What type of school bus is built on a van chassis?

A Type A school bus is built on a van chassis.

Type A buses are the smallest of the four standard North American school-bus configurations. Their bodies are mounted on cutaway van chassis, with the rear portion of the van body removed so a purpose-built bus body can be attached. They commonly use single or dual rear wheels and generally carry fewer passengers than full-size buses.

Type A buses became especially useful for small routes, special-needs transportation, and roads where a large bus would be difficult to maneuver. Earlier small school buses were often conversions of passenger vans or utility vehicles, but modern Type A buses use reinforced bus bodies and school-bus safety equipment rather than simply adding yellow paint to a retail van.

A common mix-up is confusing Type A with Type B. Type B buses are mounted on stripped chassis, while Type C buses use cowled medium-duty truck chassis and Type D buses are transit-style, usually with a flat front. The “A” designation describes the vehicle configuration, not its fuel, size alone, or seating layout.