Ford Shuttle Buses for Sale: E-350 vs E-450 vs F-550 vs Transit

Name: Best Buses For Sale
Telephone: (516) 852-2748

If you're shopping for a Ford shuttle bus for sale, the chassis under the body decides most of what the bus can do: how many people it carries, whether your drivers need a CDL, and what kind of work it's built for. The short answer: the Ford Transit and E-350 suit small groups and wheelchair routes, the E-450 is the all-round workhorse, and the F-550 is for bigger groups and heavier days. Nearly every bus on our lot is a Ford, so here's how we help buyers pick the right one. For more E-350 options, see our reconditioned Ford E-350 shuttle buses for sale, and for a look at every body style, our types of shuttle buses page.

Why Most Shuttle Buses Ride on a Ford Chassis

A shuttle bus is really two products. Ford builds the chassis: engine, transmission, frame and cab. A body builder such as Glaval, StarCraft or Diamond Coach then adds the passenger body, seats, wheelchair lift and rear A/C. Ford sells the E-350 and E-450 as "cutaways," a van front with the back left open for the body builder, and the F-550 as a Super Duty chassis cab.

That split matters when you buy: engine and chassis service is Ford work, while the body, lift, seating and rear air need a bus specialist. We recondition all of it before a bus leaves our lot. If you want to compare the builders themselves, read our shuttle bus body builders comparison.

Ford E-350 and Transit: Small Groups and Wheelchair Routes

The E-350 is the lighter of Ford's two E-Series cutaways. Ford's 2021 specs list a maximum GVWR (gross vehicle weight rating) of 10,050 lbs for the single-rear-wheel E-350 and 12,500 lbs for the dual-rear-wheel version. Since 2021 the E-Series has run on a 7.3L V8 gas engine; the 2018 E-350 below has Ford's earlier 6.8L V10.

E-350 buses fit church groups, NEMT companies, senior communities and hotel runs that carry about a dozen people. Every E-350 on our lot right now is non-CDL, and the wheelchair models have seats that fold up to make room for wheelchairs.

The Ford Transit is a full-size van rather than a cutaway with a separate body. It drives and parks like a large van, a good fit for NEMT and ambulette work with a few riders and one or two wheelchairs. Call if you want first word on our next Transit.

Ford E-450: The All-Round Workhorse

The E-450 uses the same cab and engine family as the E-350 on a heavier dual-rear-wheel chassis. Ford's 2021 specs put its maximum GVWR at 14,500 lbs. That extra rating lets body builders fit longer bodies, more seats and heavier lifts.

For church, senior living and NEMT fleets, one E-450 can handle a full group on Sunday and a wheelchair route on Monday. Watch the seat count, though. An E-450 set up for 12 passengers plus the driver is non-CDL. One set up for 16 passengers plus the driver is not, even though the chassis is the same. Our E-450 vs F-550 comparison goes deeper on this choice.

Ford F-550: Bigger Groups and Heavier Duty

The F-550 is a Super Duty truck chassis, not a van chassis, and its 2021 maximum GVWR is 19,500 lbs. That lets body builders like Glaval fit longer bodies, so F-550 buses carry bigger groups with room for more wheelchair positions. They're a fit for tour operators, larger churches, paratransit and agencies running full routes.

The trade-off is licensing. An F-550 bus set up for 24 or 28 passengers needs a driver with a CDL and passenger endorsement, so plan your driver pool before you buy.

CDL or Non-CDL: Count the Seats, Not the Size

Under federal rules (49 CFR 383.5), a vehicle needs a CDL to drive if its GVWR is 26,001 lbs or more, or if it is "designed to transport 16 or more passengers, including the driver." The E-350, E-450 and F-550 all top out well under 26,001 lbs, so for these Ford buses the seat count decides it.

The practical rule: 15 passengers plus the driver or fewer is non-CDL under the federal rule. Sixteen passengers plus the driver or more needs a CDL with a passenger endorsement. States can add their own rules for church, school or for-hire use, so check with your state DMV. Our non-CDL shuttle bus capacity guide walks through the seat math.

Ford Shuttle Buses for Sale Right Now

Here are three reconditioned Fords on our lot today, one from each size class. See everything else on our current listings.

Reconditioned 2018 Ford E-350 Diamond Coach non-CDL wheelchair shuttle bus, 13 passengers or 11 plus 2 wheelchairs

2018 Ford E-350 Non-CDL 13/2 Wheelchair Shuttle Bus (Stock B1078), $59,990. A Diamond Coach composite body on an E-350 with the 6.8L V10 gas engine, automatic transmission and 50,440 miles. Up to 13 passengers, or 11 passengers plus 2 wheelchairs (seats fold up), plus driver. It has a curb-side rear wheelchair lift, front and rear climate control and dual rear wheels, and it's a Southern bus from outside the salt belt. It's part of a matched set of identical Diamond Coach wheelchair buses. View the 2018 E-350 13/2 listing

Reconditioned 2017 Ford E-450 wheelchair shuttle bus with BraunAbility lift for church and senior groups

2017 Ford E-450 16/2 Wheelchair Shuttle Bus (Stock B1035), $34,000. A one-owner, clean-title, accident-free E-450 with the 6.8L Triton V10, automatic transmission and 96,500 miles. Up to 16 passengers, or 12 passengers plus 2 wheelchairs (seats fold up), plus driver. It has a remote-controlled BraunAbility wheelchair lift, Q'Straint retractors, front and rear A/C with rear heat, and a backup camera. At 16 passengers plus the driver it requires a CDL with a passenger endorsement. View the 2017 E-450 16/2 listing

Reconditioned 2019 Ford F-550 Glaval wheelchair bus for paratransit and NEMT, up to 24 passengers or 10 wheelchairs

2019 Ford F-550 Glaval 24/10 Wheelchair Bus (Stock B1080), $76,990. A Glaval body on a 2019 F-550 with the 6.8L V10 gas engine, 6-speed automatic, 205-inch wheelbase, 19,500 lb GVWR and only 19,500 miles. It seats up to 24 passengers or up to 10 wheelchair positions, with folding seats on a floor track system and a wheelchair lift. CARFAX shows one owner with no accidents or damage reported. It suits paratransit and NEMT fleets that move a lot of wheelchair riders. View the 2019 F-550 Glaval 24/10 listing

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a Ford E-350 shuttle bus non-CDL? Usually. Under the federal rule, a bus under 26,001 lbs GVWR that is designed for fewer than 16 people, including the driver, doesn't need a CDL. Every E-350 on our lot right now seats 15 or fewer passengers plus the driver. Check your state for any extra rules.

What's the difference between an E-450 and an F-550 shuttle bus? The E-450 is a cutaway van chassis rated up to 14,500 lbs GVWR. The F-550 is a Super Duty truck chassis rated up to 19,500 lbs, so it carries longer bodies and more seats. Our current F-550 Glavals seat up to 24 or 28 passengers.

Can you deliver a Ford shuttle bus to my state? Yes. We deliver anywhere in the U.S., offer financing, and can walk you through any bus on a live FaceTime video call before you buy.

Ready to Find Your Ford?

Call or text Manny at (516) 852-2748, Monday through Friday 9 to 5, or send us a message online any time. We'll set up a FaceTime walkaround of any bus on our lot and deliver it anywhere in the U.S. Browse every reconditioned bus on our listings page.