When Lori Smith stepped into the role of transportation coordinator at Bellbrook-Sugarcreek Schools, she inherited more than just a fleet of buses. She walked into a department in transition, a community in flux, and a software system she hadn’t chosen—but would soon come to champion.

Bellbrook-Sugarcreek, a growing Ohio district nestled in a nine-square-mile area, serves more than 2,600 students, with more than half relying on school transportation. Despite its modest size, the district’s transportation needs are complex, shaped by rural roads, frequent flooding, and a transient population due to its proximity to a military base.

Smith joined the district four years ago as a transportation assistant. Within 18 months, she was promoted to coordinator after her predecessor abruptly left. “It was a baptism by fire,” she recalls. “I had to learn how to be a supervisor, train my replacement, and figure out a new software system—all at once.”

That software system was Transfinder’s suite of tools designed to streamline school transportation. Smith hadn’t been involved in the decision to switch from another vendor to Transfinder. In fact, her first official act as coordinator was to finalize the contract.

“I was told, ‘This is what we’re doing. Get on board or this wasn’t going to be the job for me,’” she says.

Smith was determined to make it work. She reached out to peers as well as support members at Transfinder. Those calls changed everything, noting Transfinder’s expert “set up regular meetings, gave me homework, and held me accountable.” She said she felt empowered by the experience.

In fact, she said, the implementation experience “is why I am going to use your product as long as I’m sitting in this seat.”

Smith attended Transfinder’s Annual Client Summit in 2024, where she discovered not just tools, but a community. “I walked out of there thinking, ‘This makes so much sense now,’” she says. “Everyone took responsibility for the rocky start and committed to helping me succeed.”

Today, Smith uses a number of Transfinder’s award-winning solutions: Routefinder PLUS for routing, Tripfinder for field trips, Stopfinder for parent communication, Viewfinder for school staff, and Formfinder for managing non-public school students. Each tool has brought measurable improvements.

With Routefinder PLUS, the district eliminated manual data entry, reducing address errors and improving efficiency. “We used to hand-key everything,” Smith says. “So, every time a new student moved into the district, every time an address change happened, we would have to hand-key all of that. And as you can imagine, hand-keying means human error.”
Tripfinder, the first product Smith implemented, revolutionized field trip management. “We were able to customize it from the get-go to get information out of it, pulling, doing some data mining.”

Smith, a self-described data-driven person, said she was in the midst of preparing the district’s T-2 report, which certifies the actual expenses incurred in the transportation of eligible pupils.

“I was able to drill down into field trips. Which ones were done by bus drivers? Which ones were done by substitute drivers? Which ones were in a van? What coaches took most of the driving? How many hours were invoiced? How many miles were invoiced? Just the amount of data that you can pull out of any of the “finders” is, in my opinion, invaluable. Tripfinder runs so well.”

Stopfinder has transformed communication with parents. Instead of mass alerts that caused confusion, Smith can now send targeted messages about delays or reroutes due to flooding — a frequent issue in the district. This eliminated hysteria. “It’s been very helpful to target just specific areas,” she said.

Viewfinder has empowered school secretaries and administrators. Smith created custom views for each building, allowing staff to quickly access bus numbers, stop times, and routes. It has eliminated most phone calls about busing, she says. “The secretaries love it.”

Formfinder, the newest addition, allows Smith to manage transportation for parochial and non-public students who aren’t in the district’s student information system. “Families fill out the form, and it creates a record. It’s interesting, the versatility of all the products to be able to dig deeper for information and use it for different purposes.”

Despite the success, Smith still faces challenges. Convincing her veteran mechanic to embrace digital tools has been tough.”

Still, Smith is playing the long game. She knows that as veteran staff retire and new drivers come on board, the need for modern, efficient systems will only grow. “We’re going to have a lot of turnover in the next few years,” she says. She wants to be ready.

Her vision is clear: a fully integrated, tech-forward transportation department that serves students, supports staff, and communicates seamlessly with families. And thanks to her persistence—and the support of the Transfinder team—she’s well on her way.

Despite not being part of the decision-making process to dump a previous routing product for Transfinder, Smith said, “I am very pleased that we are where we are now. We had a very robust start.”

To learn more about how Transfinder’s tools have transformed transportation departments, call 800-373-3609, email getplus@transfinder.com or visit Transfinder.com/solutions.

The views expressed are those of the content sponsor and do not reflect those of School Transportation News.

The post From Chaos to Clarity: How Transfinder Transformed Ohio District’s Transportation System appeared first on School Transportation News.

This content is brought to you by Tyler Technologies.

In today’s world, technology is no longer a “nice to have” in student transportation — it’s a must. Whether a school district operates its own fleet or partners with a contractor, technology plays a key role in enhancing safety, improving efficiency, streamlining communication, and managing long-term costs.

If you’re a district working with a contracted fleet provider, it’s essential to ask the right questions to ensure they’re using the best tools available. And if you’re a contractor, being able to answer these questions with confidence is what sets you apart.

Here are five questions districts should ask — and what to look for in the answers:

1. What technologies are in place to ensure student safety on board?

Safety is always the top priority — and the right technology helps reinforce it. From GPS tracking to student ridership verification systems, technology can significantly improve visibility into daily operations and enhance student safety.

Districts should ask whether the contractor uses real-time tools that help monitor where buses are, who’s on board, and what’s happening during the route. Do they use a scan-on/scan-off system to verify who’s on the bus? Can drivers easily confirm they have the right passengers?

At Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake Central School District in New York, Administrator of Student Transportation Katria Hitrick has seen how technology can support drivers and help them ensure student safety.

“RFID cards and Tyler Drive help our drivers and substitutes learn who their students are and know a little bit more about them. Especially with our younger population — kindergarteners and first-graders need to be received by a parent or guardian — so when they pull up to those stops, they see the student’s grade, and they know they can’t let the child off the bus until they see an adult. Having that information helps put the driver’s mind at ease,” she said. These systems take the guesswork out of students’ needs, allowing drivers to focus on other aspects of a safe ride.

To offer drivers this level of support, look for systems that allow students to scan on and off the bus. This real-time data gives parents and drivers peace of mind, strengthens schools’ ability to maintain accurate records, and helps reduce risk. It can even improve response times in emergencies.

2. How are routes planned, and are they optimized using real-world data?

Efficient routing isn’t just about saving time — it’s about reducing mileage, fuel use, and wear-and-tear, while ensuring every student has a safe and reliable ride. Contractors should be using intelligent routing software that adapts to real-world conditions and provides visibility into delays or changes.

For example, West Ada School District in Idaho, whose fleet is managed by a contractor, uses routing technology and student ridership data to make routes more efficient — and even cancel or combine routes to better allocate their resources. Erin Sweeney, a routing specialist at West Ada SD, explained, “We’re able to see that only a couple of kids are scanning onto a route, and then we can adjust routes as needed. This has led to cost savings by identifying and canceling empty shuttles … It allows us to give our students what they actually need and helps us figure out where we can best utilize the drivers we have, because everyone’s in a driver shortage.”

Today’s best fleet contractors rely on route optimization technology powered by data and automation. Intelligent routing can lead to measurable cost savings, fewer late arrivals, and a better experience for families and drivers alike.

Look for advanced route planning tools that can automatically optimize runs for efficiency, balance loads across buses, and tailor stops for students with varying schedules, destinations, and other accommodations.

3. How are parents and schools kept informed throughout the day?

Strong communication is a major differentiator for both contractors and districts. Parents want to know when buses are delayed, when routes change, or when their child is safely on board.

Timely, accurate communication builds trust and helps prevent small issues from becoming big disruptions. Ask what technology the contractor uses to streamline communication and keep everyone in the loop. Communication tools like mobile apps, real-time alerts, and driver tablets improve how quickly and clearly information flows between dispatch, schools, and parents.

At many districts, a lack of modern communication technology means transportation departments handle a large volume of parent phone calls every day. West Ada SD even noted hiring temp workers to keep up with phone calls at the start of the school year before implementing a parent communication app.

Sweeney said, “Because of the My Ride K-12 app, parents know where their students are going or why they’re late — messages are sent right to them. They’re able to look on the app and get an idea of where the bus is and how far away it is from their stop. The number of calls went down immensely because parents weren’t panicking when the bus didn’t show up on time.”

To gain similar benefits, look for a parent communication app that delivers real-time notifications — whether a bus is running late, a stop time changes, or a student misses the bus. For a bonus, look for tools that integrate seamlessly with the district’s back-office systems.

4. What tools do drivers have to help them do their jobs better?

Your drivers are the face of the fleet — and giving them the right technology supports better performance and satisfaction.

Driver tablets play a crucial role in fostering clear and efficient communication between dispatch and drivers, ensuring that vital updates are delivered seamlessly. These tools not only enhance trust and help prevent minor issues from escalating, but also enable real-time route adjustments based on rider scans. By recording student check-ins through ID badges, routes can be adapted dynamically and drivers can make informed decisions, ensuring a safer and more reliable transportation experience for everyone involved.

These capabilities can help drivers do their jobs confidently. The driver tablets used at Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake CSD, for example, have helped the district hire experienced full-time drivers and support their substitutes.

Hitrick explained, “We onboarded 8 new drivers in 2024. If those drivers were considering a job at another district that didn’t have Tyler Drive, they came to us because we have it. Knowing we use Tyler Drive instead of a paper system is a benefit for them … On the tablets, our routes are spot-on. That supports our substitute drivers and makes their lives so much easier. Because they don’t know all the stops, they don’t know all the kids, they feel more comfortable accepting a job they may have never done before because all that information is there for them.” Beyond supporting substitutes, tablets can help any driver taking on a new route or getting to know new riders.

To support drivers, look for in-cab tablets that provide optimized routes, a student manifest, and step-by-step navigation. Advanced functionality like integrated tracking can help drivers manage student riders more efficiently — it allows students to sign in with their ID badges, displays assigned student details at each stop, and alerts drivers if a student attempts to disembark at the wrong location.

5. How is maintenance tracked and managed to reduce downtime?

A proactive approach to maintenance is critical to keeping your fleet running smoothly and avoiding costly delays.

Today’s technology allows for smarter maintenance tracking, not just paper-based checklists. This keeps vehicles on the road, reduces unexpected downtime, and promotes a culture of safety and accountability across the fleet.

Advanced transportation software and tablets can help districts keep track of parts, maintenance schedules, and inspections. This technology has helped Jessamine County Schools Transportation in Kentucky increase efficiency in their shop operations.

Transportation Data Assistant Sarah Dolen said, “Tyler’s Student Transportation system’s inventory of parts enables mechanics to easily check availability and quickly identify what needs to be ordered when making repairs. When combined with Tyler Drive, Student Transportation gives our maintenance team clear visibility into which buses are due for inspection and maintenance, as well as the specific type of inspection required.” Tyler Drive tablets streamline processes and improve communication between Jessamine’s driver and mechanics, from drivers inputting their bus mileage to mechanics providing clear maintenance timelines.

When evaluating a fleet partner, check for technology that streamlines inspections and repair workflows. With driver tablets, pre-trip inspections can be completed digitally, making it faster and easier to flag potential issues before they become a problem. Drivers can submit work orders directly from the tablet, ensuring maintenance teams have up to date and accurate information.

Partnering for Innovative Fleet Solutions

The most effective technology solutions aren’t just powerful — they’re connected. Working with a technology partner who offers fully integrated, end-to-end tools helps ensure your systems work together smoothly, giving you a clearer picture of operations, stronger communication, and a more reliable experience for staff, students, and families.

At Tyler, we work with school fleet contractors across the country to deliver the technology solutions that modern school districts demand. Our platform supports safety, improves operational efficiency, and simplifies communication — helping contractors provide top-tier service while standing out in a competitive market.

If you’re a fleet contractor looking to strengthen your value proposition, or a school district seeking more from your transportation provider, we’d love to talk about how our technology can support your goals.

Empower school transportation responsibly with Tyler.

Follow Tyler K-12 on LinkedIn for the latest updates, and dive deeper into our integrated transportation solutions in our webinar, “Connect Your Operations with Onboard iPaaS,” on October 7 at 2 p.m. ET.

The views expressed are those of the content sponsor and do not reflect those of School Transportation News.

The post 5 Essential Tech Questions for School Fleet Contractors appeared first on School Transportation News.

His cellphone notification pierced Jim’s normally quiet 6 a.m. coffee time at home. The alert pertained to school bus 12, prompting the transportation director to pull up the live feed from REI’s ARMOR Software Suite on his mobile device.* Because of the bus’s cellular-connected DVR, Jim saw bus 12 on its side along a rural gravel road.

He immediately contacted the driver to confirm everyone’s safety, then called 911. Shortly after, Jim reviewed the video clip that had uploaded to ARMOR Cloud from the DVR.* The cause was apparent: Washed-out gravel from a recent downpour caused the bus to slide off the road and overturn.

Within minutes, he sent video clips to school administrators, answered questions from parents and law enforcement, and did it remotely without leaving home. Additionally, the event video stored automatically and securely in the cloud for future reference. This streamlined process would facilitate speedy event resolution for your operation as well.

While Jim accessed ARMOR Cloud for safety reasons in this instance, the platform also provides additional benefits for transportation departments like yours:

Improved Efficiency

REI’s experienced cloud administrators manage your ARMOR server, licensing, updates and scalability. This removes technical overhead and allows your transportation staff to focus on managing the fleet instead of managing IT.

Reduced Costs

ARMOR Cloud eliminates the need for on-site servers and additional IT resources. REI handles the hosting, infrastructure and personnel needed to keep the system running smoothly.

Easy Access

Fleet data and video clips are uploaded automatically from cellular-connected DVRs and stored in a secure cloud environment. Your staff may access the system 24/7/365 from anywhere with an internet connection to review footage, check alerts, monitor vehicle activities and locations in real time, access REI equipment reports and more.

Data Security

All data and video are backed up in regional and national locations to reduce the risk of loss during power outages, storms or other disruptions.

Reduced Stress

Knowing that experienced IT professionals maintain system performance and protect your fleet data gives you and your team greater peace of mind.

Many school districts around the U.S. currently realize the benefits of ARMOR and ARMOR Cloud and appreciate their abilities to simplify operations. Contact REI today to learn how these solutions could transform your team’s approach to fleet management.

_{*Requires additional hardware and/or specific cellular service plans. Ask for details.}

The views expressed are those of the content sponsor and do not reflect those of School Transportation News.

The post Simplified Fleet Management? appeared first on School Transportation News.

As diesel school buses reach the end of their lifeline, many school districts are exploring battery-electric options as a cleaner, healthier, and more cost-effective alternative. While there may be initial concerns around workforce readiness, safety, and driver experience, the transition to electric school buses brings a host of benefits – and we’re here to help guide you through it.

Will I need to find new trained and skilled personnel to operate and maintain these new electric buses?

A successful shift to electric school buses does depend on a knowledgeable workforce, but that doesn’t mean starting from scratch. At RIDE, we offer a tiered training program that covers everything from basic maintenance to advanced technical diagnostics, designed to support your team every step of the way.

We understand that each school district has unique needs, which is why we customize our support to fit your specific requirements – whether through the RIDE customer service team or our network of authorized maintenance dealers. Our team is always just a phone call away, ready to guide you through the transition with personalized assistance every step of the way.

How do electric school buses improve rider safety?

Safety, especially battery safety, is our top priority. RIDE school buses are purpose-built and equipped with lithium-iron phosphate battery technology offering a reliable and secure solution for student transportation.

RIDE batteries undergo extensive testing including crushing, heat and puncture resistance, and come with a 12-year warranty. Through innovative technologies, rigorous testing, and comprehensive training programs, RIDE goes above and beyond to ensure battery safety – offering a level of assurance that sets us apart from our competitors in the market.

In addition to battery safety, RIDE electric school buses have successfully passed some of the most rigorous structural tests in the industry, including a side intrusion test and the Colorado Racking and Kentucky Pull Test, ensuring maximum structural integrity and safety.

Furthermore, RIDE buses are equipped with all key industry-standard safety components. Our engineering team works closely with suppliers to continuously enhance product safety from the rider’s perspective.

Will electric school buses affect driver performance?

Electric school buses are designed to enhance, not hinder, driver performance. Many drivers report a smoother and more responsive driving experience compared to diesel buses. With instant torque and regenerative braking, electric buses provide greater control and easier handling, particularly in stop-and-go traffic or on hilly routes.

The quiet operation of electric school buses heightens the driver’s ability to monitor the school bus and its passengers. The overall reduced noise level allows for clearer communication between the driver, students, and any adults on the bus, especially during emergencies or stops. The sustainable design also helps reduce harmful emissions, improving air quality for students – especially those with asthma or respiratory issues.

In addition, the quiet operation of electric buses helps reduce driver fatigue and allows for better focus. Without the constant rumble of a diesel engine, drivers can more easily hear and communicate with students, leading to a calmer and safer ride.

The shift to battery-electric school buses represents more than just a change in technology – it’s a commitment to cleaner air, healthier communities, and a more sustainable future for our students. While the transition may come with questions, solutions are already in place to support every step of the journey. Let’s take the next step forward, together.

Learn more at ride.co. Read Jason Yan’s Q&A from the July issue of School Transportation News and co-CEO Patrick Duan’s Q&A from the June issue.

The views expressed are those of the content sponsor and do not reflect those of School Transportation News.

The post Moving Forward Together Toward a Battery-Electric Future appeared first on School Transportation News.

School bus drivers are surrounded by driver airbags while they’re on their way to and from work. So, it’s fair to ask: why aren’t frontal airbags in school buses, too?

The simple answer? A car airbag just can’t be easily installed into a school bus. It takes an enormous amount of engineering. While it might sound like a simple upgrade, airbags are not one-size-fits-all. Every airbag system is finely tuned to the vehicle it’s installed in, from the size and shape of the vehicle to how fast it typically moves, even to how the seat and steering wheel are designed. Installing a system that wasn’t made for a school bus just wouldn’t work.

That’s where 4Front comes in. 4Front by IMMI is specifically designed to give drivers extra protection during serious frontal crashes, specifically the kind of crash that would be severe enough to set off an airbag. Industries that already use frontal airbag protection have seen first-hand how this advanced safety system can save lives. Whether in a fire truck rushing to an emergency or a heavy-duty semi-truck crossing the country, IMMI’s 4Front airbags have helped protect drivers from serious injuries in the worst crashes. And now, that same safety technology is available to protect school bus drivers.

What Actually Goes into a School Bus Airbag?

Before any actual crash testing ever happens, IMMI engineers and crash safety experts spend 18-24 months developing and validating a new airbag system for school buses. That time is spent running through multiples stages of development including work like:

• Simulation Testing: Computer modeling plays a critical role in the early stages of airbag system development. These simulations allow engineers to predict how a school bus and its driver would respond during a variety of frontal crash scenarios. By analyzing these virtual crash events, engineers can evaluate potential injuries, study how the body moves during impact, and fine-tune the design of the airbag system accordingly. This approach enables IMMI to test and improve safety performance efficiently, reducing the number of full vehicle crashes required, saving time and resources, and helping to ensure that the final system offers the best possible protection when deployed in the real world.
• Sled Testing: Before a full school bus is ever crash tested, several tests are run using a specialized setup called a sled test. This test uses real bus parts, like the actual driver seat, seat belt, steering column, and steering wheel, mounted to a platform that simulates a crash. There are normally 3 to 5 runs to figure out the exact speeds where the airbag should or should not deploy. These are called “no fire” (airbag does not go off) and “must fire” (airbag does go off) speeds. Important things to look at during these tests are injury numbers and how the body moves (kinematics) to make sure the system protects the driver correctly. The test setup, or “sled buck,” is built by CAPE, the Center for Advanced Product Evaluation, IMMI’s own crash test and safety engineering partner.
• Resonance Testing: Not every part of a school bus is an ideal location for a crash sensor. To ensure accurate performance, various mounting positions are tested to identify the most reliable spots for detecting impact. This process, known as resonance testing, helps confirm that the sensor can distinguish between a true crash event and normal road vibrations. Proper sensor placement is critical to ensure the airbag system deploys only when necessary, contributing to a dependable and effective safety system.
• Barrier Testing: Now that all the simulations, initial sled tests run, and sensors mounted in the correct places, it’s time to crash a school bus! As part of the final validation process, barrier crash testing is conducted at CAPE to confirm the airbag system performs as intended in a variety of real-world crash conditions. Multiple barrier types are used to simulate different crash scenarios. Additional tests include the bus hitting the barrier at different angles (not just a head-on collision), to confirm that deployment occurs only in severe frontal crashes. Each test helps confirm that the 4Front airbag system responds the right way in serious crashes, giving drivers the protection they need, only when it’s needed.

This wraps up development for the airbag program for the school bus.

What Can You Do?

If you’re interested in learning more about 4Front airbags to better protect your drivers, here are a few steps you can take:

• Learn more about 4Front
• Get further information on CAPE’s crashes and capabilities
• Watch a CAPE-led school bus crash demonstration highlighting 4Front in action here:

• Talk to your transportation director about IMMI’s 4Front system
• Contact your bus dealer or IMMI

Every driver deserves to go home safely. Let’s make sure all school bus drivers are protected, too.

Built to Work with Lap-Shoulder Belts

4Front is also designed to work hand-in-hand with another proven safety technology: lap-shoulder belts. More school buses are now being built with these belts because they help keep drivers and students securely in place during a crash, reducing the risk of serious injuries. When used together, lap-shoulder belts and 4Front airbags create a layered safety system that protects the driver from both initial and secondary impacts. If your bus has lap-shoulder belts, you’re already one step ahead. 4Front helps take it even further.

For more than 60 years, IMMI has been a leader in advancing occupant safety across transportation industries. From school buses and commercial trucks to ambulances and fire apparatuses, IMMI designs and manufactures safety systems trusted by OEMs and fleets around the world. With a deep focus on real-world protection and rigorous testing, IMMI has led the way in setting industry standards for seat belts, child seating, and advanced restraint technologies.

The views expressed are those of the content sponsor and do not reflect those of School Transportation News.

The post Cars Have Driver Airbags – Shouldn’t School Buses Have Them Too? appeared first on School Transportation News.

As 9-year-old Luke sat idly on the school bus to his after-school activity, anger swelled in a seat not far away. The animosity soon boiled over, initiating a loud and intense struggle between Luke and an older student.

Hearing the altercation, the driver immediately tapped her event marker, triggering automated actions from her contractor’s fleet management software. These actions would ultimately help the bus contractor resolve Luke’s event within minutes.

What actions were triggered? How did they facilitate a speedy resolution?

For answers, let’s look at ARMOR Software Suite, the contractor’s wireless, cloud-based fleet management tool, and the integrated REI surveillance system.* While the suite offers many automated features, the two triggered by the event marker involved event alerts and video downloading.

Automated Event Alerts

Seconds after the event marker’s activation, ARMOR auto-generated an alert and sent it to the contractor’s cellphone. Anxious about the alert, the contractor accessed ARMOR’s live look-in feature to assess the situation.*

The real-time, high-definition view from the onboard camera system revealed the irate older student standing over a much smaller Luke. While the incident appeared to have ended, Luke still cowered as if injured. The contractor immediately called the driver’s two-way radio to notify her about Luke’s condition, then returned to ARMOR to watch video of the entire incident.

Automated Video Downloads

Because ARMOR was configured to auto-download all event videos from vehicle DVRs, the contractor didn’t have to wait long to view it. What’s more, the video included padding and showed all actions before and after the altercation.

Within minutes of its occurrence, the contractor obtained full event details. A misunderstanding between Luke and the older student resulted in repeated punches to Luke’s head, leaving him dazed and sore. Because of ARMOR’s automation and its ability to produce video quickly, the suite saved the contractor hours of research. More importantly, it showed the hits sustained by Luke, prompting an urgent concussion assessment.

Think how these automated tools would benefit your operation. Would your team like to forget about hard drive retrieval? Be more proactive in minimizing bullying?

How would they react to even more automated features, such as:

• Diagnostic warnings/updates about engines and REI surveillance systems*
• Daily activity reports about vehicles
• Status notifications about vehicle features/operations
• Stop-arm violation alerts*

Discover how ARMOR’s automated capabilities can enhance fleet safety, increase efficiency and reduce stress on your team. Visit radioeng.com to learn more, watch a demo or contact us.

*Requires additional hardware and/or specific cellular service plans. Ask for details.

The views expressed are those of the content sponsor and do not reflect those of School Transportation News.

The post Automate to Elevate Safety & Fleet Management appeared first on School Transportation News.

Every day, drivers illegally pass stopped school buses, ignoring extended stop arms and flashing red lights, putting our children in immediate danger.

The National Association of State Directors of Pupil Transportation Services (NASDPTS) estimates over 251,000 illegal pass-bys happen daily. Projected over a 180-day school year, that’s 45.2 million times our children are at risk of injury or worse. These statistics underscore the urgent need for comprehensive solutions to protect students.

The Safe Fleet Illegal Passing Suite is the only solution designed to tackle the stop-arm violation epidemic from every angle. Prevention, proactive protection, and enforcement work together to safeguard students in the school bus Danger Zone.

• Preventive: The Safe Fleet Illuminated Stop Arm and Driver Alert Device ensure drivers see and recognize a stopped school bus, reducing the likelihood of illegal pass-bys before they happen.
• Proactive: Our Predictive Stop Arm^® (PSA) detects approaching vehicles that are not likely to stop in time and warns students to stay back, adding an extra layer of real-time protection. It’s the only solution of its kind that engages with students directly, giving them agency over their well-being and extra seconds to keep out of harm’s way.
• Responsive: The Safe Fleet Stop Arm Violation Enforcement System (SAVES) captures high-quality video, photographic and location-based evidence of illegal pass-bys––including context footage from the right-hand side of the bus––and packages it for citation, holding violators accountable and driving long-term behavior change.

School bus safety technology should do more than just react. It should prevent incidents, protect students in real time, and hold violators accountable. That’s how we curb the illegal passing epidemic.

The solutions in the Illegal Passing Suite work together to create a protective umbrella within the school bus’ Danger Zone. At the heart of it is SAVES.

Why SAVES Stands Out

Superior Performance with Unmatched Accuracy Rates

SAVES delivers big results while requiring minimal school administration effort by helping to keep students safe, shaping long-term positive driver behavior, and providing operational insights. With its AI-powered analytics, SAVES consistently delivers greater than 98% violation/plate-detection accuracy in real-world settings, giving districts clear, reliable evidence and full ownership of their data to support training, enforcement, and safety improvement.

Seamless Evidence Management with the SAVES Cloud Interface

Unlike competitive offerings, Safe Fleet provides the school district with full access to their data should the district want to mine the information for insight. And the Safe Fleet cloud interface streamlines the process – making it as simple as possible.

• The Stop Arm Enforcement Application Dashboard – Provides key metrics such as the number of violations over a select period, location data, and emerging trends. The district can use this information to change bus stop locations and work with law enforcement to diffuse hot zones.

System performance stays reliable without adding a burden on the district. Safe Fleet handles updates remotely to keep everything running smoothly and safe.

• Device Management – Safe Fleet remotely updates SAVES devices for districts, ensuring optimal functionality without disrupting operations.

Reliability That Stands the Test of Time

Safety technology needs to be reliable. There’s no room for failure when student lives are on the line. The Illegal Passing Suite is built with durability and consistency in mind, delivering dependable performance across all its components. Every piece of the suite is designed to work seamlessly, ensuring school buses are equipped with solutions that function when they matter most.

Evidence That Holds Up

The effectiveness of enforcement depends on the quality of the evidence collected. The SAVES system captures comprehensive evidence packages that consist of high-resolution video, photographic evidence, location-based and context-specific data with incredible accuracy, helping eliminate instances in which violations go unchecked. With built-in AI and automated evidence packaging, SAVES delivers clear and thorough documentation that streamlines the citation process and reinforces driver accountability.

Support and Resources at Every Step

Adopting new technology is easier when the right support is available. Safe Fleet provides expert guidance throughout every stage of SAVES onboarding, including installation, implementation, and developing community outreach programs. We handle all the technical aspects, including violation capture, processing, and citation management, so districts can stay focused on student safety.

Better Safety Starts Here

Creating a safer environment for students takes a complete approach. With the Illegal Passing Suite and SAVES, school districts can prevent dangerous pass-bys, protect students in real time, and hold violators accountable with high-quality evidence.

Safer buses. Smarter enforcement. Stronger results. That’s the Safe Fleet difference. 

Learn more at www.safefleet.net.

The views expressed are those of the content sponsor and do not reflect those of School Transportation News.

The post Change Driver Behavior, Protect Students: The Smarter, Stronger Solution to Protecting Students in the Danger Zone appeared first on School Transportation News.

Nestled 20 miles south of Rochester in upstate New York, the York Central School District may be small in size, but it’s making big strides in transportation innovation under the guidance of director of transportation, Tracey Proctor.

With nearly two decades of experience in school transportation, Proctor has brought a fresh, tech-forward approach to the district since her arrival four years ago — a move that has significantly improved efficiency, safety and confidence for both drivers and students.

When Proctor joined York CSD, she came equipped not just with experience, but also a clear vision: she needed better tools to run a more modern and responsive transportation department. Having worked with Transfinder solutions at a previous district, Proctor knew she didn’t want to operate without them.

“As soon as I started, when it came contract time, I said, ‘I really need this [Transfinder technology]. I can’t go any longer without it,’” she recalls.

At the time, York was operating the old-fashioned, “very manual,” Proctor said. “A lot of notebooks. That was it.”

But she knew what she was missing without having Transfinder’s award-winning routing solution.

“Once I started with Transfinder, you just can’t go back,” Proctor said.

Today, York CSD uses Transfinder’s awards-winning Routefinder PLUS and driver app Wayfinder, a combination that has transformed the way the district manages its transportation. York CSD transports just over 400 students daily, with eight large bus runs and eight out-of-district van runs. Like many districts, small and large alike, resources and staffing flexibility are critical.

“We have 18 drivers, and right now we’re doing very well with staffing,” Proctor said, joking: “Please don’t share that with anyone!” Still, the district relies on flexibility, with mechanics and even Proctor herself stepping in to drive when needed. That’s where Wayfinder has made a tremendous difference.

Wayfinder has helped the district when assigning routes to new drivers or substitutes who may not be familiar with the run.

“I don’t print routes anymore,” she said. “I just click on the Wayfinder and say the driver, ‘There it is.’ It’s done and I know that it’s correct.”

The technology is also helping shape the future of York’s driving staff. Those used to driving small vans with fewer students are appreciative of the Routefinder PLUS-built routes displayed on Wayfinder as they travel unfamiliar terrain with more students.

The ease of use of Wayfinder and Routefinder PLUS has also made an impression. Proctor recently completed her Wayfinder training and described the experience as a positive experience.

“I don’t know my way around a computer very well,” she said. “Everyone at Transfinder has been very helpful. They take their time with me. I should say, they speak my language. They didn’t speak ‘technical talk.’ The classes were very, very down-to-earth and I was able to understand everything that was put in front of me.”

That kind of client-centered support, combined with reliable and intuitive software, is what motivated Proctor to bring Transfinder technology to York in the first place.

Looking ahead, Proctor is considering how she can use Transfinder technology even more strategically, including using Wayfinder in recruiting. “I never have in the past, but now that I know how it works and how it helps the drivers, I definitely will use it for recruitment,” she said.

To learn more about Routefinder PLUS, Wayfinder or Transfinder’s suite of solutions, visit Transfinder.com, email getplus@transfinder.com or call 800-373-3609.

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