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school bus tracking-1.jpg

Snow Days and Remote Learning: Are they a Thing of the Past?

Prior to 2020, distance learning was a niche idea at best, mostly used to serve people living far away from schools or children who were physically unable to attend. However, with the COVID-19 outbreak, the situation changed radically. Most schools impleme..

Student_Tracking_Software, transportation_management_services, student_transportation_software, Student_School_Bus_Safety, school_bus_route_scheduling_software

school bus tracking-1.jpg

Tips for School Bus Safety in Winter Weather

Your bus routes are rarely as dangerous as they are in the winter. Cold weather makes bus driving far more difficult, with numerous new hazards to consider. Yet student safety must be maintained at all times, no matter the weather. So, let's talk about pre..

transportation_management_services, school_bus_tracking_software, Student_School_Bus_Safety, route_efficiency, vehicle_tracking_software

school bus tracking-1.jpg

Fun Holiday Drinks for Your Upcoming Get Togethers

It's almost time for the year-end holidays, and that means holiday parties! If, like many districts, you're planning on having a staff holiday party, it's time to start thinking about what to serve. So, let's step away from talk of school bus drivers and b..

Transportation_Management_Software, transportation_management_services, school_bus_routing_software, school_bus_route_planning_software, school_bus_route_scheduling_software

school bus tracking-1.jpg

Cold Weather Impacts on Electric School Buses

In general, electric buses seem to be the future of school bus transportation. As the people and nations of the world increasingly move towards electric vehicles in general, we're realizing the benefits of reducing fossil fuel use. However, EVs are not a p..

Transportation_Management_Software, transportation_management_services, school_bus_routing_software, school_bus_route_planning_software, school_bus_route_scheduling_software

school bus tracking-1.jpg

Favorite Side Dish Picks for Thanksgiving this Year

It's time to start planning for Thanksgiving! Plenty of American schools serve some sort of Thanksgiving-themed lunch for the holiday, on the last day before vacation. It's a nice treat for the kids, especially those whose families may not be able to affor..

Transportation_Management_Software, transportation_management_services, school_bus_routing_software, school_bus_route_planning_software, school_bus_route_scheduling_software

school bus tracking-1.jpg

How to Improve School Bus Rider Behavior

School bus drivers have one of the most difficult jobs in a school district. They have to successfully navigate long routes while wrangling a large number of kids who may not be well-behaved. They also frequently have to do this alone! However difficult it..

school_bus_routing_software, Student_School_Bus_Safety, route_efficiency, school_bus_route_planning_software, school_bus_route_scheduling_software

school bus tracking-1.jpg

Hurricanes Helene and Milton Close Schools in Multiple States.

As of writing, it has been nearly a month since Hurricane Helene ravaged the east coast, and many schools in affected areas are still closed. Many of these are due to the schools themselves having been flooded and are now unfit for students. Other schools ..

school_bus_routing_software, Student_School_Bus_Safety, route_efficiency, school_bus_route_planning_software, school_bus_route_scheduling_software

school bus tracking-1.jpg

12 o'clock and already need an adult beverage? BusBoss can bring down the stress

Out of all the jobs at a school district, few can match transportation management for pure stress. Every day, you and your staff are responsible for the safety of hundreds or thousands of children, while also having to wrangle endless complaints from paren..

transportation_management_services, school_bus_tracking_software, route_efficiency, school_bus_route_scheduling_software, vehicle_tracking_software

school bus tracking-1.jpg

Parents already calling about bus ETA's? We have a solution

A district transportation office has a lot on its plate whenever buses are on the road. With hundreds or thousands of students being transported, you need to stay focused on the buses and maintaining their safety. This includes keeping open lines of commun..

transportation_management_services, school_bus_tracking_software, route_efficiency, school_bus_route_scheduling_software, vehicle_tracking_software

school bus tracking-1.jpg

Low-income Areas Need Electric School Buses the Most

The push to see greater adoption of electric school buses (ESBs) proceeds, slowly but surely. That's according to a recent report from the World Resources Institute, tracking adoption of electric buses across the United States and its territories. As of Ju..

transportation_management_services, school_bus_tracking_software, route_efficiency, vehicle_tracking_software

school bus tracking-1.jpg

Safe ways to decorate your buses this holiday season

One question we occasionally see is whether it's safe to decorate school buses for the year-end holidays. Generally speaking, the answer is yes! As long as you keep student safety in mind, and use some common sense, there's no reason you can't decorate you..

transportation_management_services, school_bus_routing_software, student_ridership, student_transportation_software, Student_School_Bus_Safety

school bus tracking-1.jpg

Benefits of Student Ridership Tracking Systems

Should your school district implement electronic ID cards for student ridership tracking on buses? Since the first use of ID cards to track students in Houston, in 2004, the practice has been highly controversial. Yet schools continue to experiment with ID..

transportation_management_services, school_bus_routing_software, student_ridership, student_transportation_software, Student_School_Bus_Safety

school bus tracking-1.jpg

Halloween is around the corner: Safe treat ideas for Students

Spooky season is nearly here - is it coming to your bus routes? Drivers and students alike can enjoy the holiday, and have a good time doing so. It's a great way to break up the monotony of daily routes during the fall semester. However, of course, you can..

transportation_management_services, school_bus_routing_software, student_ridership, student_transportation_software, Student_School_Bus_Safety

school bus tracking-1.jpg

Technology and Communication: Crucial for Bus Safety & Parent Notifications

If there's a problem on one of your bus routes that affects the student ridership, how long does it take to notify everyone involved? There's no single "right" answer to the question, but that span of time should be as short as possible. From getting assis..

Student_Tracking_Software, school_bus_tracking_software, student_transportation_software, RFID_student_ridership_tracking, Student_School_Bus_Safety

school bus tracking-1.jpg

What It Takes to Become a Top Transportation Team

It's been a few months since Top Transportation Teams announced their 2024 winners, and it's time to start looking towards the 2025 competition! We love the entire idea of this competition. It encourages school transportation management teams to do their b..

Transportation_Management_Software, transportation_management_services, school_bus_route_planning_software, school_bus_route_optimization, school_bus_route_scheduling_software

school bus tracking-1.jpg

Bring Peace of Mind to Parents

Everyone says, “Think of the children!” when it comes to school bus tracking, but perhaps we should be saying, “Think of the parents!” instead. Discussions about bus tracking tend to revolve around the many safety benefits that tracking brings to students,..

Transportation_Management_Software, Student_Tracking_Software, student_ridership, student_transportation_software, Student_School_Bus_Safety

School Bus Industry Trade Shows

Are Trade Shows Worth It?

As a school district transportation manager you always have a lot on your plate, but that shouldn't stop you from taking time for personal development and networking. There are several major school bus trade shows around the country every year, and they ar..

transportation_management_services, school_bus_routing_software, student_transportation_software, School_Transportation_Trade_Show, school_bus_route_scheduling_software

Acceptance Of Student Tracking

Ever since its early adoption by some school districts, student and bus tracking has been a hot-button debate topic. Over the last few years, myths have been formulated and then debunked, and the benefits have abounded and transformed the skeptics.

Student_Tracking_Software, school_bus_routing_software, student_ridership, student_transportation_software, Student_School_Bus_Safety

Anticipating Parental Needs

If your district already utilizes tracking devices to plot your bus's location in real-time, it might be time to open up that service to more people in your community! Schools around the nation are beginning to offer smartphone apps to parents, allowing th..

Student_Tracking_Software, transportation_management_services, student_transportation_software, student_transportation_management, vehicle_tracking_software

Route Management Software: Need an Upgrade?

The school bus route management process has a reputation for being complex and difficult to manage. Fortunately, route optimization software has eased the burden for school districts across North America. Bus routing software allows districts to create hyp..

school_bus_routing_software, route_efficiency, school_bus_route_planning_software, school_bus_route_optimization, school_bus_route_scheduling_software

school bus safety-3

Are Lights Enough: School Bus Safety

Recently, we came across an interesting School Bus Fleet article about a petition proposing a change to school bus lighting systems that, according to the petitioner, would improve school bus safety. It's far from the first time such an idea was proposed. ..

transportation_management_services, school_bus_routing_software, school_bus_safety, school_bus_route_optimization, vehicle_tracking_software

School Bus Winter Maintenance Tips

Is your district giving enough support to your school bus maintenance crews during the winter? Proper bus maintenance should always be a priority, but it's absolutely vital during the winter. Even minor breakdowns or on-road incidents become far more dange..

Transportation_Management_Software, transportation_management_services, school_bus_maintenance, student_bus_transportation, maintaining_school_buses

Student Bus Transportation-1

Considering Bell Times: School Bus Transportation

It’s well known that student bus transportation costs are a huge part of a school district’s budget and a truly unavoidable expense. It’s only natural for school districts to look for ways to minimize the costs. Now, some districts are beginning to design ..

Transportation_Management_Software, Student_Tracking_Software, student_bus_transportation, route_efficiency, school_bus_route_planning_software

Winter School Bus Fleet Maintenance

As drivers around the country break out their snow tires, school district transportation departments are preparing buses for chilly temperatures. Ensuring that your fleet stays in tip-top shape during the winter months takes some effort and planning. Here ..

transportation_management_services, school_bus_routing_software, fleet_maintenance, school_bus_route_planning_software, student_transportion_software

Transportation_Management_Software, school_bus_management, transportation_routing_software, route_planning_software, school_bus_routing_software

Benefits of Student Ridership Tracking Systems

Meta Description: Student ridership tracking based on ID cards remains a controversial topic - but it remains a safe, affordable, and reliable way to keep tabs on students while optimizing your bus routes.

school_bus_routing_software, school_bus_gps_tracking, student_ridership, RFID_student_ridership_tracking, school_bus_tracking_systems, school_bus_tracking_app

school bus routing (1)

From Hard Copy to Digital

If a school district were looking for a single piece of software which would do the most to streamline its operations and potentially cut costs, school bus routing software is easily one of the best options. It's an affordable all-in-one package that will ..

Transportation_Management_Software, transportation_management_services, school_bus_routing_software, school_bus_route_optimization, school_bus_route_scheduling_software

school bus tracking-1.jpg

School Bus Tracking Brings Peace of Mind

Everyone says, “Think of the children!” when it comes to school bus tracking, but perhaps we should be saying, “Think of the parents!” instead. Discussions about bus tracking tend to revolve around the many safety benefits that tracking brings to students,..

Transportation_Management_Software, Student_Tracking_Software, student_gps_tracking, school_bus_gps_tracking, student_tracking_technology

school bus safety

Making Loading and Unloading Safer

It’s generally agreed that loading and unloading are the most dangerous times for a child riding a school bus. In fact, the loading and unloading area is even occasionally referred to “the danger zone” because of how many problems could potentially occur. ..

school_bus_routing_software, school_bus_safety, student_transportation_software, Student_School_Bus_Safety, route_efficiency

Protecting Disabled Students From Bullying

Bullying is a hot topic at the moment, with many seeing the proliferation of bullying as one of the biggest problems in modern school districts. Administrators are under pressure to cut down on bullying and, in particular, shield disabled students from att..

school_bus_bullying, bullying, student_ridership, student_transportation_software, school_bus_drivers

Bus Drivers Must Constantly Adapt to Changing Weather

While politicians may still argue over the impact of global climate change, few people on the ground still seriously doubt that climate change is real - and it's causing a lot of unpredictable weather. School districts and school bus drivers need to be pre..

Transportation_Management_Software, school_bus_routing_software, school_bus_drivers, Student_School_Bus_Safety, school_bus_route_scheduling_software

Signs Your School's Bus Route Is Safe And Efficient

How long has it been since your school district updated its bus routing and tracking policies?

transportation_management_services, school_bus_routing_software, student_transportation_software, school_bus_route_planning_software, school_bus_route_optimization

Dispatch Software For Live Communication

A very stressful moment for both the driver in the fleet and the transportation team keeping track of the fleet is that moment of no communication. Whether it is because there's a problem with the radios or phones currently implemented or something else en..

transportation_management_services, Dispatch_Software, school_bus_routing_software, bus_tracking, vehicle_tracking_software

School Bus Security and Surveillance

School Bus Security and Surveillance

For many districts, onboard video camera systems represent an excellent solution to many school bus security issues. With video cameras, you can keep a close eye on the behavior of students and drivers, while always having footage available if there are di..

transportation_management_services, Student_School_Bus_Safety, School_Bus_Security, School_Bus_Surveillance, school_bus_route_optimization

GPS Vehicle Tracking Helps Contractors Win More Bids

Due to the amount of competition involved in winning bids from school bus transportation programs, contractors must provide services that give them an advantage over competitors. GPS vehicle tracking and bus routing software offer benefits that manually cr..

Transportation_Management_Software, transportation_management_services, gps_vehicle_tracking, school_bus_tracking_software, vehicle_tracking_software

School Bus Maintenance

Considering Emissions

If you are investigating the possibility of upgrading your bus fleet to use alternative fuel systems, you have a lot of choices. Green fuels can potentially lower the emissions of your school buses, which in turn can reduce school bus maintenance costs; bu..

Transportation_Management_Software, transportation_management_services, school_bus_maintenance, route_efficiency, school_bus_route_planning_software

Signs You Need New School Bus Routing Software

Timing is everything when it comes to new investments. After all, there's no time like the present crisis to get approval for projects you've needed for months!

Student_Tracking_Software, transportation_management_services, routing_and_scheduling_software, school_bus_routing_software, routing_software

stop-arm camera advocacy.jpg

Stop-Arm Camera Advocacy

It’s a situation bus drivers have seen countless times: They bring the bus to a stop, extend the stop-arm, begin to let students disembark – only to see a car behind them ignore the stop sign and speed past. Every time this happens, children are endangered..

transportation_management_services, school_bus_routing_software, stop-arm_camera_technology, Student_School_Bus_Safety

shutterstock_70536748.jpg

Are Contracted Services the Answer in Pennsylvania?

To outsource or not to outsource? For decades, this has been a pressing question which student bus transportation coordinators have wrestled with. A recent study by The Mackinac Center for Public Policy looked at outsourcing by school districts in several ..

Transportation_Management_Software, student_bus_transportation, contracted_services, Pennsylvania_school_buses, school_bus_route_planning_software

Best Practices for Hiring School Bus Drivers

Are you having much luck hiring new school bus drivers? If you're like many districts around the country, this is a constant source of frustration. The bus driver shortage shows no signs of abating, with some outlets even referring to it as "the new norm."..

Transportation_Management_Software, school_bus_routing_software, student_transportation_software, school_bus_drivers, school_bus_route_planning_software

Danger Zones-1

Avoiding Disaster in the School Bus Danger Zone

One of the cornerstones of a proper school bus safety training program is an emphasis on the "Danger Zone." That is, the area immediately surrounding the school bus where children could be in danger of being hit by other cars - or the bus itself - and are ..

Transportation_Management_Software, transportation_management_services, school_bus_safety, Student_School_Bus_Safety, vehicle_tracking_software

Are Your District’s Bus Routes Safe?

Many parents are shocked when they discover their school district does not use up-to-date fleet management techniques for creating school bus routes. Parents assume their children board the same bus every day, but this is sometimes not true when districts ..

Transportation_Management_Software, bus_routing_software, route_optimization, bus_route_optimization, Student_Safety, school_bus_safety

Training School Bus Drivers.jpg

Training School Bus Drivers for City Driving: Five Tips

As difficult and frustrating as city driving can be in an automobile, the problems are multiplied when driving a school bus. Buses can be up to 45 feet long, which makes maneuvering them around city corners a real challenge. Plus, with a full load of passe..

Student_Tracking_Software, school_bus_routing_software, school_bus_driver_training, route_efficiency, school_bus_route_optimization

Solving the Stranded-Student Problem

If you follow school bus safety news at all, it’s hard to avoid headlines about students being accidentally left behind on buses. It happens several times a year, at a minimum, and always causes concern. Sometimes the police are involved. Sometimes, career..

Transportation_Management_Software, Student_Tracking_Software, school_bus_routing_software, school_bus_safety, Student_School_Bus_Safety

Signs School Buses Are Over-Crowded: 12 Points

Out of all the jobs a school does, there's probably none that's more central or vital than protecting the students in its care. Unfortunately, it seems like there's been a rash of incidents lately with schools running buses that are dangerously overcrowded..

school_bus_management, Student_Safety, Student_Tracking_Software, student_management_software, school_bus_routing_software

school bus idling

Reduce School Bus Idling

When managing a school bus transportation network, there are a lot of factors to keep track of, and sometimes it's easy to let the little things slip by. However, in the case of school bus idling, it's a little thing that adds up to big problems! Your driv..

Student_School_Bus_Safety, school_bus_idling, route_efficiency, school_bus_route_scheduling_software, vehicle_tracking_software

Questions You Must Ask When Implementing Student GPS Tracking

The choice to implement student GPS tracking within your school district is a major decision that requires a great deal of dialogue among administrators and other school district employees. Understandably, those in charge of making the decision on student ..

transportation_management_services, student_gps_tracking, school_bus_tracking_software, Student_School_Bus_Safety, vehicle_tracking_software

school bus idling

Reasons to Reduce School Bus Idling

When managing a school bus transportation network, there are a lot of factors to keep track of, and sometimes it's easy to let the little things slip by. However, in the case of school bus idling, it's a little thing that adds up to big problems! Your driv..

transportation_management_services, school_bus_tracking_software, Student_School_Bus_Safety, school_bus_idling, vehicle_tracking_software

School Bus Drivers Stop Bullying

Protecting Disabled Students From Bullying On The School Bus

Bullying is a hot topic at the moment, with many seeing the proliferation of bullying as one of the biggest problems in modern school districts. Administrators are under pressure to cut down on bullying and, in particular, shield disabled students from att..

transportation_management_services, school_bus_bullying, bullying, school_bus_drivers, RFID_student_ridership_tracking

On-the-Fly Routing: Navigating Challenges When School Buses or Drivers Are Unavailable

Far too many school districts have difficulty recruiting and keeping bus drivers, often making do with a bare minimum number of drivers. This creates challenges in the best of times but can pose a serious problem if a driver is absent and no backup is avai..

school_bus_routing_software, Driver, Drivers, School_Buses, School_bus_industry

Timely School Bus Stops: Addressing the Consequences of Inaccurate Stop Time Adjustments

Most days, school bus passenger loading and unloading is safe and timely. Districts input pickup wait times (3 minutes is average) and drop-off times based on historical data their software provides. But complications including weather and traffic can impa..

Fleet_Tracking_Systems, School_Bus_Routing, School_Bus_Technology, School_Bus_Fleet_Management, School_bus_industry, School_Bus_Routing_System

School Bus Routing Software & Licenses

One definition of “change management” is that it is the intentional route traveled by an organization – school district or transportation service providers, for example – from where you are to where you want to be. There are few surprises if the change is ..

BusBoss, School_Bus_Routing, GIS_routing_systems, school_bus_software, School_Bus_Technology, School_Bus_Fleet_Management, School_bus_industry

Student Data Dilemmas: Integrating SIS for Accurate and Up-to-Date Information in 2024

Every student record update begins with one person. And therein lies the challenge: If that one person’s pupil-information update within his or her specific records platform doesn’t integrate across all software platforms… Well, you’ve seen the result.

BusBoss, Student_Tracking_Software, School_Bus_Routing, School_Buses, Student_Transportation, School_Bus_Fleet_Management, School_bus_fleet_development

School Bus Map Mayhem: Rectifying Outdated or Incorrect Maps

You may also have fewer bus drivers than you’d like. You need to keep costs to a minimum. But it’s more important than ever to have well-optimized routes for your school buses. This is why, for years, most school districts have adopted bus routing software..

school_bus_routing_software, School_Bus_Technology, School_bus_fleet_development, School_bus_industry, School_Bus_Routing_System

Time's Up: Urgency in Addressing School Bus Drivers with Expired Credentials

As a school district transportation coordinator, it's vital to ensure your buses are always fit for duty. Typically this involves focusing on repair and maintenance issues. However, it can be easy to overlook one other crucial matter: credentials. Your dri..

BusBoss, School_Bus_Routing, School_Bus_Technology, School_Bus_Fleet_Management, School_Bus_Routing_System

Help for the Biggest School Bus Transportation Woes

Managing a school district’s transportation system has never been easy, and it seems to be getting harder. While the industry has largely recovered from COVID disruptions, there are still numerous pressing issues facing district transportation managers acr..

Transportation_Management_Software, School_Buses, student_transportation_software, school_bus_transportation, School_bus_industry

How To Safeguard Students Getting on and off the School Bus

School buses are among the safest forms of transportation ever created, but there are still times during a bus's route that the students may be in danger - and no situation is more dangerous than when students are getting on or off the bus. One of the most..

Transportation_Management_Software, school_bus_safety, RFID_student_ridership_tracking, route_efficiency, vehicle_tracking_software

shutterstock_95064232.jpg

How To Reduce School Bus Transportation Costs

School districts across North America are experiencing the realities of shrinking budgets. Unfortunately, when budgets are slashed, transportation departments are often the hardest hit. As students and parents consider the impact of canceled field trips an..

school_transportation_costs, transportation_management_services, school_bus_routing_software, school_transportation, school_bus_transportation_software

Ways School Administrators Can Support School Bus Drivers

Given how badly the school bus driver shortage is affecting school districts around the country, it's absolutely vital that school transportation directors and administrations do whatever they can to retain the drivers on their payroll. In many areas, this..

transportation_management_services, school_bus_routing_software, Drivers, school_bus_tracking_software, school_bus_drivers

Use Student GPS Tracking to Solve Transportation Challenges

Subject: Student GPS Tracking Helps Keep Riders Safe Meta Description: School districts across North America use student GPS tracking systems to keep students safe and minimize costs.

school_bus_routing_software, GPS_Tracking, school_bus_tracking_software, student_ridership, student_transportation_software, Student_School_Bus_Safety

Extra_Lights

Will Extra Red Lights to Reduce Illegal School Bus Passing?

Without a doubt, one of the biggest threats to the safety of students riding school buses is other drivers. Illegal school bus passing is a huge problem nationwide. Ongoing studies in recent years have suggested that it happens tens of thousands of times e..

transportation_management_services, RFID_student_ridership_tracking, Student_School_Bus_Safety, illegal_school_bus_passing, route_efficiency

Look at Avoiding Left Turns on School Buses

There are things we do in BusBoss to minimize left turns, but we do not prevent them. Specifically, in the routing algorithm, we assign a "value" for navigating an intersection. It's not exactly like this, but it's close enough for discussion purposes.

Transportation_Management_Software, bus_routing_software, Student_School_Bus_Safety, route_efficiency, school_bus_route_planning_software

Simplifying the Mountain of Paperwork in School Bus Transportation

During the early 1900s…states distributed funds to school districts based on “flat grants…” one basic dollar amount per student to each district regardless of its wealth or need. -The Process of Education Reform

BusBoss, School_Buses, School_Bus_Technology, School_Bus_Fleet_Management, School_bus_industry, school_transportation_management

Data-Driven Decision-Making: How Analytics Revolutionize School Transportation

In 2016, the Maine Department of Education performed a Transportation Case Study. Software for school bus transportation had never been used, and its implementation enabled the transportation department to replace manual bus-routing processes with technolo..

BusBoss, GIS_technology, GIS_routing_systems, School_Bus_Fleet_Management, school_transportation_software

School Bus Drivers Response If A Fire Broke Out

On January 31, 2019, a driver in Tamarac, Florida, had to deal with one of the nightmare scenarios most school bus drivers hope they never have to handle - a fire onboard the bus. For reasons still under investigation, black smoke started coming out of the..

Transportation_Management_Software, Student_Tracking_Software, school_bus_tracking_software, school_bus_drivers, school_bus_route_planning_software

Behind the Wheel Struggles: Tackling Bus Driver Shortages and Overloaded Routes

Students standing in overloaded school bus aisles? That’s the situation some districts are facing, and it’s understatedly dangerous. Most U.S. school buses don’t have overhead handholds, so an unexpected fast stop can send kids tumbling.

transportation_management_services, School_Buses, school_bus_driver_shortage, School_bus_driver_trainig, school_bus_route_scheduling_software

Tips on How to Improve Student Rider Safety

Subject: Practical Tips for Improving Student Rider Safety Meta Description: School buses are considered one of the safest modes of student transportation, but these practical tips can up the level of student rider safety that your district provides. Each ..

Student_Tracking_Software, school_bus_tracking_software, student_transportation_software, RFID_student_ridership_tracking, school_bus_route_scheduling_software

Time's Up: Urgency in Addressing School Bus Drivers with Expired Credential

As a school district transportation coordinator, it's vital to ensure your buses are always fit for duty. Typically this involves focusing on repair and maintenance issues. However, it can be easy to overlook one other crucial matter: credentials.

transportation_management_services, school_bus_drivers, School_bus_driver_trainig, School_bus_driver_safety, school_bus_route_planning_software

Expired Credentials on the Road: Safeguarding School Bus Transportation

There's a lot to keep track of when managing a school district's bus fleet - but don't allow basic licensing and other credentials to go overlooked! Your drivers' licenses and insurance must be maintained, and your buses will also require regular inspectio..

BusBoss, transportation_management_services, school_bus_driver, school_bus_driver_shortage, school_bus_driver_training, Student_School_Bus_Safety

Why Tracking Software is Essential

Most experts agree that taking students on field trips is a positive educational experience. A recent study cited by the National Education Foundation found that, regardless of a student’s socioeconomic status, gender or ethnicity, students who take field ..

routing_software, school_bus_tracking_software, field_trip_budget, field_trip_route_planning_software

Cost-Saving Services Of School Bus Routing Software

School bus routing software is rapidly catching on with school districts and transportation management companies around the U.S. for its ability to improve route optimization and render significant cost-savings.

transportation_management_services, school_bus_routing_software, school_bus_tracking_software, student_transportation_software, route_efficiency

Reporting Woes: Confronting Issues of Inaccuracy in Student Transportation Reports

Major policy decisions are based on school districts’ federal and state reporting as are billions of dollars in funding. It was 2018 when Education Week revealed “wild” data inaccuracies in federal desegregation data. Also that year, National Public Radio ..

Student_Tracking_Software, student_ridership, school_bus_software, Yellow_School_Bus, school_bus_reporting

Top 5 Benefits of Shared Services for Special Needs Routing

Shared transportation services can provide many benefits to school districts, including cost savings and efficiency increases. But what benefits do cooperative educational services such as these provide to schools that have students with special needs? No ..

bus_routing_software, route_optimization, school_bus_routing_software, school_bus_fleet_optimization, fleet_maintenance, propane_fueled_buses, school_bus_driver_shortages, inefficient_routes, outdated_routes, inaccurate_routes, route_efficiency, state_reporting, re-routing, bus_shortages

4 Bright Recruiting Ideas: Bus Drivers

Districts everywhere are suffering from a lack of school bus drivers, and the shortage shows no signs of going away. If you’re going to get the drivers you need, you often have to be more clever than other recruiters. In previous blogs, we’ve covered many ..

Transportation_Management_Software, school_bus_drivers, Student_School_Bus_Safety, school_bus_route_planning_software, school_bus_route_scheduling_software

Juggling Responsibilities in School Bus Operations

School transportation directors: are you keeping the needs of your bus drivers in mind? They have to juggle a lot of responsibilities on the road, while still keeping their passengers safe. There's a lot you can do to make their lives easier, while also he..

school_bus_policies, School_Bus_Fleet_Management, School_Bus_Routing_System, route_efficiency, school_bus_operations

Icy, Snowy Weather & School Bus Safety

School bus safety is critical at all times of the year, but it's particularly crucial during the winter months. Snowy weather and icy roads present some of the biggest dangers a bus and its passengers can face, yet your drivers will be called on to drive i..

transportation_management_services, school_bus_routing_software, school_bus_tracking_software, Student_School_Bus_Safety, school_bus_safety_tips

School Bus Driver Shortage

Getting students safely to and from school is a priority for everyone. However many school districts are experiencing a shortage in school bus drivers. School bus driver shortage is an ongoing challenge that districts repeatedly face before, during and thr..

Transportation_Management_Software, school_bus_management, transportation_management_services, school_bus_driver, school_bus_tracking_software, route_efficiency, school_bus_route_scheduling_software

An Introduction to GPS Vehicle Tracking

GPS vehicle tracking is a very well-established technology at this point, in use by fleet systems and individual drivers all over the world. It's safe, reliable, and even as you read this, there are likely thousands of people using GPS to get where they ne..

Student_Tracking_Software, gps_vehicle_tracking, school_bus_tracking_software, route_efficiency, school_bus_route_planning_software, vehicle_tracking_software

Revolutionizing Special Education Transportation: Inclusive Solutions With BusBoss

Every student in your transportation system needs to be protected, but special-needs students typically require extra accommodations. Special education transportation creates challenges for district bus systems, particularly because students may require cu..

Transportation_Management_Software, special_needs_students, school_bus_routing_software, special_needs_student_transportation, student_bus_transportation, student_transportation_software, route_efficiency

Overcoming Inefficiencies in Outdated School Bus Routes

Houston parents were concerned and then angry about hours-long school bus routes for the district’s student-passengers. “The kids get off the bus and they rush to the bathroom,” said one mom. Another parent said he tracked his student; after one hour on th..

bus_routing_software, bus_routing, routing_and_scheduling_software, school_bus_routing_software, school_bus_fleet, GIS_routing_systems, student_transportation_software, school_bus, route_efficiency

Addressing the Challenge of Missed Buses and Missing Children

When a school district oversees hundreds or thousands of children per day, it’s always a possibility a child will get lost in the shuffle. This is an extremely serious situation, but most of the time, the child can be located if everyone involved keeps a c..

Transportation_Management_Software, BusBoss, school_bus_routing_software, School_Buses, school_bus_tracking_software, route_efficiency, school_bus_route_scheduling_software, missing_children

Optimizing School Bus Routes for Efficient Transportation

Discover the importance of optimizing school bus routes for efficient transportation and explore the latest trends in school bus routing.

bus_route_optimization, transportation_management_services, school_bus_routing_software, route_efficiency, school_bus_route_planning_software, school_bus_route_scheduling_software

What Can We Do About the School Bus Driver Shortage in 2024?

School district years are August-May or September-June. But for many districts, planning for the 2024-2025 school year begins before January. One of the top priorities this year will be student transportation and how to get kids to and from school without ..

Transportation_Management_Software, BusBoss, school_bus_routing_software, Driver, Student_School_Bus_Safety, school_bus_driver_shortages, route_efficiency, driver_shortages, vehicle_tracking_software

What To Look For in School Transportation Software & Providers

School districts are scrambling to find answers to the problems of safe, efficient, affordable student transportation in the 21st century. Today’s challenges are nothing new, but our technology – where it exists – is outdated and inefficient.

BusBoss, school_bus_routing_software, School_Buses, school_bus_tracking_software, school_bus_software, School_bus_fleet_development, route_efficiency, school_bus_route_optimization, school_bus_route_scheduling_software

Navigating the Challenges: How Bus Routing Software Adapts to Weather and Traffic

At this point, the issue of creating static school bus routes has been largely solved. Modern bus routing software can work with even the largest districts, chewing through thousands of potential routes for hundreds of buses to deliver optimized solutions...

Transportation_Management_Software, BusBoss, school_bus_routing_software, GPS_Tracking, school_bus_tracking_software, student_transportation_software, GPS_Student_Tracking, Student_School_Bus_Safety, route_efficiency, school_bus_route_planning_software, school_bus_route_optimization, school_bus_route_scheduling_software

School Transportation: Lessons Learned and Future Preparedness

Most of us cite 2020, the year of COVID-19, as the beginning of the school transportation driver shortage. Yes, the current school bus driver shortage is making global headlines, but student transportation industry issues have always existed. In 1950, seve..

Transportation_Management_Software, school_bus_routing_software, School_Bus_Routing, School_Buses, school_bus_tracking_software, student_transportation_software, school_bus_transportation, School_Bus_Technology, Student_School_Bus_Safety, route_efficiency, school_bus_route_planning_software, school_bus_route_optimization, school_bus_route_scheduling_software

How To Create A Fiscally Responsible School District Is Everyone's Business

Few school districts have ever struggled with having "too much" money, and budgets are tight most of the time. However, things are particularly bad now. With the coronavirus outbreak continuing to create challenges, schools are having to spend a lot of mon..

Transportation_Management_Software, transportation_management_services, school_bus_routing_software, school_bus_tracking_software, student_transportation_software, Student_School_Bus_Safety, route_efficiency, school_bus_route_planning_software, school_bus_route_optimization, school_bus_route_scheduling_software

How to Upgrade Your School Management System and When

It's hard to believe that just a few decades ago, all school record-keeping was done by hand. Today, a good database-driven school management system is absolutely a necessity. Between the proliferation of helicopter parenting and ever-increasing societal f..

Transportation_Management_Software, transportation_management_services, school_bus_routing_software, student_transportation_software, Student_School_Bus_Safety, route_efficiency, school_bus_route_planning_software, school_bus_route_optimization, school_bus_route_scheduling_software

How to Keep Kids Safe from Predators at the Bus Stop

Many states have laws that prevent registered sex offenders from living too close to schools and parks, but I am not aware of any that restricts their residence based on bus stop location. Given that suburban and rural America is splattered with bus stops,..

Student_Tracking_Software, School_Bus_Stop, Sex_Offender, school_bus_routing_software, school_bus_tracking_software, student_transportation_software, Student_School_Bus_Safety, route_efficiency, school_bus_route_planning_software, school_bus_route_optimization, school_bus_route_scheduling_software

4 Ways to Show Appreciation for School Bus Drivers During the Holidays

All too often, being a bus driver can feel like a thankless job. School bus drivers have to work genuinely inconvenient hours, and spend most of their time on the job getting yelled at by their passengers, district parents, or both. Not to mention the stre..

Transportation_Management_Software, transportation_management_services, school_bus_routing_software, school_bus_tracking_software, student_transportation_software, Student_School_Bus_Safety, route_efficiency, school_bus_route_planning_software, school_bus_route_optimization, school_bus_route_scheduling_software

Optimizing Efficiency with School Bus Routing Software

Discover how school bus routing software can revolutionize transportation efficiency and streamline operations for schools.

Transportation_Management_Software, transportation_management_services, school_bus_routing_software, school_bus_tracking_software, student_transportation_software, route_efficiency, school_bus_route_planning_software, school_bus_route_optimization, school_bus_route_scheduling_software

Staying Connected: How Mobile Apps Improve Parent Communication on Buses

Good parental communication is a cornerstone of a successful school transportation system. Parents need to be kept in the loop regarding buses, schedules, pickup/dropoff points, and more. A smoothly functioning bus system keeps parents “on board” with ever..

Transportation_Management_Software, Student_Tracking_Software, school_bus_routing_software, school_bus_tracking_software, student_ridership, student_transportation_software, parent_notifications, GPS_Parent_App, Student_School_Bus_Safety, route_efficiency, state_reporting, school_bus_route_planning_software, school_bus_route_optimization, school_bus_route_scheduling_software, vehicle_tracking_software

Sustainability in Action: Green Initiatives Powered by BusBoss Technology

School transportation systems are becoming ever harder to manage in the 2020s. Budgets are flat, or even being cut, even as more burdens are placed on district transportation systems. Even as districts struggle to keep their buses running and ensuring thei..

Transportation_Management_Software, school_bus_routing_software, school_bus_tracking_software, going_green, student_transportation_software, Student_School_Bus_Safety, Greener_school_buses, 5G_for_school_buses, route_efficiency, state_reporting, school_bus_route_planning_software, green_initiatives, school_bus_route_optimization, school_bus_route_scheduling_software

Student Ridership Trends: Understanding Patterns With BusBoss Analytics

Throughout 2023 and into the next few years, school bus transportation may see systemic shifts in student ridership trends. These patterns and trends are causing parents and schools to explore alternative transportation methods as well as software solution..

Transportation_Management_Software, school_bus_routing_software, school_bus_tracking_software, student_ridership, student_transportation_software, Student_School_Bus_Safety, route_efficiency, state_reporting, school_bus_route_planning_software, school_bus_route_optimization, school_bus_route_scheduling_software

Going the Extra Mile: Enhancing Student Experience in School Transportation

When developing policies and choosing technology investments into your school bus fleet, are you taking the student experience into account? It's easy to overlook the students when planning bus policies, but catering to them can bring real benefits. When t..

Transportation_Management_Software, school_bus_routing_software, school_bus_tracking_software, student_transportation_software, Student_School_Bus_Safety, route_efficiency, school_bus_route_planning_software, school_bus_route_optimization, school_bus_route_scheduling_software

Safeguarding the Future: Future-Proofing Your School Bus Fleet with Technology

Technology investments in your school bus fleet are a tricky business because you need to have one eye on your current needs, and the other eye on the future. Any purchase should be as "future-proofed" as possible, intended to be used for many years, and c..

Transportation_Management_Software, school_bus_routing_software, school_bus_tracking_software, student_transportation_software, Student_School_Bus_Safety, route_efficiency, school_bus_route_planning_software, school_bus_route_optimization, school_bus_route_scheduling_software

Reducing Costs and Carbon Footprint: Green Initiatives in School Transportation

When it comes to school transportation, you might not immediately think of environmental impact and cost efficiency. However, schools across the country are now adopting green initiatives to not only reduce their carbon footprint but also save valuable res..

Transportation_Management_Software, school_bus_routing_software, school_bus_tracking_software, student_transportation_software, Student_School_Bus_Safety, Greener_school_buses, route_efficiency, school_bus_route_planning_software, school_bus_route_optimization, school_bus_route_scheduling_software

How To Confront Parental Concerns Of A Student Tracking Device

Student GPS tracking has been a topic of hot debate amongst parents. While certain myths about student tracking have been spread around, the benefits of this added safety feature to school bus routing software have proven to be far more powerful than the m..

Transportation_Management_Software, Student_Tracking_Software, school_bus_routing_software, school_bus_tracking_software, student_transportation_software, Student_School_Bus_Safety, route_efficiency, school_bus_route_planning_software, school_bus_route_optimization, school_bus_route_scheduling_software

Creating a Culture of Safety: Best Practices for School Bus Operations

When training and maintaining your school bus drivers, few topics are more important than bus safety. School buses are among the safest types of transportation on the road, but that requires drivers who are driving properly and aware of the limitations of ..

school_bus_routing_software, school_bus_tracking_software, student_transportation_software, Student_School_Bus_Safety, route_efficiency, school_bus_route_planning_software, school_bus_route_optimization, school_bus_route_scheduling_software

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Improving School Bus Fire Safety For Students With Disabilities

Millions of students ride school buses each day, and they are considered to be one of the safest forms of transportation. Unfortunately, emergencies do happen and it’s important for drivers to be prepared, especially when they transport students with disab..

Transportation_Management_Software, school_bus_routing_software, school_bus_tracking_software, student_ridership, student_transportation_software, Student_School_Bus_Safety, route_efficiency, school_bus_route_planning_software, school_bus_route_optimization, school_bus_route_scheduling_software

The Human Element: How School Bus Management Software Supports Drivers and Staff

These are hard times for school bus transportation directors. Costs are rising, while bus drivers are becoming increasingly difficult to find and retain. You need to keep up with modern best practices without costing too much, and ideally reducing costs wh..

transportation_management_services, school_bus_routing_software, school_bus_tracking_software, student_transportation_software, Student_School_Bus_Safety, route_efficiency, school_bus_route_planning_software, school_bus_route_optimization, school_bus_route_scheduling_software

Supporting Driver Accountability

High-profile school bus tragedies such as the crash that took the lives of six students in Tennessee have parents concerned across the country. With an uptick in bullying and school violence, there is also valid worry about these incidents carrying over to..

Transportation_Management_Software, school_bus_routing_software, school_bus_tracking_software, student_transportation_software, Student_School_Bus_Safety, route_efficiency, school_bus_route_planning_software, school_bus_route_optimization, school_bus_route_scheduling_software, vehicle_tracking_software

history of school buses

Exploring the Fascinating History of School Buses

School buses have been a cornerstone of student transportation and education for over a century. But did you know that their fascinating history dates back to the early days of carriages drawn by horses?

Transportation_Management_Software, school_bus_routing_software, school_bus_tracking_software, student_transportation_software, Student_School_Bus_Safety, route_efficiency, school_bus_route_planning_software, school_bus_route_optimization, school_bus_route_scheduling_software

student bus transportation-2

Is Student Bus Transportation Safe?

Student bus transportation safety is an all-important topic, and one which tends to become controversial whenever there's any sort of incident involving a bus accident. The tendency of the media to blow up any accident can often overshadow how incredibly s..

Transportation_Management_Software, transportation_management_services, school_bus_routing_software, school_bus_tracking_software, student_transportation_software, Student_School_Bus_Safety, route_efficiency, school_bus_route_planning_software, school_bus_route_optimization, school_bus_route_scheduling_software

school bus security

Help Improve Your School Bus Security

In recent years, school districts around the country have had to improve security in response to ever more shootings, violence, and even terrorist activity. It's a dangerous world, and schools have to be prepared. However, all too often a district will foc..

Transportation_Management_Software, school_bus_routing_software, school_bus_tracking_software, student_transportation_software, Student_School_Bus_Safety, route_efficiency, school_bus_route_planning_software, school_bus_route_optimization, school_bus_route_scheduling_software

From Chaos to Efficiency: Managing Field Trips with Bus Routing Software

Most students love field trips - but most teachers and administrators dread them. Field trips can be a great experience, or just get the kids out of a stuffy classroom for a day, but the actuality of wrangling the students can be incredibly stressful. Ther..

Transportation_Management_Software, school_bus_routing_software, school_bus_tracking_software, student_transportation_software, Student_School_Bus_Safety, route_efficiency, school_bus_route_planning_software, school_bus_route_optimization, school_bus_route_scheduling_software, vehicle_tracking_software

Empowering Drivers: The Role of Training and Technology in School Bus Safety

When a school bus is on the road, nothing is more important than ensuring the safety of its passengers. While there are numerous ways a bus can be designed to improve safety, your drivers cannot be overlooked! New technologies are making it easier for driv..

Transportation_Management_Software, transportation_management_services, school_bus_routing_software, school_bus_tracking_software, student_transportation_software, Student_School_Bus_Safety, route_efficiency, school_bus_route_planning_software, school_bus_route_optimization, school_bus_route_scheduling_software

Bus Routing: Adding More Bus Stops

Schools reopening this fall are almost certainly going to be making significant changes to their buses and routing, in response to the COVID-19 coronavirus. If these changes are going to involve adding new bus stops - such as to prevent too many students f..

Transportation_Management_Software, school_bus_routing_software, school_bus_tracking_software, student_transportation_software, Student_School_Bus_Safety, route_efficiency, school_bus_route_planning_software, school_bus_route_optimization, school_bus_route_scheduling_software

Parental Peace of Mind: How Parent Portal Apps Enhance School Bus Communication

If your district is looking for better ways to communicate with parents about your transportation system, one of the best options is setting up a parental portal app. Parent portal apps are protected and secured interfaces which allow recognized parents an..

Transportation_Management_Software, Student_Tracking_Software, school_bus_routing_software, school_bus_tracking_software, student_transportation_software, Student_School_Bus_Safety, route_efficiency, school_bus_route_planning_software, school_bus_route_optimization, school_bus_route_scheduling_software

Do Long School Bus Rides Save Money, And At What Cost To The Student?

Finding ways to save more money for education is always a valid and worthwhile endeavor, as there can’t be an upper price placed on your children’s education. However, whether your district chooses to consolidate the total number of schools into a smaller ..

Transportation_Management_Software, transportation_management_services, school_bus_routing_software, school_bus_tracking_software, student_transportation_software, Student_School_Bus_Safety, route_efficiency, school_bus_route_planning_software, school_bus_route_optimization, school_bus_route_scheduling_software

Beyond the Wheels: Exploring Innovative Designs for Modern School Buses

When it comes to "classic designs," it's hard to get more classic than the big yellow school bus. The basic look of American school buses was cemented in the 1940s, and hasn't changed much since... but the technology inside them has. Modern school bus desi..

Transportation_Management_Software, school_bus_routing_software, school_bus_tracking_software, student_transportation_software, Student_School_Bus_Safety, school_bus_route_planning_software, school_bus_route_optimization, school_bus_route_scheduling_software

Benefits Of Integrating Student Info Systems With Bus Routing Software

Does your school district need an all-in-one software solution for keeping up with your students? After all, one of the biggest issues when schools look at updating their computer systems is the problem of systems integration. Ultimately, , since otherwise..

Transportation_Management_Software, school_bus_routing_software, school_bus_tracking_software, student_ridership, student_transportation_software, Student_School_Bus_Safety, route_efficiency, school_bus_route_planning_software, school_bus_route_optimization, school_bus_route_scheduling_software

Ensuring Student Safety: How GPS Tracking Enhances School Bus Operations

For those overseeing school district transportation, keeping students safe is the top priority. As students travel to school every day, it's important to have confidence in the transportation system. But thanks to new technology, there are even better ways..

Transportation_Management_Software, school_bus_routing_software, school_bus_tracking_software, student_transportation_software, GPS_Student_Tracking, Student_School_Bus_Safety, route_efficiency, school_bus_route_planning_software, school_bus_route_optimization, school_bus_route_scheduling_software, vehicle_tracking_software

Curbing Violence on School Buses

School-related violence is on the rise in the United States and this has parents and school district officials worried about the safety of students on buses. Bus drivers work in tight spaces and must constantly multitask. This stressful environment can be ..

Transportation_Management_Software, school_bus_routing_software, school_bus_tracking_software, student_transportation_software, Student_School_Bus_Safety, route_efficiency, school_bus_route_planning_software, school_bus_route_optimization, school_bus_route_scheduling_software

Streamlining School Transportation

Streamlining School Transportation: The Power of Bus Routing Software

As a school administrator or transportation coordinator, you are well aware of the complexities involved in managing transportation efficiently. Coordinating multiple bus routes, accommodating student locations, and ensuring timely arrivals and departures ..

Transportation_Management_Software, transportation_management_services, school_bus_routing_software, school_bus_tracking_software, student_transportation_software, Student_School_Bus_Safety, route_efficiency, school_bus_route_planning_software, school_bus_route_optimization, school_bus_route_scheduling_software

Main Talking Points To Confront Parental Concerns Of A Student Tracking Device

Student GPS tracking has been a topic of hot debate amongst parents. While certain myths about student tracking have been spread around, the benefits of this added safety feature to school bus routing software have proven to be far more powerful than the m..

Transportation_Management_Software, school_bus_routing_software, school_bus_tracking_software, student_transportation_software, Student_School_Bus_Safety, route_efficiency, school_bus_route_planning_software, school_bus_route_optimization, school_bus_route_scheduling_software

5 Key Benefits of Implementing a School Bus Fleet Management System

Supervising a school bus fleet can often feel like a challenging task. Ensuring the safety and efficiency of your school transportation system is of most importance. Fortunately, with the advent of technology, there are now advanced school bus fleet manage..

Transportation_Management_Software, Fleet_Tracking_Systems, school_bus_routing_software, GPS_Tracking, school_bus_tracking_software, student_transportation_software, Student_School_Bus_Safety, Student_Transportation_Technology, route_efficiency, school_bus_route_planning_software, school_bus_route_optimization, school_bus_route_scheduling_software

Ways to Communicate School Bus Route Changes

When it comes to drawing up bus routes, most districts try to do it at the beginning of the school year and stick with it. Sometimes that’s just not possible, and circumstances beyond their control dictate that routes may have to be re-planned during the s..

Transportation_Management_Software, transportation_management_services, school_bus_routing_software, school_bus_tracking_software, student_transportation_software, Student_School_Bus_Safety, route_efficiency, school_bus_route_planning_software, school_bus_route_optimization, school_bus_route_scheduling_software

School Bus Drivers_ Tornado Preparedness (1)

Tornado Preparedness For School Bus Drivers

Proper training of school bus drivers means preparing them for as many on-road eventualities as possible, including ones which are relatively rare. One of the rarest – but most dangerous – is the possibility of one or more buses being on their routes when ..

Transportation_Management_Software, school_bus_routing_software, school_bus_tracking_software, student_transportation_software, Student_School_Bus_Safety, route_efficiency, school_bus_route_planning_software, school_bus_route_optimization, school_bus_route_scheduling_software

How Do I Know If There Are There Sex Offenders Near My Child’s School Bus Stop?

Many states have laws that prevent registered sex offenders from living too close to schools and parks, but I am not aware of any that restricts their residence based on bus stop location. Given that suburban and rural America is splattered with bus stops,..

Transportation_Management_Software, Sex_Offender, school_bus_routing_software, school_bus_tracking_software, student_transportation_software, Student_School_Bus_Safety, route_efficiency, school_bus_route_planning_software, school_bus_route_optimization, school_bus_route_scheduling_software

15 Ways Pearson PowerSchool Integration Brings Peace of Mind

It seems to happen so rarely, but doesn't your school district run more smoothly when everyone's more-or-less satisfied?

Transportation_Management_Software, Pearson_PowerSchool, school_bus_routing_software, school_bus_tracking_software, student_transportation_software, Student_School_Bus_Safety, route_efficiency, school_bus_route_planning_software, school_bus_route_optimization, school_bus_route_scheduling_software

Make Sure Your School Bus Safety Plan Prepares You For An Accident

Throughout the many years BusBoss has been bringing school districts transportation management software, we have heard numerous stories about school bus accidents, and these accidents are deeply troubling to us.

Transportation_Management_Software, school_bus_routing_software, school_bus_tracking_software, student_transportation_software, Student_School_Bus_Safety, route_efficiency, school_bus_route_planning_software, school_bus_route_optimization, school_bus_route_scheduling_software

Ways to Decrease Costs With Fuel Management

With school district finances being stretched to the max, administrators are being asked to find innovative solutions for saving money to avoid cutting programs. School District transportation departments are often called upon to minimize their budgets and..

Transportation_Management_Software, school_bus_routing_software, school_bus_tracking_software, student_transportation_software, Student_School_Bus_Safety, route_efficiency, school_bus_route_planning_software, school_bus_route_optimization, school_bus_route_scheduling_software

Reasons School Bus Drivers Quit

The current shortage of school bus drivers is really a twofold problem. Part of the problem is recruitment, but the other part is in retention. School bus drivers have a turnover rate that's significantly higher than average - particularly when it comes to..

Transportation_Management_Software, transportation_management_services, school_bus_routing_software, school_bus_tracking_software, student_transportation_software, Student_School_Bus_Safety, route_efficiency, school_bus_route_planning_software, school_bus_route_optimization, school_bus_route_scheduling_software

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Tips for School Bus Driver Evacuation Training

No one likes to contemplate the idea of a school bus being involved in a major accident, such as one which leads to it flipping or rolling. But, the reality is that such accidents are always a possibility. Even the best-trained school bus driver can be und..

Transportation_Management_Software, school_bus_routing_software, school_bus_tracking_software, student_transportation_software, Student_School_Bus_Safety, route_efficiency, school_bus_route_planning_software, school_bus_route_optimization, school_bus_route_scheduling_software

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Serving Students and Communities With School Bus Transportation

Even though big yellow buses are most commonly associated with schools, that doesn't mean school bus transportation is only about schools. A fleet of buses is a genuine asset for any community, and they can be put to creative use in ways that go beyond the..

Transportation_Management_Software, school_bus_routing_software, school_bus_tracking_software, student_transportation_software, Student_School_Bus_Safety, route_efficiency, school_bus_route_planning_software, school_bus_route_optimization, school_bus_route_scheduling_software

school bus gps parent app.jpg

What Should Be Included In A School Bus GPS Parent App?

More and more districts are starting to adopt GPS tracking systems in their buses, to help them track and optimize their fleets. However, GPS systems can have another big benefit. When paired with the right school bus GPS parent app, it can make life easie..

Transportation_Management_Software, Student_Tracking_Software, school_bus_routing_software, school_bus_tracking_software, student_transportation_software, GPS_Parent_App, Student_School_Bus_Safety, route_efficiency, school_bus_route_planning_software, school_bus_route_optimization, school_bus_route_scheduling_software

Safer Bus Routes: Avoiding “Danger Zones"

Scheduling safe school bus routes is a serious initiative for every school district. As a school administrator, transportation manager or transportation contractor, your main goal is to get students to and from school safely, every day.

Transportation_Management_Software, school_bus_routing_software, school_bus_tracking_software, student_transportation_software, Student_School_Bus_Safety, route_efficiency, school_bus_route_planning_software, school_bus_route_optimization, school_bus_route_scheduling_software

3 Simple Driver Strategies To Plan Safer Field Trips

For hundreds of years, field trips have been a tried and true teaching technique. Taking students out of a classroom and into a "real world" situation has always been a good way of reinforcing the lessons, and showing that they aren't just abstract exercis..

Transportation_Management_Software, school_bus_routing_software, school_bus_tracking_software, student_transportation_software, Student_School_Bus_Safety, route_efficiency, school_bus_route_planning_software, school_bus_route_optimization, school_bus_route_scheduling_software

Dealing with Bullies on the Bus

Bullying in the educational setting is a problem that has captured the attention of school districts across North America. Anytime the physical and emotional safety of a child is threatened, their ability to learn decreases. According to the U.S. Departmen..

Transportation_Management_Software, school_bus_routing_software, school_bus_tracking_software, student_transportation_software, Student_School_Bus_Safety, route_efficiency, school_bus_route_planning_software, school_bus_route_optimization, school_bus_route_scheduling_software

Student Tracking Made Simpler

A school bus tracking app for keeping track of students is a priority that is increasing in importance in school districts across North America and around the world. One of the easiest and most cost-efficient ways to track students is by utilizing an ID sy..

Transportation_Management_Software, Student_Tracking_Software, school_bus_routing_software, school_bus_tracking_software, student_transportation_software, Student_School_Bus_Safety, route_efficiency, school_bus_route_planning_software, school_bus_route_optimization, school_bus_route_scheduling_software

Specialized Transportation Services

School bus transportation is one of the easiest and safest ways for students to get to and from school. Students with special needs, however, may need certain accommodations to ride the bus safely. School districts across the country are assessing the effe..

route_optimization, student_tracking_system, school_bus_routing_software, bus_route_planning, special_needs_student_transportation, student_bus_transportation, specialized_transportation_services, bus_route_planning_software, school_bus_driver_shortages, inefficient_routes, outdated_routes, inaccurate_routes, route_efficiency, state_reporting, re-routing, bus_shortages

What Are School Bus Drivers Looking For?

There are a lot of factors behind the current shortage of school bus drivers. One of the biggest reasons is that school bus driving can be seen as an unattractive career choice. There are many common problems and complaints about school bus driving which c..

route_optimization, school_bus_routing_software, school_bus_driver, school_bus_driver_shortages, inefficient_routes, outdated_routes, inaccurate_routes, route_efficiency, state_reporting, re-routing, bus_shortages

Identifying High-Risk Drivers

Many challenges face school district transportation managers when it comes to the current bus driver shortage, but one of the biggest issues is keeping driver quality high. Even when good drivers are hard to find, that can never justify hiring a bad driver..

route_optimization, school_bus_routing_software, school_bus_safety, school_bus_driver_shortages, inefficient_routes, outdated_routes, inaccurate_routes, route_efficiency, state_reporting, re-routing, bus_shortages

school bus gps parent app.jpg

What A School Bus GPS Parent App Should Include

More and more districts are starting to adopt GPS tracking systems in their buses, to help them track and optimize their fleets. However, GPS systems can have another big benefit. When paired with the right school bus GPS parent app, it can make life easie..

school_bus_routing_software, GPS_Parent_App

shutterstock_142770265.jpg

Serving Students With Autism

Autism is a term frequently used to describe a group of neuro-developmental disorders. Students on the autism spectrum generally experience challenges related to communication, social interaction and restrictive or repetitive interests or behaviors. These ..

school_bus_safety, special_needs_student_transportation, students_with_autism, school_bus_transportation

Child Safety Restraint Systems on School Buses

The subject of child safety restraint systems such as seat belts on school buses has been hotly debated for many years. Properly installed child safety restraint systems keep small children restrained in their seats during bus travel. They can come install..

seat_belts, school_bus_safety, school_bus_transportation_software, child_restraints, restraint_systems

Signs School Buses Are Over-Crowded

Out of all the jobs a school does, there's probably none that's more central or vital than protecting the students in its care. Unfortunately, it seems like there's been a rash of incidents lately with schools running buses that are dangerously overcrowded..

school_bus_management, route_optimization, Student_Safety, school_bus_routing_software, school_bus_driver_shortages, inefficient_routes, outdated_routes, inaccurate_routes, route_efficiency, state_reporting, re-routing, bus_shortages

Benefits of RFID Student Ridership Tracking Systems

Technology is making lives easier in just about every way, and school districts are now harnessing the power of these advancements to keep students safe. RFID student ridership tracking has been implemented in school buses around the country, and these sys..

route_optimization, school_bus_routing_software, RFID_student_ridership_tracking, school_bus_driver_shortages, inefficient_routes, outdated_routes, inaccurate_routes, route_efficiency, state_reporting, re-routing, bus_shortages

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Why Should School Bus Routes Look at Avoiding Left Turns?

There are things we do in BusBoss to minimize left turns, but we do not prevent them. Specifically, in the routing algorithm, we assign a "value" for navigating an intersection. It's not exactly like this, but it's close enough for discussion purposes.

bus_routing_software, route_optimization, school_bus_routing_software, fleet_optimization, bus_route_planning, school_bus_driver_shortages, inefficient_routes, outdated_routes, inaccurate_routes, route_efficiency, state_reporting, re-routing, bus_shortages

How A Student Tracker Will Protect Your School And Students

As a parent and a school administrator, your greatest concern is the safety of your kids. You need to know exactly where they are, what they are doing and what their parents are saying about where they should be. With many incidents of child abduction and ..

bus_route_optimization, student_management_system, student_tracker, school_bus_routhing_software, school_bus_routing_software, school_bus_driver_shortages, inefficient_routes, outdated_routes, inaccurate_routes, route_efficiency, state_reporting, re-routing, bus_shortages

Tracking Student Incidents And Maintaining Bus Safety

School Bus Safety is an often neglected topic for many people, which is unfortunate because millions of students are transported daily on school buses. We have a civic responsibility to promote school bus safety whenever, and wherever, we can.

Transportation_Management_Software, school_bus_management, BusBoss, route_optimization, route_planning, Student_Safety, school_bus_routing_software, school_bus_driver_shortages, inefficient_routes, outdated_routes, inaccurate_routes, route_efficiency, state_reporting, re-routing, bus_shortages

5 Important Factors When Securing Wheel Chairs

Has your district recently reviewed their policies for dealing with wheelchair-bound students on school buses? Ever since the Education for All Handicapped Children Act of 1976, schools have been required to make accommodations for children in wheelchairs,..

route_optimization, school_bus_routing_software, school_bus_safety, school_bus_driver_shortages, inefficient_routes, outdated_routes, inaccurate_routes, route_efficiency, state_reporting, re-routing, bus_shortages

Who Is Responsible for School Bus Safety?

One of the biggest mistakes we occasionally see people make in regards to bus driving is believing that school bus safety begins and ends on the school bus itself. It's understandable how someone might take a reductive view on the matter since, after all, ..

route_optimization, school_bus_routing_software, school_bus_safety, school_bus_driver_shortages, inefficient_routes, outdated_routes, inaccurate_routes, route_efficiency, state_reporting, re-routing, bus_shortages

Pennsylvania School Buses: Should You Use Contracted Services?

To outsource or not to outsource? For decades, this has been a pressing question which student bus transportation coordinators have wrestled with.

route_optimization, school_bus_routing_software, student_bus_transportation, contracted_services, Pennsylvania_school_buses, school_bus_driver_shortages, inefficient_routes, outdated_routes, inaccurate_routes, route_efficiency, state_reporting, re-routing, bus_shortages

How To Fund The Implementation of Electric School Buses

Every year, more pressure is put on school districts to move away from older gasoline/diesel school buses, and to deploy electric vehicles (EVs) instead. EVs have become entirely viable for bus fleets while bringing numerous advantages. EVs require less ma..

route_optimization, school_bus_routing_software, School_Bus_Routing, School_Buses, student_bus_transportation, electric_school_buses, school_bus_driver_shortages, school_bus_funding, inefficient_routes, outdated_routes, inaccurate_routes, route_efficiency, state_reporting, re-routing, bus_shortages

Training Drivers to Deal With Emergencies

School bus drivers are typically required to complete extensive training before hitting the road. In most districts, this includes instruction for dealing with emergency situations. Deciding what topics should be covered can be a difficult decision because..

route_optimization, school_bus_routhing_software, school_bus_driver, school_bus_bullying, bullying, school_bus_safety, training_drivers, school_bus_driver_shortages, inefficient_routes, outdated_routes, inaccurate_routes, route_efficiency, state_reporting, re-routing, bus_shortages

shutterstock_16925614.jpg

The Fight Against Illegal School Bus Passing

Illegal passing of school buses is a major school bus safety concern. Though passing a stopped school bus is against the law in most areas, traffic codes vary from state to state. Because this poses such a threat to students, many local governments are cra..

route_optimization, school_bus_routing_software, school_bus_safety, illegal_passing, school_bus_driver_shortages, inefficient_routes, outdated_routes, inaccurate_routes, route_efficiency, state_reporting, re-routing, bus_shortages

school bus security

Increasing School Bus Security

In recent years, school districts around the country have had to improve security in response to ever more shootings, violence, and even terrorist activity. It's a dangerous world, and schools have to be prepared. However, all too often a district will foc..

route_optimization, school_bus_routing_software, School_Bus_Security, school_bus_driver_shortages, inefficient_routes, outdated_routes, inaccurate_routes, route_efficiency, state_reporting, re-routing, bus_shortages

How to Deal With Slow Traffic Areas For Buses

In many cities across the United States, morning and evening rush hour can be frustrating and a difficult undertaking. This issue is no different for school buses as they hit the same local traffic as other motorists. Through the use of modern technology t..

bus_routing, route_optimization, school_bus_routing_software, bus_tracking, school_bus_driver_shortages, inefficient_routes, outdated_routes, inaccurate_routes, route_efficiency, state_reporting, re-routing, bus_shortages

Fleet Maintenance: How Clean Is Today's Diesel Fuel?

Until recently, diesel fuel was associated with school buses that were loud, dirty and smelled bad. Over the past several years, diesel has become cleaner, though certain myths still exist about its true environmental impact. School buses provide reliable ..

route_optimization, school_bus_routing_software, fleet_maintenance, diesel_fuel, school_bus_driver_shortages, inefficient_routes, outdated_routes, inaccurate_routes, route_efficiency, state_reporting, re-routing, bus_shortages

Ways To Get Things Under Control With Route Management Software

One of the most frustrating and difficult responsibilities when it comes to managing an entire fleet of transportation vehicles, whether it is cars or buses, is making sure that all of those vehicles are where they need to be, on time, and don't have any m..

route_optimization, transportation_management_services, route_management_software, school_bus_routing_software, transportation_coordinator, school_bus_driver_shortages, inefficient_routes, outdated_routes, route_efficiency, state_reporting, re-routing, bus_shortages

Transporting Special Needs Children

There are many challenges involved in running and managing a school transportation system, but the issue of transporting special needs children is its own special category. Because schools are generally obligated to provide services and work around the nee..

route_optimization, school_bus_routing_software, transport_special_needs_students, school_bus_driver_shortages, inefficient_routes, outdated_routes, inaccurate_routes, route_efficiency, state_reporting, re-routing, bus_shortages

Top 10 Things to Consider When Looking for a Driver Navigation App

As technology continues to evolve at a rapid rate, it’s only natural that we would start seeing innovations to the process of getting students to and from school. A few different school bus routing software companies have come out with driver navigation ap..

bus_route_optimization, School_Bus_Routing, special_needs_student_transportation, school_bus_inspections, child_check_technology, school_bus_ridership, parent_notifications, RFID_student_ridership_tracking, GPS_Parent_App, school_bus_driver_shortages, inefficient_routes, outdated_routes, inaccurate_routes, route_efficiency, state_reporting, re-routing, bus_shortages, turn_by_turn_driving_instructions, tablet_navigation, turn_restrictions

What You Need In A Transportation Supervisor

As transportation systems become more complex, handling their management and oversight similarly becomes a more complex task. In the past, you may have done well enough scheduling and routing your vehicles with strings and pushpins on maps, and using simpl..

transportation_routing_software, route_optimization, vehicle_routing_software, school_bus_routing_software, transportation_coordinator, transportation_supervisor, school_bus_driver_shortage, inefficient_routes, outdated_routes, inaccurate_routes, route_efficiency, state_reporting, re-routing, bus_shortages

How Long Does Implementation of Bus Routing Software Take?

One of the primary concerns of school district administrators seeking to use fleet management and GPS tracking software for route optimization is the amount of time the implementation process takes. Bus routing software offers a significant number of benef..

route_optimization, bus_route_optimization, route_management_software, school_bus_routing_software, fleet_optimization, bus_route_planning, school_bus_driver_shortages, inefficient_routes, outdated_routes, inaccurate_routes, route_efficiency, state_reporting, re-routing, bus_shortages

Know Your Drivers To Keep Our Kids Safe

Every day we trust school bus drivers all across the country to safely transport our children to and from school and any programs in between. Most of us probably never give it a second thought. I just read an article awhile back that explains how a 17 year..

Transportation_Management_Software, route_planning, bus_route_optimization, Student_Safety, school_bus_routing_software, Driver, school_bus_driver_shortages, inefficient_routes, outdated_routes, inaccurate_routes, route_efficiency, state_reporting, re-routing, bus_shortages

Why Diversity Training For School Bus Drivers Is A Must

While it's true that bus driver training is already a fairly lengthy process, more school districts are starting to add another element to their curriculum: diversity training. Providing diversity training to your school bus drivers can help them fit in be..

route_optimization, school_bus_drivers, School_Bus_Routing_System, school_bus_driver_shortages, inefficient_routes, outdated_routes, inaccurate_routes, route_efficiency, state_reporting, re-routing, bus_shortages

Bus Safety: Don’t Turn That Bus Around

School buses are big. Really big! Whenever a school bus needs to turn around, especially when backing up, the potential for an accident is a lot higher. There are quite a few blind spots at the back of the bus that could prevent the driver from seeing a pa..

bus_routing, bus_route_optimization, Student_Safety, school_bus_routing_software, school_bus_driver_shortages, inefficient_routes, outdated_routes, inaccurate_routes, route_efficiency, state_reporting, re-routing, bus_shortages

Wi-Fi on School Buses.jpg

The Benefits of Having Wi-Fi on School Buses

What was once the stuff of science fiction, is now a way of life. The Internet is everywhere, even on school buses! One district in California made the bold decision to make Wi-Fi available to its student population and the concept is quickly catching on. ..

bus_route_optimization, School_Bus_Routing, Wi-Fi_on_School_Buses, school_bus_driver_shortages, inefficient_routes, outdated_routes, inaccurate_routes, route_efficiency, state_reporting, re-routing, bus_shortages

How Should I Protect Sensitive Data Within Our Bus Routing Software Data?

While creating safe and efficient school bus routes is the main focus of most school district transportation programs, protecting student, parent and school data should be a major priority. School transportation software offers benefits such as route optim..

route_optimization, school_bus_routing_software, routing_software, single_sign_on, data_protection, school_bus_driver_shortages, inefficient_routes, outdated_routes, inaccurate_routes, route_efficiency, state_reporting, re-routing, bus_shortages

school bus drivers (1)

How Drivers Can Connect With Special Needs Students On The School Bus

Are your bus drivers doing everything they can to look after any special needs students riding the school bus?

route_optimization, special_needs_students, school_bus_routing_software, school_bus_drivers, school_bus_driver_shortages, inefficient_routes, outdated_routes, inaccurate_routes, route_efficiency, state_reporting, re-routing, bus_shortages

Using Google Maps to Manually Locate Schools in BusBoss

BusBoss does a great job of automatically locating addresses, but there are times when it cannot find the school’s location. When this happens, you can use google maps to manually locate schools in BusBoss. Here’s how…

BusBoss, route_planning, bus_route_optimization, school, school_bus_routing_software, school_bus_driver_shortages, inefficient_routes, outdated_routes, inaccurate_routes, route_efficiency, state_reporting, re-routing, bus_shortages

An Analysis of Costs And School Bus Maintenance

School buses transport millions of students each day to and from schools and special activities. During an average school year, around 10 billion student trips are made. Buses come in many designs and capacities and different districts have varying require..

bus_route_optimization, school_bus_routing_software, school_bus_maintenance, student_bus_transportation, maintaining_school_buses, school_bus_driver_shortages, inefficient_routes, outdated_routes, inaccurate_routes, route_efficiency, state_reporting, re-routing, bus_shortages

Display Dead Ends to Find Map Problems

School bus route optimization requires accurate map data. Different map sources are available but there are several aspects of map data that determines its quality.

Transportation_Management_Software, bus_routing, school_bus_management, BusBoss, route_optimization, route_planning, bus_software, school_bus_routing_software, fleet_optimization, school_bus_driver_shortages, inefficient_routes, outdated_routes, inaccurate_routes, route_efficiency, state_reporting, re-routing, bus_shortages

Special Medical Condition Reports And School Bus Safety

Nobody likes to think about accidents or medical emergencies, especially when you’re also thinking about school buses and students. Accidents do happen. Medical emergencies do happen. It’s important that we prepare for them. One important thing you can do ..

Transportation_Management_Software, bus_route_optimization, Student_Safety, school_bus_driver_shortages, inefficient_routes, outdated_routes, inaccurate_routes, route_efficiency, state_reporting, re-routing, bus_shortages

Ways to Improve How You Track Student Ridership

Today’s technology allows parents and school district employees to determine if a student is on a bus, in real-time. The ever-increasing use of smart phones and tablets means that more and more people expect to have access to information about their childr..

Transportation_Management_Software, bus_route_optimization, school_bus_routing_software, school_bus_transportation_software, track_attendance, student_bus_ridership, student_ridership, school_bus_driver_shortages, inefficient_routes, outdated_routes, inaccurate_routes, route_efficiency, state_reporting, re-routing, bus_shortages

Managing Field Trips And Common Questions You May Have

In the interest of helping you accurately estimate school transportation's costs in the event of any planned field trips, it is instructive to review a short compendium of the most common questions asked by administrators and field-trip coordinators nation..

bus_route_optimization, managing_field_trips, field_trip_planning, school_bus_routing_software, school_bus_driver_shortages, inefficient_routes, outdated_routes, inaccurate_routes, route_efficiency, state_reporting, re-routing, bus_shortages

When Does Your District Need to Outsource Student Transportation

There are certainly pros and cons to outsourcing student transportation, and many administrators hold strong opinions on the matter. With more and more districts facing the stark reality of decreased budgets, transportation outsourcing is becoming a common..

bus_routing_software, bus_route_optimization, school_bus_routing_software, School_Bus_Routing, Student_Transportation, transportation_outsourcing, school_bus_driver_shortages, inefficient_routes, outdated_routes, inaccurate_routes, route_efficiency, state_reporting, re-routing, bus_shortages

How To Display Dead Ends to Find Map Problem

School bus route optimization requires accurate map data. Different map sources are available but there are several aspects of map data that determines its quality.

Transportation_Management_Software, bus_routing, school_bus_management, BusBoss, route_optimization, route_planning, bus_software, fleet_optimization

How To Fight Germs on Your School Buses

In the years of the coronavirus, RSV, strep and the flu - and with most researchers suggesting these will continue to be a threat in the upcoming years - school bus safety measures now largely revolve around finding ways to prevent spread of the diseases g..

school_bus_management, bus_route_optimization, school_bus_routing_software, school_bus_safety, school_bus_safety_tips, covid-19, school_bus_driver_shortages, school_bus_cleaning, inefficient_routes, outdated_routes, inaccurate_routes, route_efficiency, state_reporting, re-routing, bus_shortages

Top 3 Reasons For GPS Vehicle Tracking Systems

Expectations are high for schools to provide transportation that is cost-efficient, safe and accountable. Schools are tasked with making the most of their resources while delivering A+ service to their students, parents and communities.

bus_route_optimization, school_bus_routing_software, student_gps_tracking, school_bus_gps_tracking, GPS_Student_Tracking, school_bus_driver_shortages, inefficient_routes, outdated_routes, inaccurate_routes, route_efficiency, state_reporting, re-routing, bus_shortages

How Safe Is Your School Bus Stop?

In a previous post, I talked about registered sex offenders that may live near your child’s bus stop "Are There Sex Offenders Near My Child's School Bus Stop". This is important to know, but it doesn’t mention other threats that may exist for your children..

Transportation_Management_Software, route_optimization, School_Bus_Stop, school_bus_routing_software, school_bus_driver_shortages, inefficient_routes, outdated_routes, inaccurate_routes, route_efficiency, state_reporting, re-routing, bus_shortages

Safely Transporting Special Needs Children

There are many challenges involved in running and managing a school transportation system, but the issue of transporting special needs children is its own special category. Because schools are generally obligated to provide services and work around the nee..

route_optimization, school_bus_routing_software, transport_special_needs_students, school_bus_driver_shortages, inefficient_routes, outdated_routes, inaccurate_routes, route_efficiency, state_reporting, re-routing, bus_shortages

How To Know If Your School's Bus Routes Are Safe And Efficient

How long has it been since your school district updated its bus routing and tracking policies?

route_optimization, route_optimization_software, route_management_software, school_bus_routing_software, school_bus_driver_shortages, inefficient_routes, outdated_routes, inaccurate_routes, route_efficiency, state_reporting, re-routing, bus_shortages

How To Make Court Ordered Split Custody School Bus Routing Easier

As a transportation director, you have many responsibilities. Accommodating court ordered split custody school bus routing is just another one of them. While you may find this to be a nuisance, there is school transportation management software available t..

Transportation_Management_Software, bus_routing_software, BusBoss, route_optimization, student_management_system, split_custody_routing, school_bus_routing_software, school_bus_driver_shortages, inefficient_routes, outdated_routes, inaccurate_routes, route_efficiency, state_reporting, re-routing, bus_shortages

school bus tracking

Why You Need a School Bus Tracking App

How much oversight do you have over your buses, while they're on the road? If one suddenly came to an unexpected stop or deviated from its route without warning, how long would it take you to know? For too many districts, the answer would be "a long time."..

bus_route_optimization, school_bus_routing_software, school_bus_tracking_software, school_bus_tracking_systems, school_bus_tracking_app, school_bus_driver_shortages, inefficient_routes, outdated_routes, inaccurate_routes, route_efficiency, state_reporting, re-routing, bus_shortages

Tips for Recruiting School Bus Drivers

We keep waiting for the bus driver shortage to end, but it doesn't. For years now, schools have been struggling to find enough school bus drivers to keep all their routes running, and still the problem persists. According to recent studies, 24% of district..

bus_route_optimization, school_bus_routing_software, school_bus_transportation, school_bus_drivers, recruit_school_bus_drivers, school_bus_driver_shortages, inefficient_routes, inaccurate_routes, route_efficiency, state_reporting, re-routing, bus_shortages

Are You Getting The Most Out Of Your Route Optimization Software?

If you're in the business of planning a school's bus schedule, we don't have to tell you how demanding the job is. Hundreds or thousands of children rely on you to get to and from school safely, and if any of them are even a few minutes late, you'll be hea..

bus_routing_software, bus_routing, route_optimization, route_planning, bus_route_optimization, route_optimization_software, school_bus_routing_software, school_bus_driver_shortages, inefficient_routes, outdated_routes, inaccurate_routes, route_efficiency, state_reporting, re-routing, bus_shortages

The Growing Acceptance Of Student Tracking

Ever since its early adoption by some school districts, student and bus tracking has been a hot-button debate topic. Over the last few years, myths have been formulated and then debunked, and the benefits have abounded and transformed the skeptics.

route_optimization, student_tracking, school_bus_routing_software, school_bus_driver_shortages, inefficient_routes, outdated_routes, inaccurate_routes, route_efficiency, state_reporting, re-routing, bus_shortages

Winter School Bus Fleet Maintenance: Things to Consider

As drivers around the country break out their snow tires, school district transportation departments are preparing buses for chilly temperatures. Ensuring that your fleet stays in tip-top shape during the winter months takes some effort and planning. Here ..

bus_routing_software, route_optimization, school_bus_routing_software, school_bus_fleet_optimization, fleet_maintenance, propane_fueled_buses, school_bus_driver_shortages, inefficient_routes, outdated_routes, inaccurate_routes, route_efficiency, state_reporting, re-routing, bus_shortages

How To Properly Use A Student Tracking Sheet

Having to track hundreds or thousands of students in the past was normally a paperwork nightmare. However, with advances in technology and being able to have students digitally sign in or have other technologically advanced means a much better and efficien..

bus_route_optimization, student_tracking_sheet, school_bus_routing_software, Bus_Pass, School_Bus_Routing, student_ridership, school_bus_driver_shortage, inefficient_routes, outdated_routes, inaccurate_routes, route_efficiency, state_reporting, re-routing, bus_shortages

How Unified Communications Keep Everyone In The Loop

Unified Communications (UC) isn't just for big business any more. The technology and networking explosion of the last few years has made it possible for virtually any operation to benefit from "big data," not just the corporations. In fact, schools around ..

bus_routing_software, transportation_routing_software, route_optimization, school_bus_routing_software, school_bus_driver_shortage, inefficient_routes, outdated_routes, inaccurate_routes, route_efficiency, state_reporting, re-routing, bus_shortages

15 Things a Student Information System Can Tell You

Are you still managing your student information on paper? Or are you still juggling Excel files, rather than investing in a true database solution?

bus_routing_software, transportation_routing_software, bus_route_optimization, school_management_system, student_management_system, Pearson_PowerSchool, School_Bus_Routing, school_bus_driver_shortage, inefficient_routes, outdated_routes, inaccurate_routes, route_efficiency, state_reporting, re-routing, bus_shortages

School Bus Safety & Driver Fatigue

Driver fatigue has been the cause of many school bus accidents over the years. There are instances of school bus drivers falling asleep behind the wheel resulting in students being injured and in the most unfortunate of circumstances being killed.

school_bus_management, bus_route_optimization, school_bus_safety, driver_fatigue, School_Bus_Routing, school_bus_driver_shortage, School_bus_driver_safety, inefficient_routes, outdated_routes, inaccurate_routes, route_efficiency, bus_shortages

10 Things to Consider When Reorganizing Your Bus Routes

When it comes to running a school's transportation system, your precious cargo truly does come first.

bus_routing_software, bus_routing, bus_software, bus_route_optimization, school_bus_routing_software, school_bus_driver_shortage, inefficient_routes, outdated_routes, inaccurate_routes, route_efficiency, state_reporting, re-routing, bus_shortages

Safe-Driving Incentives To Keep Your Top Bus Drivers

The use of in-bus GPS systems continues to spread, and for good reason. Geolocation tracking leads directly to better oversight, faster communication, shorter bus runs, and an overall safer experience for students on every ride.

bus_routing, bus_route_optimization, bus_management_system, bus_driver, school_bus_routing_software, School_Bus_Routing, school_transportation_safety, school_bus_driver_shortage, School_bus_driver_safety, inefficient_routes, outdated_routes, inaccurate_routes, route_efficiency, state_reporting, re-routing, bus_shortages

The BEST Way To Keep Parents Informed of a School Emergency

While it would certainly be nice if we could run our school districts without the need to quickly contact parents, it's just not going to happen. Emergencies and unexpected events are impossible to avoid entirely, and sometimes, you simply need to get in t..

bus_route_optimization, Student_Safety, Student_Tracking_Software, student_tracking_systems, School_Bus_Routing, school_bus_driver_shortage, parent_notifications, GPS_Parent_App, inefficient_routes, outdated_routes, inaccurate_routes, route_efficiency, state_reporting, re-routing, bus_shortages

8 Ways Schools Can Ensure Students Get on a Bus

When it comes to ensuring your school district receives as much state funding as possible, few ways are better than simply ensuring students are in their seats every morning.

school_bus_management, bus_route_optimization, School_Bus_Stop, routing_and_scheduling_software, school_bus_routing_software, school_bus_driver_shortage, inefficient_routes, outdated_routes, inaccurate_routes, route_efficiency, state_reporting, re-routing, bus_shortages

15 Tips On How To Prepare For A Bus Route Change

There are few responsibilities facing a school district which are larger, more important, or more potentially hazardous than your need to transport hundreds or thousands of students safely, every day.

bus_routing_software, bus_routing, bus_route_optimization, school_bus_routing_software, school_bus_driver_shortage, inefficient_routes, outdated_routes, inaccurate_routes, route_efficiency, state_reporting, re-routing, bus_shortages

When Does Ensuring Child Stability Require Bus Routing?

We are currently living in the era of speed and mobility. While this can have numerous economical advantages, things are not always positive when it comes to children’s education. For the little ones, stability is very important and the lack of it can seri..

bus_route_optimization, school_transportation_costs, Student_Safety, school_bus_routing_software, school_bus_driver_shortage, inefficient_routes, outdated_routes, inaccurate_routes, route_efficiency, state_reporting, re-routing, bus_shortages

School Transportation Safety: 5 Crucial Tips for Driver Training

When it comes to providing school bus driver training, the key to success is going beyond the basics. Of course, a bus driver must know how to safely maneuver a bus, but the job of a school bus driver is filled with complexities that must be prepared for. ..

route_optimization, route_management_software, school_bus_routing_software, school_bus_safety, driver_training, school_transportation_safety, driver_training_requirements, school_bus_driver_shortage, inefficient_routes, outdated_routes, inaccurate_routes, route_efficiency, state_reporting, re-routing, bus_shortages

How to Know When Your District Needs to Outsource Student Transportation

There are certainly pros and cons to outsourcing student transportation, and many administrators hold strong opinions on the matter. With more and more districts facing the stark reality of decreased budgets, transportation outsourcing is becoming a common..

bus_routing_software, bus_route_optimization, school_bus_routing_software, School_Bus_Routing, Student_Transportation, transportation_outsourcing, school_bus_driver_shortage, inefficient_routes, outdated_routes, inaccurate_routes, route_efficiency, state_reporting, re-routing, bus_shortages

Safer Bus Routes: Avoiding “Danger Zones” Takes A Two-Pronged Approach

Scheduling safe school bus routes is a serious initiative for every school district. As a school administrator, transportation manager, or transportation contractor, your main goal is to get students to and from school safely, every day.

bus_routing_software, bus_route_optimization, Student_Safety, school_transportation_safety, school_bus_driver_shortage, inefficient_routes, outdated_routes, inaccurate_routes, route_efficiency, state_reporting, re-routing, bus_shortages

Identify Your Bus Routing Strengths And Weaknesses

When assessing your school district’s transportation program, there are a number of factors to analyze that make up a successful program. Cost management and benchmarking goals play an important role in determining how well your program operates.

bus_routing, route_optimization, gps_vehicle_fleet_tracking, school_bus_routing_software, school_bus_driver_shortage, inefficient_routes, outdated_routes, inaccurate_routes, route_efficiency, state_reporting, re-routing, bus_shortages

The Right Bus Routing Software Can Improve Drivers’ Daily Routine

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

bus_routing_software, bus_route_optimization, split_custody_routing, track_attendance, school_bus_driver_shortage, inefficient_routes, outdated_routes, inaccurate_routes, route_efficiency, state_reporting, re-routing, bus_shortages, turn_by_turn_navigation, tablet_navigation

Does Your School District Need a Way To Find School Buses?

Student safety is the number one priority for school transportation professionals. With over 55% of US students riding school buses, finding the best way to operate a fleet impacts millions of students across the country. School districts are facing great ..

bus_routing_software, bus_route_optimization, GPS_Tracking, school_bus_safety, School_Bus_Routing, school_bus_finder, student_ridership, school_bus_driver_shortages, inefficient_routes, outdated_routes, inaccurate_routes, route_efficiency, state_reporting, re-routing, bus_shortages

Different Types Of Businesses That Could Benefit From Routing Software

We've come a long way with transportation systems in the last few decades. Virtually anyone reading this likely remembers the days before GPS systems and computer-based mapping. After all, the standard GPS systems only officially went online in 1994! (It s..

bus_route_optimization, route_software, school_bus_routing_software, routing_software, inefficient_routes, outdated_routes, inaccurate_routes, route_efficiency, state_reporting, re-routing

shutterstock_66034726.jpg

Tips for Transporting Service Animals on School Buses

In recent years, many school districts have experienced an uptick in the amount of requests to transport service animals. In fact, some states now require this service by law. There are many reasons that a student may work with a service animal, usually a ..

route_optimization, school_bus_routing_software, school_bus_safety, special_needs_student_transportation, service_animals_on_school_buses, state_reporting, re-routing

Should Child Safety Restraint Systems Be Implemented on Your School Buses?

The subject of child safety restraint systems such as seat belts on school buses has been hotly debated for many years. Properly installed child safety restraint systems keep small children restrained in their seats during bus travel. They can come install..

bus_route_optimization, seat_belts, school_bus_safety, School_Bus_Routing, school_bus_transportation_software, child_restraints, restraint_systems, school_bus_driver_shortage, state_reporting, bus_shortages

3 Ways That Technology Has Changed the Student Transportation Game

There is no denying that technology advances are affecting the way we work and live our lives. This is especially true when it comes to student transportation.

route_optimization, Student_Safety, student_tracking_systems, school_bus_routing_software, Student_Transportation, rfid_technology, gps_tracking_technology, school_bus_driver_shortages, inefficient_routes, outdated_routes, inaccurate_routes, route_efficiency, state_reporting, re-routing, bus_shortages

Practical Advice for Dealing with Bullies on the Bus

Bullying in the educational setting is a problem that has captured the attention of school districts across North America. Anytime the physical and emotional safety of a child is threatened, their ability to learn decreases. According to the U.S. Departmen..

school_bus_routing_software, school_bus_bullying, bully, bullying, bullies, school_bus_driver_shortages, route_efficiency, state_reporting, bus_shortages

Protecting Sensitive Data With School Transportation Software

While creating safe and efficient school bus routes is the main focus of most school district transportation programs, protecting student, parent and school data should be a major priority. School transportation software offers benefits such as route optim..

school_bus_routing_software, routing_software, single_sign_on, data_protection, state_reporting

Student ID Badges Make It Easier To Keep Track Of Your Precious Cargo

Keeping track of students is a priority that is increasing in importance in school districts across North America and around the world. One of the easiest and most cost-efficient ways to track students is by utilizing an ID system. Student ID badge usage i..

route_optimization, Student_Safety, transport_software, student_tracking, school_bus_routing_software, school_bus_driver_shortages, inefficient_routes, outdated_routes, inaccurate_routes, route_efficiency, state_reporting, re-routing, bus_shortages

How Parents View School Transportation

4 Things Every Transportation Official Needs to Know Prior to understanding the industry of student transportation, I knew my child got on a bus with a driver and other children and was transported to school. It was simple right? How hard could it be? Now ..

School_Transportation_Director, bus_management_system, school_bus_routing_software, school_bus_driver_shortages, route_efficiency, state_reporting, bus_shortages

Is Your Bus Fleet Emergency Ready? Here Are 3 Ways To Tell.

The jobs of school bus drivers and transportation administrators are vitally important. As the adults responsible for getting students to and from school, field trips, and special events safely, taking appropriate precautions to prepare for and respond to ..

route_optimization, gps_vehicle_tracking, school_bus_routing_software, GPS_Tracking, school_bus_maintenance, school_bus_fleet, school_bus_tracking_software, gps_tracking_software, school_bus_driver_shortages, inefficient_routes, outdated_routes, inaccurate_routes, route_efficiency, state_reporting, re-routing, bus_shortages

How Routing Software Increases Special Needs Student Safety

Transporting special needs students to and from school is a challenge for many bus drivers, even when school bus routes are organized and a school district’s fleet management is effective.

student_management, route_optimization, special_needs_students, school_bus_routing_software, routing_software, school_bus_driver_shortages, inefficient_routes, outdated_routes, inaccurate_routes, route_efficiency, state_reporting, re-routing, bus_shortages

Could Fuel Efficient Tires Be The Solution To The Gas Crisis?

School districts across North America are employing several transportation management solutions to increase fuel efficiency and cut costs, especially given the recent spike in gas prices. Investing in fuel-efficient tires for their buses is one chosen stra..

school_bus_management, route_optimization, school_bus_routing_software, School_Bus_Routing, fuel_efficiency, fuel_efficient_tires, school_bus_costs, school_bus_driver_shortages, inefficient_routes, outdated_routes, inaccurate_routes, route_efficiency, state_reporting, re-routing, bus_shortages

The Dangers of Illegal Bus Passing

When it comes to passing school buses, motorists in each state are subject to a different set of laws and regulations. Though most motorists understand the safety risks of illegally passing a bus, it remains a consistent, though dangerous, practice. In fac..

Power_School, route_optimization, school_bus_routing_software, GPS_Tracking, school_bus_safety, threat_zone, school_bus_driver_shortages, inefficient_routes, outdated_routes, inaccurate_routes, route_efficiency, state_reporting, re-routing, bus_shortages

The School Bus Driver Shortage

Getting students safely to and from school is a priority for everyone. However many school districts are experiencing a shortage in school bus drivers. School bus driver shortage is an ongoing challenge that districts repeatedly face before, during and thr..

school_bus_management, route_optimization, school_bus_routing_software, school_bus_driver, school_bus_driver_shortages, inefficient_routes, outdated_routes, inaccurate_routes, route_efficiency, state_reporting, re-routing, bus_shortages

Warning Signs Of School Bus Bullying

Students who are being bullied often exhibit some warning signs. If parents, school bus drivers, teachers and other school officials are aware of these signs they can take action to stop and work on reducing or eliminating the issues.

school_bus_management, route_optimization, school_bus_routing_software, school_bus_bullying, bullying, school_bus_driver_shortages, inefficient_routes, outdated_routes, inaccurate_routes, route_efficiency, state_reporting, re-routing, bus_shortages

Does Student Tracking Ensure Safer Bus Rides?

Despite some initial controversy, RFID-based student tracking systems are beginning to be utilized around the country to make student bussing safer and more effective. In just the last couple years, programs have been implemented in cities across America. ..

route_optimization, Student_Safety, Student_Tracking_Software, student_tracking_systems, school_bus_routing_software, school_bus_driver_shortages, inefficient_routes, outdated_routes, inaccurate_routes, route_efficiency, state_reporting, re-routing, bus_shortages

12 Warning Signs That Your Bus Capacity Is Unsafe

Out of all the jobs a school does, there's probably none that's more central or vital than protecting the students in its care. Unfortunately, it seems like there's been a rash of incidents lately with schools running buses that are dangerously overcrowded..

school_bus_management, route_optimization, Student_Safety, overcrowded_Bus, school_bus_routing_software, school_bus_transportation_safety, school_bus_driver_shortages, inefficient_routes, outdated_routes, inaccurate_routes, route_efficiency, state_reporting, re-routing, bus_shortages

School Bus Routing Software: Frequently Asked Questions

You probably have some questions when it comes to all of this talk of school bus routing software, especially when so many other schools are starting to use it. It's not uncommon to have questions about software when it is promising such lofty goals: bette..

route_optimization, route_planning, route_planning_software, school_bus_routing_software, school_bus_driver_shortages, inefficient_routes, inaccurate_routes, route_efficiency, state_reporting, re-routing, bus_shortages

Ways To Verify The Safety And Efficiency Of Your School's Bus Routes

How long has it been since your school district updated its bus routing and tracking policies?

route_optimization, route_optimization_software, route_management_software, school_bus_routing_software, school_bus_driver_shortages, inefficient_routes, outdated_routes, inaccurate_routes, route_efficiency, state_reporting, re-routing, bus_shortages

Quick Tips On How To Shorten Your Bus Routes

It might seem obvious, but there really is no benefit to having your buses on the road any longer than they need to be. Transportation budgets are a huge part of any business that maintains a bus fleet, and every extra minute they're on the road ultimately..

bus_routing_software, bus_routing, route_optimization, school_bus_routing_software, school_bus_driver_shortages, inefficient_routes, outdated_routes, inaccurate_routes, bus_shortages

Keep Your Employees Organized With Bus Routing Software

We bill our BusBoss software as bus routing software, but the truth is, it goes far beyond simply scheduling buses. As more schools move towards entirely computer-based solutions for running their operations, there's a real need for software that performs ..

bus_routing_software, route_optimization, school_bus_routing_software, routing_software, School_Bus_Routing, school_bus_driver_shortages, inefficient_routes, outdated_routes, inaccurate_routes, route_efficiency, state_reporting, re-routing, bus_shortages

Transportation Management Services: Separating Facts From Fiction

In transportation management services, sometimes popular belief might be easier to accept than fact, especially since the services are directly related to the safety of children, a top agenda for the country. In appeasing the public perception, situations ..

route_optimization, bus_route_optimization, transportation_management_services, transportation_manager, school_bus_routing_software, School_Bus_Routing, school_bus_driver_shortages, inefficient_routes, outdated_routes, inaccurate_routes, route_efficiency, state_reporting, re-routing, bus_shortages

The Essential Qualities Of A Transportation Supervisor

As transportation systems become more complex, handling their management and oversight similarly becomes a more complex task. In the past, you may have done well enough scheduling and routing your vehicles with strings and pushpins on maps, and using simpl..

transportation_routing_software, route_optimization, vehicle_routing_software, school_bus_routing_software, transportation_coordinator, transportation_supervisor, School_Bus_Routing, school_bus_driver_shortages, inefficient_routes, outdated_routes, inaccurate_routes, route_efficiency, state_reporting, re-routing, bus_shortages

Keeping Kids Safe from Predators at the Bus Stop

Many states have laws that prevent registered sex offenders from living too close to schools and parks, but I am not aware of any that restricts their residence based on bus stop location. Given that suburban and rural America is splattered with bus stops,..

route_optimization, route_planning, School_Bus_Stop, Sex_Offender, school_bus_routing_software, School_Bus_Routing, school_bus_driver_shortages, inefficient_routes, outdated_routes, inaccurate_routes, route_efficiency, state_reporting, re-routing, bus_shortages

Why School Bus Monitors are So Important

School buses are truly the country’s largest public transportation systems. In recent years, incidents around the country have forced the important issue of student safety to the forefront. As parents, teachers and administrators advocate for increased sec..

route_optimization, school_bus_routing_software, school_bus_safety, School_Bus_Routing, bus_driver_monitors, school_bus_driver_shortages, inefficient_routes, outdated_routes, inaccurate_routes, route_efficiency, state_reporting, re-routing, bus_shortages

Benefits of Automated Transportation Management Services

Transportation companies around the world have been slowly awakening to the power that modern computers have to optimize and streamline their businesses. Numerous processes relating to the management of your fleet and your route planning can now be automat..

route_optimization, transportation_management_services, school_bus_routing_software, School_Bus_Routing, school_bus_driver_shortages, inefficient_routes, outdated_routes, inaccurate_routes, route_efficiency, state_reporting, re-routing, bus_shortages

Ways to Identify a Great School Bus Driver

A great group of bus drivers means that you can have one of the best fleets to manage, making it easier for you to do your job and stay on route with schedules and plans. However, being able to create that group and find those highly professional bus drive..

bus_routing_software, route_optimization, school_bus_routing_software, school_bus_driver, School_Bus_Routing, school_bus_driver_shortages, inefficient_routes, outdated_routes, inaccurate_routes, route_efficiency, state_reporting, re-routing, bus_shortages

How School Management Systems Operate

The ways to harness technology to make your school run more smoothly and more safely are expanding quickly. Just a couple decades ago, it was still standard to see school districts doing most of their record-keeping by hand: drawing bus routes with lines o..

student_management, route_optimization, school_management_system, Student_Safety, Student_Tracking_Software, school_bus_routing_software, School_Bus_Routing, school_bus_driver_shortages, inefficient_routes, outdated_routes, inaccurate_routes, route_efficiency, state_reporting, re-routing, bus_shortages

How Dispatching Software Can Be Doing More For You

These days, it seems like being in the school system is a pretty thankless job all around, especially if you follow news reports on schools. However, you know who never gets thanked? The folks whose job it is to ensure the busses keep running on time. Even..

bus_routing_software, bus_routing, route_optimization, bus_software, transportation_management_services, Dispatch_Software, school_bus_driver_shortages, inefficient_routes, outdated_routes, inaccurate_routes, route_efficiency, state_reporting, re-routing, bus_shortages

Benefits of School Bus Passes

The school bus pass is not normally considered by most administration, especially when they have so much to worry about and take responsibility for. However, school bus passes are quite important for their highly simple way of making sure that no student i..

route_optimization, school_bus_routing_software, routing_software, Bus_Pass, transportation_dispatcher, transportation_coordinator, school_bus_pass, School_Bus_Routing, school_bus_driver_shortages, inefficient_routes, outdated_routes, inaccurate_routes, route_efficiency, state_reporting, re-routing, bus_shortages

When and How to Upgrade Your School Management System

It's hard to believe that just a few decades ago, all school record-keeping was done by hand. Today, a good database-driven school management system is absolutely a necessity. Between the proliferation of helicopter parenting and ever-increasing societal f..

route_optimization, school_bus_routing_software, School_Bus_Routing, inefficient_routes, outdated_routes, inaccurate_routes, route_efficiency, state_reporting, re-routing

How NOT to Use a Vehicle Monitoring System

Back in the old days, keeping track of each individual vehicle's gas consumption, mileage, and possibly repairs meant a lot of reports, careful tracking, and possible human errors in the system. And when it comes to bigger fleets of buses that are transpor..

route_optimization, route_planning, vehicle_monitoring, Vehicle_Monitoring_System, gps_vehicle_tracking, school_bus_routing_software, GPS_Tracking, School_Bus_Routing, school_bus_driver_shortages, inefficient_routes, outdated_routes, inaccurate_routes, bus_shortages

Ways To Make Your Transportation Dispatchers' Job Easier

In the hugely competitive marketplace we face today, it is critical for savvy Transportation Directors, Superintendents, and Business Managers to better manage every single business process from your transportation equipment to your drivers to your transpo..

route_optimization, school_bus_routing_software, transportation_dispatcher, School_Bus_Routing, school_bus_driver_shortages, inefficient_routes, outdated_routes, inaccurate_routes, route_efficiency, re-routing, bus_shortages

How Transportation Costs Can Impact School Budgets

School transportation costs eat a huge chunk of any schools budget. The cost of transporting kids to school needs to be reduced.

route_optimization, school_transportation_costs, school_bus_routing_software, School_Bus_Routing, school_bus_driver_shortages, inefficient_routes, outdated_routes, inaccurate_routes, route_efficiency, re-routing, bus_shortages

bus_routing_software, route_optimization, split_custody_routing, School_Bus_Routing, inefficient_routes, outdated_routes, inaccurate_routes, re-routing

GPS Vehicle Tracking: Strengthening Trust While Reducing Costs

When concerned parents are waiting for the school bus, every passing second is a potential moment for panic.

route_optimization, route_planning, bus_route_optimization, gps_vehicle_tracking, school_bus_routing_software, fleet_optimization, GPS_Tracking, school_bus_driver_shortages, inefficient_routes, outdated_routes, inaccurate_routes, route_efficiency, state_reporting, re-routing, bus_shortages

Field Trip Planning Made Easier: Why Tracking Software is Essential

Most experts agree that taking students on field trips is a positive educational experience. A recent study cited by the National Education Foundation found that, regardless of a student’s socioeconomic status, gender, or ethnicity, students who take field..

gps_vehicle_tracking, school_bus_routing_software, routing_software, GPS_Tracking, school_bus_tracking_software, student_ridership, field_trip_budget, fiels_trip_planning, field_trip_route_planning_software, turn_by_turn_driving_instructions, turn_by_turn_navigation, school_field_trips, tablet_navigation

How To Make Bus Routing Software Work For You

The greatest thing about bus management and routing these days is the ability to complete everything through technology and software. You don't have to worry about the mountains of paperwork that goes into tracking students, distances to different bus rout..

Transportation_Management_Software, route_optimization, school_transportation_costs, school_bus_routing_software, School_Bus_Routing, school_bus_driver_shortages, inefficient_routes, outdated_routes, inaccurate_routes, route_efficiency, state_reporting, re-routing, bus_shortages

How to Use GPS Vehicle Tracking Systems for Efficient Fleet Management

The benefits of GPS vehicle tracking systems such as Zonar and Synovia go beyond simply ensuring the safety of your precious passengers. These are powerful tools which can revolutionize your fleet management, helping you optimize your system in ways that s..

route_optimization, Vehicle_Monitoring_System, student_tracking_system, gps_vehicle_tracking, school_bus_routing_software, School_Bus_Routing, school_bus_driver_shortages, inefficient_routes, outdated_routes, inaccurate_routes, route_efficiency, state_reporting, re-routing, bus_shortages

bus_routing_software, route_optimization, school_bus_routing_software, School_Bus_Routing, school_bus_driver_shortages, inefficient_routes, outdated_routes, inaccurate_routes, route_efficiency, state_reporting, re-routing, bus_shortages

Cutting Costs With Bus Routing Software

It’s no secret that school districts across the country are having a difficult time balancing their budgets. Whenever a school district faces financial challenges, the transportation department is a likely target for cuts. Eliminating bus stops and changin..

bus_routing_software, route_optimization, Save_Route_Costs, school_bus_routing_software, School_Bus_Routing, school_bus_ridership, school_bus_driver_shortages, inefficient_routes, outdated_routes, inaccurate_routes, route_efficiency, state_reporting, re-routing, bus_shortages

bus_routing_software, route_optimization, Save_Route_Costs, gps_vehicle_tracking, school_bus_routing_software, School_Bus_Routing, school_bus_driver_shortages, inefficient_routes, outdated_routes, inaccurate_routes, route_efficiency, state_reporting, re-routing, bus_shortages

Pupil Transportation: Costs Versus Savings of Going Green With Propane

It’s no secret that school districts across North America are looking into alternative fuels for their pupil transportation, not only to minimize negative impact on the environment, but also to save money. While a majority of school buses are still powered..

bus_routing_software, route_optimization, school_bus_routing_software, School_Bus_Routing, propane_fueled_buses, going_green, school_bus_driver_shortages, inefficient_routes, outdated_routes, inaccurate_routes, route_efficiency, state_reporting, re-routing, bus_shortages

Fine Tune Your Transportation Services Using Vehicle Routing Software

In today's economy, every penny counts. With dwindling budgets, public schools are forced to cut corners wherever possible. This may include changing school schedules, to accommodate two tiers per bus, or finding ways to make a route more cost effective. O..

bus_routing_software, route_optimization, school_bus_routing_software, School_Bus_Routing, school_bus_driver_shortages, inefficient_routes, outdated_routes, inaccurate_routes, route_efficiency, state_reporting, re-routing, bus_shortages

School Districts Take Steps to Reduce Their Transportation Costs

With rising gas prices and decreasing school budgets, minimizing school bus transportation costs has never been more beneficial to a school than now. Because of the great variability in how much you might get from one year to the next for transportation co..

bus_routing_software, route_optimization, school_bus_routing_software, School_Bus_Routing, school_bus_driver_shortages, inefficient_routes, outdated_routes, inaccurate_routes, route_efficiency, state_reporting, re-routing, bus_shortages

Is Your Current Bus Route Planning Inefficient?

Each day, more than half of America’s K-12 students take the bus to school. In fact, the school bus industry is the largest form of mass transit in the U.S. School buses keep cars off the road and the environment cleaner. Making sure that school buses run ..

bus_routing, transportation_routing_software, route_planning, routing_software

Having An Electric School Bus Fleet Is Easier Than Many People Think

If your district is thinking about adding electric vehicles (EVs) to your school bus fleet, don't let outdated fears hold you back! Electric buses have come a long way in the last decade, from being impractical to being entirely capable of serving a school..

fleet_maintenance, electric_school_buses

Congressional Representative Pushes for School Bus Only CDL

It's no secret that the school bus driver shortage is only getting worse. Year after year, school districts are having more difficulty finding drivers, and it's becoming an increasing burden on district transportation managers. The ongoing COVID-19 outbrea..

School_Buses, student_bus_transportation, school_bus

Reimagining the School Bus Ridership Experience

According to multiple studies, less than half of students who are eligible to ride the school bus are actually doing so. Low school bus ridership can actually be a problem for districts that are looking to maintain their state funding or keep a full fleet ..

electric_school_buses, school_bus_ridership, school_bus_riders

Massachusetts Uses National Guard as School Bus Drivers

It seems like states are finally starting to get serious about helping school districts overcome the ongoing school bus driver shortage. Coming right after New York's announcement of programs aimed at recruiting more drivers, Massachusetts has taken things..

school_bus_driver_shortage, school_bus_drivers, Massachusetts_school_bus_drivers

School Bus Driver Training: De-Escalating Parent Disputes

Tensions in America are high right now, and it's spilling over into our schools. These days, it seems like the news is full of stories about conflicts between parents and school staff, including bus drivers. There had always been occasional reports of conf..

school_bus_drivers, school_bus_driver_training, training_school_bus_drivers

New York Launches School Bus Driver Outreach

In previous articles, we mentioned that it seemed like state intervention may be called for when dealing with the school bus driver shortage - and apparently, New York agrees. New York Governor Kathy Hochul recently announced a series of state-level action..

School_Buses, school_bus_driver_shortage, recruit_school_bus_drivers, school_bus_driver_outreach

School Bus Driver Strikes And Protests Becoming More Common

The ongoing shortage of school bus drivers may be hitting a breaking point. Schools were already struggling to keep enough drivers on-staff to fulfill their transportation obligations despite the disruption of COVID-19. Now, there's a new threat: school bu..

school_bus_drivers, school_bus_driver_training, school_bus_driver_retention

South Carolina School Bus Driver Shortages Lead to Long Wait

We all know that the school bus driver shortage is a problem and that it's not getting better. In some areas, it seems, things are getting much worse. Reports have come out about how driver shortages in South Carolina are causing excessive delays and a lot..

school_bus_drivers, school_bus_driver_retention, school_bus_driver_shortages

Railroad Safety Tips for School Bus Drivers

Few bus accidents could be more devastating than being hit by a train - and it does happen. While train-related accidents are rare, there have been several in the past decade. This could easily be fatal to everyone on the bus if it happens, which is why it..

school_bus_safety, school_bus_drivers, railroad_safety_tips

Can Electric School Buses Benefit Low Income Communities?

In the ongoing push to move towards ecologically friendly bus fleets, electric school buses are rapidly gaining traction. Modern electric buses have overcome nearly all the problems that faced them a decade ago - they're now as powerful and robust as diese..

School_Buses, electric_school_buses, electric_school_bus

Tennessee School Districts Forbidden From Requiring School Bus Masking

It's distressing how basic public health measures fighting COVID-19 have become heavily politicized, but the trend continues. Following in the footsteps of states like Texas and Florida, Tennessee's governor Bill Lee recently signed an executive order (PDF..

school_bus_safety_plans, school_bus_masking, student_masking

Electric School Buses: Maintaining Your Fleet

As school districts look to upgrade their aging diesel bus fleets to more modern, ecologically friendly options, electric school buses are becoming an increasingly popular option. Old problems with limited power and battery life are quickly being overcome...

electric_school_buses, Hybrid_Buses, electric_school_bus, hybrid_school_buses

Benefits of Wi-Fi and 5G for School Buses

One eternal problem with school bus rides, particularly in larger districts, is how much time they can take out of a student's day. When many students are riding for an hour or more every day, that can seriously cut into their time for studying or other ac..

School_Bus_WiFI, 5G_for_school_buses, Wi-Fi_for_school_buses

Can Changing Bell Times Help the School Bus Driver Shortage?

The sad reality is that the bus driver shortage isn't going away - it's only getting worse. The COVID-19 outbreak spurred a lot of people to leave bus driving for other careers or retire if that was an option. One recent study showed that 80% of districts ..

school_bus_driver_shortage, school_bus_driver_retention, school_bus_driver_shortages

School Bus Wi-Fi: Round 2 of FCC Funding

There's good news for districts that are looking for ways to fund a school bus Wi-Fi upgrade program. Due to overwhelming popularity, the FCC has announced a second round of funding grants to help pay for onboard Internet services! Earlier this year, the F..

School_Bus_Technology, School_Bus_WiFI, school_bus_funding

Back to School 2021 - Preparing for Uncertainty

Few semesters have ever been under such a cloud of uncertainty as back to school 2021 will be. In many places, this is the first time that regular school will happen in over a year, and a lot of people are still worried about it happening smoothly. A lot o..

School_Buses, school_reopenings, back_to_school

Hiccups in Supply Chains Affect Student Bus Transportation

School Transportation News recently posted an in-depth article talking about new challenges facing the student bus transportation industry. The various economic upheavals of 2020, spearheaded by the COVID-19 outbreak, have disrupted supply chains around th..

School_Buses, student_bus_transportation, supply_chains

California Hits the Road With 2 Propane School Buses

Despite all the economic hurdles of the last year, districts are still finding ways to upgrade their school busses to better, cleaner options. School Bus Fleet recently reported on a California district, Fairfield-Suisun Unified School District in Napa Cou..

School_Buses, propane_fueled_buses, Greener_school_buses

COVID Student Safety Starts With School Buses

Is your district still doing everything possible to keep your school buses safe from COVID-19? Even though vaccination rates are rising, and infections are dropping, it's still a threat. Worse, new mutations like the Delta variant are creating new threats,..

school_bus_safety, School_Buses, COVID_student_safety

Electric School Buses Linked to Environmental Justice

We recently came across a fascinating article on School Bus Fleet, interviewing Johana Vicente. Vicente is the national director of a socio-environmental activist group called Chispa, dedicated to looking at the impact of fossil fuels on people of color. T..

School_Buses, student_bus_transportation, electrical_school_buses

New York City Schools Move Away From Remote Learning

For the past year or more, during the COVID-19 outbreak, most schools have been relying on remote learning to supplement or replace in-class learning. However, as vaccination rates rise around the country, and overall infection and death rates fall, school..

COVID-19_relief, remote_education, remote_schooling, remote_learning

Boosting School Bus Safety With Defensive Driver Training

Well-trained bus drivers are the foundation of school bus safety. It doesn't matter what kinds of buses you drive or the routes you create if you don't have drivers who are always putting passenger safety first in their thinking. That's why it's vital to o..

school_bus_safety, School_bus_driver_trainig, training_school_bus_drivers

Locating Funding for Electric School Buses

Every year, more pressure is put on school districts to move away from older gasoline/diesel school buses, and to deploy electric vehicles (EVs) instead. EVs have become entirely viable for bus fleets while bringing numerous advantages. EVs require less ma..

School_Buses, student_bus_transportation, electric_school_buses, school_bus_funding

Virginia Bus Driver Wins Big Money

School Transportation News recently reported on a nice bit of local news: a 23-year veteran Virginia school bus driver who won $10,000 for her excellent service. Beyond simply being a great driver, she was constantly looking for ways to help her students a..

school_bus_driver, school_bus_drivers, Virginia_school_bus_driver

School Bus Contractors: CERTS Coronavirus Relief Grants Detailed

Near the end of 2020, Congress and President Trump passed the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021, which contained provisions for $2 billion in economic relief for transportation companies negatively impacted by the COVID-19 outbreak. These provisions ..

student_bus_transportation, School_bus_industry, school_bus_contractors, COVID-19_relief

School Bus Safety: Optimizing Driver Views

When a bus stops and children are loading or unloading, you'd want to think the driver is in full control of the situation - but they aren't. Buses, by their nature, have massive blind spots which impact the driver's visibility. This is a school bus safety..

school_bus_safety, keeping_students_safe, Student_School_Bus_Safety, school_bus_safety_plans

Disinfecting School Buses: Are There Long Term Effects?

When the 2020 COVID-19 outbreak hit, properly disinfecting school buses became a top priority for school districts. At a minimum, districts stepped up the use of disinfecting chemicals and products like hand sanitizer. Many even upgraded their buses, insta..

school_bus_safety, School_bus_industry, covid-19, school_bus_cleaning, Disinfecting_school_buses

Considering the Future of the Yellow School Bus

What's going to happen to the traditional yellow school bus in the years ahead? Given how much the COVID-19 outbreak has shaken up industries and economies around the world, a lot of people are wondering what it means for the future of school bus transport..

Student_Transportation, student_bus_transportation, school_bus_transportation, school_bus_drivers, Yellow_School_Bus

Addressing Driver Shortage: Reducing School Bus Routes

It's harder than ever for school districts to find enough drivers for their school bus routes. The driver shortage was a problem even before the COVID-19 outbreak, and now it's only gotten worse. An estimated 80% of schools are having trouble finding enoug..

school_bus_driver_shortage, school_bus_drivers, school_bus_driver_shortages, reducing_school_bus_routes

School Bus Safety: Air Quality

It's been well-known for generations that pollution within cities is a problem, but it's only in recent years that we've started to realize just how bad the problem is. Pollution doesn't just poison the air and environment, but it can directly harm people ..

Increase Your School Bus Drivers' Morale With Public Recognition!

There was a recent feature on STN about Tim Cribley, a Michigan school bus driver who was declared a “Bus Guardian Hero.” Cribley got a well-deserved moment in the sun. It was a chance for the school to highlight the great work he’d done for the district. ..

school_bus_driver, school_bus_drivers, school_bus_driver_shortages

School Bus Transportation in 2021

These are chaotic times for school districts and school bus transportation managers. Between the ongoing driver shortage and all the disruption caused by COVID-19, it's easy to feel like things are getting a bit out of control. Well, take heart, because yo..

School_Buses, student_bus_transportation, school_bus_transportation

Operational Optimization: Planning Ahead

When school districts want to - or need to - reduce the costs of their transportation system, one of the best options is to optimize their bus routes. It's rare for a district to have perfect route optimization, and just about any updates they can make wil..

School_Buses, student_bus_transportation, Yellow_School_Bus

Indiana Works to Improve School Bus Stop Safety

We recently came across a short article from School Transportation News discussing Indiana's plans to expand usage, penalties, and enforcement of stop-arm cameras on their school buses. There's no doubt that illegal passing is one of the biggest threats to..

school_bus_safety, student_bus_transportation, Indiana_school_buses

Montana House Bills for School Bus Safety

How do we protect students from cars passing illegally, while they're entering or exiting the bus? This is probably one of the biggest questions in the field of school bus safety, and one that continues to be studied intently. For many states, the popular ..

school_bus_management, school_bus_safety, school_bus_safety_legislation, Montana_school_buses

School Bus Transportation: COVID-19 Relief Funding

If your school district is in need of school bus transportation upgrades to help you deal with COVID-19 or to otherwise upgrade your school, there's good news. Congress has passed several bills recently aimed at providing COVID-19 funding to schools, and t..

school_bus_policies, school_bus_transportation, school_bus_funding, school_bus

Pros and Cons of Full Day Kindergarten

For decades, the traditional wisdom said that young children should be 'eased into' full-time schooling. This meant having preschool and kindergarten programs that were only part-time. However, recently, there's been a growing call for a shift to full-day ..

full-day_kindergarten, kindergarten, half-day_kindergarten

Benefits of Educational Equity

Is simple equality enough to provide a good education, or should educational institutions be aiming for equity instead? The concept of educational equity has been in circulation for decades and has been steadily gaining traction in schools and the larger t..

school_districts, educational_equity, benefits_of_educational_equity

Benefits of Investing in a Student Technology Program

Students need to learn with technology! Schools have been discovering this since the first big push to put computers into classrooms, in the 1980s, and student technology programs continue to expand and grow to this day. Unfortunately, even if educators un..

investing_in_students, student_technology_program, student_technology

Fiscally Responsible

Creating A Fiscally Responsible School District Is Everyone's Business

Few school districts have ever struggled with having "too much" money, and budgets are tight most of the time. However, things are particularly bad now. With the coronavirus outbreak continuing to create challenges, schools are having to spend a lot of mon..

school_district_funds, school_district_spending, school_district_finances, school_finances

Prepare Students for the Future

Five Ways to Prepare Students for the Future

It's fairly well-known that the 'modern' school system as we know it in America came into being in the first half of the 20th Century - and there have been surprisingly few updates to its structure and content since. Specific subjects are periodically upda..

preparing_students, preparing_students_for_the_future, modernizing_school_curriculum

Charter School Reform

Benefits of Charter School Reform

Are charter schools a good way to create better outcomes for children in school? For a long time, many have said so. Privately owned charter schools, funded from the same coffers as public schools, were supposed to offer competition and alternatives for pa..

charter_school_reform, charter_school, charter_school_funding

Kentucky to Permit School Bus Stop Arm Camera

More than 20 states in the United States allow school districts to install stop-arm cameras on their buses - and Kentucky may be the next to join them. House Bill 189 recently passed the state House, and it seems likely to go on to become law in the near f..

stop-arm_camera, school_bus_safety_plans, Kentucky_school_buses

Maryland Bill Considers School Bus Capacity

One major school bus safety issue that perhaps doesn't receive enough attention is the problem of overcrowding. When districts are low on buses or drivers, they may end up running their buses with more students onboard than is safe for the vehicle. This is..

student_bus_ridership, student_bus_transportation, keeping_students_safe, school_bus_capacity, Maryland_school_buses

Texas School Buses May Continue Requiring Masks

Texas recently made headlines for stepping down its COVID-19 mask requirements. Businesses around the lone star state are no longer mandated to enforce mask-wearing on their premises - but they are still allowed to voluntarily require masks, if they choose..

school_bus_safety, School_Buses, Student_Transportation, Texas_school_buses

Electric School Buses: Myths Versus Facts

Electric school buses may be one of the most misunderstood types of alt-fuel buses. In many ways, they're the safest and cleanest of all the ways you could power a bus, but there is a lot of misinformation out there. Some of the myths used to be true, and ..

School_Buses, school_bus_fleet, electric_school_buses

Federal Legislation Seeks $1B in Funding for School Buses

If your school district is interested in upgrading to electric school buses, you may get some help in the next few years. The "Clean School Bus Act" has been re-introduced in the House Of Representatives, and would provide over $1 billion dollars in fundin..

School_Buses, school_bus_laws, school_bus_funding

Helping Special Needs Students Adapt to COVID-19 Safety Requirements

Transporting special needs students always has some additional challenges, and that's especially true during the coronavirus pandemic. School bus drivers and transportation directors need to be making concerted efforts to help special needs children mainta..

Student_Safety, school_bus_safety, school_bus_safety_plans

Making Social Distancing Work on a School Bus

If your school is maintaining in-person classes during the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic, your district should be doing everything possible to reduce the chances of disease transmission. This is a major challenge - especially on school buses! As a small en..

school_bus_safety, School_Buses, covid-19

Reducing the Costs of School Bus Transportation

There's no doubt that maintaining and running a school bus fleet is one of the most expensive aspects of school budgeting. It's often the 2nd or 3rd largest line item in many school budgets. Buses are costly to run and maintain but are absolutely required ..

School_Buses, school_bus_transportation, School_bus_fleet_development

Encouraging Loyalty in School Bus Drivers

Even before the COVID-19 outbreak, schools around the nation were struggling to find enough school bus drivers to keep all their routes running. The coronavirus only made things worse. It's become harder than ever for schools to find and keep drivers, part..

School_Buses, electric_school_buses, training_school_bus_drivers

K-12 Relief Funds: School Bus Ventilation Systems

Shortly before leaving office, President Donald Trump signed the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 into law. Part of this law includes over $54 billion in funding grants to help both public and charter schools respond to the COVID-19 outbreak.

School_Buses, student_bus_transportation, school_bus_ventilation_systems

Safely Disinfecting School Buses

For as long as the COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak lasts, it's going to be absolutely vital to keep your school buses clean and sanitized. Buses will always be a high-risk area for transmission, so they call for high levels of diligence. Parents need to feel..

Student_Transportation, electric_school_buses, Student_School_Bus_Safety, school_bus_cleaning

Bus Tracking Apps: Anticipating Parental Needs

If your district already utilizes tracking devices to plot your bus's location in real-time, it might be time to open up that service to more people in your community! Schools around the nation are beginning to offer smartphone apps to parents, allowing th..

school_bus_tracking_software, school_bus_tracking_systems, school_bus_tracking_app

School Bus Industry: Front-line Heroes

We recently saw a wonderful article from School Transportation News (STN) highlighting some of the most extraordinary things done by school bus drivers in the past year. The COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak challenged service workers around the world to step ..

school_bus_transportation, school_bus_drivers, School_bus_industry

Propane Autogas Eases Back-to-School Challenges

Of all the back-to-school challenges facing school districts in 2020, the problem of successfully busing students may be one of the most pressing. By law, every district must provide transportation for any student that needs it - but schools only have so m..

School_Buses, propane_fueled_buses, propane_autogas

School Buses Deliver Meals to Virtual Learners

If your school is closed due to the ongoing COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak or only operating at a reduced capacity, it may feel like you're letting your community down. Parents rely on functioning schools for everything from childcare to meal preparation, a..

School_Buses, school_bus_transportation

National School Bus Safety Week Includes Poster Contest, Public Outreach

During times of crisis, it's more important than ever to reach out to the public and assure them that their schools - and their school transportation systems - are safe. Fortunately, despite the chaos, the American School Bus Council (ASBC) was able to car..

school_bus_safety, National_school_bus_safety_week, school_bus_safety_week

Training School Bus Drivers for Worst-Case Scenarios

No one enjoys contemplating the worst things that can go wrong, but when students' lives are on the line, it's important to consider as many scenarios as possible. That's why it's so important to supplement your regular school bus driver training with spec..

training_drivers, school_bus_drivers, School_bus_driver_trainig

Leveraging School Bus Technologies To Support Parents During The Coronavirus Outbreak

It's hard to even list all the ways that the COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak is affecting communities across America. Many of these problems center on schools and school districts. On one hand, the rational response to a disease outbreak is to limit in-perso..

student_bus_transportation, School_Bus_Technology, School_bus_industry

How Student Transportation Is Changing From COVID-19 According To The Experts

2020 was a year of crisis for many industries, and that certainly includes the student transportation industry. Schools across the nation were completely unprepared for the pandemic, leading to them having to make many blind leaps into policy changes or ne..

Student_Transportation, school_bus_transportation, coronavirus

School Districts Try out Lighted Signs on School Buses

School bus safety is one of the foremost concerns for any school transportation program - and there is no shortage of companies trying to sell you upgrades in the name of safety. Sorting through them in terms of cost vs benefit can be difficult, particular..

school_bus_safety, School_Buses, Student_Transportation, student_bus_transportation, school_bus_transportation

Four Big Challenges School Bus Drivers Face

Being a bus driver is never easy, but the job has become particularly difficult with the COVID-19 coronavirus still threatening the country. On top of their other responsibilities, bus drivers are now expected to do much of the heavy lifting in protecting ..

school_bus_drivers, school_bus_driver_training, training_school_bus_drivers

Student Transporters Discuss Meeting Challenges

Contrary to the hopes of many, there's no sign that the COVID-19 coronavirus is going away any time soon. In fact, new infections across America are at an all-time high. This means that it's vital for school districts and student transportation directors t..

Student_Transportation, student_bus_transportation, student_transporters

School Bus Alternatives for Special Needs Students

While the specifics vary from state to state, school districts are universally required to provide transportation to and from school for every student. Most students are simply transported on standard school buses, but there are exceptions - particularly w..

special_needs_students, special_needs_student_transportation, student_bus_transportation, transporting_special_needs_students

Keeping Your School Buses Clean And Hygienic During The Coronavirus Outbreak

How has your district updated school bus cleaning policies to adapt to the coronavirus outbreak? Providing transportation to students is a must, even during a pandemic, but school buses create a significant new potential source of infection. Any student - ..

school_bus_management, school_bus_safety, school_bus_maintenance, covid-19, school_bus_cleaning

Protecting Your School Bus Drivers As Schools Reopen

As schools look to reopen in Fall 2020 despite the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak, one of the biggest challenges will be in successfully adapting their student bus transportation system. When crafting safety plans, it's vital that one group not go overlooked: y..

school_bus_drivers, school_bus_safety_tips, school_bus_safety_plans, covid-19

Products That Fight Germs on Your School Buses

In the year of the coronavirus - and with most researchers suggesting it will continue to be a threat in 2021 - school bus safety measures now largely revolve around finding ways to prevent spread of the disease. Most schools are doing this with traditiona..

school_bus_management, school_bus_safety, school_bus_safety_tips, covid-19, school_bus_cleaning

Barrier Installation Approved for School Buses

How do you maintain school bus safety, when there's a pandemic going on? Districts around the country are wrestling with how to limit the spread of COVID-19 within their buses, something which is no easy task. One proposal was to install plexiglass barrier..

school_bus_safety, school_bus_safety_tips, school_bus_safety_plans

Safeguarding Students Getting on and off the School Bus

School buses are among the safest forms of transportation ever created, but there are still times during a bus's route that the students may be in danger - and no situation is more dangerous than when students are getting on or off the bus. One of the most..

school_bus_safety, school_bus_safety_plans, school_bus_tips

Drastic Changes for Back-to-School 2020

For better or worse, back-to-school 2020 is here around the country, despite the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak. Every district has their own solutions for how to continue providing education despite the coronavirus, but one thing is indisputable: drastic chang..

Student_School_Bus_Safety, School_Bus_News, school_bus_safety_plans, covid-19

Virginia School District Adds Safety Tech to School Buses

If you want a model for how technology can be used to improve school bus safety, you could easily look to Chesapeake Public School District in Chesapeake, VA. As highlighted in a recent School Bus Fleet article, the district has made a nearly unprecedented..

school_bus_safety, school_bus_transportation, school_bus_safety_plans

Does Your School Bus Safety Plan Overlook Critical Dangers?

When was the last time you ran a tornado drill for a school bus? It's a simple question, but in our experience, a lot of districts get uncomfortable when you ask it. Now, if you can answer "recently!" then that's great - but too many districts tend to focu..

school_bus_safety, school_bus_drivers, school_bus_safety_plans

Eight Tips for Recruiting School Bus Drivers

We keep waiting for the bus driver shortage to end, but it doesn't. For years now, schools have been struggling to find enough school bus drivers to keep all their routes running, and still the problem persists. According to recent studies, 24% of district..

school_bus_transportation, school_bus_drivers, recruit_school_bus_drivers

Indiana School Bus District Adds School Bus Wifi

New innovations in school bus technology are improving student management and helping to create new learning opportunities - innovations like putting WiFi access points onto school buses. These access points run off of cellular connections, and can be tigh..

School_Bus_Technology, school_bus_transportation_technology, School_Bus_WiFI

Alternative Fuel Tax Credits Extended Until Fall 2020

The last few years have been rocky for the Alternative Fuel Tax Credits introduced during the Obama administration. These tax credits were intended to spur the adoption of alternative vehicle fuel sources, including alternative school bus fuels, as well as..

alternative_fuel, alternative_fuel_tax_credit, tax_credit

What Happens When School Bus Drivers Are Sick?

From the perspective of a district transportation manager, the COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak came at one of the worst possible times. No time is good for an epidemic, but with schools already hurting from the shortage of school bus drivers, even minor disr..

school_bus_drivers, driver_recruitment, recruit_school_bus_drivers, sick_school_bus_drivers

School Bus Routing: Adding More Bus Stops

Schools reopening this fall are almost certainly going to be making significant changes to their buses and routing, in response to the COVID-19 coronavirus. If these changes are going to involve adding new bus stops - such as to prevent too many students f..

school_bus_routing_software, school_bus_safety, School_Bus_Routing, Student_School_Bus_Safety

School Bus Driver Shortages in the Age of COVID-19

The problem of finding enough school bus drivers to keep districts' bus routes running is nothing new. Districts have been facing a bus driver shortage for years, without any real sign of the situation getting better. Now, however, there's a new factor at ..

school_bus_drivers, covid-19, school_bus_driver_shortages

National Academies Advises Full-Time Reopening of Schools

Around the nation, one of the most pressing questions being asked over and over is "Should we be reopening schools in the fall?" Every district in America is currently faced with what seems like an impossible choice: weighing the needs of children to be ed..

reopening_school, school_coronavirus_plans, covid-19

School Bus Safety During the COVID-19 Pandemic

For school districts planning on reopening in the fall, the next few weeks will be spent planning thoroughly on how to reduce the risks of disease spread. COVID-19 is still active throughout North America, so children need to be kept as safe as possible.

school_bus_safety, school_bus_safety_plans, covid-19, coronavirus

Five Tips for Restarting School Bus Operations Here...

Will your school district be reopening this fall, in the wake of the coronavirus? If so, one of the biggest challenges you're likely to face is the problem of running your school bus transportation system in a way that minimizes the chances of disease tran..

school_bus_safety, Student_School_Bus_Safety, covid-19, restarting_school_bus_operations

COVID-19 Impacts on the School Bus Industry

There has never been a more uncertain time for the school bus industry, at least in recent memory. The outbreak of the COVID-19 coronavirus has disrupted schools, businesses, and transportation across North America, and there are no signs of that disruptio..

student_bus_transportation, School_bus_industry, covid-19

CDC Considerations for Student COVID-19 Testing

What do you do if you suspect a student coming to school in the fall has the COVID-19 coronavirus or may have been exposed to it? Districts across America are asking this question. Fortunately, they have some guidance. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC)..

school_bus_safety, school_bus_safety_plans, student_covid-19_testing, covid-19

How to Setup Social Distancing on a School Bus

Are you going to be able to maintain social distancing on your school buses? If not, your entire district will be at risk of COVID-19 outbreaks. Any districts re-opening in the fall must take all possible precautions to maintain school bus safety, and mini..

school_bus_safety, school_bus_safety_plans, social_distancing

New York City School Buses to Go Electric

For fans of electric school buses and other electric vehicle initiatives, there's big news to celebrate coming out of New York City. Recently, the mayor of NYC, Bill De Blasio, signed an executive order which mandates that all NYC government fleet vehicles..

electric_school_buses, New_York_school_buses, School_Bus_News, electric_school_bus

Is CBD Oil Okay for School Bus Drivers?

With the rising costs of health care in the country, more and more people are turning to non-prescription products in an attempt to cure their various ailments. Among various alternatives, the use of cannabidiol (CBD) oil is growing, due to its seeming eff..

school_bus_drivers, Student_School_Bus_Safety, CBD_oil

Six School Bus Winter Maintenance Tips

Is your district giving enough support to your school bus maintenance crews during the winter? Proper bus maintenance should always be a priority, but it's absolutely vital during the winter. Even minor breakdowns or on-road incidents become far more dange..

school_bus_maintenance, student_bus_transportation, maintaining_school_buses

School Bus Safety Plans: What Might Be Missing?

How robust is your school bus safety plan? Of course, any school district will have safety plans in place for their buses and transportation system. However, these plans are rarely complete. Arguably, they cannot be - unexpected situations are always possi..

Student_School_Bus_Safety, school_bus_safety_tips, school_bus_safety_plans

School Bus Drivers: Combating Distracted Driving

Distracted driving is a serious problem on America's roads. According to compiled statistics, nine people die every day due to a distracted driver, while hundreds more are injured. Distracted driving can happen almost anywhere, at any time, to anyone - inc..

school_bus_driver_shortage, school_bus_drivers, school_bus_driver_training

Just How Serious Is the School Bus Driver Shortage?

For years, the education sector has been plagued by a school bus driver shortage, and there's no end yet in sight. All signs and surveys point towards districts continuing to struggle to find sufficient drivers to cover their routes. That's causing continu..

school_bus_driver_shortage, school_bus_drivers, recruit_school_bus_drivers

Four Tips for Improving Student Bus Transportation in 2020

How are you going to improve your student bus transportation system in 2020 and beyond? The previous decade has seen huge shifts in how schools handle their buses, as well as student safety. Now is the perfect time to start looking ahead, and planning how ..

school_bus_management, student_bus_transportation, school_bus_transportation

Texas Department of Public Safety Addresses Overcrowded School Buses

Here's a school bus safety violation that shouldn't happen, yet it does with surprising frequency: running buses that are overcrowded. In Texas, for example, the Department of Public Safety (DPS) was forced to step in and issue public advisories, due to re..

school_bus_safety, school_bus_fleet, Student_School_Bus_Safety

School Bus Seat Belts: Implementation Strategies

Going into 2020, there are now nine states that openly mandate school bus seat belts within their school districts, and two others offering grants or other incentives. Numerous other states are debating the issue. While not truly decided yet, it seems that..

school_bus_safety, school_bus_safety_legislation, school_bus_seatbelts

school bus safety

Ohio School Bus Safety Act Seeks Fines, Penalties, and Stop Arm Cameras

Without a doubt, one of the most serious threats to school bus safety is the problem of other drivers ignoring the stop arm. Every time a car blows by the stop-arm sign, they endanger students who are getting on and off the bus, with injuries or deaths occ..

school_bus_safety, Ohio_school_buses, Ohio_school_bus_safety

school bus safety

Better School Bus Crash Reporting Procedures Can Make A Difficult Time Much Easier

While school buses are overwhelmingly safe for passengers, accidents do happen. No district or driver likes to think about the possibility of being in an accident, even a non-fatal one. However, when thousands of collisions involving a school bus happen ev..

school_bus_safety, school_bus_crash, school_bus_crash_reporting

school bus emissions

Mississippi Early Replacement School Bus Program Aided by EPA Funding

Passed in 2010, the Diesel Emissions Reductions Act (DERA) was a forward-looking piece of US legislation aimed at reducing pollution on the nation's streets and highways. At its heart, it is a loan and grant program, authorizing the United States Environme..

school_bus_fleet, DERA

school bus seat belts

Cleveland Students Petition for School Bus Seatbelts

At this point, it's become commonplace to hear stories of cities and districts deciding to budget for school bus seat belts - but here's a story with a twist. The city council of Beachwood City, OH, a suburb of Cleveland, recently purchased two new belt-eq..

school_bus_safety, school_bus_seatbelts, Cleveland_school_bus_safety

stop-arm camera

Senator Schumer Seeks School Bus Stop Arm Camera Report

Right now, few issues are as contentious in the school bus industry than the topic of school bus stop-arm cameras. The issue of motorists illegally passing stopped buses is undoubtedly a major problem, with millions of violations across the country every s..

school_bus_safety, stop-arm_camera

school bus driver

Tennessee School Bus Driver Uses Phone Behind the Wheel

When a parent allows their child to ride a bus, there's a lot of trust involved. They need to believe that the driver is going to protect the students, and consider school bus safety to be their top priority. Unfortunately, this is not always the case - as..

school_bus_safety, school_bus_drivers, Student_School_Bus_Safety

Electric School Buses

Virginia Funds Electric School Bus Initiative

In the field of alt-energy school bus designs, electric school buses have lagged behind many of the competitors such as propane or natural gas. Until recently, electric buses had been seen as too under-powered and too short-ranged to be effective as studen..

electric_school_bus

school bus seatbelts

InterMotive Vehicle Controls Announces Seatbelt Warning System

Usage of school bus seat belts is growing across the country, with six states already mandating their installation, and several others contemplating similar laws. Along with helping to keep children safe during accidents, there is also growing evidence tha..

school_bus_safety, school_bus_seatbelts

school bus safety

Improve School Bus Safety By Taking Proactive Measures Against Stop Arm Violators

There are numerous threats to school bus safety any time a bus is on the road, but it's hard to argue against stop arm violators being the biggest threat. Every time a motorist ignores a stop arm, student lives are put at risk. This is not an uncommon occu..

school_bus_safety

training school bus drivers

Training School Bus Drivers in Positive Behavior Management Improves Discipline

School bus drivers have to do several jobs at once while on the road, and one of the most important is maintaining discipline among the passengers onboard. Keeping students quiet and well-behaved is a major safety issue, and can help contribute to safe dri..

School_bus_driver_trainig, training_school_bus_drivers

electric school buses

California Energy Commission Approves Funding for Over 200 Electric School Buses

Slowly but surely, states and districts across the country are moving away from diesel and towards alternative fuel sources. For years, it seemed like the best choices were either compressed natural gas (CNG) or propane - but these are still forms of fossi..

electric_school_bus

school bus stop arm

Four Tips for Stop Arm Camera Success

School districts around the nation are exploring use of stop arm cameras as a way to deter unsafe driving near their buses. However, a stop arm camera by itself won't stop bad drivers. BusBoss has some tips to help ensure the success of your camera initiat..

school_bus_safety, illegal_passing, stop-arm_camera_technology

school bus driver training

Texas District Implements Paid School Bus Driver Training

Across the country, one of the biggest challenges facing district transportation directors is simply one of staffing. The nationwide school bus driver shortage continues in full swing, with the majority of districts reporting that they lack all the drivers..

Texas_school_bus_drivers, school_bus_driver_shortage, school_bus_drivers

electric school buses

The Pros and Cons of Electric School Buses

The push to embrace alt-fuels in school bus fleets continues unabated, complete with both the Federal government, and many states, offering incentives to move away from gas or diesel. Previously, the conversation about alt-fuel buses mainly revolved around..

electric_school_buses, electric_school_bus

school bus seat belts

Iowa Joins 4 Other States in Requiring School Bus Seatbelts

For decades, arguments have raged over whether or not school bus seat belts were a good idea. The official stance was that school buses were already so safe that the additional protection brought by belts would be minimal, or even cause as many problems as..

school_bus_seat_belts, Student_School_Bus_Safety

school bus driver training

School Bus Driver Training: Handling Disputes With Parents

Recently, social media was buzzing when a video went viral of a Denver parent forcing her way onto a stopped school bus, and getting into a physical altercation with the bus staff that ultimately required police to break up. This is definitely a worst-case..

School_bus_driver_trainig, training_school_bus_drivers

school bus fleet tires

School Bus Fleet: Proper Tire Choice & Maintenance

Are the tires on your school bus fleet helping or harming your efforts to run a safe, cost-effective bus system? Despite seeming like a relatively minor choice, the kind of tires on your buses can have a lot of impact on both safety and performance. Likewi..

school_bus_safety, school_bus_fleet

school bus safety

National Survey Shares Challenges of School Bus Safety

One difficulty when talking about school transportation management, and school bus safety, is getting a handle on the big picture. Discussions of district transportation systems are often filled with anecdotal evidence, relatively few studies trying to loo..

school_bus_safety

GPS school bus tracking

Five Ways a School Bus Tracking App Can Help in an Emergency

Whenever the news reports on a major incident involving a school bus, it's hard not to think "What if that happened to us?" News of a bus emergency is excellent for reflecting on the district's own training and response policies. Would the bus driver know ..

GPS_Tracking, school_bus_safety

school bus fleet

School Bus Fleet: Air Conditioning Considerations

Do all the vehicles in your school bus fleet include air conditioning? In many districts, this is already the case - yet there are still plenty of districts playing catch-up. A/C comes standard on most new buses, but that doesn't help smaller or lower-inco..

school_bus_fleet, school_bus_air_conditioning

school bus safety

Who Is Responsible for School Bus Safety?

Who is responsible for school bus safety in a district? On the balance, the only rational answer to the question is "everyone." Whenever some sort of safety incident occurs, there can be a lot of finger-pointing - but at the end of the day, protecting chil..

school_bus_safety

school bus fuel

Five More Ways To Reduce Fuel Costs While Your Buses Are On The Road

At this point, most school districts are at least looking at green school buses for their fleet. The problem, of course, is that green school buses are expensive, whether you're going the upgrade route or to entirely replace your older buses. Not every dis..

school_bus_fuels

Electric School Buses

Washington School District Buys Electric School Bus

Just a few years ago, electric school buses were thought to be a pie-in-the-sky concept. There were numerous technical challenges to overcome, with the biggest issue being the matter of pure power. Electrical engines just weren't able to produce enough hor..

school_bus_fleet, electric_school_bus

school bus safety

PBS Documentary Asks Questions About School Bus Safety

When it comes to school bus safety, there is probably no more divisive issue than the question of whether seat belts should be mandated for school buses. After all, belts have been required in other pedestrian vehicles like cars and pickups for fifty years..

school_bus_safety, school_bus_seat_belts

school bus drivers

School Bus Drivers: Understanding Miranda's Law

In May 2018, a truly tragic school bus accident occurred in New Jersey. A bus traveling on I-80 apparently overshot its intended exit, causing the driver to attempt to pull a massive U-turn across multiple lanes. This led to a direct side-on collision from..

school_bus_drivers, Student_School_Bus_Safety, school_bus_laws

school bus safety

NTSB Calls for School Bus Fire Suppression Systems

In December of 2017, a truly horrific school bus accident occurred in Oakland, Iowa. A fire broke out in the engine compartment of a bus, sending dangerous fumes into the bus interior, and ultimately taking the lives of both the driver and a 16-year-old st..

school_bus_safety, school_bus_fleet

shutterstock_502408450

School_bus_fleet_development, school_bus_emissions, school_bus_grants

school bus driver training

School Bus Driver Training: Working With Special Needs Students

Last month, a potentially very dangerous mistake occurred in Waterloo, Iowa: A school bus driver mistakenly dropped off an autistic girl at the wrong location. Unsupervised, she wandered more than a mile away and was found at a local Target. Fortunately, s..

special_needs_student_transportation, school_bus_driver_training, Student_School_Bus_Safety

school bus emissions

Study Claims School Bus Emissions Influence Learning

There is ample evidence that the sort of emissions and pollution created by gasoline and diesel vehicles - like school buses - can cause significant health problems among people exposed to the emissions. What has been harder to demonstrate is whether or no..

school_bus_emissions

School Bus Safety Legislation

School Bus Safety Legislation Considered by Congress

On May 17, 2018, a horrific collision occurred between a school bus and a dump truck on a New Jersey highway. It left two dead, including 10-year-old Miranda Vargas, as well as injuring everyone on the bus as well as the driver of the dump truck. Video foo..

school_bus_safety, school_bus_safety_legislation

Florida school bus drivers

Florida School Bus Drivers Now Required to Have First Aid Training

Any time a child dies on-board a school bus, it's a tragedy - but it's particularly tragic when the death would have been preventable. That is the case in the death of Terissa Gautney on Feb 28, 2018, on a school bus in Bartow, Florida. Terissa was a speci..

school_bus_drivers, Florida_school_bus_drivers

school bus safety

School District Settles After Biracial Student Dragged by School Bus

Most of the time, when a bus driver does something that endangers students, it's due to poor judgement. Occasionally, however, it can be malicious - as we saw earlier this year in Farmington, Utah. In a deeply disturbing incident, a 14-year-old biracial ch..

school_bus_safety, student_bus_transportation, Student_School_Bus_Safety

School bus route optimization

Improving Route Optimization: Review and Insights

Maintaining a school bus fleet is one of the single most costly items in a district's budget, but it's one which is absolutely necessary. Schools must run buses and must provide transportation to any families who ask for it. This places a big burden on sch..

route_optimization, bus_route_optimization

school bus drivers

School Bus Driver Shortage: Indiana District Turns to Teachers

School districts around the nation continue to suffer from the school bus driver shortage, with no relief in sight. It may even be getting worse. In a recent online poll of School Transportation News readers, an astounding eighty-four percent of districts ..

school_bus_driver_shortage, school_bus_drivers

school bus drivers

Retraining School Bus Drivers: Four Tips

All school bus drivers will spend plenty of time in training sessions throughout their career, with much of it mandated by local or state laws. However, sometimes you may have one or more drivers who need more intensive retraining to get them back on track..

school_bus_drivers

school bus safety

Maine Passes School Bus Stop Arm Camera Bill

On June 17, 2019, Maine Governor Janet Mills signed Senate Bill 166 into law - fully legalizing the use of school bus stop arm cameras across the state. As with similar laws in other states, these cameras can be used to identify and penalize motorists who ..

school_bus_safety, stop-arm_camera_technology

school bus safety

Are School Buses Safe Enough?

Concerns about school bus safety are frequently a matter of intense discussion, particularly in the wake of a notable accident involving a school bus on the road. Everyone talks about wanting to make school buses safer, and understandably enough. Every chi..

school_bus_safety

school bus tracking

5 Reasons You Need a School Bus Tracking App

How much oversight do you have over your buses, while they're on the road? If one suddenly came to an unexpected stop or deviated from its route without warning, how long would it take you to know? For too many districts, the answer would be "a long time."..

school_bus_tracking_software, school_bus_tracking_systems, school_bus_tracking_app

school bus fuel

Atlanta-Area School Districts to Benefit From Propane Bus Grant

The push to move school bus fleets away from traditional gasoline and diesel is stronger than ever, and it's being championed by many major groups - including the Environmental Protection Agency. As part of the Diesel Emissions Reduction Act (DERA), the EP..

school_bus_fleet

school bus drivers

How School Bus Drivers Can Encourage Reading And Studying On The Route

Like many people, we were charmed by the recent Motherly article making the rounds about an Arkansas bus driver encouraging reading on her bus. If you missed it, a bus driver and special ed teacher named Julie Callison keeps a bucket full of books on her b..

school_bus_drivers

School Bus Drivers

School Bus Drivers Must Constantly Adapt to Changing Weather

While politicians may still argue over the impact of global climate change, few people on the ground still seriously doubt that climate change is real - and it's causing a lot of unpredictable weather. School districts and school bus drivers need to be pre..

school_bus_drivers

school bus bills

3 School Bus Bills Signed by New Jersey Governor

In May 2018, New Jersey suffered a truly terrible school bus transportation accident. A school bus on a field trip collided with a dump truck, resulting in the deaths of a student and a twenty-year veteran teacher, as well as putting 43 others in the hospi..

school_bus_transportation_safety

school bus passing

School Bus Passing Legislation Amended in Georgia

In general, school bus safety laws across the nation have been increasingly strict and concerned with protecting child riders from other motorists - except for one strange anomaly last year. In July 2018, the state of Georgia amended its school bus passing..

school_bus_passing

shutterstock_1371863291

How Would Your School Bus Drivers Respond If A Fire Broke Out?

On January 31, 2019, a driver in Tamarac, Florida, had to deal with one of the nightmare scenarios most school bus drivers hope they never have to handle - a fire onboard the bus. For reasons still under investigation, black smoke started coming out of the..

school_bus_drivers

School Bus Transportation-2

School Bus Transportation: Plans for Volkswagen Funding

In 2015, it was revealed that German car maker Volkswagen - along with all their associated subsidiaries - had been engaging in widespread fraud to cheat results of emissions testing on many of their vehicles. Ultimately, VW had been cheating going back to..

school_bus_transportation

school bus safety (1)

School Bus Safety: Preventing Onboard Fires

There are many aspects of school bus safety that a district transportation manager must oversee, but one of the most critical is implementing measures to prevent onboard fires. Fires on school buses are more common than people realize. In fact, the DOT est..

school_bus_routing_software, school_bus_safety

school bus news-1

School Bus News: New Standard on NOx Emissions Proposed

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently made a significant announcement that may impact anyone attempting to manage a school bus fleet: They will be updating their standards on nitrous oxide (NOx) emissions from heavy engines, for the first time..

School_Bus_News

school bus idling

3 Reasons to Reduce School Bus Idling

When managing a school bus transportation network, there are a lot of factors to keep track of, and sometimes it's easy to let the little things slip by. However, in the case of school bus idling, it's a little thing that adds up to big problems! Your driv..

school_bus_idling

school bus security

Threats Require Increased School Bus Security

In recent years, school districts around the country have had to improve security in response to ever more shootings, violence, and even terrorist activity. It's a dangerous world, and schools have to be prepared. However, all too often a district will foc..

School_Bus_Security

school bus transportation (1)-1

The Future Of School Bus Transportation: Raising the Safety Bar

When it comes to running a school bus transportation system, nothing is more important than protecting the precious cargo onboard each bus. For a long time, transportation administrators had limited options for improving bus safety, but in recent years we'..

school_bus_transportation, school_bus_transportation_technology

school bus industry

Will Propane Lead the School Bus Industry?

In a recent webinar, the President of ROUSH CleanTech, Todd Mouw, made a bold proclamation: "Propane [in school buses] is going to be the lead horse for the next decade," referring to its status as the most commonly used alt fuel. ROUSH CleanTech provides ..

School_bus_industry

school bus seat belts (1)

Studies Reveal Added Benefits of School Bus Seat Belts

Are school bus seat belts a feature that would save lives, or are they more trouble than they're worth? For decades, the conventional wisdom was the latter: Buses are already so safe that any benefits added by belts would be minimal, and counterbalanced wi..

school_bus_seat_belts

school bus stops

What's Behind Fatalities at School Bus Stops?

According to School Transportation News, there have been 14 accidents near school bus stops in 2018 - with five of the accidents occurring in November alone! Of those accidents, eight resulted in student fatalities - tying the number of deaths in 2017. In ..

school_bus_safety

School Bus Drivers-2

Six Ways to Support Your School Bus Drivers

Do your bus drivers feel well-supported by management and other employees of your school district? With the school bus driver shortage still causing problems, this is an important question! A district needs to maintain awareness of their drivers' morale. O..

school_bus_drivers

school bus technology-1

Four Ways to Use School Bus Technology for Security

When it comes to school bus safety, there's a tendency to focus on features that provide physical safety - and understandably enough. However, security is also a major element in bus safety, and should not be overlooked. Fortunately, companies involved in ..

School_Bus_Technology

used school buses

Should Your District Buy Used School Buses?

If a school district is looking to expand their bus fleet without breaking their transportation budget, buying used school buses would be an easy way to do it - at least in theory. School buses don't hold onto their value very well, so it's relatively easy..

Used_School_Buses

School Bus Transportation (3)

Four Ways to Make Parents Comfortable With School Bus Transportation

First days of school are often hard on the children, but it seems like it's becoming common for that first day to be hard on the parents as well. In this age of "helicopter parenting" it can be difficult for parents to wave goodbye to their children as the..

school_bus_transportation

school bus transportation (2)-1

School Bus Transportation: Calming Autistic Students

The numbers are a bit fuzzy, but somewhere between 1-2% of students are diagnosed as having Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), a developmental disorder that creates social and communicative impairments. Autistic students can be difficult to deal with - partic..

school_bus_transportation

school bus safety-4

School Bus Safety: More Than Just Seat Belts

Many school districts looking to improve their school bus safety are starting to turn to seat belts as one potential answer. However, the debate over school bus seat belts is surprisingly complicated. Plus, in any case, retrofitting an entire bus fleet wit..

school_bus_safety

Aging School Buses

Four Reasons to Replace Aging School Buses

School buses are extremely expensive, and represent a huge investment for any school district which has purchased a fleet. It's entirely understandable that a district would want to get the most possible use out of their buses. However, nothing escapes the..

school_bus_safety, school_bus_fleet_optimization, School_Bus_Fleet_Management

School Bus Transportation-2

School Bus Maintenance: Controlling Costs

When it comes to the costs of a school bus fleet, fuel is usually the number one line item - but school bus maintenance costs are rarely far behind. Buses can be expensive to maintain but, of course, it's absolutely necessary to keep the buses running safe..

school_bus_maintenance

sschool bus fleet tracking

Five Must-Have Fleet Tracking Features

As things stand, there are a lot of arguments in favor of embracing a school bus tracking system, and very few reasons not to. Tracking your school buses on the road gives you much better insight into your bus operations, provides plenty of data to help lo..

fleet_gps_tracking, School_Bus_Fleet_Management

school bus drivers-3

School Bus Drivers: New FMCSA Diabetes Rule

Insulin-dependent diabetics got a big piece of good news this month: Thanks to a Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) rule change, it is now much easier for them to receive commercial interstate driver's licenses.

school_bus_drivers

School Bus Drivers-4

Five Best Practices for Hiring School Bus Drivers

Are you having much luck hiring new school bus drivers? If you're like many districts around the country, this is a constant source of frustration. The bus driver shortage shows no signs of abating, with some outlets even referring to it as "the new norm."..

school_bus_drivers

School Bus Transportation (1)

Environmental Benefits of School Bus Transportation

Is yellow the new green? It would be if more people knew the environmental benefits of school bus transportation! School buses bring numerous benefits to a community, but all too often, the environmental aspects are overlooked. Buses can genuinely help red..

school_bus_transportation

school bus safety (3)

NHTSA Video Asks Drivers to Stop for School Buses

There is no doubt that nearby drivers are one of the biggest dangers to students riding school buses. Every year, cars ignoring bus safety lights and stop arms endanger, injure, or even kill student riders. This is a problem that should be preventable, if ..

school_bus_safety

school bus trespassing

Dealing With School Bus Trespassing

Sometimes it seems like people do things that we shouldn't need to say are completely inappropriate...like trespassing on school buses. Unfortunately, it happens. In fact, in recent months there have been several high-profile cases of unauthorized individu..

school_bus_safety, School_Bus_Trespassing

school bus seat belts

NHTSA to Study the Effect of Seat Belts on Student Behavior

When it comes to school transportation safety, few issues have been more contentious than the matter of school bus seat belts. Do they do more good than harm? Do the benefits outweigh the costs? For much of the 20th Century, the general conclusion was “No...

school_bus_seat_belts

School Bus Maintenance Policy

Creating a School Bus Maintenance Policy: Five Tips

One might say that there are three "pillars" of a safe and successful school bus transportation system. You need great drivers, as well as safety-minded riders. However, what can occasionally be overlooked is the importance of maintenance. A bus is only as..

school_bus_maintenance

school bus systems

Managing Increasingly Complex School Bus Systems

When a school district is growing, it can be difficult for their transportation system to keep up. Beyond the basic logistical challenge of procuring (or outsourcing) more buses and finding drivers for them, there will also be significant new back office c..

School_Bus_Technology, school_bus_systems

school bus drivers (1)-1

Bus Driver Stops Diagonally To Prevent Stop Arm Violations

All school bus drivers, at some time or another, have been frustrated by motorists ignoring the stop arm and endangering students near the bus. Stop-arm violations are one of the single biggest dangers to students during a school day, and there's relativel..

school_bus_driver

School Bus Crash Statistics

Making Sense of School Bus Crash Statistics

"Is it safe?" Every parent asks this on a nearly daily basis, and understandably so. Parents need to be reassured that their child will be protected when out of their care, such as when riding the school bus. Since any school bus crash tends to make big he..

School_Bus_Passenger_Safety, School_Bus_Crash_Statistics

school bus transportation-1

Are You Educating Parents On The Benefits Of Riding The School Bus?

Have you reminded your district's parents and guardians about why riding the school bus is important? School buses have been part of American school life even before the invention of the motor engine, with the earliest "buses" being horse-drawn. It's easy ..

school_bus_transportation, School_bus_industry, School_Bus_Passenger_Safety

school bus fleet (1)

Is It Time To Upgrade The Radios In Your School Bus Fleet?

There has recently been a boom in technology designed for the school bus fleet, and that creates an interesting problem for district transportation managers. On one hand, you have so many new options for improving the safety and functionality of your fleet..

school_bus_fleet

school bus fleet

School Bus Fleet: Are Low Rolling Resistance Tires A Good Choice?

Now, more than ever, school bus fleet managers are under pressure to find ways to lower the operating costs of their buses. Fuel costs are always a target, as they usually comprise one of the single largest line items in any bus fleet's budget. So, if a di..

school_bus_fleet

school bus transportation (2)

Why Does It Matter How Kids Get to School?

One question a school district often hears from community members is, "Why does it matter how kids get to school?" From what we've seen, this seems especially common among people without children of their own, objecting to the idea of paying for school bus..

school_bus_transportation

school bus fleet-1

Safe Fleet to Offer Perimeter Safety Solutions in 2019

There is no doubt that the most dangerous time for any student riding the bus is when they are getting on and off the bus. The entire perimeter around the bus has been dubbed the "danger zone" due to how exposed students are. So, one major focus of school ..

school_bus_fleet_optimization, school_bus_fleet, School_Bus_Fleet_Management

school bus routing-1

Six Must-Haves for School Bus Routing

One of the most important aspects of being a school bus transportation coordinator is also one of the most difficult: school bus routing. Creating proper routes for the school buses is absolutely essential for the semester to run smoothly, but it takes a l..

School_Bus_Routing

school bus drivers (1)

Train Drivers To Connect With Special Needs Students On The School Bus

Are your bus drivers doing everything they can to look after any special needs students riding the school bus? Of course, every student on a school bus deserves care and respect, but special needs students need a bit more care. It's vitally important that ..

special_needs_students, school_bus_drivers

School Bus Routing System

How to Choose the Right School Bus Routing System

More and more districts are discovering the benefits of embracing a school bus routing system. The right software can radically optimize your routes, while requiring only a fraction of the time needed to create bus routes by hand. They can even offer ongoi..

School_Bus_Routing_System

school bus delays

Study Released on New York School Bus Delays

Managing buses and routes in any city can be a major challenge, but it's hard to even imagine the difficulties involved in planning school bus transportation in New York City. And there have been plenty of challenges! In the past year, parents across the f..

School_Bus_Delays

Video Cameras On School Buses

Four Major Benefits of Video Cameras On School Buses

It seems like school districts are now being continually bombarded with new ideas and technologies for improving school bus safety. With so much technical innovation happening across the transportation industry, it's inevitable that many of these new techn..

school_bus_video, School_Bus_Surveillance, Video_Cameras_On_School_Buses

school bus news

School Bus News: Student Rides Bus With Cannabis-Derived Medications

A genuinely unique case involving a student riding the school bus recently happened in California, and it could mean districts across the country will have to re-evaluate some of their policies.

School_Bus_News

school bus drivers-5

Holiday Time: 4 Ways to Show Appreciation for School Bus Drivers

All too often, being a bus driver can feel like a thankless job. School bus drivers have to work genuinely inconvenient hours, and spend most of their time on the job getting yelled at by their passengers, district parents, or both. Not to mention the stre..

school_bus_drivers

school bus routing (1)

School Bus Routing: From Hard Copy to Digital

If a school district were looking for a single piece of software which would do the most to streamline its operations and potentially cut costs, school bus routing software is easily one of the best options. It's an affordable all-in-one package that will ..

school_bus_routing_software, School_Bus_Routing, School_Bus_Routing_System

school bus video

School Bus Video Aids Accused Driver

On Tuesday, September 4, 2018, the West Mifflin, Pennsylvania, police department received a disturbing complaint. Two middle school girls were alleging that their school bus driver had committed "inappropriate actions" towards them, which were implied to b..

school_bus_video, school_bus_drivers, School_Bus_Surveillance

school bus video

West Virginia Requires Supervision at School Bus Stops

Various states are always trying new experiments in how to improve school bus safety, but a recent initiative in West Virginia has been raising eyebrows. According to their new Policy 4336 (PDF), all children in grades K-3 must be "supervised" at bus stops..

school_bus_safety

shutterstock_683059225

School Bus Transportation: Back-to-School Safety Checklist

It's back-to-school time, and that means preparing students for their new year at school. There's a lot of information to convey - all of it important - but very little is more important than ensuring safe usage of your school bus transportation system. An..

school_bus_transportation

School Bus Passenger Safety

Five Tips for Ensuring School Bus Passenger Safety

As we start the new school year, one of the most important issues on the mind of every transportation director should be school bus safety. Even though school buses are already by far the safest vehicles on the road, they can always be made safer. We've ma..

school_bus_routing_software, GPS_Student_Tracking, Student_School_Bus_Safety, School_Bus_Security, School_Bus_Passenger_Safety

School Bus Security and Surveillance

Best Practices for School Bus Security and Surveillance

For many districts, onboard video camera systems represent an excellent solution to many school bus security issues. With video cameras, you can keep a close eye on the behavior of students and drivers, while always having footage available if there are di..

Student_School_Bus_Safety, School_Bus_Security, School_Bus_Surveillance

School Bus Health and ROI

Can New Diesel Engines Improve School Bus Health and ROI?

It wasn't long ago that "diesel" was a dirty word when talking about fuels. However, diesel has come a long way since then. Modern diesel engines, backed by technologies to clean the fuel and prevent harmful emissions, are making a major comeback in many a..

school_bus_routing_software, school_bus_safety

School Bus Industry Trade Shows

Are School Bus Industry Trade Shows Worth It?

As a school district transportation manager you always have a lot on your plate, but that shouldn't stop you from taking time for personal development and networking. There are several major school bus trade shows around the country every year, and they ar..

school_bus_routing_software, school_bus_trends, School_bus_industry, School_Transportation_Trade_Show

school bus routing

Better School Bus Routing Becomes Easy With Software

There are many difficult jobs associated with being the transportation director of a school district, but perhaps none are as difficult - in terms of labor - than laying out school bus routes. Doing school bus routing by hand is a time-consuming and tediou..

school_bus_routing_software

school bus safety-3

School Bus Safety: Are Lights Enough?

Recently, we came across an interesting School Bus Fleet article about a petition proposing a change to school bus lighting systems that, according to the petitioner, would improve school bus safety. It's far from the first time such an idea was proposed. ..

school_bus_routing_software, school_bus_safety

student bus transportation-2

How Safe Is Student Bus Transportation?

Student bus transportation safety is an all-important topic, and one which tends to become controversial whenever there's any sort of incident involving a bus accident. The tendency of the media to blow up any accident can often overshadow how incredibly s..

school_bus_routing_software, student_bus_transportation

school bus transportation technology

Reducing School Bus Transportation Technology Complexity: Four Tips

When adopting new technology in your school bus transportation processes, there's always the promise that it will help simplify your administrative life and streamline operations. In many cases, this is true. However, problems can arise when a district ado..

school_bus_transportation_technology

School Bus Lap Shoulder Belts

What You Need To Know About the Ohio School Bus Lap/Shoulder Belts Bill

For decades, one of the most controversial subjects involving school bus safety was the matter of seat belts: Should school bus seat belts be mandated? The debate has been reignited this summer with the introduction of Ohio House Bill 680 on May 22, 2018. ..

school_bus_seat_belts

Hybrid School Buses

New York School Buses Bring Hybrids Back

For the past decade, many school districts have shown increasing interest in switching to alternative fuel systems. On paper, the benefits are clear: they’d see lower fuel prices and easier maintenance while also reducing the harm their fleet does to the e..

Hybrid_Buses

school bus trends

5 School Bus Trends for the 2018-2019 School Year

These are exciting times for those in the school transportation industry! There has been so much innovation in the world of vehicles, particularly when it comes to integrating computer technology into existing systems. It may take a little while for new id..

school_bus_trends

School Bus Maintenance

School Bus Maintenance: Considering Emissions

If you are investigating the possibility of upgrading your bus fleet to use alternative fuel systems, you have a lot of choices. Green fuels can potentially lower the emissions of your school buses, which in turn can reduce school bus maintenance costs; bu..

school_bus_maintenance

Self-Driving School Buses

Will Self-Driving School Buses Ever Be Practical?

It's impossible to follow technology news without hearing the words "self-driving" on an almost daily basis. Both vehicle and technology groups around the world are racing to have the first street-ready autonomous vehicles in every field of motoring imagin..

self-driving_school_buses

school bus transportation

Preparing Children to Ride the School Bus

Will your incoming 2018-19 students be ready for their first bus rides? Summer is the perfect time to help parents prepare their children! There's probably no more challenging time for a school bus transportation director than the first week of classes. St..

school_bus_transportation

Danger Zones

School Bus Loading and Unloading: Improving Safety In The Danger Zone

Few aspects of school bus loading and unloading are more dangerous than the appropriately-named “danger zone.” The danger zone includes areas near the bus where a student cannot be directly seen by the bus driver, and where incidents involving other vehicl..

school_bus_safety

Student Transportation Technology

Making the Case for Student Transportation Technology

There are more ways to use technology to upgrade your student transportation services than ever before, and they can provide great ROI in terms of efficiency or other cost-savings. However, most technology upgrades still require an up-front investment, and..

Student_Transportation_Technology

Student Bus Transportation-1

Student Bus Transportation: Considering Bell Times

It’s well known that student bus transportation costs are a huge part of a school district’s budget and a truly unavoidable expense. It’s only natural for school districts to look for ways to minimize the costs. Now, some districts are beginning to design ..

student_bus_transportation

School Bus Drivers Stop Bullying

School Bus Drivers: Protecting Disabled Students From Bullying

Bullying is a hot topic at the moment, with many seeing the proliferation of bullying as one of the biggest problems in modern school districts. Administrators are under pressure to cut down on bullying and, in particular, shield disabled students from att..

school_bus_bullying, bullying, school_bus_drivers

School Bus Route Changes

Transportation Management: Tips for Managing Your School Bus Fleet

Overcoming the Challenges of School Bus Fleet Management

school_bus_routhing_software

student bus transportation(1)

Top Tech for Student Bus Transportation

We're living in an age of nonstop technological progress and innovation in all areas of life, and that includes student bus transportation. New school bus technologies are arriving every year, and while not all will become widely adopted, each offers new o..

bus_routing_software, BusBoss, school_bus_routing_software, student_bus_transportation

school bus fuels(1)

Looking at Four Choices in School Bus Fuels

Is your district starting to think about alternative school bus fuels? They’re becoming more common, and an increasing number of major bus manufacturers are pushing their alt-fuel designs. Plus, states such as Texas are now beginning to offer rebates and o..

school_bus_fuels

school bus safety

School Bus Safety: Making Loading and Unloading Safer

It’s generally agreed that loading and unloading are the most dangerous times for a child riding a school bus. In fact, the loading and unloading area is even occasionally referred to “the danger zone” because of how many problems could potentially occur. ..

school_bus_safety

School Bus Route Changes

Four Ways to Communicate School Bus Route Changes

When it comes to drawing up bus routes, most districts try to do it at the beginning of the school year and stick with it. Sometimes that’s just not possible, and circumstances beyond their control dictate that routes may have to be re-planned during the s..

school_bus_routing_software, School_Bus_Routing

school bus fuels.jpg

Texas Pushes Alternative School Bus Fuels: The Clean School Bus Program

The topic of school bus fuels and the environmental harm done by bus fleets is being treated with increasing concern. With the majority of school buses on the road still being powered by diesel engines, they’re responsible for a lot of pollution. Many dist..

school_bus_fuels

Extra_Lights

Extra Red Lights to Reduce Illegal School Bus Passing

Without a doubt, one of the biggest threats to the safety of students riding school buses is other drivers. Illegal school bus passing is a huge problem nationwide. Ongoing studies in recent years have suggested that it happens tens of thousands of times e..

illegal_school_bus_passing

school bus safety(2).jpg

School Bus Safety News: California May Delay Child Reminder Alarms

One morning in 2015 a nonverbal, autistic high school student named Paul Lee was left behind on his Whittier, CA, school bus. Eight hours later, in temperatures approaching 100 degrees, he was dead – not discovered until it was time for the bus’s afternoon..

school_bus_safety

RE Series School Bus.jpg

New RE Series School Bus in Production Offers Improvements In Performance And Safety

The RE Series school buses from IC Bus are already a popular solution for student bus transportation, but they’re about to get significantly better. IC Bus has just announced their newest Type D buses, already going into general production, and they offer ..

RE_Series_School_Bus

shutterstock_673567021-1.jpg

New York May Levy Steeper Stop-Arm Fines - But Is That The Right Approach?

When drivers endanger school bus riders thousands of times every day by ignoring stop-arm signals, it’s clearly a problem that needs solving. But how? One of the more common solutions being adopted is the use of stop-arm cameras, which work in roughly the ..

school_bus_safety, Student_School_Bus_Safety, Stop-Arm_Fines

school bus drivers-1.jpg

Bonuses to Attract School Bus Drivers: 5 Tips

The current school bus driver shortage shows no signs of abating. In fact, if more states follow Tennessee's lead and start imposing stricter requirements on school bus drivers, that could actually make the recruitment-and-retention problem worse. It's a d..

Transportation_Management_Software, transportation_management_services, school_bus_tracking_software, school_bus_drivers, route_efficiency

School Bus Safety(1).jpg

Fixing Holes in School Bus Safety

Staying on top of school bus safety is a never-ending challenge for any district transportation coordinator. There are plenty of ways that a school bus and its routes can be made safer, and never quite enough time to address them all. Undoubtedly, any bus ..

school_bus_safety

TN School Bus Drivers.jpg

More Stringent Requirements for TN School Bus Drivers

On November 21, 2016, a true tragedy occurred in Tennessee. A 24-year-old school bus driver with a history of speeding was involved in a school bus crash that killed six students and injured over a dozen more. In response, the state of Tennessee enacted Ho..

school_bus_drivers, School_bus_driver_trainig, School_bus_driver_safety

school bus safety-2.jpg

Intelligent School Bus Seating - The Future Of School Bus Safety?

In a perfect world, cost wouldn't be an issue when it comes to school bus safety. School buses would be outfitted with the latest in safety features to ensure the highest possible rates of safety and accident survivability. Unfortunately, that’s not the re..

school_bus_safety

School Bus Safety-1.jpg

School Bus Safety: Solving the Stranded-Student Problem

If you follow school bus safety news at all, it’s hard to avoid headlines about students being accidentally left behind on buses. It happens several times a year, at a minimum, and always causes concern. Sometimes the police are involved. Sometimes, career..

school_bus_safety

school bus tracking-1.jpg

School Bus Tracking Can Bring Peace of Mind to Parents

Everyone says, “Think of the children!” when it comes to school bus tracking, but perhaps we should be saying, “Think of the parents!” instead. Discussions about bus tracking tend to revolve around the many safety benefits that tracking brings to students,..

student_gps_tracking, school_bus_gps_tracking, student_tracking_technology, GPS_Student_Tracking, GPS_Parent_App

Low-Floor School Buses.jpg

Ramping Up Accessibility With Low-Floor School Buses

School bus accessibility is a major concern among school districts who find themselves with one or more mobility-impaired students. Legally, in nearly all cases, they are required to provide necessary accommodations for riding the bus. But, those accommoda..

special_needs_students, special_needs_student_transportation, transport_special_needs_students, Low-Floor_School_Buses

GPS Tracker Versus Bluetooth Tracker.jpg

GPS Trackers Versus Bluetooth Trackers: The Major Differences

There’s a lot of new high-tech devices being used in schools, and it’s easy to get confused about what they do, particularly when they seem to be similar products. So it’s not surprising that we get a lot of questions about GPS trackers versus Bluetooth tr..

student_gps_tracking, fleet_gps_tracking, RFID_School_Bus_Tracking, RFID_student_ridership_tracking, school_bus_tracking_systems

school bus driver training-1.jpg

New Federal Mandates for Entry-Level School Bus Driver Training

Big changes to how entry-level school bus driver training is handled are coming, with new hurdles that new drivers have to clear before getting their license. These changes are coming from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), a part of ..

School_bus_driver_trainig

electric school buses.jpg

Electric School Buses Coming In 2019 - Time To Think About Upgrading?

An electric school bus is one of those ideas that often seems to sound better on paper than it is in practice. Everyone knows that fossil fuels won't last forever, and they’re bad for the environment. But the costs of moving to electric, and the significan..

alternative_fuel, electric_school_buses

school bus driver-2.jpg

4 Tips for School Bus Driver Evacuation Training

No one likes to contemplate the idea of a school bus being involved in a major accident, such as one which leads to it flipping or rolling. But, the reality is that such accidents are always a possibility. Even the best-trained school bus driver can be und..

school_bus_driver

school bus gps parent app.jpg

What Should a School Bus GPS Parent App Include?

More and more districts are starting to adopt GPS tracking systems in their buses, to help them track and optimize their fleets. However, GPS systems can have another big benefit. When paired with the right school bus GPS parent app, it can make life easie..

school_bus_routing_software, GPS_Parent_App

stop-arm camera advocacy.jpg

Safe Kids Worldwide Promotes Stop-Arm Camera Advocacy

It’s a situation bus drivers have seen countless times: They bring the bus to a stop, extend the stop-arm, begin to let students disembark – only to see a car behind them ignore the stop sign and speed past. Every time this happens, children are endangered..

school_bus_routing_software, stop-arm_camera_technology, Student_School_Bus_Safety

School bus drivers (2)-1.jpg

School Bus Drivers: 4 Bright Recruiting Ideas

Districts everywhere are suffering from a lack of school bus drivers, and the shortage shows no signs of going away. If you’re going to get the drivers you need, you often have to be more clever than other recruiters. In previous blogs, we’ve covered many ..

school_bus_drivers

School Bus Safety (2)-1.jpg

School Bus Safety: 5 Important Factors When Securing Wheel Chairs

Has your district recently reviewed their policies for dealing with wheelchair-bound students on school buses? Ever since the Education for All Handicapped Children Act of 1976, schools have been required to make accommodations for children in wheelchairs,..

school_bus_safety

Student bus transportation.jpg

Student Bus Transportation: Four Goals for 2018

Just as with every other aspect of your district, it’s important to have goals for your student bus transportation in the coming year. Some of these may simply be along the lines of “stay within all relevant regulations,” but some might be a bit more ambit..

student_bus_transportation

school bus driver safety.jpg

The Future of School Bus Driver Safety: Four Things To Look Forward To

Vehicle technology is advancing at an incredible pace these days, probably the fastest since the early days of automobiles. The convergence of tech fields such as cloud computing, vehicle tracking, high-resolution optics, and artificial intelligence is cau..

School_bus_driver_safety

School bus fleet department overhaul.jpg

School Bus Fleet Department Overhaul: Five Areas To Consider

School transportation budgets are often tight, and that can make proper school bus fleet development a real challenge. It becomes easy – perhaps unavoidable – to look at fleet development in terms of small ad-hoc changes as budget allows, without much plan..

School_bus_fleet_development

New Device Could Detect Students Left on School Buses

It seems like a problem which should be preventable, yet it still happens with some regularity: children being forgotten and left behind on school buses. Proper school bus safety procedures mandate the driver always check for overlooked riders, but mistake..

school_bus_safety

Student School Bus Safety Programs: 4 Options

How much does your district spend on school bus safety training? If yours is a typical district, it's probably not much. Yet, over and over, districts which have implemented more robust programs have found that bus safety training can significantly reduce ..

Student_School_Bus_Safety

Should School Bus Drivers Get Diversity Training?

While it's true that bus driver training is already a fairly lengthy process, more school districts are starting to add another element to their curriculum: diversity training. Providing diversity training to your school bus drivers can help them fit in be..

school_bus_drivers

8 Facts About the EPA's School Bus Rebate Program

The EPA receives a grant of approximately $7,000,000 which will be used in a school bus rebate program, encouraging districts to upgrade older diesel buses. These buses contribute huge amounts of CO2 and NOX to the atmosphere, so it's in everyone's interes..

school_bus_maintenance, School_Bus_Rebate_Program

School Bus Safety: Identifying High-Risk Drivers

Many challenges face school district transportation managers when it comes to the current bus driver shortage, but one of the biggest issues is keeping driver quality high. Even when good drivers are hard to find, that can never justify hiring a bad driver..

school_bus_safety

4 Benefits of RFID Student Ridership Tracking Systems

Technology is making lives easier in just about every way, and school districts are now harnessing the power of these advancements to keep students safe. RFID student ridership tracking has now been implemented in school buses around the country, and these..

RFID_student_ridership_tracking

Can Technology Improve the School Bus Driver Experience?

The iconic school bus is a familiar site during the fall months. Driving this vehicle is still a major responsibility, but advances in transportation technology have done their part to improve the school bus driver experience and make the daily ride safer ..

school_bus_driver

STN Expo: Perspectives on Driver Training

Though riding a school bus remains one of the safest forms of transportation available, an increased emphasis on school bus driver training across the country aims to increase student safety for those with special needs. At the most recent STN EXPO, three ..

driver_training

Fleet Management Software and School Bus Preventative Maintenance

Technology is rapidly changing the way that school districts manage their transportation departments. Along with solutions like bus routing and tracking software programs, many professionals are relying on fleet management software to keep on top of their ..

fleet_management_software

Five Reasons School Bus Drivers Quit

The current shortage of school bus drivers is really a twofold problem. Part of the problem is recruitment, but the other part is in retention. School bus drivers have a turnover rate that's significantly higher than average - particularly when it comes to..

school_bus_drivers

Student Tracking: Improving Safety on and off the School Bus

Is it time to consider student tracking systems? For an increasing number of school districts, the answer is yes. Student tracking, such as through RFID systems, offers many distinct benefits in terms of both safety and streamlined administration, with rel..

student_tracking, RFID_School_Bus_Tracking

School Bus Tracking Systems (2).jpg

How Effective Are School Bus Tracking Systems?

School bus tracking systems are gaining in popularity, but how effective are they? Over the last several years, transportation technology has developed by leaps and bounds, so it can be difficult for school districts to sift through the options and determi..

school_bus_tracking_systems

Are Drivers Solely Responsible for School Bus Safety?

One of the biggest mistakes we occasionally see people make in regards to bus driving is believing that school bus safety begins and ends on the school bus itself. It's understandable how someone might take a reductive view on the matter since, after all, ..

school_bus_safety

school bus tracking.jpg

4 Myths About School Bus Tracking

School bus tracking systems that utilize GPS technology have been around for a while, but there is still some controversy surrounding their use. Though the same types of systems are commonplace in privately owned cars, taxis, and public transportation vehi..

Being a School Bus Driver Isn’t As Easy as You Think

School districts across the country are struggling to fill vital school bus driver positions. There’s a reason that great school bus drivers are difficult to find and keep: driving a school bus requires more than just driving skill and patience. The job re..

school_bus_driver

Who Reaps the Benefits of GPS Student Tracking?

School districts all across the country are implementing GPS Student Tracking programs. The reasons for implementing GPS technology vary, and it can be confusing to know who benefits most from it. However, there are distinct reasons why school districts, p..

GPS_Student_Tracking

School Bus Fleet Management: Using Technology to Manage Risks

Taking preventative measures to reduce risks when routing children is especially important in all sectors. Managing risk is an important component of school bus fleet management and technology is helping to ease the burdens that transportation officials fa..

School_Bus_Fleet_Management

Scope of RFID School Bus Tracking Systems in Security Measures

Radio frequency identification, also known as RFID, is a state-of-the-art technology that is used for many purposes, including keeping students safe. A student’s unique information is stored on a chip within a special ID card. This chip transmits identific..

RFID_School_Bus_Tracking

Driver Training: Avoiding Driver Behavior That Causes Accidents

Nothing is more important for school bus driver training than encouraging them to drive safely. With dozens of young lives at stake on every drive, this is inarguably the #1 priority for any school district. Unfortunately, not every driver training program..

school_bus_driver_training

GPS Student Tracking.jpg

3 Reasons GPS Student Tracking Is So Popular

There’s no denying that advanced technology is a part of the daily lives of most Americans. School district staff and parents expect to locate students quickly when an issue arises, and they expect transportation departments to have access to the technolog..

GPS_Student_Tracking

Wi-Fi on School Buses.jpg

3 Benefits of Wi-Fi on School Buses

What was once the stuff of science fiction, are now a way of life. The Internet is everywhere, even on school buses! One district in California made the bold decision to make Wi-Fi available to its student population and the concept is quickly catching on...

Wi-Fi_on_School_Buses

What Are School Bus Drivers Looking For In Their Jobs?

There are a lot of factors behind the current shortage of school bus drivers. One of the biggest reasons is that school bus driving can be seen as an unattractive career choice. There are many common problems and complaints about school bus driving which c..

school_bus_driver

Trends in Transporting Special Needs Children

There are many challenges involved in running and managing a school transportation system, but the issue of transporting special needs children is its own special category. Because schools are generally obligated to provide services and work around the nee..

transport_special_needs_students

Roadblocks to Driver Recruitment and Retention

The school bus driver shortage isn't getting any better. In recent nationwide surveys of school districts, nearly all reported difficulty in maintaining driver staffing levels and roughly 30 percent described their shortage as "severe or desperate." Many s..

school_bus_driver_retention, driver_recruitment

School Bus Technology Trends to Watch

For trend-watchers, these are exciting times for school bus technology. Unlike many other fields where tech trends are pushed by frivolous consumer whims, technology for school buses is inherently practical. BusBoss stays up-to-date with the technology tre..

School_Bus_Technology

School Bus Fleet Management: Pros and Cons of Alt-Fuels

Alternative fuels such as propane or compressed natural gas (CNG) are a hot topic within the transportation industry, including those involved in school bus fleet management. Everyone knows we have a limited supply of petroleum on the planet and that regul..

School_Bus_Fleet_Management

Five Trends in School Bus Driver Retention

The current school bus driver shortage means that holding onto your existing drivers is of paramount importance. If you lose a good driver, it could be months - or more - until you find a suitable replacement. Unfortunately, due to the pressures and proble..

school_bus_driver_retention

5 Great Tips for Informing and Engaging Parents on Transportation Issues

Parents need to know what is happening with their children once they leave their home and are in the custody of their district. Here are just a few things you can do to ease their concerns. 1. Have multiple forms of contact Don't rely solely on telephone, ..

school_bus_routing_software, student_bus_transportation, parent_notifications

Fifteen Ways School Administrators Can Support School Bus Drivers

Given how badly the school bus driver shortage is affecting school districts around the country, it's absolutely vital that school transportation directors and administrations do whatever they can to retain the drivers on their payroll. In many areas, this..

Drivers, school_bus_drivers

shutterstock_127560308.jpg

Propane-Powered School Buses Lower the Cost of Student Transportation

School districts across North America are switching to alternative fuel sources for their bus fleets, and for good reason. Propane helps to reduce the costs of school bus transportation while also helping to reduce emissions.

fuel_efficiency, alternative_fuel, propane_fueled_buses

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New Standards for Greenhouse Gas, Fuel Efficiency

New standards for medium and heavy-duty commercial vehicles, which includes school buses, were designed to improve fuel efficiency and decrease pollution. Both the Environmental Protection Agency and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration issue..

fuel_efficiency, school_bus_fleet, fuel_management

shutterstock_414057475.jpg

Student Tracking Software Aids Medicaid Reimbursement

Depending on the state where your school district is located, you may be receiving Medicaid reimbursement dollars for the transportation of special needs students. As with any reporting for government funding, the process of collecting and communicating th..

student_tracker, student_transportation_software, school_bus_ridership

shutterstock_121510021.jpg

School Bus Seat Belts: How Costs Factor Into the Debate

The debate over the installation of seatbelts in school buses isn’t likely to end soon. Many states now require, or have introduced legislation to require, seatbelts on vehicles that transport students. While it’s easy to assume that installing seatbelts w..

seat_belts, school_bus_safety, school_bus_seat_belts

shutterstock_72446689.jpg

School Bus Transportation: Reducing Carbon Footprints

School districts across North America are seeking out ways to reduce their carbon footprint, and transportation departments are playing a major role in this process. Of course, switching to propane or other cleaner fuels to power school buses is one way to..

reducing_carbon_footprints, school_bus_transportation, school_bus_ridership

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Should School Bus Routes Look at Avoiding Left Turns?

There are things we do in BusBoss to minimize left turns, but we do not prevent them. Specifically, in the routing algorithm, we assign a "value" for navigating an intersection. It's not exactly like this, but it's close enough for discussion purposes.

bus_routing_software, fleet_optimization, bus_route_planning

shutterstock_276755759.jpg

South Carolina District Gets Tough on School Bus Riders

A Policy Overhaul Keeping students safe from accidents and violent behavior in the classroom is naturally a top priority for school districts across the country. Student safety is just as important during the trip to and from school, where small distractio..

school_bus_safety, South_Carolina_school_buses, school_bus_policies, school_bus_riders

busdriver.jpg

Routing Software Keeps Drivers Updated

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. When student bus stops change, w..

route_software, route_planning_software, school_bus_routing_software, school_bus_drivers

shutterstock_202711255-1.jpg

Nebraska Legislator Tries for School Bus Seat Belts

Though national safety groups, including the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, are now advocating for the installation of seatbelts on buses, most states do not require this feature. Nebraska State Senator Robert Hilkemann would like to add h..

school_bus_safety, school_bus_seat_belts, Nebraska_school_buses

shutterstock_447915937.jpg

School Bus Safety: Safeguarding Students That Use Wheelchairs

Ensuring the safety of students that use wheelchairs can be a challenge. School bus safety has come a long way in the last several years. Specific regulations now include safety provisions for all students, regardless of their ability.

Student_Safety, school_bus_safety, students_with_disabilities

National Safety Council Joins the Appeal for School Bus Seat Belts

In 2015, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration announced its endorsement of seat belts on school buses. The National Safety Council (NSC) now shares this view and has made its endorsement of seat belts on school buses public.

school_bus_routing_software, school_bus_safety, school_bus_seat_belts, National_Safety_Council

New Heavy-Duty Electric Drivetrain Designed for School Buses

Options in gasoline alternatives for student bus transportation continue to expand. As we've talked about before, both propane and natural-gas engines are becoming more popular with school districts, thanks to their lower ongoing costs and better emissions..

school_bus_routing_software, school_bus_fleet, student_bus_transportation, electric_school_buses

shutterstock_44241769.jpg

Missouri School District Gets 110 Type C CNG School Buses

Use of alternative-fuel school buses continues to expand around the country, and represents a promising shift away from unsustainable (and polluting) oil-based fuels. Today's news comes out of North Kansas City School District (NKCSD), in Missouri, which h..

fleet_optimization, alternative_fuel, Missouri_School_buses

shutterstock_292804577.jpg

Testing Lap-Shoulder Belts for Iowa Student Transportation

It's one of the most common pieces of common knowledge regarding school bus safety: Buses don't need seat belts because they're already so safe that belts simply aren't necessary, so there's no point installing them. But is that about to change?

school_bus_safety, school_bus_seat_belts, Iowa_student_transportation

shutterstock_272583122.jpg

Students With Disabilities: Improving School Bus Fire Safety

Millions of students ride school buses each day, and they are considered to be one of the safest forms of transportation. Unfortunately, emergencies do happen and it’s important for drivers to be prepared, especially when they transport students with disab..

school_bus_safety, students_with_disabilities, school_bus_fire_safety

shutterstock_372547723.jpg

Student Transportation Software: Costs Versus Benefits

School districts across the country are struggling to determine how to best utilize the limited number of dollars that are available to them. As these districts face sharp increases in expenses, revenue is decreasing, forcing them to be tight with resource..

Student_Transportation, student_transportation_software, school_bus_costs

Student Tracking Software: Sharing School Bus Delays Via Social Media

With a combination of GPS-based school bus tracking systems and RFID-based student tracking software, it's far more difficult for a school system to ever lose track of a student. When you know exactly which students are on each bus, and you know exactly wh..

Student_Safety, Student_Tracking_Software, parent_notifications, social_media_postings

School Bus Safety: Illegal Passing Exceeds 30K in New York

Illegal passing is an enormous school bus safety concern around the country. One recent New York study shed some light on the problem and just how vast it’s become. According to the report, tens of thousands of vehicles pass stopped buses each and every da..

Student_Safety, school_bus_safety, illegal_passing, New_York_school_buses

shutterstock_14280.jpg

School Bus Maintenance: An Analysis of Costs

School buses transport millions of students each day to and from schools and special activities. During an average school year, around 10 billion student trips are made. Buses come in many designs and capacities and different districts have varying require..

school_bus_maintenance, student_bus_transportation, maintaining_school_buses

shutterstock_14675605.jpg

Pennsylvania School District Saves With Propane-Fueled School Buses

More school districts are discovering that propane could be one of the big keys to cutting school bus transportation costs. In fact, according to a 2014 Department of Energy study, "Propane buses are now mainstream, and represent the nation’s fastest growi..

alterative_fuel, propane_fueled_buses, Pennsylvania_school_buses

Northeast Ohio Hosts Safety-in Service School Bus Program

Every year, school buses across Ohio transport more than a million students to and from school. School bus safety is a top concern and a recent training hosted by Austintown schools focused on ways that drivers and administrators can keep students safe.

student_tracking, school_bus_safety, student_ridership, driver_training, Ohio_school_buses

New Jersey to Require Motion Sensors on School Buses

Earlier this year, the New Jersey Governor signed a law that requires all new school buses to be equipped with motion sensors. These sensors will detect people or objects that are in the blind spots in front of or behind the bus. Legislators and safety exp..

student_tracking, routing_software, school_bus_safety, school_bus_fleet, motion_sensors_on_school_buses

Michigan Student Bus Transportation: End of Route Student Checks

Michigan, as well as many other states, encourage their school districts to embrace robust end of route student checks within their student bus transportation systems. After all, many school districts have horror stories about students being left on the bu..

student_tracking, student_ridership, student_bus_transportation, Michigan_school_buses, end_of_route_checks, rfid_tracking_system

California School Bus Idling Rules and Regulations

Student safety is a major concern across the country, and in California, specific measures have been taken to improve air quality so that all residents breathe easier. Student bus transportation programs are required to do their part by following certain r..

Student_Safety, school_bus_safety, California_student_bus_transportation, school_bus_idling_rules

shutterstock_54087616.jpg

4 Ways to Decrease Costs With Fuel Management

With school district finances being stretched to the max, administrators are being asked to find innovative solutions for saving money to avoid cutting programs. School District transportation departments are often called upon to minimize their budgets and..

School_Buses, fuel_efficiency, fuel_management

5 Ways to Optimize Vehicle Lift Safety

School bus maintenance is vital for keeping students safe on the road, but ensuring that maintenance staff stays safe should also be a top priority. It’s estimated that over 15,000 accidents leading to hospitalization or death happen each year because of v..

school_bus_maintenance, fleet_maintenance, vehicle_lift_safety

shutterstock_512210.jpg

Arizona School Buses Embrace Propane Fueling

Someone call Hank Hill: Propane could be one of the solutions your school district is looking for in lowering school bus transportation costs!

alternative_fuel, school_bus_transportation, Arizona_school_buses

Best Practices for Loading and Unloading School Buses

The laws surrounding the operation of school buses vary from state to state and even district to district, but by utilizing specific best practices, drivers are helping to keep students safe when they enter and exit the bus. Loading and Unloading School Bu..

bus_routing_software, school_bus_safety, unloading_school_buses, loading_school_buses

Cutting Costs With Bus Routing Software

It’s no secret that school districts across the country are having a difficult time balancing their budgets. Whenever a school district faces financial challenges, the transportation department is a likely target for cuts. Eliminating bus stops and changin..

bus_routing_software, bus_routing, Save_Route_Costs, school_bus_routing_software, school_bus_ridership

Expanding Internet Access of Minnesota School Buses

The Internet has literally changed the face of American education. Unfortunately, for some students in rural Minnesota it is nearly impossible to access the Web once they’ve walked out of the classroom doors. This has led educators and lawmakers to find ne..

school_bus_management, school_bus_routing_software, GPS_Tracking, school_bus_broadband_access, Minnesota_School_Buses

Driver Training Tips: Curbing Violence on School Buses

School-related violence is on the rise in the United States and this has parents and school district officials worried about the safety of students on buses. Bus drivers work in tight spaces and must constantly multitask. This stressful environment can be ..

school_bus_safety, bus_driver_training, school_bus_violence, bus_monitors

shutterstock_199611968.jpg

Does School Bus Ridership Influence Student Engagement?

School buses continue to be touted as one of the safest forms of transportation around, but does school bus ridership also influence student engagement? An Education Week report suggests that student engagement starts to drop between the fifth and sixth gr..

student_bus_transportation, student_engagement, school_bus_ridership

Eight-Way Light System on Wisconsin School Buses

This fall, Wisconsin implemented an eight-way light system for school buses throughout the state. This measure aims to increase the safety of students who rely on school bus transportation. A law that went into effect on August 16 now requires the eight-li..

school_bus_safety, school_bus_transportation_software, school_bus_transportation, Wisconsin_school_buses

Is There Really a School Bus Driver Shortage?

School districts across the country are dealing with a critical bus driver shortage. This is not a new problem, but it’s an issue that is increasing in severity. In 2014, only 15 percent of school bus contracting companies reported no driver shortage. In 2..

school_bus_transportation_software, school_bus_driver_shortage, student_transportation_management, school_bus_drivers

shutterstock_120703963.jpg

Indiana School Buses: Annual School Bus Safety Inspections

Indiana recently began conducting its standard yearly school bus safety inspections on all the vehicles across the state, and the good news is that there were very few problems. According to police conducting the inspections, most of the problems found wer..

school_bus_safety, Indiana_school_buses, school_bus_inspections, school_bus_safety_inspection, fleet_gps_tracking

shutterstock_419220.jpg

Illegal Passing of School Buses: 2015 Florida Survey Results

Survey results released by the Florida Department of Education indicate that illegal passing of school buses is a continued problem. Nearly 10,000 drivers across the state participated in the survey, which documented the number and type of illegal incident..

school_bus_safety, school_bus_tracking_software, illegal_passing, illegal_passing_of_school_buses

shutterstock_85084351.jpg

Georgia County to Implement New Stop-arm Camera on School Buses

Fulton County, Georgia, is implementing a new program that will use stop-arm cameras to catch drivers who illegally pass school buses. School districts across the country are finding success with similar programs, designed to enhance school bus safety. Sto..

illegal_passing, stop-arm_camera_technology, Georgia_school_buses

shutterstock_422334889.jpg

FMCSA Proposal: Screening School Bus Drivers for Sleep Apnea

Sleep apnea is a serious health condition that affects millions of Americans. Those that suffer from obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) experience pauses in breathing throughout the night, which can lead to daytime sleepiness, lack of concentration, decreased m..

bus_driver, school_bus_safety, bus_driver_training, sleep_apnea_screening

shutterstock_73009588.jpg

FMCSA Announces Proposed Rule on School Bus Driver Training

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has proposed regulations for entry-level commercial truck and bus drivers to complete certain training prerequisites before obtaining their commercial driver's license (CDL).

school_bus_safety, school_bus_tracking_software, driver_training_requirements, transport_management_software, school_bus_driver_training

Florida District School Bus Drivers on Bullying

Bullying is a major concern across the country, and in Central Florida, a special two-day training session provided special tools for bus drivers facing this issue. Bullying on the Bus Close to 1,500 employees of the Orange County School District in Florid..

school_bus_bullying, school_bus_safety, school_bus_transportation_software, school_bus_driver_training

Field Trip Planning Made Easier: Why Tracking Software is Essential

Most experts agree that taking students on field trips is a positive educational experience. A recent study cited by the National Education Foundation found that, regardless of a student’s socioeconomic status, gender or ethnicity, students who take field ..

Save_Route_Costs, routing_software, school_bus_tracking_software, field_trip_budget, fiels_trip_planning, field_trip_route_planning_software

shutterstock_200319560-1.jpg

School Bus Transportation: Serving Students and Communities

Even though big yellow buses are most commonly associated with schools, that doesn't mean school bus transportation is only about schools. A fleet of buses is a genuine asset for any community, and they can be put to creative use in ways that go beyond the..

school_bus_routing_software, school_bus_fleet, student_bus_transportation, school_bus_transportation

shutterstock_403880995-1.jpg

Daycares to Pay School Bus Fee in Pennsylvania

It's no secret that many school districts around the country are looking for creative new ways to make up budget deficits, but some ideas are going down easier than others. The Dallastown Area School District (DASD) in Pennsylvania has made headlines recen..

Student_Transportation, Pennsylvania_school_buses, school_bus_transportation

shutterstock_73011748.jpg

Florida to Train 1600 School Bus Drivers

One of the most critical --and often overlooked-- areas of school transportation systems is the problem of maintaining high standards and high morale among school bus drivers. It's a high stress and often seemingly thankless job, yet an absolutely vital po..

school_bus_driver, bus_driver_training, Florida_school_buses, school_bus_software

College-Students-and-ID-Theft-The-Essentials-650x350.jpg

College Students and ID Theft: The Essentials

Returning to school after a fun-filled summer, the last thing that will be on your mind is checking your credit or worrying about your identity being stolen. This unexpected crime to students leaves them being the least prepared to ward off identity theft ..

Student_Safety, Safety

Specialized Transportation Services: Putting Student Needs First

School bus transportation is one of the easiest and safest ways for students to get to and from school. Students with special needs, however, may need certain accommodations to ride the bus safely. School districts across the country are assessing the effe..

student_tracking_system, bus_route_planning, special_needs_student_transportation, student_bus_transportation, specialized_transportation_services, bus_route_planning_software

shutterstock_15240334.jpg

STN Expo: The Inaugural Leadership with Propane Autogas Awards

This summer, School Transportation News, along with the Propane Education & Research Council, presented the first annual Leadership with Propane Autogas Awards to three seperate school districts. These school districts were honored for adopting alterna..

alternative_fuel, propane_fueled_buses, fuel_management

Indiana Gets a Grant for Stop-Arm Cameras

Indiana Gets a Grant for Stop-Arm Cameras

Indiana is now leading the way in the push to increase school bus safety with stop-arm cameras. The East Noble School Corporation (ENSC) in Indiana has been awarded a $50,000 grant by the state's Department of Homeland Security specifically for the purpose..

school_bus_safety, illegal_passing, stop-arm_camera_technology

shutterstock_479943412.jpg

California Bill to Mandate the Use of Child Check Technology

Introduced by California State Senator Tony Mendoza, the Paul Lee School Bus Safety Law was developed after the death of a 19-year-old special needs student who was left on a school bus during a dangerously hot day. This new school bus safety law, schedule..

school_bus_safety, child_check_technology, California_student_bus_transportation

shutterstock_142770265.jpg

School Bus Transportation: Serving Students With Autism

Autism is a term frequently used to describe a group of neuro-developmental disorders. Students on the autism spectrum generally experience challenges related to communication, social interaction and restrictive or repetitive interests or behaviors. These ..

school_bus_safety, special_needs_student_transportation, students_with_autism, school_bus_transportation

shutterstock_295094264small.jpg

Texas School Bus Drivers: Driver Record Evaluation

School bus drivers have a tremendous responsibility. They are, after all, transporting precious cargo. Not only do they need to possess the skills to operate a large vehicle safely, they also need behavior management, problem solving, and risk management k..

school_bus_fleet, driver_record_evaluation, Texax_school_buses, Texas_school_bus_drivers, school_bus_drivers

shutterstock_66034726.jpg

Transporting Service Animals on School Buses

In recent years, many school districts have experienced an uptick in the amount of requests to transport service animals. In fact, some states now require this service by law. There are many reasons that a student may work with a service animal, usually a ..

school_bus_safety, special_needs_student_transportation, service_animals_on_school_buses

shutterstock_137928047-1.jpg

5 Benefits of GIS Routing for Student Bus Transportation

Student bus transportation technology has advanced tremendously over the past several years. Today, transportation professionals are relying on Geographic Information System (GIS) technology to increase efficiency and manage their programs with ease. Here ..

student_bus_transportation, GIS_technology, GIS_routing_systems

shutterstock_70536748.jpg

Pennsylvania School Buses: Are Contracted Services the Answer?

To outsource or not to outsource? For decades, this has been a pressing question which student bus transportation coordinators have wrestled with. A recent study by The Mackinac Center for Public Policy looked at outsourcing by school districts in several ..

student_bus_transportation, contracted_services, Pennsylvania_school_buses

shutterstock_202711255.jpg

School Bus Safety in Florida: Child Restraint Requirements

State laws regarding school transportation and required school bus safety procedures vary vastly from state to state. Until just last year, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recommended against the use of seatbelts on school buses...

school_bus_safety, school_bus_seat_belts, Florida_school_buses

Child Safety Restraint Systems on School Buses: When And Why

The subject of child safety restraint systems such as seat belts on school buses has been hotly debated for many years. Properly installed child safety restraint systems keep small children restrained in their seats during bus travel. They can come install..

seat_belts, school_bus_safety, school_bus_transportation_software, child_restraints, restraint_systems

shutterstock_16280608.jpg

School Bus Safety and Economy: 5 Fleet Optimization Tips You Can Use

When school budgets are tight, many districts turn to their transportation departments to cut costs. There are many ways to save money, when it comes to school bus fleets. Switching to alternative fuels, minimizing field trip transportation and contracting..

school_bus_safety, school_bus_fleet_optimization, school_bus_fleet

shutterstock_290791364-1.jpg

School Bus Maintenance: The Upkeep of Video Systems

As technology advances, many school districts are incorporating state-of-the-art safety equipment into their transportation programs. This means that along with keeping buses in good working order, many school bus maintenance departments must now consider ..

school_bus_maintenance, video_surveillance, school_bus_video

shutterstock_108023093.jpg

Are School Buses Really the Safest Way to Get to School?

It’s understandable that parents and school district staff would wonder about the safety of school buses. After all, school buses carry their most precious cargo. Though accidents do happen, school buses remain the safest way to transport students to and f..

school_bus_safety, School_Buses, keeping_students_safe

shutterstock_237319882.jpg

Does Your Route Management Software Need an Upgrade?

The school bus route management process has a reputation for being complex and difficult to manage. Fortunately, route optimization software has eased the burden for school districts across North America. Bus routing software allows districts to create hyp..

bus_routing, route_planning, route_software

shutterstock_1006032.jpg

Pupil Transportation: Costs Versus Savings of Going Green With Propane

It’s no secret that school districts across North America are looking into alternative fuels for their pupil transportation, not only to minimize negative impact on the environment, but also to save money. While a majority of school buses are still powered..

Save_Route_Costs, propane_fueled_buses, Pupil_Transportation_Considerations, pupil_transportation_planning, going_green, pupil_transportation, transportation_costs

How to Use Google Maps to Manually Locate Schools in BusBoss

BusBoss does a great job of automatically locating addresses, but there are times when it cannot find the school’s location. When this happens, you can use google maps to manually locate schools in BusBoss. Here’s how…

BusBoss, route_planning, school

shutterstock_2106995-1.jpg

Fleet Maintenance: How to Keep Your School Bus Tires Roadworthy

Each day, school buses transport students around North America to and from school, special programs, field trips and sporting events. Parents and administrators rely on transportation departments to keep students safe, and tire care should be part of any e..

school_bus_safety, fleet_maintenance, tire_safety

shutterstock_16925614.jpg

School Bus Safety: The Fight Against Illegal Passing

Illegal passing of school buses is a major school bus safety concern. Though passing a stopped school bus is against the law in most areas, traffic codes vary from state to state. Because this poses such a threat to students, many local governments are cra..

school_bus_safety, illegal_passing

shutterstock_30550174.jpg

Is Your Current Bus Route Planning Inefficient? Easy Ways to Make Changes

Each day, more than half of America’s K-12 students take the bus to school. In fact, the school bus industry is the largest form of mass transit in the U.S. School buses keep cars off the road and the environment cleaner. Making sure that school buses run ..

bus_routing, transportation_routing_software, route_planning, routing_software

shutterstock_84886495.jpg

Fleet Maintenance: How to Spot Common Brake Problems

School buses are widely regarded as some of the safest, most reliable vehicles on the road; however, brake problems have been noted on buses manufactured by major brands. The frequent stopping of school buses can place stress on brakes, so keeping an eye o..

fleet_maintenance, brake_problems

School Transportation Safety: 5 Critical Tips for Driver Training

When it comes to providing school bus driver training, the key to success is going beyond the basics. Of course, a bus driver must know how to safely maneuver a bus, but the job of a school bus driver is filled with complexities that must be prepared for. ..

school_bus_safety, driver_training, school_transportation_safety

shutterstock_95064232.jpg

5 Ways to Reduce School Bus Transportation Costs

School districts across North America are experiencing the realities of shrinking budgets. Unfortunately, when budgets are slashed, transportation departments are often the hardest hit. As students and parents consider the impact of canceled field trips an..

school_transportation_costs, school_bus_routing_software, school_transportation, school_bus_transportation_software

Fleet Maintenance: Just How Clean Is Today's Diesel Fuel?

Until recently, diesel fuel was associated with school buses that were loud, dirty and smelled bad. Over the past several years, diesel has become cleaner, though certain myths still exist about its true environmental impact. School buses provide reliable ..

fleet_maintenance, diesel_fuel

School Bus Safety: Training Drivers to Deal With Emergencies

School bus drivers are typically required to complete extensive training before hitting the road. In most districts, this includes instruction for dealing with emergency situations. Deciding what topics should be covered can be a difficult decision because..

school_bus_driver, school_bus_bullying, bullying, school_bus_safety, training_drivers

Is Stop-Arm Camera Technology Making School Bus Transportation Safer?

Illegal passing of school buses is a huge safety concern for school bus transportation officials. In a 2013 report for the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction, during a single-day count, school bus drivers documented over 3,000 vehicles illegal..

school_bus_safety, school_bus_transportation_software, illegal_passing, stop-arm_camera_technology

Special Needs Student Transportation: Developing Driver Training

Special needs students across North America rely on school bus transportation to get them safely to and from school. Though traffic laws and regulations surrounding the safe transport of students of all abilities differ from state to state and district to ..

special_needs_students, special_needs_student_transportation, driver_training

3 Ways Technology Has Changed the Student Transportation Game

There is no denying that technology advances are affecting the way we work and live our lives. This is especially true when it comes to student transportation. Advances to the transportation industry in general are mind-boggling. Many cars and buses now co..

Student_Safety, student_tracking_systems, Student_Transportation, rfid_technology, gps_tracking_technology

Transparency: Benefits of Video Surveillance in School Buses

School buses are well known for their safety and reliability. In fact, they represent the largest form of public transportation in the country. Parents trust school transportation programs to keep their kids safe, and video surveillance is helping school d..

school, school_bus_transportation_software, school_bus_transparency, student_bus_transportation, video_surveillance, bus, transportation, cameras

Finding the Best Route Planning Software For Your School Bus Fleet

Across the country, school districts are facing budget cuts, forcing transportation departments to make the most out of every dollar. Optimizing routes for maximum efficiency is one of the best ways to save on fuel and staffing costs, while ensuring studen..

bus_routing_software, route_planning, bus_route_optimization, route_software

Dealing with Bullies on the Bus: Practical Advice for School Districts

Bullying in the educational setting is a problem that has captured the attention of school districts across North America. Anytime the physical and emotional safety of a child is threatened, their ability to learn decreases. According to the U.S. Departmen..

school_bus_bullying, bully, bullying, bullies

Bus Driver Monitors on the Rise: Why They're Important

School buses are truly the country’s largest public transportation systems. In recent years, incidents around the country have forced the important issue of student safety to the forefront. As parents, teachers and administrators advocate for increased sec..

school_bus_driver, school_bus_safety, bus_driver_monitors

School Bus Safety: The Hot Debate Over Seat Belts Wages On

School bus seat belt laws exist in six states; however, some argue that bus seat belts are unnecessary, and even potentially dangerous. It’s a hot topic with parents and school administrators, and this school bus safety issue is certainly worth the continu..

school_bus_routing_software, seat_belts, school_bus_safety, school_bus_fleet

Bad Weather Closings and Delays: Considerations for Pupil Transportation

School districts and their transportation departments are often required to make tough calls to ensure student safety. One of the many challenges that administrators face is inclement weather, no matter the time of the year. Depending on where in North Ame..

school_bus_routing_software, school_bus_safety, transportation_management, pupil_transportation_planning

School Bus Safety Innovations: The Ins and Outs of Electronic Stability Control

Introduced in the 1990s, electronic stability control is a computerized technology that improves the stability of a vehicle by detecting loss of traction, or skidding. Electronic stability control is now available on some school buses, and many districts a..

school_bus_routing_software, school_bus_safety, school_bus_fleet, electronic_stability_control

Scheduling Software Takes the Headaches Out of School Bus Routing

In an ideal world, school districts would be able to set their routes and utilize them year after year. The reality is, expanding student populations, redistricting, and rising costs mean that school transportation administrators must keep a constant eye o..

route_optimization, school_bus_routing_software, School_Bus_Routing, school_bus_scheduling

Satellite Tracking Apps for School Buses

If you have been wondering if incorporating a satellite tracking app system for your school bus fleet is really worth the investment, there is strong evidence to indicate that it is. There are many benefits to utilizing this technology, and student safety ..

GPS_Tracking, school_bus_tracking_software, Satellite_Tracking_Apps_for_School_Buses, student_ridership

4 Signs Your Fleet Management Software is Due for an Upgrade

No matter the size of your fleet, implementing the right fleet management software will keep your students safer and save your district money. You understand the benefits of great transportation software, but with today’s rapid technology advances, how do ..

bus_routing_software, route_optimization, gps_vehicle_tracking, school_bus_routing_software, GPS_Tracking, school_bus_gps_tracking, fleet_management_software

Bus Route Optimization: Finding the Most Logical Solution to Save Money

School districts with budget constraints and looming cuts are seeking out ways to get the most bang for their buck. Many are finding that bus route optimization is the perfect solution for saving money.

bus_routing, bus_route_optimization, school_bus_routing_software, fleet_optimization, school_bus_fleet_optimization

Tips For Winter School Bus Fleet Maintenance

As drivers around the country break out their snow tires, school district transportation departments are preparing buses for chilly temperatures. Ensuring that your fleet stays in tip-top shape during the winter months takes some effort and planning. Here ..

bus_routing_software, school_bus_fleet_optimization, fleet_maintenance, propane_fueled_buses

3 Ways to Tell if Your Bus Fleet is Emergency Ready

The jobs of school bus drivers and transportation administrators are vitally important. As the adults responsible for getting students to and from school, field trips, and special events safely, taking appropriate precautions to prepare for and respond to ..

gps_vehicle_tracking, GPS_Tracking, school_bus_maintenance, school_bus_fleet, school_bus_tracking_software, gps_tracking_software

3 Easy Ways to Improve How You Track Student Ridership

Today’s technology allows parents and school district employees to determine if a student is on a bus, in real-time. The ever-increasing use of smart phones and tablets means that more and more people expect to have access to information about their childr..

Transportation_Management_Software, school_bus_transportation_software, track_attendance, student_bus_ridership, student_ridership

School Bus Maintenance Winter Challenges

School buses are often exposed to extreme conditions, and the winter months can be particularly hard on your fleet. The addition of ice, snow and chilly weather to an already strained bus can lead to tire slippage, engine trouble and rust. Winter weather c..

school_bus_management, school_bus_safety, school_bus_maintenance, school_bus_fleet

Does Your School District Need a School Bus Finder?

Student safety is the number one priority for school transportation professionals. With over 55% of US students riding school buses, finding the best way to operate a fleet impacts millions of students across the country. School districts are facing great ..

GPS_Tracking, school_bus_safety, school_bus_finder, student_ridership

Student Tracking Made Simpler with Student ID Badges

Keeping track of students is a priority that is increasing in importance in school districts across North America and around the world. One of the easiest and most cost-efficient ways to track students is by utilizing an ID system.Meta Description: Student..

Student_Safety, transport_software, student_tracking

School Bus Safety Issues You Need to Watch for 2016

Each day, over twenty three million students begin their day with a ride on a school bus. For school transportation experts, student and driver safety is a top priority. Each year, the National Association for Pupil Transportation organizes the National Sc..

GPS_Tracking, school_bus_safety, school_bus_gps_tracking

School Buses Going Green: The Push for Alternative Fuel

Though school buses have not always been known for their fuel efficiency, many school districts across the U.S. and Canada have been making the switch to alternative fuel sources and environmentally friendly transportation management system options. This s..

school_bus_routing_software, School_Bus_Routing, alternative_fuel

4 Reasons Why GPS Vehicle Tracking Software Has Become Essential

School districts throughout North America are being urged to up the level of safety they provide to their students, while at the same time cutting costs. While this is not an easy feat, it’s also not impossible, due to ever advancing transportation industr..

vehicle_routing_software, vehicle_monitoring, gps_vehicle_tracking, GPS_Tracking

Are Fuel Efficient Tires Worth the Cost?

School districts across North America are employing several transportation management solutions to increase fuel efficiency and cut costs. Investing in fuel-efficient tires for their buses is one chosen strategy. The question is, do tires designed for fuel..

school_bus_management, School_Bus_Routing, fuel_efficiency, fuel_efficient_tires

When to Know When Your District Needs to Outsource Student Transportation

There are certainly pros and cons to outsourcing student transportation, and many administrators hold strong opinions on the matter. With more and more districts facing the stark reality of decreased budgets, transportation outsourcing is becoming a common..

bus_routing_software, school_bus_routing_software, School_Bus_Routing, Student_Transportation, transportation_outsourcing

Driver Communication Issues: From Distracted Driving to Poor Communication Systems

According to a recent survey commissioned by the American School Bus Council, six in ten parents are concerned about having their children ride on school buses. While the reasons behind their worries ranged from accidents to bullying, unsafe drivers and la..

school_bus_routing_software, school_bus_driver, school_bus_safety, Distracted_Drivers, Drivers

How Does Optimizing Your Bus Route Planning Mean Big Savings?

Education budgets are tight, and in many school districts, the transportation department is one of the first areas to experience cuts. School districts throughout North America are being urged to up their student safety standards, while at the same time cu..

route_optimization, school_bus_routing_software, bus_route_planning

Wi-Fi Equipped School Buses Gaining in Popularity

The practice of equipping school buses with Wi-Fi is growing in popularity across the U.S., and it’s easy to understand why. School buses are no longer used just for taking students to and from school. As more school districts are pushing to provide intern..

routing_software, GPS_Tracking, School_Buses

Safety First! The Real Issue of Illegal Passing Rears its Head

When it comes to passing school buses, motorists in each state are subject to a different set of laws and regulations. Though most motorists understand the safety risks of illegally passing a bus, it remains a consistent, though dangerous, practice. In fac..

school_bus_safety, threat_zone

Does Your School Bus Safety Plan Prepare You For An Accident?

Throughout the many years BusBoss has been bringing school districts transportation management software, we have heard numerous stories about school bus accidents, and these accidents are deeply troubling to us.

student_gps_tracking, school_bus_safety, accidents

School Transportation Software: How Should I Protect Sensitive Data?

While creating safe and efficient school bus routes is the main focus of most school district transportation programs, protecting student, parent and school data should be a major priority. School transportation software offers benefits such as route optim..

routing_software, single_sign_on, data_protection

Bus Routing Software: What Dashboard Features Do You Really Need?

School districts searching for the right transportation routing software to suit their fleet management needs often have questions about how they can customize routing programs. Every school transportation program has different requirements when it comes t..

bus_routing_software, student_management, fleet_optimization

How To Improve Special Needs Student Safety With Routing Software

Transporting special needs students to and from school is a challenge for many bus drivers, even when school bus routes are organized and a school district’s fleet management is effective.

student_management, special_needs_students, routing_software

3 Key Reasons To Implement Bus Routing Software This Summer

Few school district transportation employees look forward to coming back to work after summer break. For most transportation staff, this is the time of year they must complete route optimization tasks, either manually or with outdated software. If your cur..

route_optimization, route_management_software, school_bus_routing_software

Route Management Software: How Long Does It Really Take To Implement?

One of the primary concerns of school district administrators seeking to use fleet management and GPS tracking software for route optimization is the amount of time the implementation process takes.

route_optimization, route_management_software, fleet_optimization, bus_route_planning

Fleet Management: Identify Your Bus Routing Strengths And Weaknesses

When assessing your school district’s transportation program, there are a number of factors to analyze that make up a successful program. Cost management and benchmarking goals play an important role in determining how well your program operates.

bus_routing, route_optimization, gps_vehicle_fleet_tracking

Bus Routing Software Lets You Plan, Monitor And Budget For Field Trips

Field trips have a proven track record of engaging students outside of the classroom and paving the way to a successful educational future. As every school transportation program administrator knows, however, field trips are not always simple to plan.

bus_routing_software, managing_field_trips, field_trip_planning, field_trips

3 Ways GPS Vehicle Tracking Streamlines Your School Bus Transportation

With the tightly packed schedules school bus transportation program employees face every day, there is little room for uncertainty in regards to the school bus routes drivers are expected to follow.

gps_vehicle_tracking

How The Right Bus Routing Software Improves Drivers’ Daily Routine

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

bus_routing_software

3 Ways GPS Vehicle Tracking Helps Contractors Win More Bids

Due to the amount of competition involved in winning bids from school bus transportation programs, contractors must provide services that give them an advantage over competitors. GPS vehicle tracking and bus routing software offer benefits that manually cr..

gps_vehicle_tracking

School Transportation From The Eyes Of A Parent

4 Things Every Transportation Official Needs to Know Prior to understanding the industry of student transportation I knew my child got on a bus, with a driver and other children and was transported to school. It was simple right? How hard could it be? Now ..

School_Transportation_Director, bus_management_system

4 Ways GPS Tracking Improves Field Trip Management

Schools have a long history of providing cultural experiences to students through the tradition of the school field trip. While there are expenses such as providing school bus transportation and planning bus routes associated with field trips, many schools..

GPS_Tracking

The Services You Need To Easily Implement Bus Routing Software

School transportation software makes bus route optimization and fleet management easier and more efficient for school district transportation administrators and contractors.

bus_routing_software

Use Training To Unlock The Full Value Of Your Bus Routing Software

School districts investing in bus routing software know it is a financially beneficial decision that also increases student safety. These two positive attributes of school transportation software make fleet management simpler and more organized.

bus_routing_software

Orbit Gives Back! Route Optimization Grant to Be Awarded

Orbit Software's goal has always been to give back. Using BusBoss bus routing software for route optimization! Allowing districts to allocate these savings to other programs that budget cuts have eliminated. Whether it be to the communities around them thr..

bus_routing_software, route_optimization, school_bus_routing_software

School Bus Safety: Driver Fatigue

Driver fatigue has been the cause of many school bus accidents over the years. There are instances of school bus drivers falling asleep behind the wheel resulting in students being injured and in the most unfortunate of circumstances being killed.

school_bus_management, school_bus_safety, driver_fatigue

School Bus Drivers: Retaining Good Drivers

Retaining good school bus drivers continues to be an issue for transportation departments nationwide. Districts that offer competitive salaries as well as health and retirement benefits find it a lot easier to retain drivers. However, this may be difficult..

school_bus_management, school_bus_driver

Raise Funding For Student Tracking And School Bus Routing Software

If you have researched student tracking and bus routing software, you may already be aware of the opportunities these programs provide to improve student safety and achieve a significant return on initial investments. Student GPS tracking may be the best o..

School Bus Safety: Seat Belts

Each year school buses transport approximately 24 million students to and from school, covering more than 4 billion miles. There has been much debate over whether seat belts should be required on school buses. At first thought, the answer seems to be an ob..

school_bus_management, seat_belts, school_bus_safety

5 Questions You Must Ask When Implementing Student GPS Tracking

The choice to implement student GPS tracking within your school district is a major decision that requires a great deal of dialogue among administrators and other school district employees. Understandably, those in charge of making the decision on student ..

student_gps_tracking

4 Ways To Increase ROI When Investing In Student And Bus Tracking

While student GPS tracking may be an unfamiliar idea to parents in your school district, student tracking software has been proven to increase safety for children who are under your school district’s care. Bus tracking and school bus routing software not o..

bus_tracking

School Bus Drivers: Recruiting Drivers

School bus driver shortages are occurring nationwide, so it is important for school districts to recruit and hire qualified candidates. Even though there is a driver shortage transportation officials should not relax hiring standards in order to rush and f..

school_bus_management, school_bus_driver

Student Tracking: The Benefits For Student & Transportation Management

By now, you’ve likely heard a lot about student GPS tracking. Increasingly, districts are incorporating this technology into their schools for a variety of beneficial reasons. While student GPS tracking isn’t exactly new to school districts, its growing ac..

student_tracking

School Bus Drivers: School Bus Driver Shortage

Getting students safely to and from school is a priority for everyone. However many school districts are experiencing a shortage in school bus drivers. School bus driver shortage is an ongoing challenge that districts repeatedly face before, during and thr..

school_bus_management, school_bus_driver

Student GPS Tracking: Security And Legal Issues Schools Need To Know

When it comes to student GPS tracking, data security, privacy rights and other legal issues are a big concern for some parents and school district members. It’s not uncommon for district members to be concerned with the safety and effectiveness of student ..

student_gps_tracking

School Bus Bullying: Ways to Eliminate Bullying

The best way to eliminate school bus bullying is to create a supportive and positive school bus environment that recognizes bullying early and makes it unacceptable behavior. It’s very important that school officials, bus drivers and parents all get involv..

school_bus_management, school_bus_bullying, bullying

School Bus Bullying: How to React to Bullying

It is estimated that nearly one in five students are subjected to school bus bullying. A parent’s initial reaction may be to rush in and protect their child. However, this may not be the best response since parents cannot be present every time a bullying i..

school_bus_management, school_bus_bullying, bullying

5 Talking Points To Confront Parental Concerns Of A Student Tracking Device

Student GPS tracking has been a topic of hot debate amongst parents. While certain myths about student tracking have been spread around, the benefits of this added safety feature to school bus routing software have proven to be far more powerful than the m..

student_tracking

School Bus Bullying: Signs of Bullying

Students who are being bullied often exhibit some warning signs. If parents, school bus drivers, teachers and other school officials are aware of these signs they can take action to stop and work on reducing or eliminating the issues.

school_bus_management, school_bus_bullying, bullying

A Look Inside The Growing Acceptance Of Student Tracking In 2015

Ever since its early adoption by some school districts, student and bus tracking has been a hot-button debate topic. Over the last few years, myths have been formulated and then debunked, and the benefits have abounded and transformed the skeptics.

student_tracking

school_bus_management, school_bus_bullying, bullying

How Bus Scheduling Software Improves Your Fleet Optimization

Are you fielding too many calls from frustrated parents fed up with inconsistent bus schedules impacting their morning routine?

bus_scheduling_software

Safer Bus Routes: Avoiding “Danger Zones” Takes A Two-Prong Approach

Scheduling safe school bus routes is a serious initiative for every school district. As a school administrator, transportation manager or transportation contractor, your main goal is to get students to and from school safely, every day.

bus_routing_software

5 Questions To Ask When Choosing A Transportation Management System

Finding the right transportation management system for school bus routing comes down to doing your due diligence by asking the most important questions of any provider. You need to partner with the right provider to achieve bus routing efficiency and cost ..

transportation_management_services

5 Key Ways Bus Routing Software Improves Your School Services

Is your current manual bus routing system riddled with too many management issues? Are you looking for efficient school bus routing solutions? Don’t you wish you always had an answer when a parent calls concerned about their child’s whereabouts?

The Top 3 Cost-Saving Services Of School Bus Routing Software

School bus routing software is rapidly catching on with school districts and transportation management companies around the U.S. for its ability to improve route optimization and render significant cost-savings.

school_bus_routing_software

Route Optimization: 4 Environmental Reasons To Reduce Your Bus Fleet

In a perfect world – to protect your students and the environment, to cut back on unnecessary spending and to comply with clean-air government policies – you’d retrofit your bus fleet or upgrade to newer buses to limit your diesel exhaust emissions. Howeve..

route_optimization

GPS Vehicle Tracking Systems Take On New Meaning

Expectations are high for schools to provide transportation that is cost-efficient, safe and accountable. Schools are tasked with making the most of their resources while delivering A+ service to their students, parents and communities.

route_optimization, gps_vehicle_fleet_tracking, Safety, gps_vehicle_tracking, GPS_Tracking

What Does Student Management Software Integration Actually Mean?

Software integration is a matter of increasing concern for schools, as they come to embrace database-driven processes for improving their administrative practices. There's no doubt that electronic and paperless processes can be a huge boon to schools, as w..

bus_routing_software, software_integration, PowerSchool, Power_School, student_tracking_system, student_management_system, powerschool_integration, Pearson_PowerSchool, student_management_software

Field Trip Management for Special Needs Students

Whenever you take students anywhere on a bus, you're handling some of the most precious cargo that can ever be on our roads. Obviously, the safety of students should always be top priority. However, things get more complex when dealing with special needs s..

managing_field_trips, planning_and_scheduling_field_trips, law_and_field_trips, field_trips, special_needs_students

Student Management Software Integration Issues & Troubleshooting

It's usually the little things that cause some of the biggest headaches.

bus_routing_software, software_integration, PowerSchool, Power_School, bus_software, powerschool_integration

Laws for Field Trip Planning & Managing

School districts have legal, ethical and moral obligations to keep students reasonably safe and secure when in their care. This obligation extends beyond the school grounds into off-campus field trips. These off-site excursions open up students to potentia..

managing_field_trips, field_trip_planning, planning_and_scheduling_field_trips, law_and_field_trips

Top 10 Things to Consider When Planning and Scheduling Field Trips

Field trips are educational experiences scheduled off-campus and planned by school personnel to reinforce classroom instruction. Field trips can be a wonderful experience for both teachers and students, providing a memorable learning experience.

managing_field_trips, field_trip_planning, planning_and_scheduling_field_trips

GPS Vehicle Tracking - An Introduction

GPS vehicle tracking is a very well-established technology at this point, in use by fleet systems and individual drivers all over the world. It's safe, reliable, and even as you read this, there are likely thousands of people using GPS to get where they ne..

gps_vehicle_tracking

How to Use GPS Vehicle Tracking Systems for Efficient Fleet Management

The benefits of GPS vehicle tracking systems such as Zonar and Synovia go beyond simply ensuring the safety of your precious passengers. These are powerful tools which can revolutionize your fleet management, helping you optimize your system in ways that s..

route_optimization, student_tracking_systems, Save_Route_Costs, Vehicle_Monitoring_System, student_tracking_system, gps_vehicle_fleet_tracking, gps_vehicle_tracking, school_bus_routing_software, bus_tracking, GPS_Tracking

5 Benefits of Student Management Software Integration

BusBoss is already the most powerful option on the market for large-scale school bus routing and transportation management. However, BusBoss can go even further! When you use software integration to pair BusBoss with the Pearson PowerSchool student managem..

bus_routing_software, student_management, software_integration, Pearson, PowerSchool, Power_School

Does GPS Vehicle Tracking Equate to 'Big Brother'?

Schools have long had a love-hate relationship with new technology. Administrators love finding new technological solutions that can save time and money -especially if it keeps students safer in the process- but parents are often wary about exposing their ..

Student_Safety, student_tracking_systems, transportation_management_services, student_tracking_sheet, gps_vehicle_fleet_tracking, student_tracking, gps_vehicle_tracking, GPS_Tracking

Transportation_Management_Software, school_bus_management, transportation_routing_software, school_management_system, routing_and_scheduling_software, route_planning_software, school_bus_routhing_software, overcrowded_Bus, Safety, gps_vehicle_tracking, school_bus_routing_software, routing_software

One Simple Method For Finding The Most Efficient Bus Routes For Your Schools

Since schools first started providing public transportation, the costs and difficulties involved in busing students have always been a significant concern. A school's transportation system can be one of the single biggest budget drains on a district, even ..

school_bus_management, routing_and_scheduling_software, school_bus_routing_software

Does Student Tracking Ensure Safer Bus Rides?

Despite some initial controversy, RFID-based student tracking systems are beginning to be utilized around the country to make student bussing safer and more effective. In just the last couple years, programs have been implemented in Rockford, Denver, and i..

Student_Safety, Student_Tracking_Software, student_tracking_systems

Ways A School Management System Makes Your Life Easier

How are you going to be managing the thousands of students, faculty, and other staff in your school system for next year? While you could continue to go with the old fashioned way of lots of paperwork and numerous headaches, there are much simpler solution..

student_management, school_management_system, Student_Safety

How To Know If You're Properly Using A Student Tracking Sheet

Having to track hundreds or thousands of students in the past was normally a paperwork nightmare. However, with advances in technology and being able to have students digitally sign in or have other technologically advanced means a much better and efficien..

student_tracking_sheet, school_bus_routing_software, Bus_Pass

How To Know When Your Bus Routes Are Safe And Efficient

If there are two watchwords for a modern school bus system, they should be “safety” and “efficiency.” Since a school's transportation budget can be one of their biggest money drains, virtually anything that decreases the costs of transportation will benefi..

bus_routing_software, bus_tracking, GPS_Tracking

Unified Communications Keep Your Drivers In The Loop

Unified communications isn't just for big business any more. The technology and networking explosion of the last few years has made it possible for virtually any operation to benefit from "big data," not just the corporations. In fact, schools around the c..

bus_routing_software, transportation_routing_software, school_bus_routing_software

7 Proven Ways In-Bus GPS Systems Promote Safer Drivers

During the course of a school day, your students are probably in more danger during their daily busing than at any other time. Our road system is naturally hazardous. Anything a school district can do to reduce dangers to their students will pay off in bot..

bus_routing_software, bus_tracking, GPS_Tracking

Does Student Tracking Ensure Safer Bus Rides?

Despite some initial controversy, RFID-based student tracking systems are beginning to be utilized around the country to make student bussing safer and more effective.

Student_Safety, Student_Tracking_Software, student_tracking_systems

4 Effective Techniques For Improving Your Bus Drivers Morale

Every day, millions of students get on board school buses, making them the most precious - and vulnerable- cargo on the road. One of a school's first and most important duties is ensuring those students reach their destination safely every time.

school_management_system, bus_driver, school_bus_driver

Safe-Driving Incentives To Keep Your Top Bus Drivers!

The use of in-bus GPS systems continues to spread, and for good reason. Geolocation tracking leads directly to better oversight, faster communication, shorter bus runs, and an overall safer experience for students on every ride.

bus_routing, bus_management_system, bus_driver

How GPS Tracking Data Keeps Your Bus Fleet Running Smoothly

"Big Data" is a term that's being thrown around more and more in business. Rather than being a single process, "big data" represents the idea that virtually any operation - even a school district - can ultimately find significant cost savings through data ..

tracking_school, tracker_tracking_systems, GPS_Tracking

Plan Safer Field Trips With 3 Simple Driver Strategies

For hundreds of years, field trips have been a tried and true teaching technique. Taking students out of a classroom and into a "real world" situation has always been a good way of reinforcing the lessons, and showing that they aren't just abstract exercis..

school_management_system, bus_driver, school_bus_driver

10 Do’s & Don’ts Of Reorganizing A Bus Route

When it comes to running a school's transportation system, your precious cargo truly does come first.

bus_routing_software, bus_routing, school_bus_routing_software

How School Districts Can Ensure Critical Student Information Is Easily Accessible

If your school district isn't doing everything possible to put student information where it's easily-accessible to those who need it, you're just creating a lot of problems for yourselves.

route_optimization, powerschool_integration, Pearson_PowerSchool

10 Ways To Make School Transportation Safer

Of all the “cargo” on our nation's roads, none is more important than the millions of students who ride school bus services every day. It's the single largest -and most dangerous- logistical challenge that faces a modern school district.

Transportation_Management_Software, transportation_routing_software, transport_software

5 Ways School District Transportation Can Accommodate Special Need Students

When it comes to organizing and setting up a transportation system in a school district, nothing is easy. However, things can get downright complicated when dealing with special-needs students who, for whatever reason, cannot be dealt with in the same way ..

bus_routing_software, transportation_routing_software, school_bus_routing_software

10 Benefits Of Integrating Student Info Systems With Bus Routing Software

Does your school district need an all-in-one software solution for keeping up with your students? After all, one of the biggest issues when schools look at updating their computer systems is the problem of systems integration. Ultimately, , since otherwise..

school_bus_management, routing_and_scheduling_software, school_bus_routing_software

The BEST Way To Inform Parents of a School Emergency

While it would certainly be nice if we could run our school districts without the need to quickly contact parents, it's just not going to happen. Emergencies and unexpected events are impossible to avoid entirely, and sometimes, you simply need to get in t..

Student_Safety, Student_Tracking_Software, student_tracking_systems

ICE: 15 Things a Student Information System Can Tell You

Are you still managing your student information on paper? Or are you still juggling Excel files, rather than investing in a true database solution?

bus_routing_software, school_management_system, student_management_system, Pearson_PowerSchool

How School Districts Can Take Action to Prevent School Bullying

Currently, bullying is a hot topic at schools across the nation.

student_management, school_management_system, Student_Safety

How A Transportation Routing Software System Lowers Costs

Budget. The big bottom line. It’s impossible not to think about it because when the buck stops so does your bus. With transportation routing software you can help lower your transportation services’ cost by helping each vehicle in your fleet operate at the..

transportation_routing_software, route_optimization_software, route_management_software

8 Ways Schools Can Ensure Students Get on a Bus (And How It Helps Attendance!)

When it comes to ensuring your school district receives as much state funding as possible, few ways are better than simply ensuring students are in their seats every morning.

school_bus_management, routing_and_scheduling_software, school_bus_routing_software

12 Ways Pearson PowerSchool Integration Saves a School Money

We don't need to tell you that saving money -and trying to increase funding- is a priority for any school. With budgets continuing to be slashed, and local communities often unwilling to fund bonds or more property taxes, it's often left entirely to school..

powerschool_integration, Pearson_PowerSchool, school_bus_routing_software

12 Ways Pearson PowerSchool Integration Reduces School District Response Times

As folks say, “Time is money.” Yet, in schools, time is practically everything. Time determines your funding. Time determines test scores. Time determines scheduling. Time, ultimately, dictates nearly everything that happens during a school day, starting w..

route_optimization_software, powerschool_integration, Pearson_PowerSchool

12 Signs School Buses Are Over-Crowded

Out of all the jobs a school does, there's probably none that's more central or vital than protecting the students in its care. Unfortunately, it seems like there's been a rash of incidents lately with schools running buses that are dangerously overcrowded..

school_bus_management, Student_Safety, school_bus_routing_software

15 Ways Pearson PowerSchool Integration Brings Peace of Mind to Parents, Teachers & Administrators

It seems to happen so rarely, but doesn't your school district run more smoothly when everyone's more-or-less satisfied?

BusBoss, Pearson_PowerSchool, school_bus_routing_software

Need State Funding? How Pearson PowerSchool Integration Can Help!

A school in America lives or dies by its state funding. When funds are doled out according to statistics - such as bus ridership, attendance rates, and test scores - it's vital a school receives every dollar it's due, while still trying to increase the num..

BusBoss, Pearson_PowerSchool, school_bus_routing_software

12 Ways Pearson PowerSchool Integration Saves School Resources

BusBoss has gotten better! Thanks to our new PowerSchool integration, it's possible for schools around the world to merge their bus-routing and student information systems into a single software suite. Doing so creates one of the most powerful combined too..

PowerSchool, BusBoss, powerschool_integration, Pearson_PowerSchool, school_bus_routing_software

How Pearson PowerSchool Improves a School’s “Audit Management”

These days, like it or not, a school district depends on the quality of their auditing and reporting. With so much school funding now reliant on proper reporting, a school district absolutely cannot afford to make costly mistakes. At best, this only leads ..

student_management, student_management_system, school_bus_routing_software

Slow Traffic Areas For School Buses & How to Deal With Them

In many cities across the United States, morning and evening rush hour can be frustrating and a difficult undertaking. This issue is no different for school buses as they hit the same local traffic as other motorists. Through the use of modern technology t..

bus_routing, school_bus_routing_software, bus_tracking

10 Signs Your School Needs More Efficient Bus Routing

Students, parents, teachers, and schools all rely on a smoothly operating bus system so as to spend less time worrying about getting to school and back and more time focusing on bettering their lives. However, when a bus route is inefficient, it costs both..

bus_routing_software, bus_routing, school_bus_routing_software

15 Tips On How To Prepare For A Bus Route Change

There are few responsibilities facing a school district which are larger, more important, or more potentially hazardous than your need to transport hundreds or thousands of students safely, every day.

bus_routing_software, bus_routing, school_bus_routing_software

Bus Routing Cheat Sheet: Is Your School Ready for Opening Day?

Summer Vacation is, of course, never a real vacation if you're a school administrator. (Although not having kids constantly underfoot is nice.) Parents and students often don't understand how much work is involved in ensuring a school is ready for the firs..

bus_routing_software, bus_routing, school_bus_routing_software

The Secret To Saving School Money In 2014: Reorganizing Bus Routes

If your school district's budget feels too tight for the upcoming year, you may be sitting on top of a goldmine of potential ongoing cost savings.

bus_routing_software, route_optimization, route_planning, route_optimization_software, route_management_software, routing_and_scheduling_software, routing_software

5 Steps To Take Before Optimizing Your School's Bus Routes

Even when software is easy to use, it's only as useful as the data that goes into it. So, to get the most out of BusBoss, or any bus route optimization software program, a certain amount of preparation will go a long way.

school_bus_management, bus_route_optimization, school_bus_routing_software

4 Signs Your School's Bus Route Is Safe And Efficient

How long has it been since your school district updated its bus routing and tracking policies?

route_optimization_software, route_management_software, school_bus_routing_software

Is Your Bus Route Too Long? Quick Tips On How To Improve It!

It might seem obvious, but there really is no benefit to having your buses on the road any longer than they need to be. Transportation budgets are a huge part of any business that maintains a bus fleet, and every extra minute they're on the road ultimately..

bus_routing_software, bus_routing, school_bus_routing_software

Use Satellite Vehicle Tracking For The Best Results

One of the most frustrating parts of managing an entire fleet of vehicles is going to be the huge job of, well, managing every single vehicle. This mostly means tracking them in route and making sure that certain vehicles aren't straying away from their pr..

bus_routing_software, satellite_vehicle_tracking, school_bus_routing_software, bus_tracking

What Can A Transportation Supervisor Be Used For?

Is your school district putting its transportation supervisor to the best possible use? Although creating bus schedules is a key task for these types of personnel, it's only a fraction of what you could be using them for. To help you get the most value fro..

school_management_system, school_bus_routing_software, transportation_supervisor

How To Find The Best School Bus Driver

Being able to find and employ some of the best school bus drivers in the area no longer means having to go through countless resumes with no rhyme or reason. There is a system in which you can find key drivers that will be able to stay focused on the road,..

school_management_system, bus_driver, school_bus_driver

How To Know If You're Properly Using A Student Tracking Sheet

Having to track hundreds or thousands of students in the past was normally a paperwork nightmare. However, with advances in technology and being able to have students digitally sign in or have other technologically advanced means a much better and efficien..

student_tracking_sheet, school_bus_routing_software, Bus_Pass

Ways A School Management System Makes Your Life Easier

How are you going to be managing the thousands of students, faculty, and other staff in your school system for next year? While you could continue to go with the old fashioned way of lots of paperwork and numerous headaches, there are much simpler solution..

school_management_system, school_bus_routing_software, transportation_coordinator

What Student Tracking System Is Best For Your Business?

Everyone is thinking in an ideal world where every student arrives on time to attend their classes. You can see in the faces of school authorities a big smile when they don’t have any problems with their student's school attendance. However, in reality thi..

Student_Tracking_Software, student_tracking_systems, student_tracking_system

4 Ways You'll Benefit From An AVL GPS System

Do you know exactly where your entire vehicle fleet is during those crucial moments? Contrary to what you might think, it is imperative that you know where all of your vehicles are while they're either en route to their destinations or even simply parked i..

Fleet_Tracking_Systems, student_tracking_systems, route_planning_software, avl_gps, gps_vehicle_tracking, school_bus_routing_software

What Can A Transportation Supervisor Be Used For?

Is your school district putting its transportation supervisor to the best possible use? Although creating bus schedules is a key task for these types of personnel, it's only a fraction of what you could be using them for. To help you get the most value fro..

bus_routing_software, transportation_routing_software, bus_tracking, transportation_supervisor

Improve The Efficiency Of Your Routes By Using Tracking Software

There are a million ways to get from Point A to Point B. But, there is only one that is the most efficient. When it comes to optimizing your bus routes, efficiency is what matters most. By utilizing student tracking software you can make sure each one of y..

Transportation_Management_Software, transportation_management_services, transport_software

How Can School Tracking Be A Secure Choice?

Are you still tracking school bus routes and drivers with a pen and paper? Although these methods may have worked in the good ol' days, the demands placed on school transportation systems today require more technologically advanced practices. It is because..

tracking_school, tracker_tracking_systems, GPS_Tracking

How A Transportation Routing Software System Lowers Costs

Budget. The big bottom line. It’s impossible not to think about it because when the buck stops so does your bus. With transportation routing software you can help lower your transportation services’ cost by helping each vehicle in your fleet operate at the..

Transportation_Management_Software, transportation_routing_software, route_planning, transportation_manager, route_planning_software, school_bus_routing_software, routing_software

Get Your Students To School On Time With Bus Tracking

Because there are only so many hours in each school day, every second that a child is in the classroom counts. Unfortunately, when school busses get behind schedule, students are forced to arrive to school late, both detracting from their personal learning..

bus_routing_software, bus_software, bus_tracking

GPS Fleet Tracking Companies, What Can They Do For You?

Making your business grow by investing on a fleet of vehicles may be a great decision to reach your goal in field sales, or deliver your products more efficiently. With this huge investment, you’ll want to keep track of their whereabouts to make sure that ..

gps_vehicle_fleet_tracking, GPS_Tracking, gps_fleet_tracking_companies

5 Tips From A Trained Transportation Coordinator

Modern advances in technology have made life easier for just about all of us, simplifying and streamlining even routine tasks. These advances have not bypassed our school bus service industry.

bus_routing_software, school_bus_routing_software, transportation_coordinator

Use A School Bus Pass To Be More Efficient

One of the biggest moments of panic is that moment when a student isn't on the right bus and becomes "lost" among the huge transportation of hundreds or thousands of students at the end of a busy school day. This is a moment of panic for not only the paren..

school_bus_management, school_bus_routing_software, school_bus_pass

5 Reasons You Need Professional Route Planning Software

Feeling the immense pressure from traditional route planning for a brand new school year? All of the maps, managing huge bus fleets, and making sure all of the students under your care are safe and get to and from school in a timely manner shouldn't leave ..

route_planning, route_software, routing_and_scheduling_software, route_planning_software

Top 4 Frequently Asked Questions Of School Bus Routing Software

You probably have some questions when it comes to all of this talk of school bus routing software, especially when so many other schools are starting to use it. It's not uncommon to have questions about software when it is promising such lofty goals: bette..

route_planning, route_planning_software, school_bus_routing_software

GPS Vehicle Fleet Tracking- How To Know If It's Right For You

Advancements in technology have made it possible for numerous service-based businesses to track their fleets, but did you know that it's also possible for school administrators and school bus contractors to monitor their transportation units? Although maps..

school_bus_routing_software, bus_tracking, gps_fleet_tracking_companies

Keep Things In Line With Vehicle Monitoring

Do you know where exactly the vehicles and drivers in your fleet are going while they're on the clock? While it might not seem like a huge deal where they might be at every hour, it is actually very important for your reports and budgeting. This is because..

school_management_system, vehicle_monitoring, school_bus_routing_software

6 Reasons Why You Need Route Optimization Software

With the recent shooting tragedy that occurred in Connecticut, students’ safety in school is once again in public focus nationwide. While the tragedy may have been difficult to avoid, anyone who has the responsibility to keep the students safe in a school ..

route_planning, route_optimization_software, route_planning_software, school_bus_routing_software

Putting Dispatch Software To The Test

There are a lot of things which happen on a day-to-day basis which people take for granted. The mail carrier arrives to drop off and pick up the mail just as the weekly garbage truck comes by for your trash. So it is easy not to think about all those yello..

route_planning, Dispatch_Software, school_bus_routing_software

Improving Daily Flow With Student Tracking Software

Students going to school represent a very different problem to school districts than employees do to employers. As minors, the moment the student enters the school bus, the school district accepts responsibility for their safety and well being.

Student_Tracking_Software, student_tracking_systems, student_tracker, school_bus_routing_software

Long School Bus Rides Can Save Money, But At What Cost To The Student

Finding ways to save more money for education is always a valid and worthwhile endeavor, as there can’t be an upper price placed on your children’s education. However, whether your district chooses to consolidate the total number of schools into a smaller ..

school_transportation_costs, route_software, school_bus_routing_software

Automated vs. Manual Transportation Management Services

Transportation companies around the world have been slowly awakening to the power that modern computers have to optimize and streamline their businesses. Numerous processes relating to the management of your fleet and your route planning can now be automat..

transportation_management_services

4 Secrets To Using Route Management Software

Currently, one of the most powerful upgrades on the market for any ground transportation business looking to optimize its services is a good piece of route management software. As map analysis techniques evolve, software becomes even-better at handling com..

route_planning, route_software, route_management_software

Use Route Software To Keep Things On Track

School district transportation managers know: there's an amazing variety of challenges that could arise on any given day with the school's bus system. From flat tires to backed up traffic to children on the wrong bus, you need to be able to respond to chal..

route_software, route_management_software, route_planning_software

5 Skills To Look For In A Transportation Supervisor

The Job is quite demanding, and for the right reason. For a transportation manager, the passengers are the most prized assets in the country, and the loss, injury or undesired treatment of any of them is not acceptable. In transporting students safely and ..

Transportation_Management_Software, transportation_routing_software, transportation_supervisor

3 Tips To Properly Using Route Software

According to a great deal of the schools we deal with, one of their most pressing reasons for switching to route software is to enjoy the cost-savings. Modern bus routing software can be leveraged to bring savings to virtually any district, and with report..

route_software, route_planning_software, school_bus_routing_software

Protect Your Students And Your School With A Student Tracker

As a parent and a school administrator, your greatest concern is the safety of your kids. You need to know exactly where they are, what they are doing and what their parents are saying about where they should be. With many incidents of child abduction and ..

student_tracker, school_bus_routing_software, school_bus_driver

Use Bus Routing Software And See The Benefits

Given the current state of school funding in most of the nation, it can be hard for schools to find money to invest in any new technology at all. As budgets keep shrinking and continued uncertainty over NCLB more than a decade on, it's often hard enough ju..

bus_routing_software, school_bus_routing_software, routing_software

Why Do I Need To Purchase A GSM GPS Tracker?

It's always been difficult to know when to invest in a new piece of technology. Undoubtedly, in years long past, farmers fretted over whether they could afford a McCormick reaper, or whether it really was time to buy a car and see what the livery's giving ..

gsm_gps_tracker, gps_vehicle_tracking, GPS_Tracking

Tracking Schools, Why Should You Be Keeping Tabs?

The march of progress in the past couple decades has been breathtaking. We've watched communications technologies explode, bringing the world together and putting computers everywhere. For the most part, this has been a boon for schools – teachers and admi..

student_tracker, student_tracking, tracking_schools

4 Signs You Need New School Bus Routing Software

Timing is everything when it comes to new investments. After all, there's no time like the present crisis to get approval for projects you've needed for months!

routing_and_scheduling_software, school_bus_routing_software, routing_software

How To Properly Use Route Planning Software

Technology has helped all sorts of industries do business much more efficiently, safely, and quickly. One of those industries happens to be transportation to schools, whether they happen to be in a major city or out in the suburbs. Route planning and manag..

route_software, route_planning_software, transportation_supervisor

What To Look For When Buying A Vehicle Monitoring System

When you're ready to take the jump into route management software and being able to keep track of entire fleets of vehicles, there are certain features that anyone should look out for in their brand new system. There are all sorts of systems that can make ..

Vehicle_Monitoring_System, transportation_manager, school_bus_routing_software

3 Characteristics Of A Great Transportation Dispatcher

There are few jobs in a school district more immediately demanding and with more responsibility than that of a school's transportation dispatcher. It's an understated title, truly. They're tasked with directly overseeing the transportation and safety of hu..

transport_software, school_bus_routing_software, transportation_dispatcher

Routing And Scheduling Software, It Helps Keep You Organized

Consider the scenario where you manage more than 100 buses in the district. You assign each bus with a primary route and another bus as a standby. While the routes are in session, you experience three breakdowns, and the communication systems that you are ..

routing_and_scheduling_software, school_bus_routing_software, routing_software

4 Ways To Use A Student Tracking Sheet

As scholastic technology and techniques continue to move into the future, offering educators and administrators access to unprecedented tools with which to do their jobs, a few "old-school" methods remain the most effective way to accomplish certain tasks...

student_tracking_sheet, school_bus_routing_software, transportation_supervisor

Purchase Dispatch Software For Live Communication

A very stressful moment for both the driver in the fleet and the transportation team keeping track of the fleet is that moment of no communication. Whether it is because there's a problem with the radios or phones currently implemented or something else en..

Dispatch_Software, school_bus_routing_software, bus_tracking

Tracker Tracking Systems Will Never Let You Down

In any transportation system, you want to make sure that all the critical stages of your passengers and vehicles are met with precision, or at least tolerable. In school transportation systems, there are two factors that are critical to observe:

Student_Tracking_Software, school_bus_routing_software, tracker_tracking_systems

How Can My District Benefit By Hiring A Transportation Manager?

One of the most critical tasks in any School District is managing the transportation system that gets school children to and from school and home and other planned locations. This is an immense responsibility and many critical factors to consider. When the..

transportation_manager, school_bus_routing_software, school_bus_driver

How To Properly Use Transport Software

Running a good transport software solution for your school district’s transportation needs shouldn’t break the bank. And it shouldn’t take a degree in computer science to operate, either. There are a lot of affordable transport and routing software options..

transport_software, school_bus_routing_software, routing_software

Keep Your Employees Organized With Bus Routing Software

We bill our BusBoss software as bus routing software, but the truth is, it goes far beyond simply scheduling buses. As more schools move towards entirely computer-based solutions for running their operations, there's a real need for software that performs ..

bus_routing_software, school_bus_routing_software, routing_software

3 Reasons To Use GPS Vehicle Routing Software

GPS systems have totally changed how vehicle fleets are managed in the 21st century. Rather than having to rely on radio contact and guesswork to keep tabs on drivers and vehicles, it's now possible to have live accurate updates on your buses where ever th..

transportation_routing_software, vehicle_routing_software, transportation_manager

4 Times You'll Want To Get Student Tracking Software

Student tracking software is a new technology that's arrived just in time for schools looking to meet the demands of a 21st Century school system.

Student_Tracking_Software, student_tracking_systems

4 Myths About Transportation Management Services

In transportortation management services, sometimes popular belief might be easy to accept than fact, especially since the services are directly related to the safety of children, a top agenda for the country. In appeasing the public perception, situations..

transportation_management_services, transportation_manager, school_bus_routing_software

If You Need Organization, You Need A Transportation Manager

There is no fully autonomous system; even the most sophisticated applications for technology are fully dependent on the expertise of human resources. This is especially true of transportation services, where the intervention of a transportation manager is ..

transportation_manager, school_bus_routing_software, school_bus_driver

What's The Purpose Of Student Management?

The main objective at the end of the day for any school is the dissemination of information in an environment that encourages accountability, relevance and retention of the information gathered. Such are the main objectives of a school administrator, who, ..

student_management, student_management_system, school_bus_routing_software

Why Do Companies Need Updated Transport Software?

Transportation software increases the viability for efficiency and in meeting your company's logistical goals. Your transportation system is possibly your most critical organ in the entire organization that needs constant monitoring and management. Since t..

school_management_system, transport_software, school_bus_routing_software, transportation_coordinator

3 Reasons To Use Route Software

Depending on how long you've been working in schools, you might remember the “good” old days when bus route planning was done by hand. The transportation coordinator stayed up late at night using pushpins and string on a map to try to create bus routes. An..

route_software, route_planning_software, school_bus_routing_software

4 Tips To Using School Bus Routing Software

If you've recently purchased new school bus routing software – which is an excellent idea, by the way – it may be hard for you to get a handle on all the new features of the software package. While the basic interface is simple enough for anyone to learn w..

bus_routing_software, bus_routing, school_bus_routing_software

Reasons To Consider Hiring A Transportation Coordinator

Let's be honest, these are tough times to be involved in school management. Pressures are mounting on all sides, with very few release valves available. School budgets are constantly being cut, so you have to make do with less each year, or so it seems. Ye..

Transportation_Management_Software, school_bus_routing_software, school_bus_tracking_software, student_transportation_software, Student_School_Bus_Safety, route_efficiency, school_bus_route_planning_software, school_bus_route_optimization, school_bus_route_scheduling_software

3 Signs You Need Route Management Software

Are you having a hard time managing and optimizing your school's transportation systems?

route_management_software, school_bus_routing_software, routing_software

Ensure Security With A Student Tracker

Even beyond providing an education, arguably the single most important thing for a school to do is ensure the safety of the students in its care. Every day, over a hundred million parents trust their children to your care for most of the day, and it's abso..

student_management, student_tracking_systems, student_tracker, school_bus_routing_software

What Types Of Businesses Should Use Route Software?

We've come a long way with transportation systems in the last few decades. Virtually anyone reading this likely remembers the days before GPS systems and computer-based mapping. After all, the standard GPS systems only officially went online in 1994! (It s..

route_software, school_bus_routing_software, routing_software

3 Signs You Need A Better System For Tracking School

In days past, back when school systems had better finances, gas prices were reasonable and parents had actual relationships with their children’s school bus drivers, there was little need for tracking school buses and other transportation.

Transportation_Management_Software, school_bus_routing_software, school_bus_tracking_software, student_transportation_software, Student_School_Bus_Safety, route_efficiency, school_bus_route_planning_software, school_bus_route_optimization, school_bus_route_scheduling_software, vehicle_tracking_software

Tracker Tracking Systems Help Monitor Driver Compliance

Have you ever wished you could keep better tabs on your drivers while they're on the road?

school_bus_routhing_software, tracker_tracking_systems, GPS_Tracking

5 Skills To Look For In A Transportation Supervisor

The Job is quite demanding, and for the right reason. For a transportation manager, the passengers are the most prized assets in the country, and the loss, injury or undesired treatment of any of them is not acceptable. In transporting students safely and ..

school_bus_routhing_software, school_bus_driver, transportation_supervisor

Why Should I Implement A School Bus Pass System?

The responsibility that comes from running a school bus system is enormous. Every day, hundreds or thousands of parents trust you with the single most precious thing in their lives, believing that you'll get their children to and from school without incide..

school_bus_routhing_software, school_bus_driver, school_bus_pass

How To Properly Use Transport Software

Running a good transport software solution for your school district’s transportation needs shouldn’t break the bank. And it shouldn’t take a degree in computer science to operate, either. There are a lot of affordable transport and routing software options..

transport_software, school_bus_routhing_software, routing_software

Routing And Scheduling Software, It Helps Keep You Organized

Consider the scenario where you manage more than 100 buses in the district. You assign each bus with a primary route and another bus as a standby. While the routes are in session, you experience three breakdowns, and the communication systems that you are ..

routing_and_scheduling_software, school_bus_routhing_software, school_bus_driver

Protect Your Students And Your School With A Student Tracker

As a parent and a school administrator, your greatest concern is the safety of your kids. You need to know exactly where they are, what they are doing and what their parents are saying about where they should be. With many incidents of child abduction and ..

student_management_system, student_tracker, school_bus_routhing_software

3 Reasons To Use A GSM GPS Tracker

With so many different advances in technology, being able to expertly manage and coordinate an entire fleet of vehicles has become much easier. Busses and vans can be individually tracked on a live-updated map which can show highly detailed information abo..

Transportation_Management_Software, route_software, gsm_gps_tracker, gps_vehicle_fleet_tracking, school_bus_routing_software, transportation_coordinator

Reasons To Consider Hiring A Transportation Coordinator

Let's be honest, these are tough times to be involved in school management. Pressures are mounting on all sides, with very few release valves available. School budgets are constantly being cut, so you have to make do with less each year, or so it seems. Ye..

Transportation_Management_Software, school_bus_routing_software, school_bus_tracking_software, student_transportation_software, Student_School_Bus_Safety, route_efficiency, school_bus_route_planning_software, school_bus_route_optimization, school_bus_route_scheduling_software

3 Signs You Need A Better System For Tracking School

In days past, back when school systems had better finances, gas prices were reasonable and parents had actual relationships with their children’s school bus drivers, there was little need for tracking school buses and other transportation.

Transportation_Management_Software, school_bus_routing_software, school_bus_tracking_software, student_transportation_software, Student_School_Bus_Safety, route_efficiency, school_bus_route_planning_software, school_bus_route_optimization, school_bus_route_scheduling_software

Why You Should Purchase Tracker Tracking Systems

With so many responsibilities that need to be taken care of throughout the day (or even during the entire week), the last thing a transportation supervisor wants to deal with is a stolen vehicle.

Transportation_Management_Software, school_bus_routing_software, school_bus_tracking_software, student_transportation_software, Student_School_Bus_Safety, route_efficiency, school_bus_route_planning_software, school_bus_route_optimization, school_bus_route_scheduling_software

3 Ways To Get Things Under Control With Route Management Software

One of the most frustrating and difficult responsibilities when it comes to managing an entire fleet of transportation vehicles, whether it is cars or buses, is making sure that all of those vehicles are where they need to be, on time, and don't have any m..

Transportation_Management_Software, school_bus_routing_software, school_bus_tracking_software, student_transportation_software, Student_School_Bus_Safety, route_efficiency, school_bus_route_planning_software, school_bus_route_optimization, school_bus_route_scheduling_software

5 Ways A GSM GPS Tracker Can Be Used

Traditionally, school districts are hesitant to invest in new technology. There are a number of reasons for this, with the cost of new tech being among the most pressing. Without donations of machines, it's difficult for a school to afford to outfit itself..

Transportation_Management_Software, school_bus_routing_software, school_bus_tracking_software, student_transportation_software, Student_School_Bus_Safety, route_efficiency, school_bus_route_planning_software, school_bus_route_optimization, school_bus_route_scheduling_software, vehicle_tracking_software

Route Planning Software: Keeping You Organized

Organization is one of the key factors in making sure that all of your route management and transportation fleet reporting is under control and as efficient as possible. But sometimes things can go awry and suddenly that organized system isn't working anym..

Transportation_Management_Software, school_bus_routing_software, school_bus_tracking_software, student_transportation_software, Student_School_Bus_Safety, route_efficiency, school_bus_route_planning_software, school_bus_route_optimization, school_bus_route_scheduling_software

4 Tips To Using Route Software

Technology and software is becoming such a commonplace part within life that it is almost hard to believe how we were able to get work done in the years before computers and computer software. But now things have become much easier and much more convenient..

Transportation_Management_Software, school_bus_routing_software, school_bus_tracking_software, student_transportation_software, Student_School_Bus_Safety, route_efficiency, school_bus_route_planning_software, school_bus_route_optimization, school_bus_route_scheduling_software

5 Ways To Use Routing And Scheduling Software

Gone are the days of having to use pen, paper, and manually putting in reports for an entire fleet of buses. Say goodbye to the ways of having to chart through large maps and use push-pins--now, you can easily keep track of everything, from routing to sche..

Transportation_Management_Software, school_bus_routing_software, school_bus_tracking_software, student_transportation_software, Student_School_Bus_Safety, route_efficiency, school_bus_route_planning_software, school_bus_route_optimization, school_bus_route_scheduling_software

3 Reasons For Joining The Tracking Schools

One of the most contentious issues in current American school politics is the matter of the “tracking schools.” Led by experiments in Texas that are being replicated worldwide, these are schools that have begun actively using GPS and RFID tracking technolo..

Transportation_Management_Software, school_bus_routing_software, school_bus_tracking_software, student_transportation_software, Student_School_Bus_Safety, route_efficiency, school_bus_route_planning_software, school_bus_route_optimization, school_bus_route_scheduling_software

6 Characteristics Of A Great School Bus Driver

A great group of bus drivers means that you can have one of the best fleets to manage, making it easier for you to do your job and stay on route with schedules and plans. However, being able to create that group and find those highly professional bus drive..

Transportation_Management_Software, school_bus_routing_software, school_bus_tracking_software, student_transportation_software, Student_School_Bus_Safety, route_efficiency, school_bus_route_planning_software, school_bus_route_optimization, school_bus_route_scheduling_software

What To Expect From Transportation Management Services

With budgets being crunched around the nation, any enterprise that maintains a vehicle fleet has to be extremely careful about how they spend their money. From private businesses to haulage companies to public schools: your vehicles are one of your biggest..

Transportation_Management_Software, school_bus_routing_software, school_bus_tracking_software, student_transportation_software, Student_School_Bus_Safety, route_efficiency, school_bus_route_planning_software, school_bus_route_optimization, school_bus_route_scheduling_software

Transport Software: Step By Step Directions To Using It

There are a lot of transport software solutions on the market today, aimed at enterprises at various levels of proficiency. However, when we were developing our Transport Software we realized that the most powerful software in the world really isn't much h..

Transportation_Management_Software, school_bus_routing_software, school_bus_tracking_software, student_transportation_software, Student_School_Bus_Safety, route_efficiency, school_bus_route_planning_software, school_bus_route_optimization, school_bus_route_scheduling_software

What To Look For In A Transportation Supervisor

As transportation systems become more complex, handling their management and oversight similarly becomes a more complex task. In the past, you may have done well enough scheduling and routing your vehicles with strings and pushpins on maps, and using simpl..

Transportation_Management_Software, school_bus_routing_software, school_bus_tracking_software, student_transportation_software, Student_School_Bus_Safety, route_efficiency, school_bus_route_planning_software, school_bus_route_optimization, school_bus_route_scheduling_software

Do You Need A Student Tracking System?

One of the biggest fears of transportation coordinators, school administrators, parents, and even school bus drivers, is a missing child during the transportation to and from school. While it may be uncommon to have a missing child issue during the entiret..

Transportation_Management_Software, Student_Tracking_Software, school_bus_routing_software, school_bus_tracking_software, student_ridership, student_transportation_software, Student_School_Bus_Safety, route_efficiency, school_bus_route_planning_software, school_bus_route_optimization, school_bus_route_scheduling_software

Helpful Tips For Vehicle Monitoring

If you're responsible for overseeing school bus operations – or any sort of fleet of land vehicles – I don't have to tell you what a challenging task it is. Your cargo is beyond precious, you have potentially hundreds or thousands of “clients” (parents) to..

Transportation_Management_Software, school_bus_routing_software, school_bus_tracking_software, student_transportation_software, Student_School_Bus_Safety, route_efficiency, school_bus_route_planning_software, school_bus_route_optimization, school_bus_route_scheduling_software, vehicle_tracking_software

Why Tracking School Transportation Is Really Important

In the old days, tracking school transportation and creating routes may have been done with pen and paper, but times have changed. Fortunately, this process has been revolutionized with the implementation of top notch software and GPS tracking systems. Thi..

Transportation_Management_Software, school_bus_routing_software, school_bus_tracking_software, student_transportation_software, Student_School_Bus_Safety, route_efficiency, school_bus_route_planning_software, school_bus_route_optimization, school_bus_route_scheduling_software

What To Do With A School Bus Pass

The school bus pass is not normally considered by most administration, especially when they have so much to worry about and take responsibility for. However, school bus passes are quite important for their highly simple way of making sure that no student i..

Transportation_Management_Software, school_bus_routing_software, school_bus_tracking_software, student_transportation_software, Student_School_Bus_Safety, route_efficiency, school_bus_route_planning_software, school_bus_route_optimization, school_bus_route_scheduling_software

GPS Fleet Tracking Companies: Why You Need Them

For many businesses, the single most powerful tool that computing has brought them is optimization. In most industries, we're still using fundamentally the same processes and ideas that we've been using for decades, but computers allow us to do them better..

Transportation_Management_Software, school_bus_routing_software, school_bus_tracking_software, student_transportation_software, Student_School_Bus_Safety, route_efficiency, school_bus_route_planning_software, school_bus_route_optimization, school_bus_route_scheduling_software, vehicle_tracking_software

Tracking Schools: Are You Doing It Properly?

Being able to track all of the schools in your area can feel like a tough job, but thankfully routing software takes the guess work--and most of the hard work--out of the equation so you can focus on other responsibilities that need your attention. Trackin..

Transportation_Management_Software, school_bus_routing_software, school_bus_tracking_software, student_transportation_software, Student_School_Bus_Safety, route_efficiency, school_bus_route_planning_software, school_bus_route_optimization, school_bus_route_scheduling_software

Satellite Vehicle Tracking: It's More Important Than You'd Think

Do you know where your fleet is at all times? While it may sound impossible, it is actually quite possible to be able to know exactly where your entire fleet is even when part of it might be parked somewhere and another in-use and going along with all of t..

Transportation_Management_Software, school_bus_routing_software, school_bus_tracking_software, student_transportation_software, Student_School_Bus_Safety, route_efficiency, school_bus_route_planning_software, school_bus_route_optimization, school_bus_route_scheduling_software

How To Get The Most Out Of Your Transportation Coordinator

A transportation coordinator's job is a round the clock operation. The job entails many different duties and often times involves taking on the tasks of multiple positions. They have numerous responsibilities and must answer to their manager, school staff ..

Transportation_Management_Software, school_bus_routing_software, school_bus_tracking_software, student_transportation_software, Student_School_Bus_Safety, route_efficiency, school_bus_route_planning_software, school_bus_route_optimization, school_bus_route_scheduling_software

School Management System: How It Should Operate

The ways to harness technology to make your school run more smoothly and more safely are expanding quickly. Just a couple decades ago, it was still standard to see school districts doing most of their record-keeping by hand: drawing bus routes with lines o..

Transportation_Management_Software, transportation_management_services, school_bus_routing_software, school_bus_tracking_software, student_transportation_software, Student_School_Bus_Safety, route_efficiency, school_bus_route_planning_software, school_bus_route_optimization, school_bus_route_scheduling_software

Ways To Organize Your Student Management

Chances are, your student management is organized, in some fashion, with a student database at the center of it. You have a list of students, and you go from there: they get use to routine bus routes, to classes, and so forth. That's the standard way.

Transportation_Management_Software, transportation_management_services, school_bus_routing_software, school_bus_tracking_software, student_transportation_software, Student_School_Bus_Safety, route_efficiency, school_bus_route_planning_software, school_bus_route_optimization, school_bus_route_scheduling_software

Benefits To Using AVL GPS

With the recent tragedy in Connecticut, public school safety is once again among the most important discussions in the nation. While the Newtown shooting may not have been easily avoided, anyone with responsibility in a school district should be looking fo..

Transportation_Management_Software, school_bus_routing_software, school_bus_tracking_software, student_transportation_software, Student_School_Bus_Safety, route_efficiency, school_bus_route_planning_software, school_bus_route_optimization, school_bus_route_scheduling_software, vehicle_tracking_software

How To Use Bus Tracking Correctly

So, your school just went ahead and decided to invest in a GPS-based bus tracking system. That's an excellent call. GPS tracking can save you money on your bus fleet in numerous ways, as well as helping to keep the students in your care safe, but only if i..

Transportation_Management_Software, school_bus_routing_software, school_bus_tracking_software, student_transportation_software, Student_School_Bus_Safety, route_efficiency, school_bus_route_planning_software, school_bus_route_optimization, school_bus_route_scheduling_software, vehicle_tracking_software

Why You Should Install GPS Vehicle Fleet Tracking

Now is an especially good time to be asking yourself: Are my school district's buses as safe for students to ride as they can be?

Transportation_Management_Software, school_bus_routing_software, school_bus_tracking_software, student_transportation_software, Student_School_Bus_Safety, route_efficiency, school_bus_route_planning_software, school_bus_route_optimization, school_bus_route_scheduling_software, vehicle_tracking_software

Route Optimization Services - What Should I Expect?

Route Optimization Services - What should I expect?

Transportation_Management_Software, transportation_management_services, school_bus_routing_software, school_bus_tracking_software, student_transportation_software, Student_School_Bus_Safety, route_efficiency, school_bus_route_planning_software, school_bus_route_optimization, school_bus_route_scheduling_software

Use A Vehicle Monitoring System To Stay Organized

One of the most difficult tasks when it comes to managing dozens of vehicles and drivers is the nightmare of having unorganized documents on all of that routing data and information. Missing documents can mean a very bad time when it comes to reporting, au..

Transportation_Management_Software, school_bus_routing_software, school_bus_tracking_software, student_transportation_software, Student_School_Bus_Safety, route_efficiency, school_bus_route_planning_software, school_bus_route_optimization, school_bus_route_scheduling_software, vehicle_tracking_software

Stay In The Know With School Bus Routing Software

Whether you are the school administrator and handling thousands of students and hundreds of faculty, a transportation director overseeing all of the bus routes and drivers, superintendent, or even a business manager, having up to date information to ensure..

Transportation_Management_Software, school_bus_routing_software, school_bus_tracking_software, student_transportation_software, Student_School_Bus_Safety, route_efficiency, school_bus_route_planning_software, school_bus_route_optimization, school_bus_route_scheduling_software

Using Your Vehicle Routing Software To Get The Big Bucks

Running any sort of contracted school bus service is a difficult job, with razor-thin profit margins. Far too many schools are seeing their budgets cut every year, putting more pressure on you to squeeze as much as you possibly can out of your fleets and s..

Transportation_Management_Software, school_bus_routing_software, school_bus_tracking_software, student_transportation_software, Student_School_Bus_Safety, route_efficiency, school_bus_route_planning_software, school_bus_route_optimization, school_bus_route_scheduling_software

What Do You Use A Student Tracking System For?

You've probably been aware of a debate in recent years over student tracking. An increasing number of schools have begun issuing their students mandatory ID cards to track them throughout school property, or even on the school bus.

Transportation_Management_Software, Student_Tracking_Software, school_bus_routing_software, school_bus_tracking_software, student_ridership, student_transportation_software, Student_School_Bus_Safety, route_efficiency, school_bus_route_planning_software, school_bus_route_optimization, school_bus_route_scheduling_software

Getting Schooled With A School Bus Driver

I have nothing but sympathy for school bus drivers. It really has to be one of the most stressful and demanding jobs on the planet. I might not know first-hand, but I have the next-best thing. My mother was a school bus driver for several years, and I'll n..

Transportation_Management_Software, school_bus_routing_software, school_bus_tracking_software, student_transportation_software, Student_School_Bus_Safety, route_efficiency, school_bus_route_planning_software, school_bus_route_optimization, school_bus_route_scheduling_software

How To Keep Tabs With A Student Tracking Sheet

Despite all the advances in bus tracking, bus routing software, and organization, sometimes the traditional solutions are still the best.

Transportation_Management_Software, Student_Tracking_Software, school_bus_routing_software, school_bus_tracking_software, student_ridership, student_transportation_software, Student_School_Bus_Safety, route_efficiency, school_bus_route_planning_software, school_bus_route_optimization, school_bus_route_scheduling_software

6 Proper Uses For GPS Vehicle Fleet Tracking Systems

With schools constantly seeing their budgets slashed, you're undoubtedly feeling the pinch yourself if you're in the business of providing school bus services. Economization is the name of the game across our school districts, from bus drivers to teachers...

Transportation_Management_Software, school_bus_routing_software, school_bus_tracking_software, student_transportation_software, Student_School_Bus_Safety, route_efficiency, school_bus_route_planning_software, school_bus_route_optimization, school_bus_route_scheduling_software, vehicle_tracking_software

How To Know Your School Management System Needs An Upgrade

It's hard to believe that just a few decades ago, all school record-keeping was done by hand. Today, a good database-driven school management system is absolutely a necessity. Between the proliferation of helicopter parenting and ever-increasing societal f..

Transportation_Management_Software, school_bus_routing_software, school_bus_tracking_software, student_transportation_software, Student_School_Bus_Safety, route_efficiency, school_bus_route_planning_software, school_bus_route_optimization, school_bus_route_scheduling_software

How To Use A Transportation Dispatcher To Their Full Potential

In the hugely competitive marketplace we face today, it is critical for savvy Transportation Directors, Superintendents, and Business Managers to better manage every single business process from your transportation equipment to your drivers to your transpo..

transportation_management_services, school_bus_routing_software, school_bus_tracking_software, student_transportation_software, Student_School_Bus_Safety, route_efficiency, school_bus_route_planning_software, school_bus_route_optimization, school_bus_route_scheduling_software

Signs You Need New Route Planning Software

As technology becomes even more integrated into daily life, it will become even more commonplace when it comes to tracking routes and school buses. Instead of having to configure bus routes and distances students walk to the closest bus manually and potent..

Transportation_Management_Software, school_bus_routing_software, school_bus_tracking_software, student_transportation_software, Student_School_Bus_Safety, route_efficiency, school_bus_route_planning_software, school_bus_route_optimization, school_bus_route_scheduling_software

Transportation Routing Software: Keeping Your Employees On Track

Having to manage an entire fleet of vehicles can be difficult when data has to be tracked manually, on top of making sure all of the employees utilizing the fleet are where they need to be and being properly tracked. Instead of having to manually pencil in..

Transportation_Management_Software, school_bus_routing_software, school_bus_tracking_software, student_transportation_software, Student_School_Bus_Safety, route_efficiency, school_bus_route_planning_software, school_bus_route_optimization, school_bus_route_scheduling_software

How To Make Bus Routing Software Work For You

The greatest thing about bus management and routing these days is the ability to complete everything through technology and software. You don't have to worry about the mountains of paperwork that goes into tracking students, distances to different bus rout..

Transportation_Management_Software, school_bus_routing_software, school_bus_tracking_software, student_transportation_software, Student_School_Bus_Safety, route_efficiency, school_bus_route_planning_software, school_bus_route_optimization, school_bus_route_scheduling_software

Vehicle Monitoring System: 5 Ways Not To Use It

Back in the old days, keeping track of each individual vehicle's gas consumption, mileage, and possibly repairs meant a lot of reports, careful tracking, and possible human errors in the system. And when it comes to bigger fleets of buses that are transpor..

Transportation_Management_Software, school_bus_routing_software, school_bus_tracking_software, student_transportation_software, Student_School_Bus_Safety, route_efficiency, school_bus_route_planning_software, school_bus_route_optimization, school_bus_route_scheduling_software

Why Your Company Needs Better Dispatch Software

Before we begin this blog, I just wanted to say something: Thank you, school bus managers and school transportation officers.

Transportation_Management_Software, transportation_management_services, school_bus_routing_software, school_bus_tracking_software, student_transportation_software, Student_School_Bus_Safety, route_efficiency, school_bus_route_planning_software, school_bus_route_optimization, school_bus_route_scheduling_software

How To Get The Most Out Of Your Route Optimization Software

If you're in the business of planning a school's bus schedule, we don't have to tell you how demanding the job is. Hundreds or thousands of children rely on you to get to and from school safely, and if any of them are even a few minutes late, you'll be hea..

Transportation_Management_Software, transportation_management_services, school_bus_routing_software, school_bus_tracking_software, student_transportation_software, Student_School_Bus_Safety, route_efficiency, school_bus_route_planning_software, school_bus_route_optimization, school_bus_route_scheduling_software

5 Reasons You Need Student Tracking Software

Student tracking software is a necessity, the most accurate and effective way to keep children safe and to minimize today’s extraordinary transportation costs. Whether you’re the business manager, transportation director, the superintendent of a school dis..

Transportation_Management_Software, Student_Tracking_Software, school_bus_routing_software, school_bus_tracking_software, student_ridership, student_transportation_software, Student_School_Bus_Safety, route_efficiency, school_bus_route_planning_software, school_bus_route_optimization, school_bus_route_scheduling_software

Transportation Costs Impact on School Budgets

Transportation Costs Impact on School Budgets School transportation costs eat a huge chunk of any schools budget. The cost of transporting kids to school needs to be reduced. Because there is such a high impact on school budgets from school transportation ..

Transportation_Management_Software, school_bus_routing_software, school_bus_tracking_software, student_transportation_software, Student_School_Bus_Safety, route_efficiency, school_bus_route_planning_software, school_bus_route_optimization, school_bus_route_scheduling_software

When Does Ensuring Child Stability Require Bus Routing?

We are currently living in the era of speed and mobility. While this can have numerous economical advantages, things are not always positive when it comes to children’s education. For the little ones, stability is very important and the lack of it can seri..

Transportation_Management_Software, school_bus_routing_software, school_bus_tracking_software, student_transportation_software, Student_School_Bus_Safety, route_efficiency, school_bus_route_planning_software, school_bus_route_optimization, school_bus_route_scheduling_software

GPS Vehicle Tracking: Strengthening Trust While Reducing Costs

When concerned parents are waiting for the school bus, every passing second is a potential moment for panic.

Transportation_Management_Software, school_bus_routing_software, school_bus_tracking_software, student_transportation_software, Student_School_Bus_Safety, route_efficiency, school_bus_route_planning_software, school_bus_route_optimization, school_bus_route_scheduling_software, vehicle_tracking_software

Commonly Asked Questions about Managing Field Trips

In the interest of helping you accurately estimate school transportation costs in the event of any planned field trips, it is instructive to review a short compendium of the most common questions asked by administrators and field-trip coordinators nationwi..

Transportation_Management_Software, school_bus_routing_software, school_bus_tracking_software, student_transportation_software, Student_School_Bus_Safety, route_efficiency, school_bus_route_planning_software, school_bus_route_optimization, school_bus_route_scheduling_software

Fine Tune Your Transportation Services Using Vehicle Routing Software

In today's economy, every penny counts. With dwindling budgets, public schools are forced to cut corners wherever possible. This may include changing school schedules, to accommodate two tiers per bus, or finding ways to make a route more cost effective. O..

Transportation_Management_Software, transportation_management_services, school_bus_routing_software, school_bus_tracking_software, student_transportation_software, Student_School_Bus_Safety, route_efficiency, school_bus_route_planning_software, school_bus_route_optimization, school_bus_route_scheduling_software

School Districts Take Steps to Reduce Their Transportation Costs

With rising gas prices and decreasing school budgets, minimizing school bus transportation costs has never been more beneficial to a school than now. Because of the great variability in how much you might get from one year to the next for transportation co..

route_optimization, school_transportation_costs, Save_Route_Costs

GPS Vehicle Tracking System Enhances Safety and Cuts Costs

Even though it has gotten a bad reputation and caused a lot of controversy, GPS vehicle tracking is simply a way for companies to ensure the safety of their drivers. Despite what many people think, companies do not impose GPS tracking on their drivers to i..

Transportation_Management_Software, gps_vehicle_tracking, school_bus_routing_software, school_bus_tracking_software, student_transportation_software, Student_School_Bus_Safety, route_efficiency, school_bus_route_planning_software, school_bus_route_optimization, school_bus_route_scheduling_software

School Transportation Costs Drive Districts Toward Change

With school transportation costs rising, many public schools are beginning to make drastic changes to their transportation polices. The more the schools must depend on themselves and less on government funding, the burden of school transportation costs fal..

Transportation_Management_Software, school_bus_routing_software, school_bus_tracking_software, student_transportation_software, Student_School_Bus_Safety, route_efficiency, school_bus_route_planning_software, school_bus_route_optimization, school_bus_route_scheduling_software

School Transportation Costs, Policies and Practices: A Review of ...

School Transportation Costs, Policies and Practices: A review of … School transportation routes and therefore costs will change at the start of the 2012 - 2013 school year. If your child is enrolled at a primary school, you should read this very important ..

Transportation_Management_Software, school_bus_routing_software, school_bus_tracking_software, student_transportation_software, Student_School_Bus_Safety, route_efficiency, school_bus_route_planning_software, school_bus_route_optimization, school_bus_route_scheduling_software

Strategies for Saving School Bus Energy...

School bus transportation is one of the main forms of mass transit in the United States. This transportation program provides great savings in fuel costs as large numbers of students ride in one school bus as opposed to small numbers of students riding in ..

Transportation_Management_Software, school_bus_routing_software, school_bus_tracking_software, student_transportation_software, Student_School_Bus_Safety, route_efficiency, school_bus_route_planning_software, school_bus_route_optimization, school_bus_route_scheduling_software

Pros and Cons of GPS Vehicle Tracking...

GPS vehicle tracking has become a popular way for employers to monitor employees who's job depends on driving and for the parents of teenage drivers to monitor where the teens are driving. There are a few pros and cons to using vehicle tracking through a G..

Transportation_Management_Software, school_bus_routing_software, school_bus_tracking_software, gps_tracking_software, student_transportation_software, Student_School_Bus_Safety, route_efficiency, school_bus_route_planning_software, school_bus_route_optimization, school_bus_route_scheduling_software

SIF Agent 2.0r1

For those that don't know, SIF is an acronym for Schools Interoperability Framework. SIF is a specifications that defines how software applications for K-12 school systems exchange data.

Transportation_Management_Software, school_bus_routing_software, school_bus_tracking_software, student_transportation_software, Student_School_Bus_Safety, route_efficiency, school_bus_route_planning_software, school_bus_route_optimization, school_bus_route_scheduling_software

School Bus Drivers Deserve Our Respect

Every day you trust them with the lives of your children. There are approximately 480,000 buses transporting students. This means there are at least 480,000 bus drivers. In reality, there is more than that because each school district needs substitute bus ..

Transportation_Management_Software, school_bus_routing_software, school_bus_tracking_software, student_transportation_software, Student_School_Bus_Safety, route_efficiency, school_bus_route_planning_software, school_bus_route_optimization, school_bus_route_scheduling_software

School Bus Safety: Know Your Drivers

Every day we trust school bus drivers all across the country to safely transport our children to and from school and any programs in between. Most of us probably never give it a second thought. I just read an article that explains how a 17 year old passeng..

Transportation_Management_Software, school_bus_routing_software, school_bus_tracking_software, student_transportation_software, Student_School_Bus_Safety, route_efficiency, school_bus_route_planning_software, school_bus_route_optimization, school_bus_route_scheduling_software

School Bus Safety: Don’t Turn That Bus Around

School buses are big. Really big! Whenever a school bus needs to turn around, especially when backing up, the potential for an accident is a lot higher. There are quite a few blind spots at the back of the bus that could prevent the driver from seeing a pa..

Transportation_Management_Software, school_bus_routing_software, school_bus_tracking_software, student_transportation_software, Student_School_Bus_Safety, route_efficiency, school_bus_route_planning_software, school_bus_route_optimization, school_bus_route_scheduling_software

School Bus Safety: Special Medical Condition Reports

Nobody likes to think about accidents or medical emergencies, especially when you’re also thinking about school buses and students. Accidents do happen. Medical emergencies do happen. It’s important that we prepare for them. One important thing you can do ..

Transportation_Management_Software, school_bus_routing_software, school_bus_tracking_software, student_transportation_software, Student_School_Bus_Safety, route_efficiency, school_bus_route_planning_software, school_bus_route_optimization, school_bus_route_scheduling_software

School Bus Safety: Tracking Student Incidents

School Bus Safety is an often neglected topic for many people, which is unfortunate because millions of students are transported daily on school buses. We have a civic responsibility to promote school bus safety whenever, and wherever, we can.

Transportation_Management_Software, Student_Tracking_Software, school_bus_routing_software, school_bus_tracking_software, student_transportation_software, Student_School_Bus_Safety, route_efficiency, school_bus_route_planning_software, school_bus_route_optimization, school_bus_route_scheduling_software

Is Your School Bus Stop Safe?

In a previous post, I talked about registered sex offenders that may live near your child’s bus stop "Are There Sex Offenders Near My Child's School Bus Stop". This is important to know, but it doesn’t mention other threats that may exist for your children..

Transportation_Management_Software, Student_Tracking_Software, school_bus_routing_software, school_bus_tracking_software, student_transportation_software, Student_School_Bus_Safety, route_efficiency, school_bus_route_planning_software, school_bus_route_optimization, school_bus_route_scheduling_software

BusBoss: School Bus Routing Software Backups

It’s happened again. A customer called recently saying that their server crashed and now they need help getting BusBoss back up and running. If your Transportation Management Software does not have backup and restore functionality, please take a close look..

Transportation_Management_Software, school_bus_routing_software, school_bus_tracking_software, student_transportation_software, Student_School_Bus_Safety, route_efficiency, school_bus_route_planning_software, school_bus_route_optimization, school_bus_route_scheduling_software

Transportation_Management_Software, school_bus_routing_software, school_bus_tracking_software, student_transportation_software, Student_School_Bus_Safety, route_efficiency, school_bus_route_planning_software, school_bus_route_optimization, school_bus_route_scheduling_software

Bus Software - Display Dead Ends to Find Map Problems

School bus route optimization requires accurate map data. Different map sources are available but there are several aspects of map data that determines its quality.

Transportation_Management_Software, school_bus_routing_software, school_bus_tracking_software, student_transportation_software, Student_School_Bus_Safety, route_efficiency, school_bus_route_planning_software, school_bus_route_optimization, school_bus_route_scheduling_software

Transportation_Management_Software, transportation_management_services, school_bus_routing_software, school_bus_tracking_software, student_transportation_software, Student_School_Bus_Safety, route_efficiency, school_bus_route_planning_software, school_bus_route_optimization, school_bus_route_scheduling_software

School Bus Route Optimization

Fleet Optimization was never one of my favorite subjects when it came to BusBoss. However, as the years have gone by this functionality has greatly improved. I would recommend this to anyone who asks me where to start when creating new routes.

Transportation_Management_Software, transportation_management_services, school_bus_routing_software, school_bus_tracking_software, student_transportation_software, Student_School_Bus_Safety, route_efficiency, school_bus_route_planning_software, school_bus_route_optimization, school_bus_route_scheduling_software

Top 10 Reasons for Using School Bus Routing Software

Are you transporting students on buses? What about vans? If you are, then you should be using school bus routing software. It does not matter if you have 1 bus or 1,000 buses, you should be using bus routing software to manage your bus fleet.

Transportation_Management_Software, transportation_management_services, school_bus_routing_software, school_bus_tracking_software, student_transportation_software, Student_School_Bus_Safety, route_efficiency, school_bus_route_planning_software, school_bus_route_optimization, school_bus_route_scheduling_software

Are There Sex Offenders Near My Child’s School Bus Stop?

Many states have laws that prevent registered sex offenders from living too close to schools and parks, but I am not aware of any that restricts their residence based on bus stop location. Given that suburban and rural America is splattered with bus stops,..

Transportation_Management_Software, Student_Tracking_Software, school_bus_routing_software, school_bus_tracking_software, student_transportation_software, Student_School_Bus_Safety, route_efficiency, school_bus_route_planning_software, school_bus_route_optimization, school_bus_route_scheduling_software

School Bus Route Planning

When you are planning your bus routes, what are you thinking about? I suspect that most transportation directors are thinking about accommodating all of their students and “hoping” that they won’t need to add additional buses.

Transportation_Management_Software, transportation_management_services, school_bus_routing_software, school_bus_tracking_software, student_transportation_software, Student_School_Bus_Safety, route_efficiency, school_bus_route_planning_software, school_bus_route_optimization, school_bus_route_scheduling_software

School Bus Passes and Fees

The use of school bus passes is becoming more prevalent over time. Bus passes are primarily used for students to get on their assigned school bus. They are usually required when students are expected to pay for their school bus transportation. Printing bus..

Transportation_Management_Software, Student_Tracking_Software, school_bus_routing_software, school_bus_tracking_software, student_ridership, student_transportation_software, Student_School_Bus_Safety, route_efficiency, school_bus_route_planning_software, school_bus_route_optimization, school_bus_route_scheduling_software

Court Ordered Split Custody School Bus Routing

As a transportation director, you have many responsibilities. Accommodating court ordered split custody school bus routing is just another one of them. While you may find this to be a nuisance, there is school transportation management software available t..

Transportation_Management_Software, bus_routing_software, BusBoss, student_management_system, split_custody_routing

School Bus Route Optimization: What is it and Why do I care?

School Bus Route Optimization is a process where the transportation director at a school generates a set of bus routes that ensures all students are transported to their required school on time.

BusBoss, route_optimization

Respect Your Transportation Director

If a transportation director is doing their job properly, they are often times forgotten about and left to the side lines. These people are responsible for a large percentage of the school district’s budget, and are often the focus of budget cuts.

Transportation_Management_Software, School_Transportation_Director

7 Questions to ask about School Transportation Management Software

After deciding that you need School Transportation Management Software, your next task is to decide which one to purchase. This is an important decision because you do not want to waste your valuable time and money.

Transportation_Management_Software, BusBoss

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