UCSC Transit Fleet Safety & Inspections

The UCSC Transit Fleet consists of approximately 30 vehicles with model years ranging from 1993 to 2014. All university vehicle maintenance, including that performed on Campus Transit Shuttles, is initiated and completed by UC Santa Cruz Fleet Services (of whom TAPS is a client department).

• Six 30' Gillig buses model year 2002

• Fifteen 35" Gillig Buses model year 1993

• Four 37' Gillig Buses model year 2007

• Seven Cutaway buses (Bike Shuttles) model year 2010-2014

• COMING SOON Nine 40' Gillig diesel buses model year 2010 (Fall 2024)

• COMING SOON Three 40' Gillig hybrid buses model year 2010 (Fall 2024)

• COMING SOON Two All electric 35’ Gillig buses (2026)

Campus Transit Fleet vehicles go through several types of regular inspection both internally by Fleet Services and externally by the California Highway Patrol. For any questions regarding UCSC Transit Fleet maintenance or inspections, please email fleets@ucsc.edu.

Daily Pre-trip Inspections 

Before any shuttle is put into operation, TAPS operators conduct standardized pre-trip inspections. Items that are inspected include, but are not limited to, gauges and warning lights, headlights, tail lights, signals, brakes, tires and wheels, doors and emergency equipment. 

Any issues are reported to Fleet Services for immediate diagnoses and action. Vehicles that are deemed not roadworthy are secured, locked out, and only released back to TAPS when they are verified as safe to carry passengers.

Regular Inspections by Fleet Services

Multi-point safety inspections and routine maintenance are conducted by technicians represented by AFSCME 3299 — this is the union that represents both TAPS’ Campus Transit drivers and Fleet Services’ Heavy Equipment Technicians — at regular intervals. Inspection and preventive maintenance schedules are reviewed and approved by the California Highway Patrol. Any issues identified during safety inspections are immediately addressed or, for those issues where parts are not in hand, scheduled for follow-up services.

Inspection Tracker

Annual inspections by the California Highway Patrol

The California Highway Patrol conducts an annual inspection of the heavy-duty maintenance program. Their inspectors review work orders and visually inspect equipment.

CHP Inspection Reports

California Highway Patrol Inspection - 05/08/2024

Overall Report Rating: Satisfactory