A bus service and area school departments told Wiscasset Newspaper Oct. 23, a newly announced school bus recall either impacts none of theirs, or none used on local routes.

One of Wiscasset’s 10 buses is a Thomas, but it’s a 2004, so not part of the recall, Wiscasset School Department Director of Transportation and Maintenance John Merry said. And he said nothing about the recall was raising a concern for him to further explore the matter. “Not at this time. I think we are fine,” Merry said in an email response.

International Business Times reported Oct. 22, Daimler Trucks North America issued a recall for certain 2014 to 2020 Thomas-built school buses “because the seats lack adequate impact absorption, which could increase the risk of injury in a crash.” Daimler plans to add more impact material free of charge, the report stated.

“The recall affects 53,528 buses, including Thomas Built Saf-T-Liner EFX, Minotour, Saf-T-Liner C2, and Saf-T-Liner HDX school bus models ... equipped with SynTec S3B or S3C seats,” ibtimes.com reported.

Woolwich’s school district, Regional School Unit 1, contracts with Bath Bus Service. In a phone interview, co-owner Suzanne Steen said the business had so far not received notification, but might have two buses involved out of a fleet of 28. Neither is on a Woolwich route or other RSU 1 routes, Steen said. They are used on sports and field trips. However, if they are recalled, just as with any recall, the service would need to send drivers with the buses to the dealer, Cressey, in Kennebunk, for the remedy, she added.

Sheepscot Valley Regional School Unit 12 also uses Cressey, Superintendent of Schools Howie Tuttle said in a phone interview. Will any district buses need fixes under the recall? He said the district was looking into it. At most, two of the fleet of about 20 buses would be involved, depending on their vin numbers, Tuttle said.

Asked about routes for students in Wiscasset Newspaper’s coverage area, including Wiscasset, Alna and Westport Island, Tuttle said he believed the buses potentially facing recall are on routes north of those towns. And if the buses need the seat work, the district can pull out spares from its fleet while those are away, he said. 

Wiscasset Newspaper was awaiting a response from Dresden’s district, Regional School Unit 2.