Mars Area SD board orders search for 26-foot box truck to transport band equipment

The Mars Area School District board agreed to seek a 26-foot box truck to transport marching band equipment after an extended discussion about volunteer drivers, commercial driver’s-licence requirements and maintenance costs.

Booster representatives told the board their volunteer drivers logged roughly 600 hours moving instruments and props over the past year and that many volunteers are unwilling or unable to obtain a CDL. A boosters speaker said the group routinely "hauls anywhere from 12 to 13,000 lbs in that truck every year," an operational profile that affects the choice between a single box truck and a trailer-plus-tow vehicle.

Parent volunteers and drivers emphasized the cost of requiring CDL-certified drivers. Aaron Hardick, who identified himself as a parent and driver, said "the CDL license in research can cost anywhere from $3,800 to over $9,500," and warned the district would need multiple certified drivers to avoid canceled trips.

Austin Leslie, the district’s marching band director, urged caution about multiuse expectations for a single vehicle, saying manufacturers tune cargo box trucks differently than plow-equipped work trucks and that the band hauls high-value equipment. "Every single time we loaded that truck, there was $144,000 worth of equipment on there," Leslie said, arguing reliability and longevity should guide procurement.

Board members and staff discussed DOT and trailer-rating rules and noted that some trailer options would trigger CDL obligations even when the trailer is not fully loaded. Several board members said site constraints — narrow driveways and limited parking — make towing long trailers difficult and increase risk when backing into tight spaces.

After weighing those trade-offs, the board directed staff and volunteers to search for suitable 26-foot box trucks, review condition and maintenance needs, and prepare budget estimates and procurement options for the board to consider at the next meeting. Board members cited a wide price range among candidate vehicles discussed during the meeting, from roughly $30,000 for older units up to near-$94,000 for low-mileage/near-new trucks; a lift gate retrofit was estimated in discussion at roughly $7,000–$10,000.

The board said it would try to identify candidate trucks quickly and noted an aspirational target to have a truck available before the Fourth of July parade if a suitable, reasonably priced vehicle can be found. The district also discussed dry storage and underwashing to limit rust and prolong vehicle life.

The board did not approve a purchase at the meeting. Staff were asked to return with identified vehicles, estimated costs and recommended next steps; the board will consider formal action after reviewing those details.