"First Gear" was easing out of the camp's infield, piloting a coach loaded with kids headed home after a fun week in the Rockies.

He took the turn a bit too tightly. The bus' radiator grill caught on a fence post. Backing up, he made another run at it. It took 3 tries but at last the metal ripped loose, and he was free to begin the trip East.

There was barely enough room in the luggage bay but he managed to bring the wounded grill home with him ... and it eventually resumed its rightful place on the bus.

What is it about that rip/crunch sound that causes some drivers to step on the throttle, rather than the more appropriate pedal, the brake? What is so satisfying that they have to back up -- and do it again?

The outside of your coaches speak volumes about your company.

In a perfect world your (bus) body would be perfect. In the real world there's a balance between utilization, and the time and expense of fixing a ding. There are blemishes and wounds. Customers understand a bump, but a gash makes them nervous.

Glass is critical because cracks ruin the passenger's experience (you can see them from inside and outside the coach) and represent a hazard.

Drivers take pride in sharp buses, so making prompt repairs can slow the dents tendency to reproduce like rabbits.

Insurers believe that while you can't control severity of accidents you can control frequency. It makes sense that avoiding small accidents may help prevent big ones.

Doing it right

Many companies have the skills, in house, to do minor body work or to replace panels and glass. Ideally they can work around the coach's schedule, and fix the most visible problems.

If you're going to do your own painting, try and play by the rules. Federal and state environmental agencies can be feisty if they catch you cheating. Inhaling paint will keep your lungs from rusting. But it creates a few other problems. Don't do it.

You may have noticed that this is a seasonal business. (Clever of me to notice, too, huh?). Many operators informally campaign their coach bodies during slow times. It keeps shop staff busy, and makes the fleet look sharp at the beginning of peak periods.

Consider formalizing the program, write up what needs to be done, prioritize it, and order parts in advance. Theres no sense tearing a bus apart, then having to either wait for parts, or (ugh!) air freight them in.

When you go to a body shop for repairs, try and schedule ahead, and ask them to order the parts ahead so they'll be there when you bring in the coach.

Body shops and coach parts suppliers sometimes play a little game where each blames the other for delays. They enjoy it, but you pay. Some of that can be prevented by being sure parts are in hand before you drop off the coach.

If there is a delay, get the coach manufacturers parts representative involved as quickly as possible. He or she can verify that parts have been ordered and shipped. If, for some reason they are backordered, he's your best chance at speeding the process and keeping you informed.

Reminding drivers

Modern coaches are higher, wider and longer than in the past, yet the turning radius is shorter. You might want to make sure drivers understand the implications. Body damage happens when drivers forget that the rear end swings outside the drive axle track, or they don't notice a nasty angle of departure.

Training and occasional reminders will save heartache and body damage.

One coach salesman (who shall remain nameless) once turned a Honda Accord into a Honda Discard with a single sweep of a bus tail.

One of the best things about a good bus body is that it doesn't attract attention. Many regulatory agencies are making an effort to target buses, during destination and roadside inspections, that are most likely to have problems.

They often make the same assumption that your customers do. If a company has put the effort into keeping the body up, they've probably taken care of the stuff underneath too.

"First Gear" got his name as a result of his gift for turning five-speed transmissions into four speeds. He evolved and now is a Protestant minister.

Fitting -- his driving encouraged many of his passengers to pray.

Dave Millhouser is an account representative for ABC Companies. Contact him at: dmillhouser@abc-companies.com.