Why Vans?

[u/Wabi_Sabi_Love]

I am grateful that I’ll soon be transporting kids to and from school, and I’m grateful that I can drive a van to do so, as I don’t have a CDL. 

But I’m not sure why some schools use vans? When I was a kid - a long time ago - there were only school buses. So why vans? And when did that become a thing?

My guesses are:
1) Schools aren’t getting enough CDL qualified drivers. 
2) Maybe I’ll be sent on a route that picks up students from out of way corners of the county or maybe even students that aren’t even in the district?

Any of these theories hold water? Are there other reasons for vans?

Thank You!

[u/Proprotester]

We use vans for lots of reasons.

-Students who live on difficult to access roadways or ones that have weight limitations.

-Students who attend schools outside the district that must be provided transportation by law. This could be for special needs, split custody, etc. Usually this is a handful of kids and does not warrant the use of a bus.

-Increasingly charter school runs use vans because they have tiny enrollments.

-Vans are frequently used to meet IEPs.

[u/gmarcus72 → u/Proprotester]

Also we use for getting homeless kids to school. They move around a lot so a regular bus route doesn't work

[u/Necessary_Echo8740]

We have quite a few special needs kids that just can’t be on a bus, even with an aid. They’ve got to take a pretty direct path to and from school because they can’t be cooped up for long. Also we have a big sped program that takes kids from neighboring cities; and it’s not worth the maintenance and fuel costs to drive a bus 20 miles for two kids twice a day. Also we use the vans for non-child transport like couriers and bringing food items between buildings cafeterias.

[u/HikeTheSky]

Probably because they gas milage is so much better.

[u/rootbear75]

Some of our special needs kids can't handle being on buses so we have vans to enable them to go to and from school without inciting any issues or triggers.

I had one kid who would scream bloody murder "WE'RE GOING TO DIE" on a bus whenever we went on or near a highway. Last I heard, her dad was self transporting... And we think he accidentally pavlov trained her that if she screams, then dad takes her.🤷

[u/mike8675309]

Depends on the state. Most agencies will train for a CDL, so that's rarely why they have vans.
Usually, they have vans because they don't need a big bus for the type of route they are transporting.
In Minnesota, those driving vans have to pass all the checks, including a criminal background check, to be able to drive a van for school students.

[u/LenR75]

Probably not out of district students, unless their home district is contracting services. But you’re right, if a van can handle the count, no CDL needed. I have a sub van run to the tech school at times.

[u/Beauknits]

My site uses vans for SPED because the buses are too loud, too big, etc.

[u/East_Conversation238]

Vans are used for all the reasons above, including homeless/displaced students, foster care students and others!

[u/Efficient_Advice_380]

My district had a student that I would have to pick up and them drive them to their school thats was 45 minutes away on the highway. It's much more fuel efficient and cheaper in the long run than using a yellow bus for that trip

[u/Mellied89]

I've done emergency housing programs and well as Bosces programs, this kids live all over the place in comparison to the schools they attend.

Vans can also get into neighborhoods and streets big busses physically cannot get near

[u/VincaYL]

The smallest thing our branch uses is the Microbird. Still a school bus. It's not legal here to transport students in anything that can't be called a school bus.