it comes to helping our customer get acquainted with their new buses,” continued Dwayne. “The technology in these vehicles is growing in leaps and bounds, so it’s necessary to make sure the people using the buses receive some training about the components and operating features.”

School Bus Education 

Part of the education process involves letting people know what to do when something goes wrong with the bus. Giving the school district technicians a background on the product and diagnostic tools allows them to know what to look for and what to ask for should they need additional parts or support. With this knowledge, these technicians have the information they need to do safe and efficient repairs so that the bus continues to run. And when buses run, kids get to school safely.

“Ultimately, it’s all about the safety of the children,” finished Dwayne. “We want our customers to be happy with the product we sold them, but we also know the important role these products play in the lives of young people every day.”

Peach State School Bus Repair 

In addition to the training classes, Peach State has six mobile technicians who travel the state full time to do repairs on buses that the company has sold since its bus division was established. It’s all a part of the long-term relationship that Peach State is interested in fostering with its customers.