Thomas Built Buses

Go behind the scenes of the company manufacturing those ubiquitous yellow buses for several generations. Produced by Our State magazine and UNC-TV, with generous support from BB&T. Segment originally aired on 8//5/2010.

[@romellohawkins1097]

It is in my heart and spirit to say that I'm grateful that God blessed and provided his lovely children with School Buses. Alot of people may not care about kids or Buses, but no one can change that, only God can change the hearts and the minds aof the Spirits of people, and I'm grateful for to say to Thomas Built Buses, y'all continue to do what y'all are set out to do, and the Lord will reward you for your Good works, allow your light to shine on in this world, God Bless y'all.

[@charliehorsenm]

I drove school bus for several years in a district that had over 150 buses, and from virtually every manufacturer there is, and I am here to say that the Thomas built buses were the BEST bar none. I loved driving them. They are very well thought out and very easy to handle. My absolute favorite is the 78 passenger rear engine transit. I have never driven a vehicle - car, truck or bus - that had as good a visibility for the driver. Seated in the driver's seat, you can literally see it all. I used to drive for a school that had a fixed "bus line up" at the curb of the street for the homeward bound buses to better facilitate the kids' ability to quickly find their bus. However, due to scheduling I often wound up getting to the school after the buses that were assigned to the spaces immediately ahead and behind me. This necessitated parallel parking the 40 ft. bus between the other two. The 78 passenger Thomas made this "chore" actually FUN! I frequently gained the admiration of parents who had come in their cars to pick up kids from the "mommy taxi" circle as we used to call it, as they watched me effortlessly swing the big Thomas into its parking position on the first try with the right side of the bus always within 4 inches or less of the curb.

[@dastewiegriffin]

@Berina MEHMEDOVIC get some grammar classes

[@yitznewton]

I'll disagree about the Saf-T-Liner C2 vs. the IC CE. The visibility and ergonomics of the IC are much better in my experience. The Thomas rides much better.

[@UahUahUah]

@@yitznewton The visibility is only better in the IC because it has a well/sit-in windshield. the C2 has a bonded windshield with a steep rake which improves fuel economy and is actually _larger_ than an IC windshield. The IC windshield will become a flying projectile in a crash compared to the C2's bonded laminate glass.

[@bertinakline723]

Lol

[@michaelsinkler8243]

I love the Thomas Built bus Thomas C2

[@user-ok1cq7is8y]

I never knew buses could get their text in the style of a temporary tatoo. Except this is permanent.

[@mardocheb617]

A lot of people really don't realize how much work a bus is..seeing this video makes me wanna drive one now lol

[@darrylmcneil6634]

Alotttttttt back breaking lol

[@sammyhakimvlogs5608]

This was very interesting information on how Thomas School Buses are made. The structure of it was what grabbed my attention.

[@kennytomaszewski2241]

Sure beats a camperlol

[@lionguardkid8946]

School buses are amazing

[@romellohawkins1097]

They sure are, I'm grateful for them, and glad we still got them and they're still providing children a safe ride to and from school.

[@michaeltaggart9714]

Let's get it straight here. As someone who is highly experienced in school buses, I can attest to the fact that the Saf-T-Liner C2 is the highest quality school bus you'll ever find. Far superior to both the International CE and the Bluebird Vision. Bluebird buses ride like tin cans, and use the same design as buses from the 80's. The IC CE is slightly better but is still a box on wheels. The C2 is the first integrated school bus on the market with a body and chassis specifically designed to work together. and don't give me any crap because Bluebird builds their own chassis. The C2 is also the most efficient bus, topping out at 9.8 MPG average. this score coming in higher than both the International CE and the Bluebird Vision. Ride any Thomas bus, I don't care if its a C2, an EFX or an HDX, then ride a Bluebird or International bus. you won't find a better looking, more efficient, durable, and comfortable bus than a Thomas Built product. end of argument here.

[@jourdenjames3810]

Mich

[@jourdenjames3810]

Michael Tagga

[@Cuddly_Bunny_LPS23]

...

[@joycesneed4970]

jo

[@aidanrose1543]

Only they they could improve on is leg room. The international ones have more.. but the freightliners are more refined

[@tylerloveless8437]

98% Of Thomas buses are still on the road today, the other 2% made it home. 🤣🤣🤣

[@emlotheschools2475]

yes The 😄

[@Tyieshalowetr_72]

That is the dumbist idea I've ever heard😯 haha

[@robbieeades1956]

No that’s a Chevrolet.

[@Gmny701]

What the fuck is going on here???

[@mikedior3089]

I honestly don’t understand this comment

[@overbank56]

I've recently become interested in driving a school bus. I'm currently studying for the test. Didn't realize just how much I have to know. This was interesting to watch.

[@ameliasclay1468]

How arę you enjoyed your new profession?

[@AidanNicholasCollins]

Wow. This makes me think of the time where I rode my very first school bus. 😢 I was 5 when I rode my first school bus. I'm 13. I guess I can't really date back to 2013, this is 2021. It's just emotional just thinking about it. Great memories. 😢💛

[@crayfish9945]

I was looking for a School bus once to " Convert into a motorhome ." I passed by a Bus-yard and sat in " Several Busses " . The Thomas built School bus was the most " Comfortable " and " Seemed " it would be the most Drive-able of all the Busses that I sat in ! It fit like a BMW, or a Fine made Boot ! They mentioned in this Video that there are also " Individuals " that Buy these Busses ! If I had the " Bucks " " and money was no Object, " I would, consider having a Custom made " Empty Shell " made to my " Specifications " [ Insulation " exctra,] and go from there ! Excellent bus and bus company !

[@Keaton0801]

hey I wonder how it would feel to work at Thomas built buses and your kid gets picked up by an IC or a Blue Bird to go to and from school each day?

[@caseyandtoryshalloween1236]

or a girardin, or a mid bus, or a collins, or a coirbeil, or a van con, or a USA bus, or a ward, or a carpenter, or a gillig, or a trans tech, or a starcraft, or a crown, or a wayne

[@romellohawkins1097]

@@caseyandtoryshalloween1236 A Thomas bus is a USA bus it's made in the USA, if you're trying to say that Thomas buses are not good buses, you're wrong.

[@caseyandtoryshalloween1236]

those are the diverse world of bus companies.

[@JamesD401]

Blue bird is trash

[@bertinakline723]

ICE is trash

[@bradleydayberry6448]

My bus driver just got one of these new buses the other day and man does that heat work good on a cold ass morning, almost too good.

[@michaelkuzmadutton7879]

Bradley Dayberry does da diesel freze?

[@fargeeks]

Bradley Dayberry that's because you have to manually open the heat valves in the engine compartment

[@TheOneTrueDimwit]

thirty degree club?

[@hoozerob]

I'm almost 60 years old now. This video brings back memories. I remember in the 3rd grade, with pun, "Thomas Built buses, or Thomas, built buses", like Thomas is the guy who built them. lol. I remember riding in almost nothing but Thomas Built buses, all through my time in school. i always wished that I could get a Corgi collectors model bus, but not many different offerings for buses were around. Whether by Corgi, Matchbox, Hotwheels, or model kits, like Revell. I also always wanted to secretly be a bus driver too. I look in Craigslist to see what school buses are listed for sale, but when they are on there, they are all rusted and corroded too much, like they've been poorly taken care of and abused. I wish I could have a brand new Thomas Built bus.

[@genevievegreene1039]

I wonder how much yellow paint they go through in a year

[@alpha_returnsty4031]

Lmao

[@uAKING2006]

A gallon or two

[@caleblastname6969]

@@uAKING2006 I’d say more than a couple gallons…

[@kurtkunkle139]

🚽

[@cbthethird]

I had an 80's Thomas/Ford bus. Very rugged, well-built buses.

[@jonmiguel]

I liked my '74 Wayne/Ford best. My '76 Ward/Ford rained more inside than out but by the time I got my '84 Ward-AMtran/Ford they had those problems licked.

[@melindahamilton9574]

No y

[@Digitalsharecropper]

80's Ford with a mechanical Cummins or Detroit. A farmer could keep it going forever with some tape and a few tools

[@loudenselvage4157]

I have been riding these busses for 7 years

[@aaronhardway343]

I haven't been driving school bus very long but I have driven a variety of buses from Blue Bird and International. Today I drove a large size Thomas Built for the first time and as far as handling, comfort and visibility Thomas wins my vote hands down. My only complaint with them is they have virtually no pickup power going uphill. I don't know why but I had the pedal almost to the floor and couldn't do any better than 25 up a hill I've had Bluebird and Internationals up to 40 easily on. I live in West Virginia and here we have a lot of steep, uphill two lane roads that twist and wind around all over the place so power is needed to get up the hills efficiently in a timely manner without having to pull off in a wide spot somewhere after reaching the summit to let 15 cars pass. I like the Thomas Built bus, I like the controls and the lower to the road drivers position compared to other buses but the lack of uphill pulling power is something I honestly don't much care for.....

[@fladjerparson8530]

It depends on the engine. I drive a 2020 Thomas HDX DD8 and it pulls hills fine with a load. Now the take off in a Cummins is faster, when it comes to pulling up hills I'll take the DD8

[@johng5295]

Thanks in a million. Great content. Awesome. Grade: A++💥

[@eevialasalmi5834]

Wow i like this yellow schoobus

[@mikeMBW]

Amazing to see such regulation and build quality for school buses. Here in New Zealand the only requirement of a bus to be fit for carrying children is a bright yellow sign on the front and rear. Many of the buses around where I live are simply old 80s and 90s urban transport vehicles from either Japan or China. Many still have old Asian advertising posters in them. Seat belts..... that's a joke. Our government doesn't take the safety of children riding in buses seriously at all. :(

[@patrickrichmond9896]

I know that Blue Bird is one of the very few companies left that truly sticks with a true bus body and hood. The new Thomas Conventional doesn't look much like the school buses I grew up around. Eventhough Special School District didn't buy Thomas until about the late 1990s or early 2000s. This Safe-T liner C2 is more of a bus body that sits on a truck chassis with part of the driver's area is from the truck. No more Thomas dash on the C2. The last real Thomas conventional bus was built i think about 2002 or so which sat on a Freightliner chassis. And it had the windshield wipers that worked from above the driver's eye. And the back end looks more like a Wayne rather than a Thomas.

[@fargeeks]

Streetcar1664 hey it's the closest you'll get to driving a straight truck But they're not as much of a truck as the International CE buses are, they have the same hood and nose front end as the International Navistar, I mean literally the same front end from their delivery truck counterparts

[@frankdenardo8684]

I remember the Gillig, the international, Chevrolet, GMC, Ford buses the remaining for used body shells by Thomas, Wayne, Ward body works, bluebird. they were either gasoline or diesel powered, they had drum brakes, manual transmission. newer buses are technically advanced, have disc brakes, and automatic transmissions. Thomas buses is owned by the German company Daimler Benz AG. besides building school buses they also built buses for the military as troop transporter. the Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, and the Marine Corps are users of the buses.

[@connorreynolds1689]

Yeah! Most likely our favorite Thomas bus ever is the Saf-T-Liner C2!

[@vj3137]

My favourite it the HDX.

[@RohrbachNotDiscovered]

My county has all C2s for regular and I personally love them. As someone who plans on becoming a school bus driver, I'm more likely to drive a C2.

[@andybub45]

YAY! I LOVE THOMAS!

[@CarTroveCool]

Cool!❤

[@MRIDNETGUY2004]

Thomas you make the best school buses in the world I love your stop signs

[@Horizon301.]

These are like 50 year old buses for Brits. School buses in the U.K. are just Normal coaches like Mercedes actros, Scalia irizar, plaxton etc

[@PilotVBall]

Not really. Mercedes and Volvo make better buses for Europe.

[@johnwick4390]

i hate fortnite

[@becausebirds6034]

Actually Bluebird is better in my opinion. Thomas can be very slow uphill....

[@williambrown6721]

Thanks to all of the makers of these school buses trying their best to keep our children safe on the open highway!!! 👍 up To you workers!! ...

[@jackiechan511]

As someone who has previously driven a school bus, Thomas built buses aren't usually the best. After 6 years, the body lots like its about to fall apart and rust is not uncommon. International blue bird 3800 is considered by a lot of drivers to be the best. Heck I've driven 3800s that were more than 10 years old and were built to last.

[@crapper1]

+jackiechan511 south carolina still owns 1984 blue bird models that run just fine yet the thomas ones get swapped out every 8 years or catch fire as the early 90s models do we had 1 carpenter bus left but someone flipped it in a ditch and totaled it

[@hankpotter4833]

i agree exept for Ford bodys, those are long lasting

[@Digitalsharecropper]

When they start to age and the miles of plastic inside (dash, overhead etc) start crumbling and the vibration shakes them apart. They are nice when new but as they age they become real turds

[@BenLomonRail]

Thomas also has a plant in Drummondville, Quebec for the Canadian market.

[@cdcruizer05]

Pretty cool video!

[@uAKING2006]

C2's rule

[@irodriguez929]

Its 2021 and I still watch this😂

[@GalacticGamerrYTP]

me too lol

[@georgewashington1106]

The district I work for just got 3 new Thomas buses. In honor of their 100th anniversary they apparently gave the quality control guy a month off. There's calking dripping over the reflective tape, paint overspray on rubber molding, and Thomas can't tape off a straight line for paint if their life depended on it. In addition, one of the 3 had the brakes lock up when an air line came off, and we had to transfer 50 elementary school students to another bus on the highway. A week later the crossing arm wouldn't work because of another air line issue, and that same bus has had multiple electrical issues. And that's not to mention the ergonomics which they seem to spend not a second thinking about. Just crank out buses as fast as you can, and you know the district is going to take it because they just want to get their $100,000 vehicle into service.

[@Digitalsharecropper]

Over tightened lights so they cracked and filled with water, stop arm air pressure way too high so the diaphragms blow, service door won't open or close consistently, huge dents on the roof where something heavy got dropped on the bus, very poor A/C installation, front hubs overfilled, seat belt bolts loose.....on and on. They are in a hurry when they build them

[@kcolvin16]

The student seating is so tight.

[@jonmiguel]

"Compartmentalization" went into effect in 1977. The seats are tall, close, and thick to minimize injury. Even without seat belts school buses are the safest method of ground transport in the United States.

[@XTrollxArchX]

Jon Miguel Still, the number of deaths and injuries on school buses is unacceptable. anything above 0 is unacceptable to me.

[@jonmiguel]

Extreme Tutorials The only way to reach statistically ZERO fatalities in any vehicle is to leave it unfueled and parked.

[@kennytomaszewski2241]

All part of the seat worshipping administration

[@bobpowell8231]

I drive a Thomas Built Bus on occasion and in my opinion they are JUNK !!!!

[@TeeroyHammermill]

I grew up riding mostly Ward and Wayne School Buses on Ford or GM Chassis-Gasoline powered-Manual transmissions.

[@frankdenardo8684]

Bucky Rodgerdodger newer buses have automatic transmissions. just press D and you are ready to go. I have also ridden on international buses wit Thomas bodies. my church has an international S-1900 which is a 1982 model and was purchased at a Navy auction being it was used as a troop transporter. also the buses are equipped with disc brakes

[@Edwin_Gaming1]

I like all this

[@danielcircuits6695]

COOL!

[@dapatrick111]

i love this video. i wish this vid was downloadable downloadable:/

[@vanessabalanay]

I hope they make Thomas Built Trucks!

[@rexald]

The C2 is a great bus, but it does incorporate features of the now defunct Wayne Corp. Specifically the RD-9000

[@ketrellnelson159]

I like thomas more than other buses

[@youtubeuser9496]

Our district has so many C2's.

[@Birdzgming467]

My district uses a lot of c2s

[@ScooterFett]

Ive seen Thomas, now on to learn about IC and Bluebird.

[@mattschab9947]

I love the c2..

[@billlu9468]

I swear that in one episode of a Disney TV series, there's an HDX, so in that sense, Disney pays homage to Thomas Built Buses.

[@Cuddly_Bunny_LPS23]

Thomas are the best,blue bird are the best too,one of them are the champion of building school buses

[@AL-pu7ux]

was the robotic adhesive applier intentionally skipping spots??

[@andybub45]

9:39 I would not want to ride on THAT...

[@andrahayessucksnauttpnathd8041]

People call them Pug Nose school bus

[@edithgonzalez6256]

Thimas bus the number one on quality and technology no other bus company will beat it

[@donnieabrahams6823]

I miss riding on a Thomas safety or freight liner CT it was a lift bus

[@trainman071]

my school used these buses excellent product

[@trainmankidd]

LOL THE AIR BRAKES ON THAT BUS

[@goat4298]

A friend of mine's dad has worked there for so many years

[@TheHearseAroundJimThorpe]

“Robots are consistent in their adhesive application” shows robots missing gaps of space while pouring adhesive.

[@chrisvega3139]

One of the best Public Utility Vehicle they have here in the U.S. Im looking forward to be trained how to drive this buses. If I need to pay more than $1,500 for driving lesson in Class B-P I am determine for me to do it. Its better to drive bus rather than a Porsche.

[@santinohendricks8146]

I love school buses

[@frankdenardo8684]

Santino Hendricks I have a friend. his sister in-law is a school bus driver.

[@youtubeuser9496]

Our school has 8 C2's, one 2009 Vision and one microbird

[@kjsatterthwaite8945]

We got a new Thomas at our school to I love it it got AC because our old bus did not have ac

[@coolsawyerklein513]

My 30 seconds into this video and I saw my school district

[@Traindrainbusmowerfan]

The front end of a Thomas C2 looks like the same as the front end of a Freightliner M2

[@user-hg8ch9fg9y]

Bring back the freightliners and internationals

[@Cuddly_Bunny_LPS23]

when he says "this is your field of dreams"he means a lot of school buses

[@jaimeponce3201]

thomas i like the bluebird and thomas😁😀💪😍 and bus 180 is fast.

[@michaelharris2503]

😀

[@railfanjames7699]

I’m still seeing your old Thomas 3800s on the road still! It really shows how well her bill!

[@trevor8419]

They make great English muffins too.

[@somalia5019]

Thanks

[@caidengreen5123]

how many buses are made per year?

[@enriquevargasperez5997]

Desde Costa Rica ..América central....thomas

[@GoovanStan3697]

Me love vistas, 3800s, B-700s, GM B-series's, FS-65, EF and EFX, C2

[@tedhernandez2394]

I've driven the "mini" school buses. Now getting into the bigger bus. Since I was a kid I've always liked the Blue Bird line of buses. I think they have a nice style and look more robust as opposed to the Thomas bus in my opinion. I also like the International power plants. This due to my driving a straight job for many yrs all over the place. Now the comfort options are much more available in School buses and straight trucks. That's a great idea that has finally been implemented for the drivers of such. From NYC where driving a larger bus is a major challenge. So getting into the medium sized bus...much more practical for the environment of the urban area's. BTW? I was wondering if Blue Bird hire's drivers to deliver their buses? If anyone has info? I'm here. Thank you fellow bus drivers!

[@fargeeks]

Ted Hernandez the minibuses are called Type A's And the very large school buses are called Type D's (the flat nosed school bus) The type C school buses are of course the large buses with the external hood (the conventional school bus) The type B's on the other had are like the mid sizes conventional school buses

[@STiGuy]

My school just got a brand new bus, from Thomas. The buses for my school go through AA Transportation & we got A480.

[@rar005]

i ride a bus from 2007 a saft liner c2 that thing is the loudest bus i have ever been on but the seats are comfy

[@Chaos8282]

Haven't met a driver yet that likes the C2. JUNK. I'll take an International or Bluebird anyday.

[@danieljames5268]

100 percent made

[@hoopdancer417]

There nice and all but I have one question. Why is there lack of heat in the winter time. Why the heating systems is not like the transit busses.

[@Digitalsharecropper]

Are they putting the Detroit 4 cyl in these yet?

[@TH-rx1kt]

3:22 that bus has the same body of my bus i rode rn

[@cockandballtorture5167]

We have 4 Hybrid C2s in my county!

[@terryjones9547]

At First Student we have over 1000 c2s

[@Digitalsharecropper]

My condolences. Hope you find employment soon. @@terryjones9547

[@Cino777]

I want to own one..But small. Still flat nosed with the Cummins I6.

[@thataboytrevor8486]

Where I go to help out they only have one more Thomas bus and they want to get rid of it but it is a flat nose with air conditioning and I don’t know what The engine is in it because they don’t have room to storage different buses part from other companies 👍🏻

[@ericpurkey7502]

In my state Thomas has competition Hoekstra Bus company in Grand Rapids Michigan they make school buses.

[@Bravowolf_Airsoft]

At 0:13 Does the decal say Central Dauphin school District?

[@zenturious7743]

yes

[@CAMAROFAN45]

Yup

[@SamLK]

Yes

[@gwendolynwilliams1630]

How long did it take to build thomas built busses

[@planeguyig]

What about extra small?

[@caidengreen5123]

my favorite kind of bus is the Frightliner chasy

[@engineergaming4295]

Caiden Green * chassis

[@NicholasNormand]

6 years ago inside edition did a report on a young child caught in the door of the newer Thomas buses cause there’s no way the driver can hear the child when the door closes thomas buses need to improve on that design

[@dorwinlyboultjr.5244]

Where is the bus yard? and is it open to public?

[@romellohawkins3781]

Where is your company located at?

[@busp-5413]

Wow

[@NoName-vl7tc]

Do You Guys Make The Quiet Ones? We Have Them At Reskin

[@popsi50]

In 1965, I was driving a 1955 bus. It had so much wrong with it, Randolph County replaced i, about a month into the school year. Any one remember the "Bone Shaker" #29?

[@choco-chanlki6404]

Congrats

[@maneebgoury]

Dear Sir. Plz tell me what are the subjects for Bus Mechanic I will be thankful to you

[@joycesneed4970]

cool

[@HavardCastiglioni]

i am ineterested in busses.

[@thetrader7613]

In making them?

[@HavardCastiglioni]

@@thetrader7613 in that case, yes.

[@thetrader7613]

@@HavardCastiglioni holy shit, I didn’t actually expect you to reply to a 7 year old comment

[@choco-chanlki6404]

Congratulations

[@8238302]

What does IC CE stand for?

[@campesinoplastic6169]

International Corporation, Conventional Engine (engine in the front)

[@enriquevargasperez5997]

La manufactura no engaña ..son los buses más seguros del mundo

[@donaldharris9657]

How much does a new bus cost?

[@choco-chanlki6404]

Yup Sure did Congratulations Thomas Built Buses