Trans 300.56 Trans 300.56 Mounting of body.

Trans 300.56(1) (1) The chassis frame for body-on-chassis type buses shall extend to the rear edge of the rear body cross member. Insulating material used at body to frame contact points shall be so attached that it will remain in position under any anticipated maintenance or bus operating conditions.

Trans 300.56(2) (2) The body shall be securely fastened to the chassis frame. Every body attachment device shall be securely fastened and maintained with proper tension.

Trans 300.56 History History: Cr. Register, February, 1983, No. 326, eff. 3-1-83.

Trans 300.57 Trans 300.57 Openings.

Trans 300.57(1) (1) All openings in the floorboard or firewall, between chassis and passenger compartment, such as for the gear shift lever and auxiliary brake lever, shall be sealed to prevent fumes or foreign material from entering the passenger compartment.

Trans 300.57(2) (2) Every school bus shall be free of rusted or deteriorated areas which could permit the entrance of foreign substance into the interior of the vehicle.

Trans 300.57 History History: Cr. Register, February, 1983, No. 326, eff. 3-1-83.

Trans 300.58 Trans 300.58 Rub rails.

Trans 300.58(1) (1) Every bus shall contain a rub rail located at seat cushion level. Except at the emergency door, rear compartment or special service door, the seat cushion level rub rail shall extend from the rear side of the service door completely around the bus body, to a point of curvature near the front of the body on the left side. On a type A-II bus, the seat cushion level rub rail is not required to extend around the rear corners of the bus and may terminate at the radii of the right and left rear corners.

Trans 300.58(2) (2) There shall be one floor line rub rail. This rub rail shall be located in an area so that the center of the rub rail is located at or between the following points:

Trans 300.58(2)(a) (a) No more than 7 inches above the top of the steel floor, or

Trans 300.58(2)(b) (b) No more than 5 inches below the top of the steel floor. The floor line rub rail shall extend over the same longitudinal distance as the seat level rub rail, except where it meets the wheel housing, fuel filler caps, fuel fill doors, side marker lights and may terminate at the radii of the right and left rear corners.

Trans 300.58(3) (3) Rub rails shall be constructed of 16 gauge longitudinally corrugated or ribbed steel, or material with strength at least equivalent to all-steel, as certified by the bus body manufacturer, of 4-inch minimum width, flange to flange. Each rub rail flange shall be attached at each body post and all other upright structural members.

Trans 300.58(4) (4) Rub rails that are pressed in or snapped on do not meet the requirements of this section and are not permitted.

Trans 300.58(5) (5) Rub rails applied to transit type buses with the engine in the rear may terminate at the forward edge of the engine compartment.

Trans 300.58 History History: Cr. Register, February, 1983, No. 326, eff. 3-1-83; am. (1), (2), r. (6), Register, February, 1995, No. 470, eff. 3-1-95; am. (1) and (3), Register, December, 1997, No. 504, eff. 1-1-98.

Trans 300.59 Trans 300.59 Seating.

Trans 300.59(1) (1) All seats shall be forward facing and securely fastened to that part or parts of the body which support them. Passenger seat cushions shall be fastened to prevent the cushions from disengaging from the seat frames in event of an accident. There shall be a minimum space of 24 inches between the forward surface of a seat back and the rear surface of the seat or barrier ahead measured across the seat cushion without depressing any surface. The forward surface of seat backs may have side bolsters that briefly reduce the width to less than 24 inches provided the remainder of the seat measures at least 24 inches.

Trans 300.59(2) (2) The forwardmost seat on the right side of the bus shall be located so as not to interfere with the driver’s vision.

Trans 300.59(3) (3) A minimum of 36 inches of headroom for the sitting position above the top of the undepressed cushion line of all seats shall be provided. The measurement shall be made vertically not more than 11 inches from the side wall at cushion height and at the fore and aft center of the cushion.

Trans 300.59(4) (4) 

Trans 300.59(4)(a) (a) The backs of seats of similar size shall be of the same width at the top and of the same height from the floor and shall slant at the same angle with the floor. The top corners, and at least 10 inches of the top of the back surface of the seat backs shall be padded sufficiently to reduce the likelihood of injury upon impact. Seat cushions and seat backs may not have any torn or worn-through covering material.

Trans 300.59(4)(b) (b) The seat back of the rearmost seat shall be of the same dimension as the seat immediately forward. Failure to comply with this standard will result in the loss of one seating position, or 2 seating positions if this situation occurs in both rows, when determining the capacity of the bus. This requirement shall apply only to type A-I, B, C or D school buses manufactured after January 1, 1984.

Trans 300.59(5) (5) Fold down, fold up or reclining seats or seat backs is not permitted in a school bus except as allowed in s. Trans 300.33 (3).

Trans 300.59(6) (6) A child restraint seat may be installed in place of a standard seat. The replacement seat shall meet all of the requirements in this section, except that the seat back may exceed the seat height of the remaining bus seats by not more than 4 inches.

Trans 300.59 History History: Cr. Register, February, 1983, No. 326, eff. 3-1-83; am. (4) (b), (5), cr. (6), Register, February, 1995, No. 470, eff. 3-1-95; am. (4) and (5), Register, December, 1997, No. 504, eff. 1-1-98; CR 03-116: am. (1) Register April 2004 No. 580, eff. 5-1-04.

Trans 300.60 Trans 300.60 Service door.

Trans 300.60(1) (1) The service door shall be under control of the driver and so designed as to prevent accidental opening. When a hand lever is used, no parts shall come together so as to shear or crush any fingers.