What is Clean-Up?

Clean-up is the nightly service to each bus in the fleet that went out on route that day. Buses receive a range of essential daily services including fluids check and refill, interior cleaning and disinfecting, exterior bus wash, and fueling. Clean-up takes place each weeknight year-round.

buses being pulled into the maintenance facility for cleaning

Women left and man right inside bus cleaning and wearing face masks

Creating Community

Clean-up is one of the shifts where CAMBUS employees physically work in the same place to achieve a common goal. This is where many employees have a chance to socialize and get to know their coworkers.

Clean-Up Process

Each bus goes through three stations during clean-up:

Station 1
The bus receives interior cleaning and engine fluids are checked and refilled where needed.

Station 2
The bus receives an exterior wash.

Station 3
The bus is fueled with Biodiesel.

After receiving service at all three stations, the bus is either parked for the night or it is transferred with another bus in service that needs to go through clean-up.

Meet the Team

During the clean-up process, CAMBUS drivers and student mechanics work together to provide essential services to the CAMBUS fleet. Through teamwork, communication, and common goals, this group of students fulfill a critical role in maintaining a safe and reliable fleet.

Student Mechanics

Student mechanics lead the clean-up process. They assign jobs to each clean-up member and supervise the entire process.

cambus student mechanic opens engine compartment of bus

Clean-Up Student Mechanic

The clean-up student mechanic works inside the garage with the main clean-up crew. This student mechanic checks and fills fluids, supervises the crew, and ensures safe operations of vehicles and equipment used around the facility.

employee records information on clipboard in front of a bus

Pumps Student Mechanic

The pumps student mechanic works at the fueling station, tracking odometers of each bus and fueling each bus. CAMBUS vehicles are fueled with a Biodiesel blend. The student mechanic also coordinates transfers with buses that are out providing service so that every bus gets through clean-up.

The Crew

Assisting the student mechanics in servicing the vehicles is the clean-up crew. All CAMBUS employees are eligible to work on the crew. There are six or seven positions available, each with a different area of responsibility.

employee sweeps dust and debris off a bus

employee wipes down the dashboard area of a bus

student mechanic opens a side panel of a bus

employee pulls the bus wash around a bus

cambus student mechanic looks at clipboard next to a bus

Station 1: Interior Cleaning

Clean-Up Student Mechanic

Mechanic's Helper

The mechanic's helper completes tasks that vary by day. These tasks include cleaning tire rims, checking the operation of the ramp, cleaning air filters, and ensuring supplies are properly stocked.

Sweeps

The "sweeps" position is responsible for picking up debris from the floor of the bus, and then sweeping dust, dirt, and sand from the floors of the bus.

Driver's Area

The position of driver's area is responsible for cleaning and disinfecting the driver's area of the bus, including the dash area, driver's seat, radio, and other equipment.

This position also sorts cans, bottles and other recyclables discarded in the wastebasket to be recycled.

Backpack Sprayer

The position of "backpack" uses a backpack sprayer to spray disinfectant throughout the interior of the bus. Special attention is made to high-touch areas of the interior.

Other clean-up positions then assist in wiping down high touch areas.

Station 2: Exterior Wash

Fronts

The position of "fronts" is responsible for spraying the exterior of the bus with soapy water. They also use a brush to scrub the front of the bus.

Bus Wash

The position of "bus wash" uses a tower bus wash to clean the exterior of the bus. The bus wash is pulled by hand around sides and rear of the bus.

Station 3: Fueling

Pumps Student Mechanic

Pumps Helper

The pumps helper assists the student mechanic at the fueling station with recording odometer readings, facilitating transfers, and pulling buses that have completed the clean-up process into the garage.

CLEAN-UP HALL OF FAME

CAMBUS employees are required to complete clean-up shifts in their first year of service. Some employees go above-and-beyond the minimum requirement and work an extraordinary number of clean-ups. We extend an extra "Thank You" to those who are dedicated to ensuring a clean, safe, and reliable bus fleet.

We began recognizing 100-clean-up milestones in late 2019. Several past employees have also achieved 100+ clean-ups prior to 2019. We thank all CAMBUS alumni for their service.

300 CLEAN-UPS ACHIEVED

Charlie Franks

driver

300 clean-ups | October 2021

Nick holds a cookie cake with the number 300 on it

Nick Madden

student mechanic

300 clean-ups | June 2021

Michael Souhrada

student mechanic

300 clean-ups | May 2023

Luke Doyle

dispatcher

student mechanic

student mechanic

achieved 100 clean-ups in Dec. 2022