How will your residents actually board?
Count your typical outing. If most residents walk aboard and one or two use chairs, a lift-equipped shuttle (Braun commercial lift at the rear or curb side) is the workhorse answer. If boarding speed and dignity are the priority, as with memory care groups or outings that mix walkers, canes and wheelchairs, an Arboc low-floor bus with a fold-out ramp and kneeling suspension boards everyone at sidewalk height with no lift cycle at all. TESCO has stocked and delivered more than 85 ARBOC low-floor buses for customers in 9 states.
How many wheelchair positions do you need?
Order the securement positions for your worst regular day, not your average one. Common configurations:
- 3–5 passengers + 1–2 wheelchairs: ADA minivan (no CDL, parks in a standard space)
- 8–14 passengers + 2 wheelchairs: Ford E-350 cutaway shuttle
- 16–20 passengers + 3–5 wheelchairs: Ford E-450 with extended body
Flip-seat interiors let the same floor space carry either a seated passenger or a secured chair, so one bus covers both the shopping run and the dialysis schedule.
Will your drivers need a CDL?
Under federal rules, a CDL is required at 16 or more occupants including the driver. Most senior living buses are deliberately built to 14-passenger-plus-driver floor plans so activity staff can drive them on a standard license. State rules layer on top, so check your state on our state regulations map, or read our full guide: Do you need a CDL to drive a shuttle bus?
What should you look for in the securement area?
Four-point tie-downs with retractors (Q'Straint is the standard TESCO installs and warranties), a lap-and-shoulder belt at every wheelchair position, and clear floor track that staff can operate in gloves in under a minute. Ask any dealer to demonstrate a full securement cycle before you sign. We're glad to demonstrate one on any unit you're considering. Our wheelchair securement guide covers the details.
New or pre-owned?
Accessible buses hold value, but trade-ins do come through. TESCO's pre-owned wheelchair inventory lists every used lift- or ramp-equipped unit in stock, each with a free AutoCheck history report. If the budget meeting is coming up, our new vs. used guide gives you the honest math.
Start with what's on the lot today: browse wheelchair-accessible inventory or talk to a senior-transport specialist.