BODY CORROSION IN TRANSIT BUSES

Corrosion of body components on transit buses has been considered a major problem throughout the United States. Since the basic objective of this study was to help establish a new Advanced Design Bus (ADB) price adjustment for a corrosion-resistant body, it was necessary to investigate the experience of transit operators with body corrosion on buses produced prior to the ADB (a bus body constructed almost entirely of stainless steel with skin panels of plastic). This report examines the extent and magnitude of body corrosion problems in existing bus fleets. Body corrosion appears to be severe in two general areas of the country: areas where salt is heavily used on streets in the winter, and areas with high humidity along southern seacoasts. A telephone survey of 21 operating properties was conducted regarding the bus body corrosion problem. The results of these interviews are summarized herein. In addition, seven operating properties were visited to ascertain the magnitude of the body corrosion problem including: Miami, Florida; Houston, Texas; Harlingen, Texas; Brownsville, Texas; Buffalo, New York; and Detroit Michigan. This study concludes that: 1) there are distinct types of bus body corrosion that occur only in certain areas; 2) corrosion is generally a cosmetic problem and does not create safety hazards or cause bus deterioration structurally; 3) with some exceptions, bus corrosion is limited to vehicles over ten years old; and 4) corrosion costs are relatively low. (UMTA)

• Corporate Authors:

  Booz-Allen and Hamilton, Incorporated

  Transportation Consulting Division, 4330 East-West Highway
  Bethesda, MD  United States  20814

  Urban Mass Transportation Administration

  400 7th Street, SW
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Publication Date: 1980-11

Media Info

• Pagination: 69 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Buses; Corrosion; Costs; Life cycle costing; Motor vehicles; Service life; Structural analysis; Vehicle design; Vehicle safety
• Uncontrolled Terms: Corrosive environments; Vehicle age
• Old TRIS Terms: Body; Bus design; Vehicular safety
• Subject Areas: Design; Finance; Highways; Public Transportation; Vehicles and Equipment; I94: Vehicle Corrosion;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00330141
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: UMTA-MD-06-0024-81-1Final Rpt.
• Contract Numbers: DOT-UT-70032
• Files: TRIS, USDOT
• Created Date: Aug 15 1982 12:00AM