The Next Generation IC Bus® CE Series
In Phoenix, Arizona, summer pavement shimmers and growth seems to spread mile by mile into the desert, school buses must do more than simply run routes. They must maneuver through tightening neighborhood streets, accelerate confidently onto high-speed freeways, cool themselves under relentless heat, and remain solid after years of service.
For this Official School BUSRide Road Test, we put the Next Generation CE Series from IC Bus through its paces in Phoenix. Behind the wheel was Armando Cuellar, an activity driver for Glendale Union High School District and former transportation director for Phoenix Elementary. Joining the drive was Tom Hartman, general manager (bus) for RWC Group in Phoenix.
The result was a revealing look at how IC Bus has reshaped its flagship Type C conventional mechanically and philosophically around safety, driver comfort and real-world performance.
Safety, First and Foremost
IC Bus engineers make no secret of their priorities: safety leads everything. The CE Series integrates active and passive safety systems designed to enhance situational awareness and reduce risk during the most vulnerable moments: loading, unloading and urban maneuvering.
Standard safety features include:
• Bendix® Fusion™ 3 Advanced Driver Assistance System with radar and camera integration
• Automatic Emergency Braking and pedestrian detection
• Electronic stability control
• Bendix® Intellipark™ electronic parking brake (air brake units)
• No Student Left Behind child monitoring system
• Daytime running lights with automatic twilight sensor
And notably, all new CE Series buses now come standard with First Light Safety Products fully illuminated stop arms and illuminated school bus signs, increasing visibility during loading events, particularly in low-light conditions.
Hartman emphasized that safety discussions increasingly extend beyond hardware.
“The mirrors are pretty important in our industry because the loading and unloading is still probably the number one area for injuries,” he said. “You would think it’s driving down the road accidents. It’s mostly still loading and unloading.”
The CE’s rounded, three-piece windshield eliminates the traditional center post found in many conventionals, reducing blind spots. Combined with the sloped hood design which provides more than 11 inches of improved ground visibility over prior models, the forward view feels expansive.
Cuellar noticed immediately.
“I just love the view that I have of the whole intersection,” he said during the drive. “It’s almost transit-like. I can’t even see the hood.”
A Driver-First Environment
IC Bus brands its cab philosophy as DriverFirst and in Phoenix, that focus was evident.
The wing-style instrument panel angles toward the driver, placing critical switches and controls within natural reach. A 5-inch digital color display provides customizable vehicle data, while integrated, backlit steering wheel controls reduce distraction.
Cuellar, who has operated everything from 1960-era gasoline buses to diesel, CNG, propane and electric fleets, was quick to compare.
“I like it — you can see everything. Everything’s within reach,” he said. “Even short-arm drivers would have an easy time reaching everything.”
He contrasted it with older transit models where controls were mounted high overhead.
“When you’re driving and you have to adjust it, you’re trying to hold the wheel and still trying to push the button to lower it or raise it,” he said. “So this is much easier.”
The premium air-ride driver’s seat drew praise as well.
“The seat was very comfortable,” Cuellar said. “With all the controls on it, it doesn’t matter what your size is; short, tall, skinny, or larger, I think you can adjust it to where you want it and feel comfortable.”
Driver recruitment and retention remain industry-wide challenges. Hartman framed cab ergonomics as more than convenience.
“It’s like a driver’s office,” he said. “How can we make this our office? How can we make it attractive for them to work?”
With integrated HVAC controls positioned within easy reach, USB-A and USB-C charging ports, improved storage and cupholders, and optional Tire Pressure Monitoring System, the CE Series reflects that mindset.
In Phoenix’s climate, air conditioning is non-negotiable. Hartman noted that ducted interior air systems, available through multiple suppliers, are among the most critical features in hot-weather markets.
“Besides engine and transmission, the next most costly feature and most important feature is air conditioning.”
Power and Performance
The CE Series offers multiple propulsion options, including diesel and the gasoline-powered Cummins B6.7 Octane. Our Phoenix unit was equipped with a 260-horsepower Cummins powerplant.
Pulling into traffic, Cuellar was immediately impressed.
“Get up and go,” he said. “You’re not sitting at the light there for about 10 seconds because the bus won’t wake up and move.”
Acceleration remained consistent throughout the test drive. “I like the acceleration on it. It doesn’t lug.”
“For that extra few bucks, get the 260 power,” Hartman said. “That way they can pull out in traffic with confidence.”
Hartman explained that horsepower offerings have expanded, with 300-hp configurations now available for districts seeking activity-bus performance without stepping into higher-cost transit-style models.
Braking performance also stood out.
“Very solid,” Cuellar said. “It’s not grabbing. You don’t have to push very hard to get it stopped. You’re gradually stopping and you’re not locking up the brakes.”
On the freeway, the CE Series impressed with refinement.
“It’s very quiet,” Cuellar noted. “A lot of conventionals aren’t this quiet.”
Hartman attributed improvements to better firewall insulation and chassis refinements. Even at highway speeds, conversation inside the cabin remained normal in tone, in contrast to older-generation diesel conventionals.
Ride Quality and Maneuverability
Perhaps the biggest surprise of the day was ride quality.
“I thought they told me they didn’t do anything with the ride,” Hartman admitted. “But drivers kept saying, ‘This thing rides way better.’”
He later learned that redesigned, angled shock geometry contributed to smoother performance.
Cuellar agreed: “It feels kind of like you’re just floating,” he said. “As you add more weight with passengers, it’s a lot nicer.”
Neighborhood maneuverability proved equally impressive. In Phoenix’s newer subdivisions, where developers prioritize density over street width, turning radius matters.
“The maneuverability is really good,” Cuellar said. “I don’t feel the fear of the tail swing.”
He compared it favorably to older conventionals.
“All conventionals used to be horrible with their turning radius,” he said. “But over the years, everybody has gotten more compact and much easier to drive.”
The 50-degree wheel cut and refined steering geometry allows the CE to function effectively as both a route bus and an activity unit, a versatility districts increasingly seek amid tightening budgets.
Built to Last
The CE Series is manufactured in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and built with durability in mind:
• 16-gauge steel body and interior panels
• 14-gauge threaded body bows with continuous roof runners
• 90G/90G galvanized steel coating for corrosion resistance
• Naviflex-coated stepwell (optional)
• Improved access to routine maintenance components
Hartman noted that feedback from dealer networks and customers has played a growing role in refinement.
“I’ve been doing this for 31 years,” he said. “We’ve seen a shift with manufacturers really taking feedback. They’re actually taking your ideas.”
Final Impressions in the Desert
As the bus rolled back toward RWC Group’s Phoenix facility, palm trees framing the skyline, Cuellar reflected on what he would tell another driver.
“It was easy to get into and out of the driver’s area. The visibility is very good. Everything’s within reach,” he said. “It’s a solid bus.”
That solidity may ultimately define the Next Generation CE Series. In an industry balancing safety mandates, funding pressures, evolving propulsion technologies and workforce challenges, incremental improvements matter.
The CE does not attempt to reinvent the Type C. Instead, it refines: improving visibility, enhancing ride quality, strengthening structural durability and prioritizing driver comfort.
In Phoenix, under bright desert sun and on streets both wide and narrow, the bus demonstrated confidence, accelerating cleanly, braking predictably, and navigating tight corners without drama.
For districts seeking a modern conventional that blends safety, performance and driver-centered design, the Next Generation CE Series stands comfortably — and confidently — ahead of its class.