Every once in a while you'll see a bus with the "School Bus" sign either upside down or not secured so it's crooked/too low. Laidlaw used to spec the frontlit signs on everything, and it's mostly LL/FS drivers who have issues. A lot of drivers don't even know how to change them, so they may either try themselves, or ask someone else (who might not know either). I can imagine a spare bus being left with the "Charter" signs up, and a driver doing a fast pre-trip after a bus breaks down. They might not have time to double-check, especially if they notice the sign while outside, then go back in to change it and take off.

It's also possible that management might be trying to catch a driver not doing a thorough pre-trip. I've heard in some districts, they'll put a red tag somewhere that a driver is supposed to be checking, and the driver is expected to radio as soon as they find it.

Re the chrome grille, of course that was aftermarket. A lot of ICs in PA have the chrome Int'l truck grille. Wolfington (the dealer) puts them on to make their buses look nicer. Of course up here in CT, we can't do that - DMV's so strict about the "no chrome" rule they've made some companies repaint their Blue Bird emergency door handles.

I figured it was an "honest" mistake (that has probably been fixed since the picture was taken), but like I hinted, it would be very interesting to see what would happen if that had been caught by the driver of that bus (worse yet, someone else!).  Those backlit signs aren't quite as easy to catch as the flip-down split signs we see on Kevin's bus (yes, that is a customized ride...check out the International badge on the grille instead of the IC one!)   

^ If thats a prank its a damn good one if you ask me  Lets get on the "SUB LOOHCS"   

My schools doesnt start till 9/7 so the bus has been doing charters all summer. I assume some not so bright mechanic went to switch the sign from charter to school bus and put it upside down by mistake.

Do you think FS would really bother to take those precautions? HA

^^Hmm...looks fine to me.  All the driver needs to do is take down the "no kids were sleeping on this bus" sign on the next pre-trip and it should be good to go! 


P.S.  On the other hand...this might have been done in order to see which drivers have been actually getting out to see their lights on the pre-trip!

ROTFLMAO!! That's the funniest thing I've ever seen bus-wise!

Gotta Love First Student

That's a gorgeous bus, Kevin. Congrats!

We got 5 pine bush buses that are now ours
2 IC CE200s Numbered 5601 and 5611 (formerly 560 and 561)
3 Thomas Built FS-65s numbered 540, 541 and 542.
The parked all the pre-2000 buses off to the side. Including my regular route bus from last year.
Because 542 is parked next to where mine used to be, im pretty sure its gunna be my regular route bus this year because the bus parked where mine was has diff. magnets on it.



812 and 563 have switched routes.
563 now does route 29 and 812 does route 27.
Looks like 5601 replaced 560 and 5611 replaced 561.



buses 558, 559, 560 and 559 were out in the middle of the lot. All the rest have been parked.
Parked in new places are 823, 821, 563, 814, 822, 541, 540, 542.