Bus Standards

Click on one of the titles below for a full description and downloadable files associated with each bus operations or maintenance training standard.

Bus Maintenance Standards

On-The-Job Learning Task Book for Bus Maintenance Apprenticeship

Tags: taskbookbus maintenance apprenticeshipbus maintenanceapprenticeship

The Transportation Learning Center continues its efforts to assist agencies advance apprenticeship in Bus Maintenance and other frontline transit occupations. Now that the bus maintenance apprenticeship committee has established a comprehensive framework that identifies essential jobs that an apprentice should be able to perform as a result of their training, the Center has developed a convenient Task Book that allows mentors and apprentices to track competency. Like the Framework, the Task Book contains individual job tasks in each of the 10 job functions (e.g., Electrical & Electronic, Steering & Suspension, etc.). Once the mentor and apprentice both agree that the apprentice is competent in a specific task (e.g., can test, adjust or replace a voltage regulator), each signs-off on that task.

Like the Apprenticeship Framework, the Task Book is aligned with the Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) task list and APTA training standards. Under the Contract/Agreement established by each agency’s Joint Apprenticeship Committee (JAC), however, each agency is free to add, delete or modify tasks to suit their unique operating conditions and bus equipment. The Task Book serves as a useful checklist to make certain that mentors have provided adequate on the job learning (OJL) for each job task, and apprentices can demonstrate they are capable of performing those tasks safely and effectively on their own. The use and preservation of the Job Book are the responsibility of both parties.

Contact the Center’s John Schiavone at

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National Guidelines for Apprenticeship Standards for Bus Maintenance Technician

Tags: guidelinesapprenticeship

​These National Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee (NJATC) Apprenticeship Standards have as their objective the training of Bus Maintenance Technicians skilled in all phases of bus maintenance. The NJATC and its affiliated Local Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committees recognizes that in order to accomplish this, there must be well-developed on-the-job learning combined with related instruction. This recognition has resulted in the development of these Apprenticeship Standards.

Developed by the Transportation Learning Center and National Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee (NJATC) in cooperation with the

U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Apprenticeship

Approved and certified by the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Apprenticeship on 8/25/2010

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Training Syllabus to Instruct/Prepare for the ASE Transit Bus Air Brake Systems Test

Tags: recommended practicebus maintenancebrakeaseapta

This Recommended Practice provides guidelines for establishing a standardized bus maintenance training program related to the ASE certification syllabus for transit bus and coach air brake systems.

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Training Syllabus to Instruct/Prepare for the ASE Transit Bus Diesel Engines Test

Tags: recommended practicediesel enginesbus maintenanceaseapta

This Recommended Practice provides guidelines for establishing a standardized bus maintenance training pro-gram related to the ASE certification program syllabus for the diesel engines used in transit buses and coaches.​

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Training Syllabus to Instruct/Prepare for the ASE Transit Bus Electrical/Electronics Test

Tags: recommended practiceelectronicselectricalbus maintenanceaseapta

This Recommended Practice provides guidelines for establishing a standardized bus maintenance training related to the ASE certification program syllabus for the electrical/electronics systems used in transit buses and coaches.​

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Training Syllabus to Instruct/Prepare for the ASE Transit Bus HVAC Test

Tags: recommended practicehvacbus maintenanceaseapta

This Recommended Practice provides guidelines for establishing a standardized bus maintenance training related to the ASE certification program syllabus for HVAC systems used in transit buses and coaches.​

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Training Syllabus to Instruct/Prepare for the ASE Transit Bus Transmission and Drive Train Test

Tags: transmissionrecommended practicedrive trainbus maintenanceaseapta

This Recommended Practice provides guidelines for establishing a standardized bus maintenance training related to the ASE certification program syllabus for transmission and drive trains used in transit buses and coaches.​

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Training Syllabus to Instruct Bus Technicians on EPA Emissions Standards and Treatment Technologies

Tags: training syllabusepaemissionsbus maintenanceapta

This Recommended Practice provides guidelines for establishing a standardized bus maintenance training program related to the maintenance and troubleshooting of bus engine and aftertreatment components used to achieve the 2004, 2007 and 2010 EPA Emission standards.​

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Training Syllabus to Instruct Bus Technicians on Hybrid Drive Systems

Tags: training syllabusrecommended practicehybridbus maintenanceapta

This Recommended Practice provides guidelines for establishing a standardized bus maintenance training program related to the theory of operation, maintenance and troubleshooting of bus hybrid drive transmissions and related equipment.​

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Bus Maintenance Apprenticeship Framework

Tags: standardsframeworkbus maintenance apprenticeshipbus maintenanceapprenticeship

The Bus Maintenance Apprenticeship Framework was developed by the National Bus Maintenance Apprenticeship Committee and approved by the U.S. DOL. It is a competency based framework that includes all of the tasks an apprentice should be able to demonstrate as a result of the training. Tasks are based on the ASE task list and APTA training standards. It is only a guide, locations can add or remove tasks to suit their individual operations. Note the various tabs at the bottom.

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