The Right Bus Routing Software Can Improve Drivers’ Daily Routine

published on August 30, 2022 by Sonia Mastros

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shutterstock_251923525School bus driver satisfaction is an important goal for many transportation programs seeking to reduce employee turnover and provide beneficial work conditions to employees.

While bus routing software improves student safety and decreases transportation costs, it also helps improve the daily routines of the bus drivers who ensure students arrive at school and at home on time. Learn how route optimization software benefits your drivers with features that address common transportation problems.

Bus Routing Software Provides Accurate Driving Directions

There are many information points that help school bus drivers follow regulations and drive safely. Routing software includes notes and instructions for each school bus route, including locations such as:

  • Train tracks
  • Areas where deer are prevalent
  • Areas that often see delays or major traffic
  • Sex offender residences
  • Gang activity territories

The school district is able to modify these locations over time when they change, and with each update to the system, the driver is notified through alerts. Bus route software also provides drivers with other helpful information, including:

  • Their estimated time of arrival
  • The time scheduled to wait at each stop
  • Where to make each turn
  • Specific places to stop (such as “at the red mailbox”)
  • The details of each stop (for instance, whether they should wait for a parent)

Route Software Documents Medical And Special Needs Information

Proper documentation that informs drivers which students are prone to seizures, have allergies or have ADHD ensures a safer bus ride for every child on board. With this information loaded into bus routing software, bus drivers are able to handle medical situations knowledgeably. Children who are prone to violence are also documented within school bus routing software so school bus drivers are able to protect other students in the event of a violent occurrence. As an added benefit, photo rosters improve safety by ensuring that drivers know whom they are picking up at which stop. Without photos to identify students, any child would be able to board a bus.

Bus Routing Software Sends Updates To Drivers

With challenges such as students moving in and out of the school district and moving to new homes within the district, school bus drivers need to stay informed about where to pick up the children they are driving to school. Complications with child custody often pose a challenge:
  • A child whose parents have split custody may take one bus in the morning but a different bus in the afternoon.
  • The same child may also take different buses depending on which parent they are staying with on a given week.
When student bus stops change, web access portals assist school bus drivers. Route optimization software allows drivers to receive daily updates before they leave to drive their school bus routes in the morning. GPS vehicle tracking navigational devices also send daily updates to a driver directly on the bus. If a student is not taking the bus due to custody reasons or a move to a different home, their school bus driver knows ahead of time so it doesn’t negatively impact the bus route.
 
If your school district is working to increase school bus driver satisfaction and optimize bus routes in order to make your transportation program more efficient, consider GPS vehicle tracking programs for your transportation needs. Many school district administrators have questions about how routing software benefits their drivers, students and budgets. Consulting an industry professional is a valuable first step towards finding answers.

Ready to learn more about how to improve school bus driver satisfaction with bus routing software? Call 866-740-8994 to speak with an experienced industry professional or click here to access a live chat and receive assistance.

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What do you think? Are there other ways that drivers benefit from having bus routing software? Let us know in the comments below!