A webinar gave advice on meeting community needs with school bus service while also making efficient operational decisions.

“We know back to school is behind us, but the heavy lifting is not over,” said Tammy Cook, senior transportation advisor and board member of webinar sponsor Pathwise, during the Thursday presentation

The other panelists were Michael Roche, VP of customer engagement and business development for EZRouting, and Carl Allen, chief executive officer of 4MATIV, both of whom served as transportation directors for school districts.

Roche noted that a big challenge for school districts is bridging the gap between planned and actual ridership. He encouraged districts to use anything from manual headcounts to RFID card tracking to determine actual ridership numbers. Allen added that teachers and school staff can help by noting which buses seem emptier.

“You want to be sure your data is grounded in reality and not just assumptions from the summer,” Roche said. He and Allen advised loading accurate bell time data into routing software and coordinating with individual schools, which assists in making small adjustments in bus routing and tiered schedules.

“Buses will fill up with kids or time,” Allen quipped.

Each fall, Roche said that transportation staff, who often have spent the previous months in school startup “survival mode,” have a chance to catch their breath and look for efficiencies. He advised re-analyzing routes that have 25 to 50 percent underutilization.

Ridership data can be used to drive smarter scheduling, said Cook. While a headcount could tally the same ridership numbers across different days, Allen urged drilling into the data and counting exactly which students are riding the bus and when.

While seeking efficiencies, Allen cautioned districts to be aware of compliance issues, such as ensuring students with special needs always receive their legally mandated transportation. When routing, Roche said he adds buffers since student ridership can increase during the winter months or ones that coincide with individual sports off seasons.

“Just because they aren’t riding now doesn’t mean they won’t,” Cook agreed.

Allen noted that stop removal or consolidation boosts efficiency but requires communication and collaboration with parents, since they have already planned for their set bus stops. Parents may be more inclined to agree to bus stop changes if they know their stop can be reinstated, he said.

Roche agreed that due diligence should be performed to ensure that no one is using a particular bus stop before it is removed outright. He also noted that some districts use vans or sedans to shuttle rural students to a centralized bus stop location.

“Be thoughtful and communicative and transparent with your families,” Allen encouraged.

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Related: Ins, Outs of Routing Software Discussed at STN EXPO Reno
Related: Rethinking School Startup for Students with Special Needs
Related: Avoiding False Starts
Related: Navigating Parental Transportation Concerns Amid School Startup

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Roche advised soliciting community and district staff feedback on bus stop and routing changes. For instance, having a school receive students five minutes early could get 20 buses back on the route on time, but union requirements affect the hours school staff can work. Negotiation is necessary, Allen said.

Allen advised collecting key performance indicators – including on-time performance metrics, safety metrics, bus capacity utilization and driver performance – and then using them to effect changes, which should be slowly implemented so families and staff can effectively adjust. He also encouraged districts to route students as they enroll throughout the year, respond promptly to parent concerns, and reevaluate operations to ensure progress is being made.

Having this data helps legitimize transportation department requests and effect necessary changes at the district administration level, Roche underscored.

Roche pointed out that a route could be covered but still consistently running two hours late or repeatedly requiring substitute drivers, which signals improvement is needed. He noted that efficiency means different things to different operations. Each district has its own goals, with the ultimate goal being safe service to students.

Watch the webinar on demand.

The post From First Day to Fine-Tuning: Webinar Gives School Bus Routing Tips appeared first on School Transportation News.

A 17-year-old male was arrested in connection with a crash that left a 15-year-old student severely injured while waiting for his school bus last month, reported WIVB 4 News.

The incident reportedly took place just before 7 a.m. on Sept. 4, when the 17-year-old driver was traveling south in a Ford Explorer, veered off the roadway, drove through a front yard, and collided with a parked vehicle in a driveway.

The impact caused the parked car to strike the 15-year-old boy, who was standing nearby waiting for the school bus. The victim was transported to Erie County Medical Center (ECMC), where he was treated for severe leg injuries. The 17-year-old driver was also taken to ECMC for evaluation.

Following an investigation, police said that cannabis was detected in the driver’s bloodstream at the time of the crash. A further search of the vehicle uncovered two unfinished lower frames of a ghost gun pistol, along with an AR-15-style rifle, leading to serious concerns about the possession of unregistered firearms by a minor.

On Tuesday, the teen was charged with second-degree assault and second-degree vehicular assault. He also faces two counts of fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon, driving while impaired by drugs, and multiple vehicle and traffic violations. He was arraigned in youth court and remanded to the Oneida County Jail on $100,000 cash bail.

Authorities have not released the names of either the driver or the injured student because they are minors. The investigation remains ongoing.

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Related: Louisiana Child Hit by Truck, 19-Year-Old Driver Arrested
Related: Missouri Teens Arrested After Forcing Themselves Onto Independence School Bus
Related: Teen Sentenced to 25 Years for Attempted Murder in Maryland
Related: Pennsylvania Student Arrested After Allegedly Bringing Gun on School Bus

The post Teen Arrested After Allegedly Hitting Student Waiting for School Bus in New York appeared first on School Transportation News.

Some school districts and school bus companies in search of drivers may need to look even harder after a federal rule outlaws the issuing of CDLs to non-U.S. citizens.

Many U.S. states are pausing or suspending the issuance of non-domiciled commercial driver’s licenses (CDLs) in response to U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy’s Sept. 26 announcement of an emergency action to drastically restrict who is eligible for a non-domiciled commercial learner’s permits (CLPs) and CDLs.

Editor’s — This article has been updated to include more comments from states that responded to questions the initial publication. STN will provide further updates as more states respond.

According to the announcement, the rule — effective immediately — comes in response to an ongoing nationwide audit by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) and “a recent series of horrific, fatal crashes caused by non-domiciled drivers.”

The rule impacts nearly 200,000 current non-domiciled CDL holders and 20,000 CLP holders. FMCSA estimates about 6,000 drivers will qualify for non-domiciled credentials annually under the new restrictions.

It was unknown at this report how many of those are school bus drivers.

Duffy’s announcement indicates the audit uncovered “a catastrophic pattern of states issuing licenses illegally to foreign drivers, as well as the fact that even if the current regulatory framework is followed, it can fail.

“The confluence of these two factors has created an imminent hazard on America’s roadways that must be fixed,” a press release states.

Moving forward, non-citizens are ineligible for a non-domiciled CDL unless they meet a much stricter set of rules, including obtaining an employment-based visa and undergoing a mandatory federal immigration status check using the SAVE system.

SAVE is an online service for registered federal, state, territorial, tribal, and local government agencies to verify immigration status and naturalized/acquired U.S. citizenship of applicants seeking benefits or licenses.

“What our team has discovered should disturb and anger every American,” said Duffy, noting that CDLs are being issued to “dangerous foreign drivers – oftentimes illegally. This is a direct threat to the safety of every family on the road, and I won’t stand for it,” he continued.

FMCSA’s nationwide audit of non-domiciled CDLs uncovered systemic non-compliance across several states, the announcement noted, adding “the worst and most egregious in California. Due to weak oversight, insufficient training and programming errors, the agency found a large number of non-domiciled CDLs were issued to ineligible drivers and those whose licenses were valid long after their lawful presence in the U.S. expired.”

The audit indicates more than 25 percent of non-domiciled CDLs reviewed in California were improperly issued. U.S. DOT cited one case in which the state issued a driver from Brazil a CDL with endorsements to drive a passenger bus and a school bus that remained valid for months after his legal presence in the country expired.

As a result, Duffy also announced direct enforcement action against California, indicating the state must immediately pause issuance of non-domiciled CDLs, identify all unexpired non-domiciled CDLs that fail to comply with FMCSA regulations, and revoke and reissue all noncompliant non-domiciled CDLs if they comply with the new federal requirements.
Duffy gave California 30 days to come into compliance or FMCSA will withhold federal highway funds, starting at nearly $160 million in the first year and doubling in year two.

Jonathan Groveman, an information officer with the California Department of Motor Vehicles, told School Transportation News the agency is currently reviewing the federal government’s issued guidance within the federal government’s 30-day period.

Duffy indicated FMCSA’s findings are in addition to at least five fatal crashes occurring since January involving non-domiciled CDL holders, prompting what it calls Duffy’s urgent action to “combat the direct threat to national security and the hazard to public safety.”

Colorado, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Texas, and Washington were also identified as states with licensing patterns not consistent with federal regulations.

The action limits individuals eligible for non-domiciled CLPs and CDLs to foreign individuals in lawful status in the U.S. in certain employment-based, non-immigrant categories, certain individuals domiciled in a U.S. territory, and individuals domiciled in a state that is prohibited from issuing CLPs or CDLs because FMCSA has decertified the state’s CDL program.

It also requires:

• Non-citizen applicants — except for lawful permanent residents — to provide an unexpired foreign passport and an unexpired Form I-94/94A (Arrival/Departure Record) indicating one of the specified employment-based nonimmigrant categories, specifically H2-B, H2-A, and E-2 visas, at every issuance, transfer, renewal, and upgrade action de-fined in the regulation.

• State drivers licensing agencies (SDLA) to query the SAVE system, which is administered by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services within the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, to verify the accuracy and legitimacy of provided documents and information.

• SDLAs retain copies of the application documents for at least two years.

• The expiration date for any non-domiciled CLP or CDL to match the expiration date of the Form I-94/94A or to expire in one year, whichever is sooner.

• The applicant to be present in person at each renewal.

• An SDLA to downgrade the non-domiciled CLP or CDL if the state becomes aware that the holder is no longer eligible to hold a non-domiciled CLP or CDL.

STN reached out to all 50 state agencies that issue CDLs, with several state websites announcing changes.

The Colorado DMV provided a statement to STN that effective Sept. 29 it paused all commercial drivers issuances and renewals of term-limited or non-domiciled CDLs and CLPs.

A spokesperson for the Georgia Department of Driver Services told STN the state is complying with the new federal ruling by only issuing CDLs to permanent residents that have acceptable visas.

In New Mexico, the Motor Vehicle Division (MVD) announced it also paused its issuance and renewal of CDLs and CLPs to certain non-domiciled foreign individuals as of Sept. 29 to comply with the emergency interim final rules issued by the FMCSA.

The MVD statement reads that the agency’s pause in CDL and CPL issuance and renewal affects foreign nationals relying on an employment zuthorization card to substantiate their authorization to work in the U.S. and it will continue to issue CDLs and CLPs to foreign nationals who present a foreign passport with an approved I-94 Arrival/Departure record.

“New Mexico law complies with all federal requirements for the issuance of CDLs and CLPs to non-domiciled individuals,” according to the statement. “Currently, 204 CDLs and CLPs have been issued to non-domiciled individuals in New Mexico. 2

Legislation introduced in 2022 on behalf of MVD added requirements for issuances of CDLs and CLPs to foreign nationals who demonstrate lawful status in the U.S. Individuals who seek a new or renewed non-domiciled CDL or CLP based on an employment authorization card will not be able to complete their transaction through MVD or its partner offices at this time.’

Regarding school bus drivers, Megan Gleason, public information officer for the New Mexico Department of Taxation and Revenue, noted, “There is a specific endorsement — an S (school bus) endorsement — on commercial driver’s licenses that authorizes drivers to operate a school bus transporting students to and from school or school-sponsored activities.

“When applied to a commercial learner’s permit, the endorsement serves solely for testing purposes, permitting the driver to complete the required skills examination to qualify for the endorsement on their commercial driver’s license,” she said.

Current data on active and total endorsements in New Mexico, indicates there are four active non-domicile CDLs, a total of eight non-domicile CDLs since 2022, one active non-domicile CLPs, and a total of nine CLPs since 2022.

Gleason said the same requirement for a foreign passport with an I-94 for an H2/H2A/E2 visa remains for those drivers at the time of renewal.

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Related: U.S. DOT Proposes Rule to Add Fentanyl to CDL Drug Testing Program
Related: FMCSA Grant to Enhance CDL Testing in New Jersey
Related: FMCSA Proposal Seeks to Quicken CDL Process

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A Texas Department of Public Safety spokesperson told STN all currently issued CDLs, including those to school bus drivers with appropriate endorsements, will remain valid and only the issuance of new CDLs and commercial learners permits, or CLPs, has been halted.

An additional statement from the agency, which issues CDLs and CLPs in Texas, noted that non-citizens include refugees, asylum seekers, and recipients of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA.

“Customers with a pending issuance will not be allowed to continue any written or skills testing until the services for non-domicile CDL/CLP are reinstated” DPS added.

Other states changes include:

• The Arizona Department of Transportation said in a statement, “it is aware of the new federal guidelines and has instituted them for all new CDL issuances as well as renewals, which includes those seeking CDLs with passenger and school bus endorsements. There are approximately 125,000 CDLs in Arizona, and of those 800 are non-domiciled CDLs.” Though information related to school bus drivers was not known.

• Indiana noted its Bureau of Motor Vehicles has ceased processing all applications for non-domiciled CDL/CLPs, including applications for new, amended, duplicated, transferred, renewed, or upgraded non-domiciled CDL/CLPs. Affected non-domiciled CDL/CLP customers may submit an application at a BMV license branch to apply for or downgrade to a non-CDL driver’s license should they so choose.

• Maryland paused the issuance of all non-domiciled commercial driver products until further notice. This includes issuance, transfers, updates, replacements, duplicates, and renewals of both non-domiciled CLPs and non-domiciled CDLs, adding ‘we apologize for the inconvenience.’

• Massachusetts also apologetically indicated it has paused the issuance of all non-domiciled commercial driver credentials until further notice, including issuance, transfers, updates, replacements, duplicates, and renewals of both non-domiciled CLPs and non-domiciled CDLs.

• Missouri suspended all new, renewal and duplicate nondomiciled CDL and CLP issuance until further notice, including a suspension of knowledge and skills testing for any in-state or out-of-state test applicant who would be restricted to a non-domiciled CDL or CLP.

• Oregon DMV is no longer issuing limited-term (non-domiciled) CDLs and CLPs until further notice.

• Utah has paused issuing non-domiciled CDLs.

• The Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) Office of Public Affairs issued a statement. “Due to the recent interim final rule issued by the FMCSA, like many states across the country, WisDOT Division of Motor Vehicles has paused its non-domiciled CDLs and CLPs issuance program to ensure compliance with the interim final rule. Wisconsin already had many of the new rule’s regulations in place. As we work to resolve any remaining issues, we will communicate the status of our program to impacted individuals on our website and at our DMV service centers.”

The post Update: U.S. Department of Transportation Enacts CDL Restrictions on Non-Domiciled Workers appeared first on School Transportation News.

A newly added session at the Transporting Students with Disabilities and Special Needs (TSD) Conference next month looks to guide student transportation professionals in prioritizing mental health support for themselves to positively impact themselves and the students they transport.

The “Mental Health First Aid Supports for Transportation” session will be held on Saturday, Nov. 8 and presented by licensed school counselor Kemberly Edwards. She plans to detail the best practices that can put student transportation staff in a better and healthier mental space, which in turn can expand their bandwidth to support and de-escalate students as they work through behavioral and emotional challenges. Edwards plans to go beyond generic self-care techniques and provide concrete strategies to benefit transportation staff as they navigate the day-to-day challenges of their work and help forge strong connections with their students.

Edwards, former director of counseling​ at Mesquite Independent School District in Texas and and manager of the district’s CARE Clinic, has been in the education field for almost 30 years. As a licensed professional counselor, she has a passion for assisting students and educational professionals amid a spike in mental health challenges.

The CARE clinic opened in 2017 to provides free services to Mesquite ISD students, their families and district staff. The clinic held over 12,000 counseling sessions last year. Edwards, who specializes in trauma therapy and has worked closely with her district’s transportation department, described her work as “wraparound services,” covering emotional and social wellness as well as self-regulation. Edwards is currently an educational consultant and has a bachelor’s degree in social work and a master’s degree in counseling.

The TSD Conference will be held Nov. 6 through Nov. 11 at Embassy Suites Dallas-Frisco Hotel and Convention Center. Visit tsdconference.com to register and view the conference agenda, which includes dozens of educational sessions, hands-on training, networking events, product demonstrations and keynotes all focused on transportation of students with special needs.

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Related: TSD Keynote Speaker Looks to Reveal Power of Praise in Student Transportation
Related: Mother of Sandy Hook Victim Brings Student Safety Message to TSD
Related: Former OSERS Leader, Advocate for People with Disabilities to Keynote TSD Conference

The post TSD Conference Session to Focus on Mental Health Supports appeared first on School Transportation News.

Join us for an engaging discussion on how propane autogas is transforming student transportation by creating healthier, cleaner, and more affordable school bus fleets. This webinar brings together experts and on-the-ground voices to share insights into the benefits of propane-powered school buses for both students and staff.

In this information-packed session, you’ll hear from:

• American Lung Association: How propane buses reduce harmful emissions and improve respiratory health in school communities.
• Blue Bird: A leading manufacturer of propane school buses about the latest innovations driving propane autogas adoption across the country.
• School District Leadership: A school district transportation director and maintenance supervisor will share their real-world experiences with propane buses, from cost savings and reliability to driver and technician feedback.

Register today to explore practical strategies and proven results that can help your district move toward a cleaner, more cost-effective transportation future.

Brought to you by the Propane Education & Research Council

REGISTER BELOW:

The post (Free Webinar) Driving the Future of Healthy, Cost-Effective Student Transportation with Propane Autogas appeared first on School Transportation News.

A young child was hailed as a hero for taking quick, life-saving action after passing a handwritten note asking their school bus driver to call 911, reported WLBT News.

According to the news report, the bus driver immediately followed the instructions and contacted emergency services Sept. 24 just before 7:30 a.m. Deputies were sent to a rural home, where they discovered the child’s mother had been the victim of a violent assault that lasted through the night.

Investigators said article the woman had been seriously injured by the suspect, 29-year-old Glenroy Miller of the Bahamas, who allegedly held a knife to her throat and wrists while threatening to kill her. At one point, Miller reportedly began to take the victim to a hospital but turned around after realizing he could be arrested, forcing her to remain at home without access to help.

When deputies reportedly arrived at the residence, Miller answered the door. The woman, visibly upset and bruised, emerged from a bedroom shortly after. She was taken to the hospital, where an exam revealed she had suffered two broken ribs and a punctured lung, from being kicked.

Authorities said the mother had written the note herself and asked her child to deliver it in hopes of getting help. Because she was being held against her will and prevented from calling for assistance, she relied on her child to act.

Miller was reportedly taken into custody and now faces multiple charges. Officials are praising the young student’s courage and the bus driver’s swift response, crediting both with playing a crucial role in rescuing the woman from a dangerous situation.

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Related: Iowa Students Help School Bus Driver During Medical Episode
Related: Milwaukee School Bus Driver Saves Students from Burning Bus
Related: Florida School Bus Driver Saves Student from Choking on Candy
Related: Georgia School Bus Driver Named “Hidden Hero” After Saving Student’s Life

The post Iowa Student Saves Mom with Handwritten Note to School Bus Driver appeared first on School Transportation News.

A fourth-grade student from Hirayama Elementary School in Fresno, California, is being celebrated for his quick thinking and bravery after alerting staff to a fire that ultimately consumed his school bus, reported Your Central Valley news.

William Ruiz was one of four students riding the Clovis Unified School District bus home when he heard a strange noise coming from beneath the vehicle. “Well, I did hear like a steam, I heard like a pop,” Ruiz told local news reporters.

According to the article, smoke began rising from under the bus, and Ruiz didn’t hesitate to act. “So, I told the bus driver, ‘Smoke! Smoke!’” he said. “And the bus driver, he looked under there and said, ‘That’s not smoke, that’s fire.”

The driver immediately pulled and reportedly attempted to put out the flames with a fire extinguisher. When it failed, he quickly evacuated the children.

“We all [got] out, and it was like catching flames,” said Ruiz via the news report, adding that two student backpacks were burned. The fire, which reportedly started in the engine compartment, rapidly spread and engulfed the entire bus. Thankfully, no injuries were reported.

On Oct. 2, Ruiz was honored with a “Super Hira Award” from his school for “showing heroic qualities like kindness and bravery.”

His mother, Valerie Ramos, added via the article that she couldn’t be more proud. “We tell him to speak up all the time, whether it’s bullying or if you see something, always tell an adult,” she said. “It feels great. Good job, William.”

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Related: Michigan Middle School Student to Receive NAPT Heroism Award
Related: Georgia School Bus Driver Named “Hidden Hero” After Saving Student’s Life
Related: Missouri Students Learn School Bus, Fire Safety During Back-to-School Bash
Related: Arkansas School District Thanks Driver for Quick Response During Bus Fire

The post California Student Honored for Quick Thinking During School Bus Fire appeared first on School Transportation News.

Introduced last month, the bipartisan Brake for Kids Act hopes to create a public service announcement on the dangers of illegally passing a stopped school bus.

Introduced on Sept. 16 by Sens. Todd Young of Indiana and Gary Peters of Michigan, it directs the “Secretary of Transportation to carry out a national public safety messaging campaign relating to the dangers of illegal passing of stopped school buses, and for other purposes.”

The PSA campaign would need to be released and distributed no later than one year after the enactment. It would include television advertisements on national broadcasts as well as radio, social media and other messaging.

Both senators have been involved in trying to prevent illegal school bus crossings, introducing the Stop for School Buses Act in 2019 and 2021.

“Every school year, far too many illegal school bus passings occur, which puts the lives of students at risk. Our bill will raise awareness about the dangers of passing a stopped school bus to help ensure that our kids make it to and from school safely,” said Young in a press release.

U.S. Reps. Rudy Yakym, Pete Stauber, Seth Moulton and Julia Brownley introduced companion legislation in the House.

“Parents need to know their kids are safe taking the bus to and from school,” Peters said in a release. “That’s why I’m proud to help lead this bipartisan, commonsense legislation to raise awareness of the dangers of illegally passing school buses and promote best practices for making our communities safer.”

Meanwhile, the National School Transportation Association released a statement applauding the introduction of the legislation. “The Brake for Kids Act is an essential step to help protect students and alleviate preventable tragedies,” said Patrick Dean, NSTA president. “Illegal school bus passings are a national crisis, and this legislation provides a platform for student transportation to raise awareness, change behavior, and prevent these all-too-frequent incidents.”

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Related: Waymo Driverless Car Illegally Passes Stopped School Bus in Atlanta
Related: Wisconsin State Police, School Bus Association Promote School Bus Safety
Related: Michigan Association Films Illegal School Bus Passing PSA with NASCAR’s Preece
Related: New York Association Urges Motorists to Stop for School Buses at Startup
Related: NASDPTS Revises Illegal School Bus Passing Count After California Fixes Error

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NSTA cited the 2025 National Association of State Directors of Pupil Transportation Services survey released this summer, noting that more than 114,000 school bus drivers across the U.S. reported 67,258 violations in a single day. While lower than in years past, NASDPTS extrapolated that motorists nationwide still illegally pass school buses tens of millions of times during the school year.

“NSTA believes that a nationwide safety campaign will close knowledge gaps, strengthen driver education, and save lives,” the press release adds.

The post Federal Bill Aims to Increase Awareness of Illegal School Bus Passing appeared first on School Transportation News.

Analysis on upcoming TSD Conference education, National Association for Pupil Transportation election results, the Federal Brake for Kids Act and the Federal Communications Commission revoking E-Rate eligibility of school bus Wi-Fi.

Jeff Cassell, president of the School Bus Safety Company, discusses the need for safety leadership training, removing risk and reducing accidents in student transportation.

Glenna Wright-Gallo, vice president of policy at neurotechnology software company Everway, has worked at the state government level and served as the assistant secretary for the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Special Education and Rehabilitation Services. At the TSD Conference this November, she brings her perspective as a person with a disability on educating and empowering individuals with disabilities.

Read more about safety and special needs.

This episode is brought to you by Transfinder.

 

Conversation with School Bus Safety Co.

 

Message from Ride.

 

Stream, subscribe and download the School Transportation Nation podcast on Apple Podcasts, Deezer, Google Podcasts, iHeartRadio, RadioPublic, Spotify, Stitcher and YouTube.

The post (STN Podcast E277) Make the System Better: Safety Leadership Training & D.C. Insider on Disability Supports appeared first on School Transportation News.

This article marks the inaugural installment in a new series highlighting pupil transportation practices around the world, drawing on Gray Ram Tactical’s 18-plus years of global experience in training, consulting and working directly with transportation professionals. By sharing insights from multiple countries, the goal is to compare systems, explore best practices and encourage continual improvement in student safety and operational excellence.

Having worked alongside pupil transportation teams on both sides of the Atlantic, I’m often asked a deceptively simple question: “How different can school transport really be?” The short answer: Very. The two systems are built on different legal duties, vehicle standards and road-user expectations—and those differences shape daily practice, staffing, budgets and risk.

In the United Kingdom, local authorities have a statutory duty to arrange free home-to-school travel for eligible children, including those beyond statutory walking distance, with no safe walking route, or with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND).

The SEND program ensures that children with learning difficulties, disabilities or medical needs receive tailored support so they can access education on an equal basis with peers. Local authorities assess needs through an education, health and care (EHC) plan and, when necessary, provide additional services such as specialized transportation, teaching support, or therapeutic interventions.

Guidance sets clear distance thresholds, such as over two miles for children under age eight and over three miles for those age eight and above. There are also extended rights for low-income families. In contrast, the U.S, has no national duty to transport all pupils. Policy and funding are largely state or local decisions. While most districts do provide service, the eligibility rules vary significantly from state to state.

One of the most visible differences lies in the vehicles themselves. In the U.S., purpose-built yellow school buses are a hallmark. These vehicles are designed to FMVSS standards, including compartmentalization seating and specialized mirrors and lighting. Meanwhile, in the U.K., there is a mixed fleet. Many routes rely on public-service buses, contracted coaches, or minibuses rather than a unique standardized yellow bus. Seatbelt rules also vary by vehicle type, creating a more diverse operational environment.

Road-user laws further distinguish the two systems. In the U.S., every state makes it illegal to pass a school bus with its stop arm extended and red lights flashing. This creates a protective zone around the bus during loading and unloading. In the United Kingdom, however, there is no general legal requirement for motorists to stop for a school bus. Drivers are expected to exercise caution near schools, but compliance depends more on public awareness and enforcement of school-crossing-patrol signals.

Driver qualifications, vetting and training also differ. U.S. drivers must hold a commercial driver’s license with passenger and school bus endorsements, complete federally mandated entry-level driver training (ELDT), and undergo drug and alcohol testing as well as background checks. In the U.K., drivers typically hold passenger carrying vehicle licenses and must maintain their driver certificate of professional competence (CPC) through 35 hours of periodic training every five years. Because the work involves children, enhanced disclosure and barring service safeguarding checks are also required.

Both systems also address the transportation needs of students with special educational needs and disabilities. In the U.S., under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, transportation may be provided as a related service, determined by the student’s IEP team. In the U.K., local authorities assess eligibility and make arrangements under SEND or EHC provisions. This includes clear entitlements for low-income families, although many councils face rising costs in this area.

Daily operations bring further contrasts. In the U.S., systems typically design tailored routes around neighborhoods and bell times. In the U.K., there is a heavier reliance on blending dedicated coaches with mainstream public transport. At the bus stop, U.S. systems rely heavily on stop-arm protections and crossing procedures, whereas the U.K. leans on school-crossing patrols, signage and infrastructure. Another distinction is that U.K. authorities are not obligated to provide mid-day transport between school sites.

Despite these differences, there are important similarities in safety culture. Both nations emphasize prevention and continuous improvement. In the U.S., FMVSS standards guide design, while in the U.K. licensing and seatbelt rules are central. Training and supervision also play a major role, with U.S. ELDT paralleled by U.K. Driver CPC. Safeguarding is another shared priority, with DBS checks in the U.K. and various forms of background vetting in the U.S.

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Related: American Yellow School Bus Comes to South Korea
Related: European Association Says Student Transporters There Face Similar Challenges as the U.S.
Related: Routes Around the World: Quarterly Quotes From Anson Stewart

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For leaders, there are clear lessons. Policy should be designed around legal duties. Stops must be engineered with safety in mind. Investing in people—through training, vetting and professional development—is essential. And perhaps most importantly, proactive planning for SEND transportation can help mitigate rising demand and costs.

The U.S. and U.K. start from different blueprints—one anchored in a dedicated, highly standardized school-bus ecosystem; the other in a statutory entitlement delivered through a mixed public and contracted network. Yet the goal is identical: every child, safe there and safe home. When we borrow best practices across the Atlantic—on stop design, driver development, safeguarding, and SEND planning—we move measurably closer to that goal.

Coming next in this series: A look at pupil transportation in India.

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Bret E. Brooks is the chief operating officer for Gray Ram Tactical, LLC, a Missouri-based international training and consulting firm specializing in transportation safety and security issues. Bret is the author of several books and articles. He is also a keynote speaker and presents around the world. He can be reached directly at bretbrooks@grayramtacticaltraining.com.

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WALL, N.J., – Student Transportation of America (STA), an industry leader in student transportation, safety, and fleet services, has entered the new operating year with more than $100 million in annual revenue growth, driven by a stream of recent acquisitions in the student transportation sector, new contract bid wins across the U.S. and Canada, and a strategic expansion of industrial busing solutions, which serves as a new vertical in the U.S. market for the company. STA also celebrates new market entries into Michigan, Ohio and Nevada.

“This period of disciplined growth reflects STA’s commitment to strategically expanding our transportation services,” said Gene Kowalczewski, CEO of Student Transportation of America. “By growing our reach into new states, securing additional district contracts, and expanding our expertise in employee and industrial transportation to the United States, we are broadening our service footprint. Our core legacy of safety and service remains the foundation of everything we do, and we look forward to serving more communities.”

Significantly extending the company’s operational footprint throughout Michigan, New York, Ohio and Ontario, Canada, STA has confirmed the company has completed transactions with the following operators in recent months:

Cook School Bus Lines, LTD – Located in Eastern Ontario, Canada, Cook School Bus provides student transportation services to the families of Wellington County and surrounding communities.

ABC Student Transportation – Located in Detroit, Michigan, ABC is a full-service student transportation company serving local students throughout Wayne County.

Star & Strand Transportation, Inc. – Located in Troy, New York, Star & Strand primarily provides school transportation services and charter busing to communities within the state’s Capital region, including throughout Rensselaer and Albany counties.

Universal Transportation Systems – Located in West Chester Township, Ohio, Universal Transportation primarily focuses on school transportation, non-emergency medical transportation and charter busing for communities throughout Cincinnati, Columbus and West Chester Township. Under each agreement, STA is working closely with legacy personnel to ensure business continues with minimal disruption to local customers. The company prides itself on leveraging the knowledge and expertise of its local teams to ensure services are tailored to the unique needs of every community it serves.

STA has also won several new district contracts for the 2025-2026 school year, including new agreements in California, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Wisconsin, further strengthening its national service footprint. In Canada, Student Transportation of Canada has added contract agreements with new schools in Alberta, Nova Scotia, and Saskatchewan, expanding its customer base and bringing safe and reliable transportation to more communities.

“As we welcome new customers and expand our roster, we remain committed to the values that have guided us from the start — safety, reliability, and building strong local relationships that ensure every community receives the highest level of service,” adds Kowalczewski.

To learn more about Student Transportation of America, its growing fleet, or career opportunities, please visit ridesta.com.

About Student Transportation of America
Student Transportation of America (STA), an industry leader in school transportation and fleet services, was founded in 1997 on the bedrock of family, community, and a safety-first mindset. Operating more than 22,000 vehicles, STA provides customers with the highest level of safe and reliable student transportation, management, logistics, and technology solutions throughout the U.S. and Canada. The company is committed to cultivating a safety-driven culture that empowers its employees to take pride in their work, delivering safe, reliable, and on-time service. Additionally, STA’s commitment to positively impacting the health of its passengers and the planet is evident through its conscious decision to undertake each initiative that decreases its carbon footprint, helping to move the company and industry toward a greener future. For more information, please visit www.rideSTA.com.

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As the school transportation industry wrestles with complex challenges—driver shortages, safety concerns and operational inefficiencies—artificial intelligence (AI) is often positioned as a silver bullet. Fleet management systems tout data optimization. Dash cams promise incident reduction. Digital platforms claim to centralize and simplify operations.

But in the rush to innovate, we risk forgetting what matters most: People. Specifically, the drivers, dispatchers and front-line staff who make student transportation possible every day. If AI is to truly move this industry forward, it must be rooted in empathy—not just algorithms.

Coaching, Not Surveillance
Take the growing adoption of AI-powered dash cameras. When framed solely as surveillance tools, these systems can alienate drivers. No one wants to feel like they’re being watched without context or support. However, when implemented with a focus on coaching rather than punishment, these same tools can become allies. Cameras that detect risky behaviors—such as distracted driving, hard-braking or rolling stops—can deliver real-time feedback and personalized training opportunities. This helps drivers improve their performance without feeling policed.

It’s a shift in mindset from compliance to confidence-building. Drivers begin to feel supported, not scrutinized. And fleets often see measurable improvements in safety outcomes and morale as a result.

Retention Through Respect
The transportation industry has a retention problem. Nationally, school bus operators report chronic shortages, with turnover rates frequently exceeding 50 percent. Recruitment incentives and signing bonuses help, but they rarely address the deeper issue: How drivers feel on the job.

This is where AI can play a powerful role, if used thoughtfully. Integrated platforms that
offer real-time route data, reliable communication and automated scheduling aren’t just operational tools. They’re stress reducers. When a school bus driver knows their route will be accurate, when help is one tap away, and that their feedback is acknowledged and
acted upon, it builds trust. And trust builds tenure. In some operations, these changes have reduced driver turnover by double digits. Not because of gimmicks or grand gestures but because the technology made drivers feel valued and protected.

The Quiet Power of Automation AI’s most human impact may come behind the scenes. The administrative burdens on drivers and staff, from payroll questions to incident reporting, can erode time, focus and job satisfaction. Enter virtual assistants, workflow automations and smart self-service tools. When designed well, they give employees 24/7 access to the information they need, cut response times and free up staff to focus on meaningful, person-to-person support.

This isn’t just about operational efficiency, it’s about respect. Respect for employees’ time. Respect for their need to focus on their core responsibilities. Respect for their mental bandwidth. It’s tempting to think of automation as impersonal. But when deployed with the employee experience in mind, it can be one of the most empathetic forms of technology.

Start With the End User Too often, transportation tech is built from the top down and optimized for operations managers, IT leaders, or compliance teams. But the most successful implementations flip that script. They ask, what do drivers actually need? What do dispatchers struggle with? Where do mechanics waste the most time? Empathy, in this sense, becomes a design principle. And when it is, adoption skyrockets. Engagement rises. Feedback loops get shorter. And frontline staff begin to see technology not as a burden—but as a partner.

The Bigger Opportunity We’re at a crossroads. AI and automation are poised to reshape school transportation over the next decade. But the question isn’t whether we’ll adopt these tools. It’s how we’ll use them. Will we chase efficiency at the cost of human connection? Or will we use technology to elevate the people who make the system work? The path forward requires us to recognize a simple truth: Buses don’t move students—people do. And when we center those people in our digital transformation efforts, everyone wins: the organization, the employees and most importantly, the children we’re entrusted to transport safely every day.

Editor’s Note: As reprinted from the September 2025 issue of School Transportation News.

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Gaurav Sharda is the chief technology officer for Beacon Mobility companies and in July won the SchoolTransportation News Innovator of the Year Award for his direction of new human-focused AI solutions.

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Related: Strides in Vehicle to Grid Technology Continue
Related: Feeling Super About Transportation Technology?
Related: New Technology Provides Data to School Bus Routing
Related: Bring the A-Game to Fleet Management

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Running a student transportation fleet shouldn’t feel like juggling hyperactive chaos. Access this complimentary white paper for more on cutting through the discord with a single, smart, all-in-one school bus routing ecosystem. See what happens when advanced routing meets real-time fleet telematics and enhanced student safety.

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The safety and reliability of school buses are critical for secure student transportation, yet transportation departments must navigate a complex web of maintenance challenges, especially where budget constraints collide with ever-increasing safety standards.

Relying on reactive repairs or fixed schedules often results in unexpected breakdowns, disrupted schedules, and inefficient resource use. This essential guide explores why a proactive, technology-enabled strategy is absolutely critical for modern school bus fleet maintenance.

You will learn how to make the crucial shift from reactive to data-driven fleet management, leveraging real-time telematics data to gain unprecedented insights into your vehicles’ actual condition and performance.

This approach enables predictive maintenance, allowing you to identify and address potential issues before they escalate into major, expensive repairs. The results include dramatically reduced vehicle downtime, lower repair costs, and enhanced student safety. Additionally, these strategies help extend the lifespan of your aging fleet, maximizing the return on investment for each bus.

Discover how Geotab’s platform, with tools like Fault Code Enrichment, provides the actionable insights needed to prioritize critical maintenance, streamline operations, and keep your fleet route-ready.

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• Why a proactive, technology-enabled strategy is critical for school bus fleet maintenance programs.
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• How data helps extend the lifespan of your aging school bus fleet and maximize return on investment.
• How Geotab’s solutions, including Fault Code Enrichment, provide actionable, real-time insights to keep your buses safe and reliable.

Fill out the form below and then check your email for the white paper download link.

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Attendees of the National Association for Pupil Transportation Annual Conference and Trade Show later this month in Grand Rapids, Michigan, will meet several new officers who won or held onto their seats following this week’s election.

In an email to members on Thursday, NAPT said the newly elected and reelected officers will be sworn in and begin their terms on Nov. 1 during NAPT ACTS. Elections ran from Sept. 30 through Oct. 1, and voters were able to cast their votes online.

Melody Coniglio, director of transportation at West Geauga Local Schools in Ohio, was elected NAPT president-elect. She currently serves as Region 3 director and will transition to her new role for two years before serving as president.

Coniglio ran against Karim Johnson, director of student transportation at Dorchester County School District Four in South Carolina, and Todd Silverthorn, supervisor of transportation services at Kettering City School District in Ohio. A special election will be held to fill the Region 3 Director seat, NAPT noted, which becomes vacant once the new board is sworn in at NAPT ACTS.

Keith Kaup, director of transportation at Pearland Independent School District in Texas, is the current president-elect and assumes the president role, succeeding Teena Mitchell of South Carolina.

Region 1 Director Marc Medina, supervisor of transportation at Farmingdale School District in New York, ran unopposed and succeeds Peter Lawrence, who completed three terms. According to NAPT bylaws, Lawrence had reached his term limit.

“Lawrence’s leadership helped establish a strong foundation for the region and positioned it for continued success,” NAPT said in a statement.

The new Region 5 director will be Dawnett Wright, director of transportation at Peninsula School District in Washington. She succeeds Athena Bartz of Wyoming, who completed one term and chose not to seek reelection.

Meanwhile, affiliate member director Maritza Valentin, the national sales manager for AMF-Bruns of America, was re-elected for a second term. She also ran unopposed. NAPT said Valentin “will continue her work to strengthen connections between industry business partners and members.”

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Related: NAPT Shares Candidate Information Ahead of Next Week’s Elections
Related: NAPT Announces More Annual Award Winners for 2025
Related: Robinson Named Sole 2025 Inductee into NAPT Hall of Fame

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“Elections serve as the heartbeat of our association, reminding us that each member has both a voice and a part in shaping our shared future,” stated Molly McGee Hewitt, NAPT CEO and executive director. “We extend our heartfelt gratitude to everyone who participated, whether as candidates or voters. Your involvement fuels our progress and sparks innovation. Looking ahead, we are excited to unite our newly elected leaders with those currently serving, forming a strong coalition of leaders dedicated to embracing the NAPT vision of a world where every student has access to safe and efficient transportation.”

Members will vote Oct. 6–10 on proposed bylaw amendments, including changes to the regional structure that will directly impact director representation.

“I commend everyone who ran in this election—you are the foundation of our strength. I look forward to working with the full Board of Directors to keep NAPT moving forward,” added Kaup and the 2025 NAPT nominations chair.

NAPT ACTS will be held Oct. 31 – Nov. 4 in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

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MACON, Georgia — IMMI, the trusted global leader in school bus seating, joined Blue Bird Corp. to celebrate the grand opening of its manufacturing facility in Macon, Georgia. IMMI’s 75,000 square-foot plant will support school bus maker Blue Bird after the company announced to equip select model buses with industry-first safety upgrades, including seats with three-point seat belts as standard protection for all student passengers and a steering wheel deployed air bag to safeguard school bus drivers.

“Today, not only do we celebrate safety leadership alongside our partner Blue Bird, we also are thrilled to add 80 good-paying U.S. manufacturing jobs to middle Georgia,” announced Larry Gray, CEO of IMMI. “We are also here to recognize Blue Bird’s continued commitment to advancing school bus safety by being the first school bus manufacturer to make lap-shoulder belts standard on their buses and provide frontal airbags to protect school bus drivers in communities across the United States,” added Norm Gould III, school bus president and IMMI CFO.

IMMI’s 4Front airbag safety system will also be standard safety equipment on Blue Bird’s Vision- model school buses beginning this month.

“Every day, millions of children travel on our buses to school and back home. They are the most precious cargo in the world,” said John Wyskiel, president and CEO of Blue Bird Corporation. “For nearly 100 years, Blue Bird has led the way in school bus safety. We partnered with IMMI to bring industry-first, standard student and driver safety systems to school districts in North America. We are thrilled that our joint commitment to safety drives investments, manufacturing expansion, and job growth in our home state and beyond.”

Under the brand SafeGuard, IMMI’s Macon facility manufactures state-of-the-art school bus seats, which help to protect millions of children every day. Blue Bird was the first school bus manufacturer to announce in 2024 that lap-shoulder belts would be standard safety equipment on their school bus seats.

“The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board have called for school bus manufacturers to provide lap-shoulder belts for the 25 million plus children who ride on buses every year, and Blue Bird has answered that call,” added Wyskiel.

As demand increases for IMMI SafeGuard’s lap-shoulder belt seats, IMMI expects to add more jobs to its workforce in Macon. The company will post open roles on its career website and encourages qualified candidates to apply.

“Illinois recently passed legislation joining eight other U.S. states mandating lap-shoulder belts on new school buses,” said Gray. “We expect other states to follow suit as they recognize that even on the safest vehicles on the road, which are school buses, seat belts continue to save lives and reduce injuries.”

Press Photo/Caption: IMMI’s 75,000 square-foot manufacturing facility in Macon, Georgia produces industry-leading school bus seats with three-point seat belts for Georgia-based school bus maker Blue Bird Corporation. Blue Bird is the first school bus manufacturer in the United States to equip select model buses with three-point seat belts as standard protection for all student passengers and a steering wheel deployed air bag to protect school bus drivers. (Image provided by IMMI)

About IMMI

IMMI® is the trusted, global leader of safety solutions, helping to protect millions of lives every day. For almost 60 years, IMMI has led the way in developing, designing, testing and manufacturing innovative safety restraints and systems. IMMI’s safety products are found worldwide on car seats, heavy trucks, school buses, recreational/off road, military, fire/EMS, motor coach, and construction vehicles. Employee-owned, IMMI is headquartered in Westfield, Indiana and operating nine additional global facilities, IMMI is also home to CAPE, the world’s leading state-of-the-art testing facility. For more information, visit https://www.imminet.com.

About Blue Bird Corporation

Blue Bird (NASDAQ: BLBD) is recognized as a technology leader and innovator of school buses since its founding in 1927. Our dedicated team members design, engineer and manufacture school buses with a singular focus on safety, reliability, and durability. School buses carry the most precious cargo in the world — 25 million children twice a day — making them the most trusted mode of student transportation. The company is the proven leader in low- and zero-emission school buses with more than 25,000 propane, natural gas, and electric powered buses sold. Blue Bird is transforming the student transportation industry through cleaner energy solutions. For more information on Blue Bird’s complete product and service portfolio, visit www.blue-bird.com.

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DENVER — EverDriven, the nation’s leader in Alternative Student Transportation, today announced a strategic partnership with Google Maps Platform to integrate Google Navigation into the EverDriven Driver App.

This collaboration reinforces EverDriven’s commitment to modernize student transportation, elevating safety, consistency, and transparency across every ride, while marking a milestone in the company’s technology vision and growing integration with Google and Woolpert Digital Innovations.

Delivering Enhanced Visibility, Safety, and Efficiency

With Google Maps navigation integrated into the EverDriven Driver App, the benefits will extend across the entire transportation ecosystem:

For School Transportation Leaders: Greater safety and efficiency through a unified, secure platform to visualize the location of our drivers, deliver more accurate ETAs, and improve route oversight enabling districts to monitor routes more accurately and reduce disruptions.

For Families & Caregivers: More reliable and accurate student location information, increased certainty around pick-ups and drop-offs, and stronger trust in the use of Google Maps’ proven navigation technology.

For Drivers: A familiar Google Maps interface built into the EverDriven App improves accuracy with dynamic re-routing, speed-limit compliance alerts, and a seamless in-app experience that keeps drivers focused on the road.

“Integrating Google Navigation directly into the EverDriven Driver App marks a major step forward in our mission to modernize student transportation and deliver on our technology vision,” said Mon-Chaio Lo, Chief Product & Technology Officer at EverDriven. “By bringing world-class navigation into a single, easy-to-use app, we’re creating a safer, more efficient experience for drivers, districts, and caregivers alike — and the first of many innovations we plan to deliver in partnership with Google.”

A Foundation for Continued Innovation

This integration is the latest in EverDriven’s ongoing innovation rollout, already underway with new features launched in August, including real-time vehicle tracking. As the first major milestone under its evolving integration with Google Maps Platform and Woolpert Digital Innovations, it lays the groundwork for future enhancements that further reimagine modern student transportation including historical trip analysis for smarter routing, and automated driver assignment capabilities. These advancements reinforce EverDriven’s continued commitment to setting a new standard for safety, efficiency, and transparency in student transportation.

About EverDriven

EverDriven delivers modern student-centered transportation that’s safe, consistent, and built for those who need it most. EverDriven specializes in transporting students across a wide range of needs — from everyday support to the most complex circumstances — including students with disabilities, students experiencing housing instability, and other high-need populations. Serving more than 800 districts across 36 states, the company completed over 2 million trips last year, 99.99% of them accident-free with 100% safety compliance. EverDriven’s deeply human, fully compliant, and AI-powered approach helps districts get students on the road in hours, not days, while maintaining consistent, high-trust rides that complement traditional yellow bus fleets. For more information, visit everdriven.com.

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Vehicle to-grid charging, while still in relatively early phases, is gaining traction across the school bus industry in both the U.S. and Canada.

The promise of V2G technology was frequently discussed in the early days of electric school bus adoption. However, few operations have been successful in giving power back to the grid at levels first promised, with only a handful of projects making headlines.

One such example is from The Mobility House, which announced a “successful implementation” of a V2G charging system at Fremont Unified School District near San Francisco, California. The company has several V2G projects around the U.S., including in New York and Massachusetts, that follow the same scalable approach.

“We were confident in our approach because of our deep experience in implementing V2G projects worldwide, and in school bus fleet electrification here in the U.S.,” said Alex Macharia, VGI program manager at The Mobility House North America. “It was important to establish trust in the technology and in us as an organization from our first conversations with [Director of Transportation Ernest Epley and Fremont]. Ultimately, we found that we were closely aligned on the mission to go beyond electrification by enabling clean reliable transportation that serves the Fremont USD student body while also improving grid resilience to benefit the community.”

Macharia noted that like all V2G projects, the one with Fremont required careful coordination and planning with utility Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) to obtain service expansion and interconnection. One of the recurring challenges with V2G, he said, is the functional compatibility between the vehicle, charger and charge management system, or CMS.

The CMS system at Fremont is developed by The Mobility House. According to a press release, ChargePilot manages daily smart charging of the buses, which the fleet operator can view can via an online dashboard. The market aggregation platform receives notifications from PG&E of an upcoming load reduction event via OpenADR, (a communication standard for utilities to provide control commands to distributed energy resources such as batteries and solar inverters) and suggests optimal charging schedules based on the event and time-of-use electricity prices, the release adds.

ChargePilot also adjusts charging optimization for the bus fleet to discharge power to reduce site load during the emergency event, while continuing to ensure vehicle readiness for departure on their next route, noted The Mobility House.

“We have come a long way in developing standardization within the technical interfaces, and this project will be showcasing methods of V2G deployment using open standards, which will resolve some of the complexity,” Macharia said, adding that the Fremont project is currently deployed under the PG&E Emergency Load Reduction Program with insights expected toward the end of next year.

By then, The Mobility House expects to have a full season of ELRP data.

“Program participants are compensated based on how much energy (kWh) or demand (kW) is reduced as compared to a baseline,” he continued, explaining that other partners included the World Resources Institute, Center for Transportation and the Environment, and Polara. “Thirty to 60 hours of events will be called per season (May to October). Events are one to five hours long called between 4 p.m. and 9 p.m.”

Fremont remains in the first phase of the project, with phase two expected to come online this fall. That phase will include the use of six bidirectional chargers.

“As more bidirectional vehicles and chargers come to market, and more utilities begin to offer V2G programs in their territories, The Mobility House will be at the forefront of deploying commercial and residential V2G solutions,” Macharia said.

Meanwhile, Fremont’s Epley said the decision to move toward V2G was driven by both sustainability goals and operational efficiency.

“We wanted to do more than just adopt electric buses. We wanted to maximize their value,” he said. “V2G technology allows us not only to reduce emissions and provide students with a cleaner ride, but also to turn our fleet into a flexible energy resource for the community. That dual purpose, educational and environmental impact paired with fiscal responsibility, was central to our choice.”

He noted that he is not an engineer or utility expert and is instead a “bus driver in a suit who happens to now lead transportation.” Because a project of this size is outside of his area of expertise, Epley said it is important to lean on partners such as PG&E and The Mobility House.

The companies, he added, handled the complex utility upgrades and charger integration, while he was able to continue to focus on daily operations.

“It was about mutual trust. They respected our school mission, and I trusted their technical know-how,” he said. “That’s how we made sure the infrastructure rollout matched our existing buses.

Epley said there were many practical and technical questions to answer. Among them, how would V2G impact battery life? What does the interconnection process look like with the utility? What are the financial models for energy export and savings?

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Related: Feeling Super About Transportation Technology?
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Related: WRI Research Highlights Monetary Health Benefits of Electric School Buses
Related: Lion Electric School Buses Return to Quebec Roads After HVAC Fires
Related: Previous Lion Electric School Bus Warranties Voided by Company Sale

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“The Mobility House brought expertise in energy management, while PG&E provided clarity on grid requirements and tariffs. Together, they demystified the process and gave us the confidence to move forward, knowing the technology was both viable and beneficial long-term,” he added.

It’s too early to track financial outcomes, he said, but by discharging energy back to the grid during peak demand periods and charging during off-peak times, Fremont projects a reduction of net charging costs.

“Just as important, the technology is helping us flatten our energy demand curve, which benefits both the district and the grid,” Epley said, adding that the district’s vision is to scale in a deliberate and sustainable way.

The next two electric school buses and additional chargers are scheduled for 2026.

“Even as funding landscapes shift, we’re positioning [Fremont] to demonstrate that electric school buses are not just a pilot project, but a long-term operational norm,” he said. “The integration aligns with our district’s sustainability plan: reducing greenhouse gas emissions, lowering operating costs and setting an example for students on how innovation and responsibility can go hand in hand.”

Epley shared the response from the community and parents has been overwhelmingly positive, with parents appreciating that their children are riding in buses that are cleaner, quieter and healthier for the community.

“Neighbors see us contributing to local grid stability rather than just drawing power” he said. “And students themselves are excited to see their school district at the forefront of clean technology. It becomes a teaching moment. That community support reinforces that we’re not just upgrading buses, we’re helping shape a more sustainable future for Fremont, California.”

Elsewhere, Tucson Electric Power is launching a V2G project this fall. And Fuse Power launched the first V2G electric school bus project in Canada. “Fuse is supplying power back to the grid during peak hours from parked electric trucks and buses. This milestone marks a major step forward in the future of vehicle-to-grid innovation,” according to a company Linkedin post.

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METHUEN, Mass. – Lawrence Public Schools, NRT Bus Inc., Zenobē, and partners today hosted a ribbon cutting to celebrate the deployment of 35 new electric school buses. Thanks to successful public and private partnerships, Lawrence Public Schools has deployed 25 new electric school buses, supported by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and 10 minibuses, supported by an initiative led by the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC) and funded by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP), as part of their regular home-to-school operations. The buses are based in Methuen and support clean transportation for Lawrence Public Schools.

“To give students a comfortable, quieter daily bus ride while benefiting public health, the environment and Lawrence taxpayers is a big win for our entire community,” said Lawrence Public Schools Superintendent Ralph Carrero. “This initiative is the power of public-private partnership at its best.”

“As part of our ongoing commitment to reduce emissions and promote cleaner air for our students and schools, we are thrilled to announce the launch of this charging site to support our new electric fleet for Lawrence Public Schools,” said Scott Sheridan, Senior Vice President of NRT Bus. “We are grateful for the hard work and dedication of all our partners from the public and private sector who made this project possible and are helping us power this new fleet for the 2025 school year.”

“We’re drawing on our global fleet electrification experience to bring clean transportation and its many health and climate benefits to NRT Bus, Beacon Mobility and Lawrence Public Schools. This is an excellent example of public-private partnership in action, and we believe projects like this can be as financially sustainable as they are environmentally sustainable and beneficial,” commented Zenobē Executive Vice President of U.S. EV Sales and Marketing Maggie Clancy.

Undertaken as a partnership between the EPA, MassCEC, Beacon Mobility, Zenobē, Sargent & Lundy, National Grid, Liberty Utilities, and the school district, the charging site was completed last summer and is being used to charge and store the 35 new electric buses.

“This investment means healthier air for students, quieter neighborhoods, and cost savings for school districts over the long term,” said Rachel Ackerman, Senior Program Director for Clean Transportation at MassCEC. “Projects like this show how innovative partnerships can deliver immediate community benefits while accelerating the state’s transition to clean transportation. MassCEC is proud to support Lawrence Public Schools in putting these new electric minibuses on the road.”

Electrified by National Grid and Liberty Utilities, the charging station site provides a sustainable hub for recharging the electric batteries that power the new fleet to shuttle Merrimack Valley students and community members to and from school and other local activities.

“At National Grid, we believe fleet electrification is a key component of building a sustainable and diversified energy future,” said Jake Navarro, Director of Clean Transportation, National Grid. “We’re proud to collaborate with a range of stakeholders to invest in and modernize our energy infrastructure to support the customers and communities we serve.”

Lawrence Public Schools deployed the 25 new electric buses as part of the EPA’s Clean School Bus Program in 2022. The school district serves 13,000 K-12 students. The 25 electric school buses alone are projected to reduce carbon emissions by an estimated 1.35 million pounds per year, equivalent to removing 136 gas-powered passenger cars off the road for one year. In addition, the district was awarded $1,670,000 under MassCEC’s ACT School Bus Deployment Program in 2023 which was used to fund the 10 minibuses.

All vehicles were placed in service for the current 2025 school year.

About Zenobē Energy Ltd. (Zenobē):
Zenobē is an EV fleet and grid-scale battery storage specialist, headquartered in the U.K. The company began operations in 2017 and now employs >380 FTEs with a wide range of leading skills including electrical engineering, software development, computer sciences and financing. Zenobē has around a 25% market share of the U.K. EV bus sector and supports over 3,400 electric vehicles across 120 depots globally. The company is the largest owner and operator of EV buses in the U.K., Australia and New Zealand. Zenobē is also the leading owner and operator of grid-scale batteries on the Great Britain transmission network with >1GW of battery storage assets in operation or under construction. Zenobē’s North American headquarters are in Chicago with a subsidiary office in New York and it is actively hiring in Canada and the U.S. For more information visit zenobe.com or LinkedIn.

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RICHMOND, Va.– As concern for energy reliability surges nationwide, the Propane Education & Research Council (PERC) is marking National Propane Day by encouraging school transportation directors to explore propane autogas as a reliable, on-site energy solution that can support greater peace of mind during power outages or severe weather.

October 7 marks the fourth annual National Propane Day, and this year’s theme, “Prepare with Propane,” is a reminder of propane autogas’s reliability. A recent report from the U.S. Department of Energy warns that blackouts in the United States could increase 100-fold by 2030 as the electric grid struggles to meet growing demand. For school transportation directors that rely on a rigid energy source, that could mean the difference in keeping school buses running or grounding the fleet. Because propane autogas is stored on site, never degrades, and isn’t reliant on the power grid for distribution, it remains ready even during widespread power disruptions.

“As someone who spent years managing school transportation, I understand firsthand how critical it is to keep vehicles moving,” said Joel Stutheit, senior manager of autogas business development at PERC. “When a fleet goes down, everything stops. Propane autogas gives transportation directors a level of control that other energy sources can’t. It’s dependable, affordable, and always ready no matter what’s happening with the grid.”

Today, more than 22,000 propane autogas school buses are in operation across the United States at more than 1,100 school districts. The energy source is not only resilient but also clean, producing up to 96 percent fewer nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions than diesel. It offers lower fuel and maintenance costs, supports better air quality, and contributes to more consistent uptime.

In addition to propane autogas vehicles, the energy source is also helping electric school bus fleets become more resilient with propane-powered EV charging systems. Powered by a propane generator, and in some cases wind and solar, these off-grid charging solutions can be installed in remote locations, disaster zones, or depots without permanent infrastructure ensuring school buses stay charged even when the grid is down.

Now in its fourth year, National Propane Day is not only a celebration of propane’s energy benefits, but also a moment to recognize the propane professionals who make clean transportation possible.

“From bobtail delivery drivers who make sure customers have energy when they need it to propane autogas service technicians that keep school buses operating safely on the road, National Propane Day is also a celebration of them,” said Joel Stutheit. “We depend on these professionals to keep clean, reliable transportation running every day. And their dedication is what helps fleets stay prepared, no matter what challenges come their way.”

To learn more about propane’s role in providing reliable energy solutions for school transportation, visit propane.com/buses.

About PERC: The Propane Education & Research Council is a nonprofit that provides leading propane safety and training programs and invests in research and development of new propane-powered technologies. PERC is operated and funded by the propane industry. For more information, visit Propane.com.

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