Rivian owners take on a risk that many may not fully appreciate when they buy one of these trucks. It’s not just about the company being young, or its future still being written. Those are expected gambles.

The real hidden concern and surprise comes when something goes wrong, and not mechanically, but physically. Damage that would be a quick fix on a Ford, a Toyota or most other legacy carmakers can turn into a financial nightmare with a Rivian, sometimes severe enough to write off the vehicle altogether.

Read: Guess How Much It Costs To Repair This Rivian R1T?

It’s becoming an increasingly common problem, and the ordeal one owner continues to face shows just how complicated it can get.

When Simple Damage Isn’t Simple

Back in May of this year, the employee of a Rivian R1T owner backed into his electric truck. The damage appeared quite straightforward in the rear quarter panel. However, this is a Rivian R1T, so “straightforward” doesn’t really apply in this case.

The rear quarter panel is part of one giant piece that actually includes the roof. In other words, fixing a dent in it, especially a large one, isn’t a simple job. We’ve seen instances of paintless dent repair (PDR) being a savior in some cases. This isn’t one of them.

The owner of the R1T says that his employee’s insurance company initially quoted just $1,700 for the repair. Considering that many of these situations end up in the five-figure range, he knew that was potentially problematic. To that end, he contacted Rivian, and things only got worse from there.

The True Cost of Rivian Repairs

The automaker explained that there was only one certified repair shop within 300 miles (about 480 km), and their estimate came in at a whopping $16,000. Given the huge gap, the owner started asking PDR shops for help, but none would touch the R1T.

Also: Rivian Owner’s DIY Repair Saves Thousands After Mishap And Teaches Us A Lesson

That said, the owner decided to go ahead and go with the certified repair shop, hoping that the final bill would come in lower than the estimate. Instead, the shop found additional damage once the truck was in the building.

The total came to $22,000 after a seven-week repair process. The ordeal wasn’t even over after all that because insurance refused to pay that amount.

Can You Ever Win Against Insurance?

Instead, it offered $13,000 and said that the certified repair shop’s rates were excessive. Faced with either paying the $9k himself or entering arbitration that would delay pickup indefinitely, the owner paid the difference, retrieved the truck, and launched an appeal.

His letters were ignored. A second, more forceful letter outlining what he considered an unfair settlement? Also ignored. Only after filing a complaint with his state’s Secretary of State did the insurer finally respond, this time offering an additional $5,100 to make the issue go away.

The state recommended accepting the offer, and the owner did. “I really enjoy this truck, but this is bonkers,” he says. “I hope Rivian improves design to allow for less expensive repair costs for common dings.”

No doubt, plenty of other Rivian owners hope the same thing.

Photo Reddit u/RepresentativeCat940

Germany’s car-check watchdog has crunched the reliability numbers and once again, Tesla finds itself parked at the very bottom of the heap. The 2026 TÜV-Report, covering annual roadworthiness inspections of approximately 9.5 million vehicles between July 2024 and June 2025, found that Tesla EVs occupied the two bottom spots in the league table.

The Model 3, which was the worst-ranked car for the two previous years was found to have a defect rate of 13.1 percent, meaning one in every 7.6 cars in the two-to-three-year-old ages group failed the Hauptuntersuchung safety check.

Why Is The Model Y So Troubled?

But the Model Y was even worse. It had a defect rate of 17.3 percent, versus 3.5 percent for a Mini Cooper SE, making it the worst TÜV has seen in this age group in a decade. The biggest defect culprits were the axle assembly, suspension, brakes and lighting.

Related: Tesla Is Now The World’s Most Avoided EV Brand And It’s Probably Musk’s Fault

Pulling back to look at the bigger picture covering cars of all ages reveals that 21.5 percent, or one in five cars failed the inspection due to a “significant” or “dangerous” defect, an increase of 0.9 percent on last year, ADAC reported. And the proportion with minor defects rose 0.8 percent to 12.3 percent.

Other reliability villains include the BMW 5-series and 6-series in both the 4-5-year-old and 8-9-year-old age groups, the Dacia Duster in the 6-7 and 10-11 age groups and the Renault Clio among 12-13-year-old cars.

Electric Cars Defect Rate, 2-3 Years Old

Pop the Champagne for VW

But with every list of losers there has to be a list of winners, and for cars that have passed their fourth birthday, this one is headed by Volkswagen.

The VW Golf wagon and T-Roc scored well in the 4-7-year-old categories and the automaker’s Touareg was top of the oldies. The Mazda CX-3 and Mercedes B-Class were also commended.

Looking at the 2-3-year-old group, Fiat’s 500e toped the small car category, proving to Tesla that EVs can be reliable, the Mazda 2 and BMW 1-series were the top-rated small car and compact, and the C-class took the mid-range award (if you’re reading from the US, those classifications will look kinda messed up).

The T-Roc popped up again to take best SUV, and the B-class bagged most reliable nearly-new minivan.

Rate of Serious Inspection Defects

One big change in this year’s study is the introduction of an award for long-term quality, handed out to brands whose vehicles, aged 10+ exhibit the lowest average defect rate for safety-related faults and stand for quality, durability, and good service.

Mercedes took gold with an 18.5 percent defect rate – almost matching that of a 2-3-year-old Model Y – Audi was second with 19.2 percent and Toyota snuck onto the podium’s last step with a 22 percent defect rate.

Winners By Segment, 2-3 Years Old

Winners In Other Age Groups

GREENSBORO, N.C. – In continued efforts to be the best of the best in their field, maintenance team members from Durham School Services and Petermann Bus participated in the Thomas Built Institute’s three-day advanced training session. At the advanced training sessions, participants received hands-on training focused on advanced diagnostics on different engine platforms, advanced electronics, and other bus components for both standard and electric school buses.

Durham and its sister brands have participated in Thomas Built Institute trainings annually for the past few years. The training event includes nine classes, specialized bus model sessions, and a factory tour.

Training topics included, but were not limited to:

Electrical Systems
C2 Training
Braun Lift
MCC Troubleshooting
Diagnostic Link 8 Training
EV (Electric Vehicle) Class
Cummins Insite/Software & Emissions
TBB Portal, Access Freightliner, Drawing Lookup
Charging and Starting Systems
Factory Tour of the Revamped Saf-T-Liner

“As a company, we are proud to be able to provide our team members with opportunities to further develop their skills and support their professional ambitions,” said Regis Rock, Senior Manager of Talent Development, Durham School Services. “Our team members pride themselves in their commitment to becoming masters of their craft and even greater experts in their field. Hands-on training sessions such as the ones offered by Thomas Built Buses are great avenues that support their professional success and career goals. Further, these trainings ensure that they are equipped with the necessary experience and knowledge to safely and proficiently perform their duties and maintain our fleets.”

About Durham School Services: As an industry-leading student transportation provider, Durham School Services and its sister brands, Stock Transportation and Petermann Bus, are dedicated to the safety of our students and People. Collectively, for more than 100 years, we have been committed to Excellence and upholding our mission of getting students to school safely, on time, and ready to learn. Through this mission and a grassroots approach to our operations, Durham School Services and its sister brands have earned recognition as a trusted transportation provider among our Customers and the Communities they serve.

About Petermann Bus: Petermann Bus provides safe and reliable transportation to students in Ohio and Pennsylvania. Since 1921, we have been committed to Excellence and upholding our mission of getting students to school safely, on time, and ready to learn. Through this mission and a grassroots approach to our operations, Petermann Bus has earned recognition as a trusted transportation provider among our Customers and the Communities we serve.

The post Durham School Services and Petermann Bus Elevate Maintenance Expertise Through Thomas Built Institute Training appeared first on School Transportation News.

Automotive enthusiasts aren’t the only ones who enjoy getting their hands dirty. Many regular drivers tackle oil changes, swap air filters, or fit new brake pads without a second thought. These are the sorts of jobs that make you feel connected to your car, a small ritual of maintenance and pride.

But every so often, a manufacturer decides to make things harder than they need to be. I once had to drop an entire subframe on my BMW just to replace oxygen sensors, an experience that left me wondering whether the engineers had ever tried it themselves.

Also: His Ioniq 5 N Turned Into A Paperweight Months Ago And Hyundai Still Has No Answers

It’s rare to see a mainstream brand like Hyundai put similar hurdles on its customers when it comes to repairs. However, according to one owner, the brand isn’t just making a simple fix hard; it’s straight up declaring war on his (and your) right to repair his own car.

Is Hyundai Denying Right to Repair?

Two recent posts on Reddit’s r/Ioniq5N community have ignited a fierce debate. There, an owner claims Hyundai has drawn the battle lines. He’d set out to replace his rear brake pads, something he says he’s done countless times before on other vehicles, but soon discovered the automaker’s diagnostic tools had other plans.

According to the post, Hyundai’s digital systems effectively lock out anyone who isn’t a certified technician from performing even basic maintenance.

The rear brake pads are affected by the electric parking brake. To replace them, one must disengage the brake and get it to retract completely, otherwise, the new pads won’t fit. In addition, the car needs a diagnostic tool to recalibrate the motor on how far to move with the new pads in place.

In other words, even if you could manually disengage the parking brake, the car would still need calibration to work properly.

More: Rivian Refused To Sell JerryRigEverything A 12V Battery Then Sent Him The Bill

The only way to accomplish this is allegedly to use Hyundai’s J2534 Diagnostic Tool, a Windows-based application available only through the automaker’s tech info portal.

The owner says the software requires a $60 weekly subscription, a $2,000+ approved hardware adapter, and a constant internet connection for authentication. Even then, it reportedly doesn’t work properly on newer models like the 2025 Ioniq 5 N.

No DIYers, Please – Only Pros

“I broke down and bought the subscription and special adapter,” the owner wrote. “Guess what? It didn’t work.” Only later did they find out why. “My blood is boiling at the moment. NASTF has blocked my account, saying “DIYers are not permitted access.”

They included a photo of a message from NASTF that says in part, “Please provide your business name and 9-digit Federal Employer Identification Number. DIYers are not permitted access.”

The irony, the poster points out, is that Hyundai dealers don’t even use this Windows tool. They reportedly have access to an entirely different Android-based software suite that works seamlessly.

While this all sounds like a bureaucratic mess, the underlying issue raises serious questions about Right to Repair access in the EV era. For decades, enthusiasts and independent mechanics have fought for access to diagnostic tools and repair data that manufacturers often guard tightly.

But when basic wear items like brake pads require proprietary authentication, the argument takes on a new urgency.

Has Hyundai Gone Too Far?

Nothing about this setup sounds reasonable. Replacing brake pads is as fundamental as car maintenance gets, yet Hyundai’s system allegedly makes it feel like breaking into Fort Knox.

If that’s true, the automaker has some serious rethinking to do because locking out the people who care most about maintaining their vehicles isn’t a good long-term strategy.

I have personally considered buying an Ioniq 5 and a Kia EV6, but will avoid both until this sort of thing is doable for folks like me. Hyundai tells us that it’s looking into the situation and will report back once it has more information.

RICHMOND, Va.– As fleets continue to shift away from diesel and toward cleaner, reliable energy sources, a new generation of skilled automotive service technicians is needed to maintain alternative fuel vehicles, like those running on propane autogas. The Propane Autogas Vehicle Inspection Grant Program, offered by the Propane Education & Research Council (PERC), is providing schools across the country with valuable training and resources needed to prepare students to work on propane autogas buses, trucks, vans, and more.

This innovative grant program provides U.S. educational institutions with up to $7,500 in funding to integrate propane-specific curriculum and equipment into their existing automotive training programs. The goal is to equip students with real-world experience maintaining and servicing vehicles powered by propane autogas. These skills are increasingly in demand as more fleets turn to propane autogas to reduce emissions and costs while maintaining operational efficiency.

“The Propane Autogas Vehicle Inspection Grant Program gives students an opportunity to learn these technologies in-depth, preparing them for successful careers after graduation supporting fleets that are increasingly turning to propane autogas,” said Joel Stutheit, senior manager of autogas business development at PERC. “This program also supports fleet owners by building a pipeline of talented and qualified technicians who can keep propane autogas trucks, vans, and buses on the road for years to come.”

Now in its second year, the grant program has already supported 24 schools in 16 states, training hundreds of students to inspect, service, and maintain propane autogas engine systems. Each participating school receives propane-specific curriculum, as well as funding to purchase propane autogas training equipment and to send an instructor to a “Train the Trainer” course. Eligible institutions must already offer an automotive program.

Today, more than 60,000 propane autogas vehicles are in operation across the United States, providing dependable service to transit agencies, delivery companies, emergency response fleets, utility crews, and more. Propane autogas is not only reliable 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.

“Enhanced curricula made possible by the Propane Autogas Vehicle Inspection Grant Program have given both students and schools a leg up,” Stutheit said. “Schools are able to expand their course offerings without increasing costs to students, while students gain new, valuable skill sets that position them for long-term success in a rapidly changing transportation industry.”

The application window is open through December 19. To learn more about the grant program or to apply, visit propane.com/autogasgrantprogram.

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.

The post Applications Open for Grant Program Equipping Students with In-Demand Propane Autogas Skills appeared first on School Transportation News.

State Rep. Lee Snodgrass (D-Appleton) listens as Rep. Lindee Rae Brill (R-Sheboygan Falls) testifies about her bill to ban the use of absentee ballot drop boxes. (Henry Redman | Wisconsin Examiner)

At a public hearing of the Wisconsin Assembly Committee on Campaigns and Elections Tuesday, legislators engaged in an occasionally tense debate over proposed changes to the state election system. 

In attendance at the hearing were some of Wisconsin’s most prominent election deniers, including former state Rep. Janel Brandtjen and Peter Bernegger, a self-styled elections investigator who has been convicted of mail fraud Bernegger stood in the back of the hearing room with a group of companions, muttering and complaining about assertions by the election clerks and legislators who testified. 

The committee heard testimony on bills that would prohibit the use of absentee ballot drop boxes, change the system for how “indefinitely confined voters” cast ballots, add a provision to state law that makes it a felony if election workers don’t allow election observers to exercise their rights and change the system for how state agencies manage voter registration data. 

The most heated part of the hearing came during the discussion of AB 560, authored by Rep. Lindee Rae Brill (R-Sheboygan Falls) and Sen. Andre Jacque (R-New Franken), which outlaws drop boxes. The use of drop boxes has been a politically charged issue since 2020, when right-wing groups started to allege they’re susceptible to fraud and “ballot harvesting” by outfits known as “ballot mills” that allegedly collect illegal ballots and stuff them into drop boxes in order to sway election results. There is no evidence such harvesting happens, though in Wisconsin it is now illegal for anyone other than a voter to return that voter’s absentee ballot. 

Since 2020, the drop box issue has been litigated in the court system more than once. In 2022, the then-conservative-controlled Wisconsin Supreme Court banned drop boxes. In 2024 the new liberal majority on the Court reversed that decision and drop boxes were allowed in last year’s presidential election. Municipal clerks are able to decide whether or not to use the boxes and the Wisconsin Elections Commission has issued guidance for best practices in securing them, but there are no laws on the books guiding how drop boxes should be managed. 

Brill cited incidents in Portland, Oregon and Vancouver, Canada in which absentee ballot drop boxes were set on fire, saying those events show the need for the boxes to have security that the state of Wisconsin and its municipalities can’t afford to provide.

Democrats on the committee asked why isolated anecdotes on the west coast have anything to do with the administration of drop boxes in Wisconsin and argued that the reason many Wisconsinites still have doubts about the security of the state’s elections is because Republicans keep pushing the belief that something is amiss. 

“I would argue that the No. 1 reason that people may have a lack of confidence in the security of our elections is the discourse that conservative members of the Republican Party continue to put out there about fact versus fiction when it comes to actual election security and fraud,” Rep. Lee Snodgrass (D-Appleton) said. 

“I think it’s no secret that the people who are talking about elections being stolen or somehow insecure are people who are grabbing on to conspiracy theories that are not based in fact about actual incidences of election fraud in this country,” Snodgrass continued, citing a 2022 Associated Press survey of election officials about the security of drop boxes. 

“I don’t know that I consider that a valid source, Associated Press,” Brill replied. “I don’t always see everything from the Associated Press being absolutely valid, but that might be where you and I find truth in different spots. This might be where we’re finding facts in different locations.”

The criticism of Brill’s bill didn’t just come from the committee’s Democrats. Rep. Scott Krug (R-Nekoosa), who has often worked to broker compromise on election issues, questioned Brill’s choice to put forward the bill despite the near certainty that it will be vetoed by Democratic Gov. Tony Evers. 

Krug said if Republicans move forward with the bill and it passes both chambers only to be vetoed in early 2026 and then the state is left in the same position — drop boxes are allowed at the discretion of local election clerks without any rules or regulations guiding their use, security or procedures. 

“[This bill is] not going to change the Supreme Court’s opinion on drop boxes. It’s not going to change the governor’s opinion on drop boxes,” Krug said. “We still have a problem in our communities, and that’s what I’m trying to get to is, politically, where we are dealing with realities. We know that if this bill leaves this committee, goes to the floor, gets voted on, goes to the Senate, gets through committee, gets voted on in the Senate, goes to the governor’s desk, he vetoes it — then where are we with drop boxes?”

Brill said more than once that she doesn’t think Republicans in the Legislature should be trying to write election-related bills that can be signed into law by Evers. 

“I don’t believe that doing election integrity that the governor is going to sign is what Republicans should be doing,” she said. “I think election integrity is something that is a very divided issue, and I think we’re on the right side of this issue. So if the governor was going to say he was going to sign, I mean, I am a believer in God and follower of Jesus Christ, so do I believe that there’s a chance that he would change his mind and sign this into law? Sure, but I’m taking this head-on, because our Republican president believes this is the direction we should be heading.”

A number of election clerks also testified on the bill, questioning the assertion that drop boxes are less secure than U.S. Postal Service mailboxes and insisting that allegations of ballot harvesting are false. 

Indefinitely confined voters 

Since the 1970s, Wisconsin law has allowed voters to identify themselves as indefinitely confined, meaning they’re unable to leave the house to vote so their local election clerk automatically sends them an absentee ballot for each election. 

When the state instituted its voter ID law in 2011, indefinitely confined voters were exempted from its requirements. In 2020, the use of indefinitely confined status increased due to the COVID-19 pandemic, raising concerns among Republicans that the program is susceptible to fraud. 

AB 599 would end the indefinitely confined program by Jan. 1, 2029 and replace it with a program that allows voters with disabilities or illnesses to request that absentee ballots be automatically sent to them and provide proof of identification. That request would be valid until the ID’s expiration, at which time the voter will need to start the process again with their new ID. 

The bill’s Republican authors, Krug and Rep. Cindy Duchow (R-Town of Delafield), said the proposal was “not a rollback” but a “recalibration” of the system. But Democrats and advocates for people with disabilities argued the state has barriers that can make it difficult for people with disabilities to obtain a state-issued ID, mostly due to challenges with DMV hours and transportation access.

Election clerks testified that the bill pushes a major burden of added work onto the local clerks. 

Election observers

AB 426, authored by Rep. Paul Tittl, would penalize any election official who infringes on an election observer’s rights to be within three and eight feet of all aspects of the voting process with up to 90 days imprisonment in county jail and a fine of up to $1,000. 

Snodgrass pointed to a recently enacted administrative rule that guides the conduct of election observers and gives  election officials authority to manage observer conduct. She said the state should wait to see how the rules work before further tweaking the law. 

Voter data 

The committee also heard testimony on AB 595, authored by Krug, which would change how the state elections commission works with other agencies to share data such as a voter’s name and state ID number. Republicans have spent years complaining that the state voter registration list is full of errors. Democrats and election administration experts have said aggressive attempts to delete data from the statewide system would result in the disenfranchisement of Wisconsin voters. 

The bill would require the Department of Transportation and WEC to enter into a data-sharing agreement to match information in the possession of both agencies. 

Under current law, whenever a voter is no longer eligible to vote, for any reason, their file is changed to ineligible on the voter registration list but not removed. This prevents people from being removed in error and allows people to retain their voter registration file if they’re convicted of a felony and then can vote again after serving their sentence. 

Krug’s bill would remove people from the list once they’re declared ineligible. If someone is then eligible to vote again, they’d have to re-register. 

The bill would also require the Legislative Audit Bureau to conduct an audit every other year of the official voter list to search for registered voters who aren’t U.S. citizens. While Republicans have of fraud by non-citizen who illegally cast ballots, there is little proof it happens at a significant rate.

Krug said that a lot of election skeptics’ complaints have simmered for years without the ability to provide definitive answers about their validity because the data can’t be compiled, so his bill is trying to solve that. 

“Is it a widespread problem? No. Does it happen? Yes,” Krug said. “So that’s what I’m trying to figure out, is, what is that in between? What does it look like? … This is not a gotcha. I just want to be able to say, ‘OK, agency gave me data, I can show you that this isn’t a major problem,’ and then I can come up with solutions.”

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Chief Inspector Megan Williamson processes absentee ballots at the Hawthorne Library on Madison's East Side. (Henry Redman | Wisconsin Examiner)

The Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty, a right-wing law firm, complained in a letter to the U.S. Department of Justice last week that the Wisconsin Elections Commission is improperly allowing erroneous data entries to remain in the state voter registration database. 

The Elections Commission says WILL is overstating its claims, misunderstanding how the voter database is used and wrong about the requirements of federal law. Meanwhile election administration experts say that WILL is stoking the fears of Wisconsin election conspiracy theorists, which is dangerous because of the Trump administration’s history of election meddling, increasing willingness to prosecute perceived enemies and growing warnings that it will interfere in next year’s midterms. 

In its letter to the DOJ, WILL complains that the state voter database includes “thousands of active, registered voters in Wisconsin whose voter registration information does not match the information in their DOT records. And WEC appears to be doing nothing about it.” The letter states that this problem has only worsened in recent years. 

State law requires that whenever someone registers to vote, either online or in person with their local municipal clerk, the information they provide is double checked against data kept by the state Department of Transportation — the person’s name, date of birth, address, driver’s license number or Social Security number. 

When someone registers online, this double check happens automatically. When someone registers on paper, the data is entered manually by the clerk and checked against the DOT information. 

The problem is that human error can creep into data entries, so there are entries in which someone with the full name “Robert” registers to vote under “Bob,” or the characters in a 14-digit driver’s license number are transposed or the clerk makes a typo. 

When these mistakes are made, clerks can rectify them on their own, or reache back out to the voter to clarify. The double-checking process is required under a federal law, the Help America Vote Act (HAVA). 

“Approximately 5% of the people who registered to vote between January 1 and November 3, 2020, were at least initially non-matches with either DMV or Social Security databases,” a FAQ page on the elections commission website states. “That does not mean these voters are not real Wisconsin citizens. When there is a non-match, a registered voter is never ‘removed’ from the statewide voter database. Neither Wisconsin nor federal law require a match, and Wisconsin law does not permit clerks or the WEC to remove a voter from the list for not matching.”

WEC notes that the HAVA check requirements on the state were litigated in 2008 and that the law does not require Wisconsin’s election authorities to declare people as ineligible voters. But WILL states the agency has been ignoring the problem.

“Critically, WEC has not taken sufficient steps to remedy this situation. In fact, the issue has gotten worse,” the letter states. “WILL understands that this data does not indicate the cause of the discrepancy. And while some of these errors might be minor, the large and growing number of mismatches in the system underscores the need for a comprehensive audit of Wisconsin’s voter registration list, which WEC refuses to perform in violation of its obligations under HAVA. Accordingly, we respectfully request that the U.S. Department of Justice takes this information into account as it investigates this issue and takes all necessary steps to remedy this significant problem.”

Emilee Miklas, a spokesperson for WEC, disputes the WILL analysis. 

“The primary objective of the HAVA check process is to identify errors and rectify discrepancies,” she said in an email. “The presence of non-matches discovered in a previous analysis does not necessarily indicate a persistence of errors in the system a year later.”

In a statement, WILL Deputy Counsel Lucas Vebber said the commission FAQ is “not a sufficient explanation” for the data errors. 

“Given the thousands of mismatches that are in the current voter registration list, it appears that whatever WEC does, if anything, is woefully insufficient,” Vebber said. “But to determine if WEC is complying with HAVA it is necessary for WEC to describe the complete process in its response.”

Jeff Mandell, general counsel at the progressive voting rights focused firm Law Forward, says the letter is the latest example of WILL repeatedly casting doubt on the voter rolls. He pointed to a 2018 lawsuit in which WILL sued to force WEC to kick thousands of people off the voter registration list. WILL ultimately lost that lawsuit at the state Supreme Court, which was controlled by a conservative majority at the time. 

“This is just more fearmongering. WILL has been trying to purge the voter rolls for years,” Mandell says, adding that it’s part of the Republican party’s recent efforts to stir up unfounded concern about non-citizens casting ballots. “They have been upset about the voter rolls and insisting without evidence the voter rolls are wrong. Now they’re jumping onto the latest piece of this and skepticism about proof of citizenship. There is still no evidence, no one has been able to show any incidence of non-citizen voting. If the rolls were as error-filled as WILL’s latest suggestions insist, that wouldn’t be true.”

After the rise of election conspiracy theories in the wake of the 2020 election, WILL  distanced itself from the most fevered Republican theories. The firm released a report on the 2020 presidential election, affirming that it was won by Joe Biden while pointing to a number of adjustments and rule changes that could be made to improve Wisconsin’s  election administration. 

“WILL seems to want it both ways, claiming to not be conspiracy mongers and that they can prove that by saying Donald Trump lost the 2020 election and yet still play footsie with conspiracy mongers,” Mandell says. “They do that by filing nonsense lawsuits over and over and over … and this is another example.” 

Jay Heck, executive director of Common Cause Wisconsin, says that the only effect of going to DOJ with these complaints is raising the likelihood that the results of the 2026 midterms will be questioned — by Trump or his supporters. 

“All they’re doing is providing a little ammo to the Trumpers and the people that are going to question the outcome of the 2026 election,” Heck says. “And so they’re just planting more seeds of doubt in people’s minds, at least the people that would be doubting it anyway.”

Heck also points out that an easy solution to WILL’s complaint would be the establishment of automatic voter registration in Wisconsin, which would automatically register someone to vote when they obtain a driver’s license or state ID from the DOT and cut out WEC’s role as the middleman. But, he says, WILL and Republicans do not support that. 

Despite the DOJ’s potential threat to interfere in election administration, Vebber said in his statement the firm went to the DOJ because it is the agency responsible for enforcing HAVA.

“The U.S. Department of Justice has the express authority to enforce each state’s compliance with HAVA,” Vebber said. “WILL is concerned that WEC is violating HAVA. As a result, the correct agency to complain to is USDOJ. As stated above, in our letter to the U.S Department of Justice we suggested [eight] specific follow-up questions on this issue. WEC does not need to wait for the USDOJ to answer these questions. In the interests of transparency, we would ask WEC to voluntarily answer them.”

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Meet the 2025 Transportation Director of the Year Keba Baldwin, director of transportation at Prince George’s County Public Schools in Maryland. Baldwin shares his leadership journey, communication strategies to enhance transparency and how he successfully manages transportation operations at the second-largest district in the state. Read the stories of the 2025 Rising Superstars as they share the stories of what led them to this award and what they love about this industry. Find articles about tablets onboard buses, the big three maintenance considerations of school bus garages, NCST delegates thoughts on LEDs, the responsibility of furthering school bus safety and more!

The STN EXPO conferences dates for 2026 have been announced, find more information about STN EXPO East in North Carolina and STN EXPO West in Nevada in the magazine.

Read the full November 2025 issue.

Cover Story

The Cornerstone of Effective Leadership
The 2025 Transportation Director of the Year, Keba Baldwin of Prince George’s County Public Schools in Maryland, knows how powerful communication and transparency are when responsible for safely transporting over 100,000 students daily.

Features

Finger on the Pulse
Tablets are closing the divide between dispatch, drivers and parents.

Back to Basics
School bus maintenance comes down to these big three equipment items. Vendor selection, driver behavior and maintenance cycles all play critical roles.

Rising Superstars
This year’s Rising Superstars demonstrate what it means to be a leader for their operations.

Special Reports

Lighting the Way?
While LEDs are the latest lighting technology for school buses, some say there could be better, future options—the reason National Congress on School Transportation delegates did not approve a new standard.

Feedback
Online
Ad Index

Editor’s Take by Ryan Gray
Paradise Lost, Paradise Gained

Thought Leader by Gilbert Rosas
Staying Focused on the Right Thing: Transportation (Success) Leads the Way to Sustainability

Publisher’s Corner by Tony Corpin
Is Safety Everyone’s Responsibility?

The post November 2025 appeared first on School Transportation News.

Dodge was confident that the all-electric Charger Daytona would spark a new era for muscle cars, but the reality has been far less electrifying. Reality, however, has been less kind. Reception has been lukewarm at best, and increasingly troubled as early issues begin to surface.

Not only has Dodge already dropped the base R/T models, but a growing number of drivers are now voicing concerns about serious faults with the car.

Read: Charger Daytona Owner Says His New Car Is ‘Practically Useless’ After Endless Problems

One owner describes the new Charger Daytona as a car that “drives and performs phenomenally,” but only when it works. And, it seems it doesn’t work as it should much of the time. Among the most troubling issues is inconsistent charging performance.

What’s Wrong With Charging?

Writing on Reddit, the driver explains that they’ve never managed to charge the vehicle reliably at public stations. Sessions frequently stall, forcing them to unplug and reconnect every 5 to 10 percent, which is understandably maddening.

At one charging station, he said he had to trick the app into thinking his Charger was a Cadillac Lyriq just to get the session started. He also mentioned that the home charger included with the purchase has yet to arrive.

There’s also an issue with the rear seat, as we’ve reported previously. When you pull forward the front seat to allow a rear-seat passenger to get out, the front seat will slowly slide forward before automatically sliding backward, potentially pinching someone trying to climb out from the rear.

Terrifying Brakes

The “last straw” was a fault they experienced with the brakes. While stopped outside a store, the brake pedal was pressed firmly to the floor, yet the car attempted to surge forward several times

Moments later, the dashboard lit up with multiple warning lights, traction control switched off on its own, and the Daytona eventually shut down completely. It stayed that way for several minutes before it would restart.

More: Only A Dodge Charger EV Could Get Ticketed For A Loud Exhaust

Stellantis hasn’t been much help, according to the poster. The company denied a buy-back request but did agree to cover a rental while the Charger is being repaired. Unfortunately, the allowance is capped at $60 a day, while the least expensive rental available costs $80.

“I’m at a loss with options, and I just want to warn anyone considering purchasing or leasing this vehicle,” they added. “I unfortunately went the purchase route since I drive so many miles a year.”

Given the extent of these problems, his best option may now be to pursue legal help under lemon laws to force a buy-back.

BUYER BEWARE: Dodge Charger Daytona – Numerous Issues – Lack of Support.
byu/hobobumpkins inDodge

The Hyundai Ioniq 5 N is a game-changer. It proved all on its own that electric cars can deliver genuine driving enjoyment, not just straight-line speed. No doubt, that’s partially what convinced one Texas buyer to snap up one of the very first examples available in the state.

The excitement behind the purchase has soured, though, because at the 8,000-mile mark, the Ioniq 5 N allegedly failed. Now, it’s reportedly been sitting at a dealership for two months straight with no end in sight.

More: Hyundai Dealer Fixed His ICCU Then Let Thieves Total The Rest Before He Even Saw It

The public saga began on August 27 when the owner, William, posted about his situation on Reddit. In a thread with the title “Help me navigate the run around I think I am getting from service,” he details how one day his car displayed a red warning light and refused to charge.

At that point, the car had already been in service for weeks “with no clear answers,” he says. Notably, the service advisor reportedly told him the issue wasn’t the ICCU, or Integrated Charging Control Unit, the system that controls charging and power flow in the car and has been a known weak spot on some Ioniq 5 models.

Shared Frustrations

Other Reddit users claiming to own Ioniq 5 N or Elantra N models described similar frustrations with the same dealer in San Bruno, California. One said their car was misdiagnosed before ultimately receiving a new ICCU after 45 days.

“They are an absolute mess over there,” another commenter added about the same Northern California dealership. A week ago, William posted another update.

“After 2 months, I still don’t have my car and no end in sight. Good luck to folks out there waiting on a battery”, he wrote. In a screenshot from the dealership, a service advisor reportedly confirmed that the vehicle’s main battery was “on backorder” with “no ETA.”

Communication Breakdown

William went on to tell Carscoops that Hyundai’s lack of transparency has been the most frustrating part of the process. “Even giving Hyundai the full benefit of the doubt on supply-chain issues, the lack of transparency is inexcusable,” he said. “Every week it’s the same line – no ETA on a battery and no ETA on my car.”

Also: $120 For An Oil Change? No Thanks, I’ll Do It Myself For $6,000

The owner, who has already initiated a buyback request, says that process has also stalled: “Four weeks in, and no progress.” Carscoops has reached out to Hyundai for comment regarding the reported battery issue and ongoing parts delays.

The automaker confirmed that it is looking into the issue as of this writing, but hasn’t provided any additional insight at this point. We’ll update you here if we hear back.

Credit: William

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.

Download the ebook to get the tools to revolutionize your maintenance practices and optimize the safety and efficiency of every school bus in your fleet.

Learn:

• Why a proactive, technology-enabled strategy is critical for school bus fleet maintenance programs.
• How to drive savings and safety through predictive maintenance, reducing vehicle downtime and lowering repair costs.
• 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.

The post (Free White Paper) The Essential Guide to School Bus Maintenance: Maximizing Safety and Uptime appeared first on School Transportation News.

Six decades ago, I started my career in maintenance by working on school buses at the Lancaster, New York, School District bus garage. Work began with a mix of Craftsman/Snap-on hand tools, a timing light, torque wrench, tire pressure gauge, dwell meter, and a set of feeler gauges. When a bus broke down, I had everything I needed to fix it. My procedure and process manual was a guy named Val, who had been doing school bus repair for 20 years.

Historically, school bus maintenance has relied on reactive, standard repair approaches rather than utilizing proactive or predictive maintenance strategies.Technicians typically used their experience and manual diagnostic tools to identify and fix issues, a process with printed procedures that can be time consuming. Within the past decade, the conventional approach to school bus maintenance has advanced with process modifications aided by technology.

The future school bus maintenance process will continue to evolve, resulting from the increased complexity of integrated modern school bus equipment as well as from new OEM’s and component suppliers, along with transportation departments and bus companies seeking improved efficiency, safety and cost management. Ongoing advancements in school bus equipment will require more regular updates to maintenance protocols, operational procedures, technician training and toolsets to maintain optimal safety standards and cost-effectiveness in bus operations.

As semi-autonomous systems, electric and clean fuel technologies rapidly advance in school buses, maintenance and repair methods of those systems must evolve. Advancements in training, diagnostic and repair processes are necessary to enhance technician productivity, reduce operational costs and promote safety.

Advanced maintenance technologies can enable more accurate diagnostics, timely maintenance and even predictive capabilities that alert operators to issues before they cause expensive failures. School bus maintenance centers should view the following innovative technologies as key tools to help technicians improve cost-efficiency, safety and reliability throughout fleet operations.

Telematics & GPS: Vehicle-to-Office
Integrating GPS and onboard diagnostics with transportation office data collection would provide real-time data on various parameters such as engine performance, fuel consumption and driver behavior. This continuous stream of real-time information allows school bus fleet managers to monitor their school bus fleet health. Real-time operating data provides fleet managers with insights into vehicle performance and driver behavior, enabling better decision-making and more efficient operations.

Predictive Maintenance
Telematics data combined with advanced analytics may be used to estimate timing component failures and assist in planning maintenance before equipment malfunctions occur. This approach stops small issues from becoming big problems. The benefits of telematics and predictive maintenance are significant, reducing demand maintenance, cost savings and enhanced fleet management.

Internet of Things-Assisted Diagnostic Systems
IoT-based systems can provide detailed data on school bus component conditions. These systems can continuously monitor various aspects of the vehicle, from engine health to tire pressure, and relay this information to a centralized system, allowing technicians to access and analyze data from anywhere. This feature lets technicians remotely diagnose problems and help with initial repairs.

Augmented Reality in Maintenance Process
OEM’s are embracing Augmented Reality (AR) as a valuable training tool in maintenance. AR can overlay digital information onto physical components, providing technicians with OEM step-by-step repair process and detailed diagrams as they work. This real-time assistance helps with performing complex repairs with greater accuracy and efficiency.

Virtual Reality for Technician Training
Virtual Reality (VR) is transforming technician training. VR simulations create immersive training environments, where technicians can practice repairs without the risks associated with real-world training. These simulations can replicate a wide range of scenarios, allowing technicians to gain experience and build confidence before working on the bus.

AI Data-Driven Advancements
Artificial Intelligence (AI) and machine learning are the next wave of technological advancements in school bus repairs. AI-driven diagnostics would analyze vast amounts of industry fleet data to identify patterns and predict issues. These systems will quickly sift through data from multiple sources to pinpoint potential problems with remarkable accuracy. It may not be long before we see AI robots performing repetitive tasks like tire changes and wheel torque checks, allowing technicians to focus on more complex repairs. As AI technology advances, the possibility of partially automated repair shops becomes more realistic.

This is Our Future
Telematics and predictive maintenance are helping to lower costs while advanced diagnostic tools and IoT are improving repair times and accuracy. AR and VR are enhancing maintenance processes, technician training and retention. AI will be driving the next wave of innovation with predictive diagnostics and automated repairs. The integration of these technological advancements will contribute to greater reliability and performance within the school bus fleet, while also significantly elevating safety standards across the school bus industry. Emerging technologies are set to transform the school bus repair function significantly.

Final Suggestion
Stay current by reviewing School Transportation News magazine advertisements and research those found offering modern school bus management aides in the STN publications, online seminars, blogs and trade shows. Seek out school bus OEM’s and component representatives to help you become more familiar with what technology would aid your transportation center. If possible, become involved in peer group discussions that discuss this topic.

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

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Related: A Jolt to School Bus Maintenance
Related: Technology and Communication: Crucial for Bus Maintenance and Safety
Related: Arkansas District Uses Technology to Save Money and Time
Related: A New Age Dawns for School Bus Maintenance Training

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Bob Pudlewski is STN’s technical editor and a member of the National School Transportation Association Hall of Fame in recognition of his 40-plus-year career as a school bus maintenance, technology and procurement expert.

The post School Bus Maintenance Process Recommendations Influenced by Technology appeared first on School Transportation News.

Every maintenance professional has their own unique way of going about their craft, and every bus garage has its own feel. But when experts discuss approaches to parts purchasing and inventory management, certain best practices rise to the top.

For starters, fleet uniformity goes a long way toward achieving reduced downtime, mechanic familiarity with equipment, effective inventory management, and cost containment, explained a group of fleet directors and lead mechanics, some having earned the designation of School Transportation News Garage Stars in recent years.

“The last 15 years weve been buying Blue Birds,” said Chad Eaton, fleet manager with the Eagle County School District in Colorado. “It just simplifies everything: inventory, repairs, training. If you’ve seen an issue once on a Blue Bird, the next time it comes up, you know exactly what to do. It might take you 10 minutes instead of a half hour.”

Ryan Waters, head bus garage technician with the Lake Shore Central School District in Angola, New York and a 2024 Garage Star, agreed that “standardization” is a foundational best practice. “That helps us the most. If we run the same lights, the same tires on everything, we have to keep less parts in stock,” he explained.

Tim Dooley, bus mechanic supervisor at the North Kansas City School District in Missouri, added his district runs all Thomas Built Buses. “It might not always be the cheapest [solution] up front, but standardizing the fleet saves us a lot in the long run, when it comes to stocking parts and training mechanics,” Dooley said. “Keeping one manufacturer simplifies inventory and service. We looked at other brands, but the potential savings didn’t outweigh the added complexity.”

Andrew DeBolt, fleet management coordinator with Californa’s San Jose Unified School District, purchases original equipment manufacturer parts for consistency with service manuals and wear indicators. “Using OEM parts means the wear indicators match the service procedures,” he said. “It keeps everything consistent.”

San Jose also operates with an all-Thomas Built Buses fleet, necessitating fewer parts to stock, a simpler diagnostics process, easier training for mechanics and better pattern-failure predictability.

DeBolt, a 2020 Garage Star, said he operates a hybrid inventory management system that consists of stocking high-use items like tires, mirrors and other common parts while relying on local vendors for just-in-time delivery of infrequent items. He noted the system is streamlined yet responsive to the department’s needs.

“When I started, we had parts for buses we hadn’t owned in 15 years. Now we keep it tight. If we only use it once or twice a year, we don’t stock it,” he said. Proactive maintenance is another must-do, according to the garage experts. “We try to be proactive. If we see it’s close now, let’s just do it,” DeBolt commented. “Don’t wait until it becomes a bigger issue.”

Dooley said an important aspect of maintenance North Kansas manages is inspecting the brakes every time a bus is in the shop. “I keep a spreadsheet to monitor wear, and once a set drops to 30 percent, we schedule the replacement,” he said. “If the bus is already in the shop, we take care of it right then. No sense pulling it twice.” DeBolt applied that strategy to brakes and tires, acknowledging “there is a tradeoff.

“If you’re purely focused on trying to get every last penny out of that tire, you would run it down till it was at its minimum spec and then swap it out at that point, but you run the risk of a collateral issue (such as) a tire coming apart, taking out mud flaps and doing body damage,” he said. “Even if they have 8/32ths of tread left, we say, ‘They’re 10 years old and they’re coming off the bus.’ We sacrifice a little bit of service life on a brake pad or a tire, but we’re saving two weeks of shop time by the time we cut the mangled metal back, weld it and get it undercoated.

San Jose Unified, which buys tires through California’s state school bus tire program to secure better pricing, opts for recaps on rear axles to stretch tire life and save dollars. But DeBolt noted the COVID-19 pandemic, which kept students at home and buses off the road for an extended period, skewed maintenance cycles and caused some tires to age out before wearing out.

“We save 50 percent with recaps, but only if the tire’s being consumed in three or four years. Now we’re seeing 10-year-old tires,” he said. “All these tires that we had been using for recap on the rear axle, now they’re so old they’re failing. It kind of caught up to us.”

Waters’ department in Lake Shore, which maintains 57 buses and another 20 to 30 district vehicles, does use retread tires but does not keep casings longer than five years. When buying new tires, he opts for higher-end Goodyear options that he said improve longevity and cost effectiveness. “Even if you’re buying a tire that’s twice as expensive, if it lasts twice as long it’s less maintenance work for us to do, so it’s worth it in the long run,” he noted.

Waters said he initially tried multiple vendors before settling on one that consistently meets the district’s expectations. A requirement to secure at least three bids and the practice of conducting ongoing price checks with competitors maintains accountability. Decision-making is based on best value and service, not just price. “Sometimes paying a little bit more for a part will get us the better service. Value really does figure into it. It’s just not low bid,” he said.

While the COVID pandemic didn’t significantly disrupt tire deliveries, it did cause major price hikes. Those sharp price increases have largely remained in place. While a simmering global trade war has threatened to increase prices on bus parts from other countries, DeBolt said the uncertainty hasn’t influenced his approach to tire purchases, prioritizing U.S. manufactured brands.

“In the past, we’ve used other brands and had varying levels of success, but we’ve had the best success with Bridgestones, specifically the Bridgestones made in the U.S. And then Goodyears. Their stuff is all made in the U.S., too. The rubber quality is better. The build quality is better.” Does a commitment to purchase quality parts at a higher price fall into the best-practices category? Absolutely,” DeBolt insisted.

Eaton, who has 26 years of experience with Eagle County under his belt, shared a similar philosophy. The district runs only Michelin XZE2s on its bus steer axles and Michelin XDN2s on drive axles. “We’ve been buying these same tires for as long as I’ve been here. The tires are expensive up front, but they last. We tend to age them out before we wear them out,” he said. “It’s about value, not price. We’ve been doing it this way for so long because it works.”

The North Kansas City district contracts its tire work to a company that’s a trusted partner. “They handle most of our tire changes unless it’s something urgent in the morning like a flat. Having that partnership in place really saves us time and keeps our fleet moving,” Dooley said. “We’ve used Goodyear, Continental, BF Goodrich, whatever is available. We don’t have a strong brand preference, but I do feel that Continental and Goodyear wear better than the Michelins that come standard.”

The school district does not run retreads on any of its buses. “Every tire that we put on is new,” he said. “That’s an investment in safety and reliability that pays off in the long run.”

Meanwhile, Eaton said he believes in investing in premium tires for long-term value and buying the same brand and types of tires. “We only need to stock the two kinds of tires steer and drive which really helps us manage inventory efficiently,” he added. Of course, even the top pros have their own approaches to their craft.

When it comes to purchasing, Dooley said he doesn’t spend a lot of time shopping for different prices. “I’d rather work with vendors I trust, who can get me what I need quickly and keep our fleet on the road,” he said. “Midwest Bus Sales knows our fleet, and they’ve talked about going back to a consignment setup, where they stock the shelves and bill us as we use parts. For a district with two garages like ours, that kind of support would be a big help.”

All four districts have made the transition to LED lighting for reliability and reduced maintenance times. Eaton said all of the Eagle County district’s new bus orders come pre-equipped with LED lighting and First Light illuminated stop arm systems and front and back school bus signs.

“We’re even retrofitting our older buses with First Light’s stop arms and school bus signs,” he said. “We’ve had great experience with their products. They’re bright, reliable and add visibility.”

It’s also important to take unique local conditions intoconsideration when purchasing parts and managing inventory.

“Living up here in the mountains in Colorado, we’re required to have drive-line retarders…and we have the exhaust brakes through the Cummins engines we run, so we’re very fortunate that having those two secondary braking systems on our buses means we don’t go through a lot of brakes,” Eaton said.

On the other hand, Dooley noted that North Kansas City goes through brake shoes fast. “About 20 boxes every two weeks,” he estimated. “So, I buy drums and shoes by the pallet. It’s more efficient and more cost-effective to stay ahead of demand like that.”

DeBolt recommended developing and maintaining open, honest and ongoing relationships with the district fiscal department as a budgeting best practice. He avoids “crying wolf” so that his budget requests are trusted and taken seriously.

“When I go to them and ask for money, they know it’s legitimate. That trust makes a huge difference,” he suggested. “We don’t guess with variable costs like fuel. We agree on a number, but we all understand it may need to be adjusted later.”

When possible, Waters makes a point of purchasing from vendors that offer longer warranties and then keeping track of warranties on specific parts. “One company might have a three-year warranty, another one might have a five-year warranty,” he explained.

He said he prefers paperless inspections and maintenance, using a system that automatically generates work orders and alerts based on input. “We don’t have paper in our buses. We have tablets,” he said. “If drivers have an issue, they put it in the tablet. It sends me an email and creates a work order. I can go on there, look at the codes of everything.”

Eaton said investing in training, whenever possible and practical, is another value-added best practice. “We definitely try to get into any training that’s available to keep them up to snuff with standards. But any time you can stay on top of your game in ever-changing industry, that helps cut down on your downtime, too,” he said.

Best practices shouldn’t be shaped by how many or few vehicles a district operates, DeBolt noted. “We’re all driving the same equipment big or small fleet. The best practices don’t change that much,” he said.

Two keys to success above all, DeBolt insisted, are the ability to gather crucial information and roll with the punches. When it comes to the former, he said a search for better fuel economy led to the use of low rolling resistance tires and other cost savings. As to the latter, DeBolt underscored the value of honesty: “Our mantra is, we can deal with anything as long as we know what we’re dealing with.”

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

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Related: A Jolt to School Bus Maintenance
Related: Technology and Communication: Crucial for Bus Maintenance and Safety
Related: Study: Electric School Bus Reliability, Cost-Effectiveness Stand Up in Montana Extreme Cold
Related: 2025 Garage Stars Announced: Relying on Training

The post Parts Standardization Provides Cost-Saving, Efficiencies appeared first on School Transportation News.

BYRON CENTER, Michigan – Pro-Vision, a leader in mobile video solutions, is announcing the launch of its annual service offering: the FleetGuard Maintenance Plan. FleetGuard is a proactive support and maintenance program engineered to maximize uptime and deliver peace of mind for school transportation fleets.

Exclusively available to school transportation customers at launch, the FleetGuard plan reflects Pro-Vision’s commitment to safer, smarter, and more reliable fleet operations. With a focus on reducing downtime and extending the life of essential video equipment, FleetGuard is designed to ensure every fleet runs efficiently.

Key Features of FleetGuard include:

• • Annual Equipment Inspection
    Certified technicians conduct thorough, on-site evaluations and preventative maintenance of all installed Pro-Vision systems.
  • Immediate Replacement
    Technicians arrive with commonly needed parts, enabling fast on-site swaps and minimizing operational disruption.
  • Waived Trip Charges
    Any new installs or service requests made during the annual inspection are trip-charge free.
  • Firmware Update Assistance
    Expert technicians assist with updates to get the latest features and improvements.
  • Dedicated Remote Support Technician
    Year-round access to a named support specialist for prompt and personalized service.
  • Priority Warranty Pre-Replacement
    Critical components are shipped in advance for replacement with no need to wait for a return to be processed.

“FleetGuard is more than just a maintenance plan—it’s peace of mind,” said Corey Mathews, director of sales for the Transit Division. “We’ve listened to the needs of school transportation leaders and created a service model that proactively keeps their fleets running safely and efficiently.”

FleetGuard is available now to qualified school transportation fleets. For more information or to enroll, contact us.

About Pro-Vision:
Founded in 2003, Pro-Vision is a global leader in mobile video technology, delivering innovative solutions that enhance safety, improve efficiency, and protect vital assets. The company’s comprehensive suite of products includes vehicle video recording systems, body-worn cameras, data management tools, and cloud-based storage solutions. Trusted by partners in transit, public safety, and commercial industries, Pro-Vision’s technology helps organizations operate more securely and effectively.

The post Pro-Vision Launches FleetGuard School Bus Fleet Maintenance Plan appeared first on School Transportation News.

TULSA, Okla. – Over the summer, as part of school start-up preparation and training, fourteen maintenance team members from Durham School Services and its sister brands, Petermann Bus and Stock Transportation, participated in IC Bus University’s annual three-day training sessions. The training sessions taught participants how to service various types of engines, transmissions, and a number of other vital bus components from different manufacturers and vendors. Representatives from each manufacturer led their respective trainings for each bus component.

Training topics included, but were not limited to:

Allison transmissions
Bendix Intellipark/Stability
Braun Ability wheelchair lift
Cummins diesel engines
Electric Buses
New DLB/SDS software training
Next Gen updates
Service Portal navigation

In addition to the training sessions, participants were also given the opportunity to tour IC Bus’s assembly plants for both their standard and electric school buses.

“It is important for our Company to ensure our team members are provided with opportunities to fine tune and enhance their skills. The annual IC Bus University Training is one example and timing-wise is a great segue and supplement to our own school start-up preparation,” said Regis Rock, Senior Manager of Talent Development, Durham School Services. “And most importantly, these training and development opportunities ensure that our technicians are continuously being equipped with the utmost knowledge and skills to keep our buses in top condition to transport students safely year-round. We are lucky that we have some of the most committed, ambitious team members who are constantly searching for training opportunities to refine and advance their skills and are glad to be able to support their development.”

About Durham School Services: As an industry-leading student transportation provider, Durham School Services and its sister brands, Stock Transportation and Petermann Bus, are dedicated to the safety of our students and People. Collectively, for more than 100 years, we have been committed to Excellence and upholding our mission of getting students to school safely, on time, and ready to learn. Through this mission and a grassroots approach to our operations, Durham School Services and its sister brands have earned recognition as a trusted transportation provider among our Customers and the Communities they serve

The post Durham School Services and Sister Brand Technicians Elevate Maintenance Skills with IC Bus Training for School Start-Up appeared first on School Transportation News.

This month’s issue features the 2025 Technology Superusers, transportation directors that are embracing technology to not only address today’s needs at their operations but also the future. Read articles about efficient routing, data security, student ridership verification, how new technology is going to affect school bus maintenance and AI usage, safety risks during the back to school season and more.

Check out the magazine for more details on the upcoming Transporting Students with Disabilities and Special Needs (TSD) Conference, coming to Texas on Nov. 6-11.

Read the full September 2025 issue.

Cover Story

Future-Focused Technology
Transportation directors this month discuss why they embrace technology that helps their district not only address today’s needs but also tomorrow’s.

Features

Routing for Results
Besides getting students from Point A to Point B, experts share that creating efficient routes saves time as well as money.

Under Surveillance
No one wants to experience a data breach. Student transporters and industry vendors share the secrets to keeping data secure and accessed properly.

Special Reports

Transforming Student Ridership
Regardless of how districts choose to implement student ridership technology— RFID card, QR code, or barcodes—many agree that streamlining the process can improve student safety.

Feedback
Online
Ad Index

Editor’s Take by Ryan Gray
Feeling Super About Technology?

Thought Leader by Robert Pudlewski
School Bus Maintenance Process Recommendations Influenced by Technology

Thought Leader by Gaurav Sharda
Why AI in School Transportation Must Start with Empathy, Not Efficiency

Publisher’s Corner by Tony Corpin
School Zone: Safety Risks Surge

The post September 2025 appeared first on School Transportation News.

Bibb County School District in central Georgia transports more than 10,000 students and maintains a fleet of 200 school buses. Every one of them is equipped with GPS hardware and onboard tablets that track vehicle location and metrics used to improve driver safety, engine idle time and on-time performance.

Telematics communicates data remotely to monitor and manage school bus assets. School bus fleet operators, like those at Bibb County, have been using telematics to manage vehicle locations, arrival and departure data, route optimization, student accountability and other important metrics and data. Increasingly, it is also measuring driver performance and school bus operational performance.

Mike Grandy is a solutions consultant manager with Plano, Texas based Tyler Technologies, a provider of integrated software and technology services for school buses, including those in Bibb County.

“Maintenance software does more than just track what’s going wrong. It helps you get ahead of problems before they cost you time and money,” said Grandy. “By pulling data from your fleet’s onboard systems, it can recommend exactly what needs attention and when.”

Grandy explained that telematics watch for engine fault codes in real time like overheating, misfires or diesel exhaust fluid (DEF) issues. When something serious pops up, it flags it right away so technicians can fix it before it leads to a breakdown or inspection failure. He explained Tyler’s system is not time-driven maintenance, but rather condition-based. Instead of relying on the calendar, the software looks at how much each vehicle is being driven and how it’s being used. It then recommends things like oil changes, brake service, or filter replacements based on real wear, not guesswork.

For example, by watching voltage levels and how the battery performs during startups, the system can spot signs of trouble early. If it sees that a battery isn’t holding a charge, it’ll send an alert before a driver gets stuck with a dead one, explained Grandy.

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Related: Read fleet management and maintenance articles in the August edition of School Transportation News magazine.

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Charles Kriete, president and CEO of Zonar Systems, commented that the most frequent issues diagnostics tracked on school buses are emissions system faults, battery and electrical faults, cooling system alerts, fuel system faults and transmission faults.

“By surfacing these issues as they happen, we give maintenance teams the ability to address problems before they lead to roadside breakdowns or missed routes,” he said, adding one large school district reduced its road breakdowns by 27 percent in one year with Zonar FaultIQ.

Samsara’s platform is used for both condition-based maintenance and time-directed maintenance, said Mayank Nayar, the company’s principal product manager.

“Condition-based maintenance is where telematics truly excels,” he added. “However, we also see fleets using time-based maintenance for maintenance items like washing vehicles. Our platform helps manage schedules, send automated reminders and generate work orders, ensuring all routine checks are completed. This combined approach provides school bus fleets with a comprehensive maintenance strategy.”

Traditional and legacy means of maintenance management often entailed laborious documentation – on paper or entered manually. This demands time and effort to write everything and risks having critical information misread or mislabeled.

“Data shows that maintenance teams spend more than half of their time on paperwork and other manual tasks—not on the essential ‘wrench time’ needed to keep fleets healthy,” said Nayar. “The two most important elements of asset maintenance and repairs are preventative maintenance and visibility. With Samsara, school bus fleets have access to a variety of AI-powered preventative maintenance tools to keep their vehicles safe and in-service.”

Samsara recently released a new feature for drivers that helps simplify the vehicle inspection process by automatically converting inspection notes from voice to text. In turn, Nayar said managers can ensure reports are properly completed by viewing drivers walking around the buses and documenting the duration of the inspection and quality of the report photos.

It also flags diagnostic fault codes enriched with AI, alerting maintenance teams to potential issues like an engine or sensor problem often before a driver even notices. This allows for proactive fixes, avoiding disruptive roadside breakdowns and financial penalties.

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Related: GPS Trackit Acquires Zonar in ‘Significant Step Forward’ for Fleet Management
Related: Bandwidth Can Play Critical Role at School Bus Charging Infrastructure Locations
Related: Mobile to Spike Telematics Market By 2022, Study Says
Related: Telematics Firm Continental Acquires Majority Stake in Zonar

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Integrating with Route Planning and GPS Metrics

CalAmp provides connected intelligence solutions for school bus fleet operators, primarily focusing on tracking, monitoring and protecting mobile assets. Adam Ortlieb, the company’s senior product marketing manager, said many telematics customers use are maintenance management capabilities in conjunction with other functions such as routing and route planning.

“Typical use cases include performing vehicle inspections, generating and managing work orders, and capturing engine diagnostics information, malfunction indicator light alerts, and related data,” explained Ortlieb. “Typical recommendations generally center around likely malfunctions and steps drivers, and maintenance staff can take to manage current state, as well as performance related issues, potential safety issues and preventative maintenance.”

Meanwhile, Zach Moren, the sales engineering lead at Transfinder, noted that about 22 percent of their clients who use Transfinder routing software also use the company’s maintenance software. However, he noted that well below 50 percent of school districts are using fleet maintenance in general.

He noted that in terms of route planning, which reduces miles, the separate benefits of fleet maintenance are the cost differences between having a breakdown on a road versus inspections that catch issues and maintaining upkept vehicles.

He added that with the integration of AI, Transfinder is compiling data from each of its customers on students and ridership as well as vehicle mileage and age. “The two benefits of that is creating more efficient routes, but on the fleet side, it’s helping fleet managers move to predictive maintenance.

“Could your system say, hey, for the month of September, this is how many inspections we expect you to do. Vehicles are going to come in 27 times. You have the right parts, you have the right staff, things like that on hand, that could start to help you and give you a heads up,” he said of use cases, adding that already the technology helps with telematics such as temperature readings, parts and labor usage and time requirements. “And there’s a lot of information that we could start recommending on. These are how many parts you’re going to use this year.”

He continued, noting that with tariffs, costs are going to go up. “If I know about how many parts I need to use for the entire year, and I could buy it today rather than six months from now, it could be really, really beneficial,” he said.

Predictive maintenance could also help with inventory, as fleet managers might not want to keep a ton of supply on hand.

How fast could school bus operators move to predictive maintenance? Zonar’s Kriete said a five- to seven-year timeline is realistic for widespread adoption. Success, he added, depends on high-quality ECM data from a majority of the fleet.

“We’re already piloting predictive analytics in mixed-fleet environments, but industry-wide use will require consistent data capture across bus models and years,” he added.

Preventive maintenance measures remain a key attribute of the telematics software with CalAmp. But another use of the telematic software is to track driver performance and behavior to determine if driving behavior is out of order or having an influence on maintenance, safety and bus performance issues.

“Managing driver behavior is a crucial proactive step in preventative maintenance that can be overlooked,” said Ortlieb. “The CalAmp K-12 system, for example, automatically captures and consolidates speeding, aggressive driving, and idling data, and presents it in a scoring framework that simplifies coaching and supports reward systems. The direct result is helping transportation departments to minimize unnecessary wear-and-tear on tires and brakes and bypassing expensive repairs, downtime, accidents, and other potential safety issues.”

By consolidating accurate details such as odometer, engine hours, fault codes, lamp status, and battery data, Orlieb said the transportation management system streamlines manual data collection, eliminates human error and better informs planning and troubleshooting.
Grandy at Tyler added that an integrated fleet maintenance system provides many practical advantages, especially when trying to keep things running smoothly across a busy operation.

“It ties directly into your routing, GPS and vehicle data. You get a full picture of how each vehicle is being used and what it needs, all in one place,” he continued. “You can set up automated maintenance schedules based on real mileage or engine hours, not just guesswork. Plus, you can easily track work orders, parts and labor costs without juggling spreadsheets or paper logs. (Technicians) spend less time reacting and more time planning. Scheduling services and inspections becomes a lot more efficient, which helps reduce downtime and keeps your vehicles on the road.”

The beauty of integration with different telemetric parameters such as routing and vehicle maintenance is that each vehicle has a complete service history right at maintenance professionals’ fingertips, simplifying compliance, reporting and budgeting.

Grandy said that advanced fleet software should be comprehensive and “helps you stay ahead, cut out the chaos and keep your fleet running at its best.”

Taylor Ekbatani and Ryan Gray contributed to this report. 

The post Under the Hood: School Bus ‘Smart’ Telematics Driving Fleet Improvements appeared first on School Transportation News.

Editor’s note — This article has been updated from an original version that failed to detail the federal and state requirements for motorcoach inspections.

A motorcoach crash near Wawayanda, New York, that killed two adults and injured dozens of students two years ago underscores the critical importance of tire inspection and preventive maintenance.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) released its final report this summer, concluding that a catastrophic failure of the left-front steer tire on a 2014 Prevost motorcoach caused the Sept. 21, 2023 crash. Investigators determined the failure resulted from prolonged tire under-inflation, prior impact damage, and eventual tread-and-belt separation. The bus veered sharply, breached a cable barrier and rolled into a ravine.

The motorcoach was carrying 40 high school students, three adult chaperones, and a 59-year-old driver en route to a band camp. Two chaperones were ejected and killed, the driver was seriously injured, 14 passengers sustained serious injuries, and 27 others were treated for minor injuries.

The Farmingdale Union Free School District, which chartered the motorcoach for its marching band trip, said the loss continues to reverberate across the community. Superintendent Paul Defendini described the tragedy as “unimaginable” for students, families and faculty, noting the emotional scars remain long after the wreckage was cleared.

While the crash involved a commercial motorcoach, the findings carry urgent lessons for school transportation.

Comparing School Buses & Motoroaches

 

School buses meet strict construction standards for crashworthiness regulated by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and undergo stringent inspections required by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration and each state Department of Transportation — daily driver walk-arounds, preventive maintenance cycles, and recurring school district, bus company and state inspections.

 

School buses are largely exempted from most other FMCSA regulations though school bus drivers are held to the same drug and alcohol testing and medical review requirements.

 

But FMCSA requires motorcoaches not only have annual inspections but also that companies perform pre- and post-trip inspections and state and federal law enforcement officials performing en-route, destination and random inspections. Many states also include motorcoaches in commercial vehicle inspections, and school districts may subject contracted motorcoach companies to their own vehicle and driver inspection, noted Ken Presley, vice president of legislative affairs, industry relations, and the chief operating officer for the United Motorcoach Association.

 

While federal and varying state rules also focus on motorcoach driver hours-of-service and electronic data logging requirements, the vehicles don’t have to meet the same federal construction and crashworthiness standards as school buses, though they do meet federal roof-crush standards, have advanced glazing to remain intact and prevent intrusion in a crash, and must be equipped emergency exits and with lap/shoulder seatbelts. And motorcoach drivers don’t need the school bus “S” endorsement.

“This case underscores why school administrators and contractors should be paying attention to motorcoach inspection protocols, not just their yellow bus fleets,” said Bob Pudlewski, a longtime maintenance consultant and STN’s technical editor. “When a district hires a motorcoach for a trip, it’s still their students on board. Tire safety, driver checks and maintenance records all matter.”

NTSB has repeatedly flagged tire safety risks over the past decade, issuing recommendations to strengthen preventive maintenance across the passenger carrier industry. In past cases, under-inflation, aging tires and improper load ratings have contributed to deadly crashes.

In the case of Wawayanda, New York, investigators stressed that under-inflated and damaged tires are at high risk of sudden failure. The agency urged operators to adopt Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems (TPMS) or at minimum establish rigorous manual gauge checks to supplement visual inspections. It also reiterated the lifesaving value of lap/shoulder belts, noting that ejection remains a leading cause of death in rollovers.

“Tires that are inadequate or damaged pose an immediate risk to passengers and everyone else on the road,” Pudlewski said.

A Patchwork of State Requirements

Motorcoach oversight varies widely across states. Some jurisdictions mandate annual safety inspections, while others require semiannual checks or rely heavily on operator self-reporting. Federal regulations compel motor carriers to maintain preventive maintenance logs, but enforcement depends on state and local agencies, which may not always keep pace with operating cycles.

“Periodic regulatory agency inspections are not frequent enough to keep up with real-world operating cycles,” Pudlewski explained. “That’s why agencies require preventive maintenance checks conducted by owners, along with condition reports from drivers. Tires that are inadequate or damaged pose an immediate risk to passengers and everyone else on the road.”

Tires remain the single point of contact between a heavy vehicle and the road. A failure — whether from under-inflation, aging, or improper installation — can instantly compromise steering and stability. Pudlewski emphasized that operators must take ownership of this responsibility, outlining the following best practices for both school buses and motorcoaches:

• Check air pressure: Over- or under-inflated tires affect performance and safety. Consider TPMS or implement a scheduled tire inspection program using calibrated gauges.
• Measure tread depth: Document during every preventive maintenance cycle. Minimum: 4/32 inch on steer tires and 2/32 inch on rear tires.
• Rotate tires: Every 5,000 miles to even out wear.
• Torque wheel lugs: Follow OEM torque guidelines and sequences.
• Maintain alignment: Improper alignment accelerates wear and stresses tires as though under constant cornering.

Liability for School Districts

The Farmingdale tragedy also raises questions of liability for school districts when contracting with outside carriers. While federal law requires motorcoach operators to meet safety and insurance standards, parents may still hold districts accountable if oversight is perceived as lacking.

Legal experts warn that failure to vet an operator’s maintenance records or safety ratings could expose districts to criticism or even liability. Transparency, safety audits and clear documentation may help build trust with parents and mitigate risk.

“The school bus industry has long led the way in preventive safety,” Pudlewski said. “Extending that same culture of vigilance to motorcoach trips is essential. At the end of the day, parents don’t distinguish between bus types—they just expect their children to get home safely.”

In the wake of the crash, New York lawmakers passed Assembly Bill A8557, requiring seatbelts on all charter buses and mandating their use. The law, which took effect in April, also increases penalties for noncompliance. State leaders say the measure is aimed at reducing fatalities and serious injuries in future crashes. Meanwhile, New York has required “seat safety belts” on school buses since 1987. The law does not specify if those seatbelts should be the two-point lap belt or three-point lap/shoulder belt variety.

The NTSB’s report shows how a single under-inflated tire can cascade into tragedy. For school leaders, maintenance directors, and contractors alike, diligence is not optional, concluded Pudlewski.

“Tires are the sole point of contact between a vehicle and the road,” Pudlewski added. “Their proper care isn’t optional—it’s essential for student safety.”

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Related: FMCSA Recommends Seat Belt Use on Motorcoaches
Related: NHTSA Announces Final Rule Requiring Seat Belts on Motorcoaches
Related: NASDPTS Posts Motorcoach Safety Resources on Website

The post Updated: Fatal Motorcoach Crash During Band Trip Raises School Bus Safety Lessons appeared first on School Transportation News.

Reno, Nevada is a dichotomy in July, where the sunbaked desert meets the lush Truckee Meadows, and fir and pine trees lead the way to the foothills of the Sierra Nevada. Temperatures easily reach triple digits, but strong afternoon winds rolling down the mountainside make evenings pleasant. It is also the scene of the annual STN EXPO West, which last month celebrated its 32nd year, and it has hosted many events and training activities over that span. This year, it brought a new element to the conference.

The National School Bus Inspection Training Program included a high-voltage electric school bus overview that identified key safety components when working on these vehicles. Thanks to Washoe County School District Transportation Director Scott Lee and his staff, Derek Bryant of Automotive Service Excellence utilized an electric Type D Blue Bird to show and discuss with 30 participants the intricacies of electric school bus maintenance and safety inspections. Bryant was joined by Jannet Malig of the Long Beach, California chapter of Clean Cities and the head of California’s Community College program that trains school districts on electric school bus maintenance.

The high-voltage training started the Saturday portion of the hands-on training at Washoe’s South transportation facility after a day of classroom exercises and a written exam. Providing an overview of ASE’s new accreditation for high-voltage safety, Bryant took participants through an electrical journey across the entire school bus, which was elevated on a mobile lift. The overview was about an hour and a half long, and thankfully the Reno heat cooperated as the aforementioned breeze came early.

High-voltage safety training is a must for school bus maintenance technicians nationwide, not only in nearby California, where electric school bus adoption is accelerated. This fact was hammered home several days after the EXPO concluded, when the new owner of Lion Bus formally notified U.S. customers their warranties are now void. This means some 2,000 electric school buses officially have no support. Any owner of a Lion electric bus will tell you that that service has been lacking for some time.

Earlier this year, STN reported some options available to U.S. school districts. More recently, the World Resources Institute’s Electric School Bus Initiative and CALSTART announced they are working to provide more resources to Lion customers.

The situation highlights a legitimate concern about new entrants into the electric school bus segment, whether that be the vehicle itself, chargers and infrastructure, or service. Already, several companies have fallen by the wayside. With the exit of Lion from the U.S. market, student transportation leaders must ensure the provider they select will be there tomorrow. Certainly, Blue Bird, IC Bus and Thomas Built Buses are in for the long haul. BYD spinoff Ride has a legacy that goes back to 2013, about the same as Lion, but BYD holds the distinction of being the largest electric vehicles manufacturer in the world.

Meanwhile, the feeding frenzy on $5 billion from the EPA Clean School Bus Program appears to have subsided, though EPA finally broke its silence last month with an update on the rebate process as well as promising more information on future funding. There will likely be changes, such as more money for propane school buses. Still, with over 5,200 electric school buses on the road—and another 14,000 in the pipeline, according to the World Resource Institute’s Electric School Bus Initiative—maintenance professionals must receive training and assistance. That includes warranty work.

Electric school buses aren’t going anywhere. All the OEMs have spent considerable time and money in developing their low- and zero-emissions products. No amount of uncertainty from Washington, D.C., changes that. I believe electric school buses, will ultimately be successful in specific areas and on routes where the vehicles make the most sense—and other fuels will be necessary for years to come to make up the difference. And technicians in these school districts will need to provide maintenance.

With electric school buses, there are no oil changes, no fuel filter replacements and in many cases no transmission work. But as highlighted by ASE’s high-voltage accreditation, and the work being done elsewhere, it is critical school districts and bus companies have well trained professionals on staff able to take an educated approach to maintaining them. There is nothing contradictory about that.

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

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Related: (Recorded Webinar) Cut Costs, Not Corners: The Future of School Bus Maintenance
Related: Safety Concerns of the Electric Grid?
Related: City of Shelton Launches School Bus Safety Program with BusPatrol to Protect Children on the Road
Related: Funding, Data and Resiliency Needed for Electric School Bus Success

The post A Jolt to School Bus Maintenance appeared first on School Transportation News.

Earlier this year, School Transportation News invited nominations for exceptional professionals in fleet management to be considered for a feature in the August 2025 edition of its magazine. This year, STN celebrates its 10th year of Garage Stars.

Approximately 80 nominations were submitted by school districts, private transportation providers, school bus dealers, and industry vendors.

From these submissions, 10 standouts (three teams and seven individuals) were selected for the 10th annual Garage Stars spotlight, featured in the August Edition of School Transportation News magazine. A new section was also added to highlight the teams behind these outstanding professionals, showcasing the collaborative efforts that support fleet excellence.

The editorial team, using a 10-point evaluation system developed by consultant and STN Technical Editor Bob Pudlewski, identified this year’s honorees based on the following criteria:

• Community involvement
• Professional credentials
• Contributions to industry advancement
• Leadership qualities
• Scope of responsibility, particularly in supervisory roles
• Career and life experience
• Length of service in the field
• Ability to train and mentor others
• Recognition from regulatory agencies
• Overall value to their transportation program

Here is the full list of this year’s nominees:

Mark Alford
Mechanic
Cajon Valley Union School District, California:
Mark is always willing to look at any situations that may arise.

Joel Alvarez
Bus Mechanic
Leander Independent School District, Texas:
I would like to nominate Joel in recognition of his outstanding knowledge and dedication. He consistently demonstrates a deep understanding of potential issues that can arise with buses and works hard to ensure that tasks are completed efficiently and on time. Joel is always willing to assist—whether it’s answering questions from dispatch or supporting drivers with concerns related to the buses. His certified license and background as a mechanic, following his military service, have made him an invaluable asset to our team. His professionalism, work ethic, and expertise deserve to be recognized and appreciated.

Aaron Applegate
Head of Maintenance
Auxillo Muncie Division, Indiana:
Aaron truly cares about the drivers and their safety. He goes above and beyond, everyday. He addresses issues promptly and always follows up. He always has a friendly, smiling face, and a great story to tell. Whether it be from the time he served our country or Life experiences. Aaron has went out of his way, to even help fix the personal vehicles of fellow employees, because his kindness and compassion is unlike no other. This example resonates throughout his entire team, which includes Brent, Ron and Kaleb. Together, they ensure the children and drivers, of the muncie community has safe, reliable transportation. Whether it be 5:30 a.m., or 6:00 p.m., they’re always there to answer questions, and provide support. I am proud, and consider it an honor to nominate Aaron and his team.

Engineering Associates
South Carolina Department of Education:
I would like to nominate the outstanding group of engineering associates at the South Carolina Department of education. These six individuals go above and beyond their normal work duties to ensure their assigned shops are supported and that the students of South Carolina are on the most safe and reliable buses possible. They conduct valuable training to the technicians statewide to ensure they are up to speed on all of the latest technology and repair methods. These guys have a strong commitment to the safe transportation for the students of South Carolina and they lead by example. They are always eager to share their experience with classes at STN and [South Carolina Association for Pupil Transportation]. Collectively, this group has over 120 years of experience in SCDE student transportation it it would not be as successful as it is without this group.

Ricky Baumgartner
Mechanic
Rockwall ISD, Texas:
Knowledgeable, lead, integrity and willing to help.

Anthony Beltran
Lead Mechanic
Antelope Valley School Transportation Agency, California:
It is my pleasure to nominate Anthony Beltran, Lead Shop Mechanic at AVSTA, for the Outstanding Maintenance Professional award. Anthony is not just a skilled mechanic—he’s the backbone of our shop, a leader, and the driving force behind our team’s success. Managing a fleet of 237 school buses, including 42 electric, as well as CNG and diesel models, Anthony leads a team of 20 mechanics to ensure our buses run safely, efficiently, and reliably. He’s the go-to expert for troubleshooting, mentoring, and solving last-minute challenges. His vast industry network allows him to find solutions quickly, keeping our operations running smoothly. What truly sets Anthony apart is his relentless drive to learn. He proactively enrolls in training and certifications to stay ahead of critical advancements—especially in EV technology—ensuring AVSTA is prepared for the future of fleet maintenance.Beyond his expertise, Anthony is an incredible mentor who takes pride in teaching and guiding others. His leadership fosters a culture of collaboration and growth.Above all, Anthony is dependable. Whether staying late to get a bus back on the road or helping a colleague, he goes above and beyond every single day. David Bittner

Assistant Director
New Hanover County Schools, North Carolina:
The team of mechanics supporting New Hanover County Schools are an amazing value to the transportation program. Our 15 mechanics work hard to keep our fleet running and up to date. Over the last 12-months, our mechanics have upgraded 80 buses to have illuminated stop arms and school bus signs. They’ve upgraded 89 of our buses to have Samsara dashcams, telematics, and diagnostics. These industry developments have made our buses safer in visibility, GPS tracking, and mechanical reporting. Our fuel and tire team was cut from three to two positions while our Mechanic two team is currently short staffed. Through all of this adversity, each team member has increased their level of responsibility for the 140 yellow buses we maintain. Almost all of our Mechanic II’s are credentialed as Monthly Inspectors and our team regularly engages in industry development training opportunities from our vendors. The work this crew does to keep our students safely transported to and from their education is invaluable.

Joel Boughman
Head Mechanic
Perry Local Schools, Ohio:
Joel has been with Perry Local Schools for 23 years. Joel keeps our buses on a routine maintenance schedule and does an excellent job at keeping everything in great working condition. All our buses are serviced in house as well as all repairs. This saves our district a great deal of money by having a mechanic that is able to handle all these different tasks. During our annual inspections Joel has done a fantastic job for many years with his routine of running our buses. His organization and dedication to this process has allowed for minimal defects. Our garage has won the J Babe Stern Award over 10 times during Joel’s career, thanks to his leadership.

Steve Bradford
Fleet Supervisor
Huntington Beach Union High School District, California:
I would like to nominate Steve for his exceptional dedication to safety, leadership, and the invaluable life experiences he brings as a mechanic. Throughout his career, Steve has consistently demonstrated a strong commitment to maintaining the highest safety standards in every task he undertakes. His attention to detail ensures that equipment is not only in optimal working condition but also safe for everyone involved. As a leader, Steve’s ability to guide and mentor others is unparalleled. He leads by example, always taking the time to share his knowledge and ensure his team is well-equipped to tackle any challenges that arise. His calm demeanor and clear communication make him a reliable resource, instilling confidence in both his peers and the newer team members. Steve’s extensive life experiences as a mechanic have made him a true problem solver, able to think critically and adapt to any situation. His technical skills are matched only by his ability to stay calm under pressure, ensuring that operations run smoothly even in the most demanding circumstances. His dedication, leadership, and wealth of experience make him a deserving nominee for this recognition.

Motor Pool Manager
Plano Independent School District, Texas:
Austin and his team have not only streamlined maintenance processes, but have come together as a cohesive team instead of an AM or PM shift. When Austin started the amount of outstanding work orders was mind blowing! With great leadership, organization and complete trust and cooperation from his team, the shop remains on top of all work orders. The motor pool team are all taking advantage of TASBT classes as well as other special trainings when available, and continually work towards acquiring and maintaining their ASE certifications. I appreciate the fact that any one of the motor pool team will take the time to answer questions or address concerns from the drivers. They are quick to respond to road calls or accidents, and always put the driver’s mind at ease once they arrive. The motor pool team gets along amazingly, with little to no drama. They are proud of what they accomplish on a daily basis, and the district as a whole knows they can depend on them to keep all the vehicles running and most importantly SAFE!! Thank you to the outstanding Plano ISD Motor Pool Team, we appreciate your dedication!

Joshua Carter
Fleet Specialist
Dallas Independent School District, Texas:
Mr. Carter joined the team, and his impact was immediately recognized through his quality of work. Mr. Carter has been an asset to the team bringing a skill set that has decrease turnaround time for repairs that resulted in a significant reduction of transportation disruption.

Rigoberto Chavez
Lead Technician
Carrollton Farmers Branch Independent School District, Texas:
Rigo is always willing and happy to help anyone and never gets testy or frustrated when he’s in the middle of something and gets pulled away because someone need assistance. He has a great attitude! Also, our shop foreman stepped down from his role and Rigoberto has stepped in and assumed those responsibilities seamlessly. The shop was behind on PM’s and they came in on Saturday and were able to get caught up. We have been short staffed this school year and the mechanics have been stepping in wherever necessary, including covering routes and trips. He is vital to the success of this service center.

Mathew Cheney
Mechanic
Bow School District, New Hampshire:
As the sole mechanic for our district, Matt single- handedly maintains, services and performs all body to a fleet over 20 school buses and eight school vehicles. He has 32 year of dedicated services to the District & Town, his work ethic is second to none.
Matt has been the one to arrive hours before buses leave to ensure they start and and manual remove snow during storms- sometimes needing to clear them twice due to our unpredictable New England weather. If a driver submits a maintenance request, he ensures it’s addresses within 24 hours unless a part delay prevents it. Beyond his technical expertise, Matt is always available to assist drivers with any questions they may have. He takes the time to explain issues in detail, often using visual aids to help drivers better understand how their buses operate and what to look out for. His willingness to educate not only make our team stronger but also contributes to the overall safety and efficiency of our transportation team. He sets a high bar for mechanics everywhere. His level of dedication, knowledge, and commitment to excellence is unmatched and he takes immense pride in his work.

Roy Chura
Lead Mechanic
Youngstown City School District, Ohio:
He is always willing to help, goes above and beyond to make sure our buses are running and ready when we need them. He shows up no matter what and tries to make sure everything runs smoothly. I think he deserves this award because he doesn’t get enough recognition. A very decent hard working man, Keeps his team together. Works hard at keeping our buses up to speed. Will do anything he can to make things better in our district. “Gotta Love Him!”

Frank Cieslak
Head Mechanic
Deer Lakes School District, Pennsylvania:
Frank Cieslak, Bob Mellinger and Matt Nelson operate like a well-oiled machine. Despite being short on drivers, they’ve stepped up to drive and manage the entire garage without missing a beat. They’ve handled everything thrown their way and not only got the job done—but did it exceptionally well. From covering open runs to working on the fleet of buses, they’ve taken on every task and situation with skill and determination, ensuring nothing falls through the cracks. Their teamwork, reliability, and dedication have been truly outstanding.

Mike Corneloup
Lead
Cleburne Independent School District, Texas:
Our shop was down to two people for six months and did an amazing job taking care of any and all issues that came up. Now that we are fully staffed they are going above and beyond their jobs by helping drive buses when we are short drivers. Because like they say at the end of the day we are here as a team to make sure every child has a safe ride to school.

Gary Crumbacker
Service Center Manager
School District of Indian River County, Florida:
After four decades of service in the transportation industry as a technician, parts manager and service center manager, Gary Crumbacker now oversees a staff of seven working to maintain a safe fleet of school buses and white fleet vehicles. As part of Florida’s Treasure Coast, the School District of Indian River County looked to honor the community’s natural surroundings with a clean alternative fuel while reducing transportation costs. Gary was instrumental in the adoption of propane buses, which has led to greater success with shop safety, cleanliness and budget management. A graduate of Nashville Auto Diesel College, Gary is a certified Florida school bus inspector, member of the Florida Clean Cities Coalition and holds a Master ASE heavy truck certification. He provides a level of autonomy and mentorship to his team, leading through collaboration and curiosity by listening to their proposed diagnoses and approaches, then engaging in discussions about the best solution. Gary serves on the high school auto shop class advisory board because he’s invested in the next generation and hopes to help young adults advance in the transportation field.Gary has dedicated 40 years to school bus garage service — prioritizing student safety, training and team support.

Burt Davies
Mechanic
Oregon City School District, Oregon:
Burt goes above and beyond to ensure that our drivers, buses and children in our community are taken care of. Burt always has a positive attitude and a smile on his face, he is always the first to pop up and ask how he can help, whether its a stranded driver, ensuring that our buses are in tip top shape, helping with something on a top shelf or a fun event that we need volunteers for. For example, we implemented a community engagement team within our department last Spring and Burt was one of the first people to commit to help out. Watching him interact with the kids during a parade or an event is truly heartwarming. He dresses up in our bus costume to hand out fliers, candy, coloring pages and stickers and the kids absolutely love it! He’s the first to lend a hand when we have a bus driver appreciation, whether that’s cooking, setting up or making coffees. Burt can do it all whether that’s rolling up his sleeves and fixing a bus or grabbing a bag of candy to make child smile. He is indispensable part of our team and we are lucky to have him!

Hebert Day
Lead Mechanic
MSAD 35/ RSU 35, Maine:
“Buddy” has stepped up, and brought our garage back to a workable environment. We were with out a mechanic for some time. His positive attitude and knowledge has changed our department. He continues to show how much knowledge he has. Even when he has never attempted a task he still masters it with patience. I only wish we had him sooner.

Jim Dunkin
Lube Tech
North Kansas City Schools, Missouri:
Jim is always going above and beyond for our drivers and students. He comes in 4am and stays till 5pm or later to make sure students are taken care of. He stays on top of shop work and drives some of our special needs buses when needed. After working for the district for almost 25 years, he is set to retire shortly. (Every year this happens.) The way Jim interacts with drivers, parents, and students is remarkable and inspiring. He is always positive and willing to help make sure the students have and had a great day.

Bill Eberhart
Lead Mechanic
Marshalltown Community School District, Iowa:
The MCSD Mechanics are being nominated because of their work ethic, dedication, and commitment to keeping the equipment in excellent operating condition. In the past three years, the MCSC mechanics have eliminated the need to take our equipment to other repair shops to be worked on. They have taken the time to be trained on minor and major repairs and have the proper tools to complete the repairs that need to be completed. They have created a positive environment in our shop with the drivers that helps with the communications when something is wrong with one of the buses. The Mechanics have taken the appropriate steps to ensure the work environment is safe and clear of any hazards. It is evident how much pride the Mechanics take in their work by how the equipment looks and the relationships they are building. This team is willing to take on any mechanical job, from replacing an engine, fuel tanks, and converters, with a philosophy that no job is impossible. They are making a significant difference with the work they do. I am proud to recommend the team for the recognition.

Clayton Edquest
Leadman Mechanic
Denver Public Schools, Colorado:
Clayont has brought many years of knowledge to the team he is willing to mentor anyone who needs help. Clayton has set the bar in building the relationships with our customers.

Robert Enger
Shop Manger
Sunrise Bus Comapny Lakeview Bus Lines, Illinois:
Robbie manages a diverse fleet that includes buses, cars, and trucks, which operates across two distinct locations. He supervises a team of three mechanics tasked with the maintenance of a fleet consisting of 200 vehicles, all of which frequently encounter accidents and breakdowns. Furthermore, the drivers often fail to complete essential documentation. Robbie is deeply committed to his responsibilities, frequently prioritizing his work over family obligations to ensure the safety of the buses and the well-being of the children they transport. He consistently demonstrates a willingness to exceed standard expectations, making it his passion to enhance his work. Additionally, he creates educational videos for YouTube, aimed at providing fellow technicians with valuable tips and insights. From plowing snow to everyday grounds clean-up to taking out the trash to fix a water leak on a sink always goes above and beyond.

Glemon English
Lead Transportation & Fleet Operations Director
Savannah Chatham Public School System, Georgia:
Mr. English joined our district in January 2024 and has made an immediate and significant impact. He has revitalized the shop area, establishing a bus replacement cycle that was nonexistent. He has played a crucial role in the launch of 25 electric vehicles (EV), and being involved in the completion of the EV charging station. Before joining us, Mr. English gained valuable experience at the U.S. Postal Service, contributing to the implementation of electric postal trucks. This background has proven highly beneficial in his current role, particularly in addressing key operational challenges. He has effectively resolved issues related to MS data sheets, EPA compliance concerning oil disposal, and the fueling station, while also managing an audit to improve the organization of our parts department, which was in urgent need of attention.Mr. English’s proficiency in Excel and data management is exemplary, which has directly contributed to the development of an outstanding on-time delivery dashboard—a strategic tool vital to our team.
Having joined the district just three months after my arrival, Mr. English has been instrumental in improving both the equipment and processes for our mechanics. His leadership, combined with his technical expertise, guides the team toward greater efficiency and innovation.

Mike Evans
Transportation Shop Manager
Reynoldsburg City Schools, Ohio:
Mike goes above and beyond as shop manager. Not only does he take care of the ordering and over seeing what is going on in the garage he physical helps work on the buses with his mechanics, mentors them making sure the fleet is safe for our drivers and students. He comes in early and stays late if needed. Always reading, making calls, staying up on laws, etc. to make sure he stays updated on any changes.

Mike Fortner
Service Center Lead
Tristar Transportation, Ohio:
Mike is an expert mechanic and takes great pride in our commitment to safety. He manages a fleet of over 150 vehicles and consistently goes above and beyond the integral part of maintaining/fixing our vehicles in which we transport special needs students and older individuals. He leads a team of 3 and has the respect and confidence of them and of our entire company. His competency is off the charts and I personally rely on him constantly to ensure our large fleet is not only in working order but that he is taking the necessary steps in putting our drivers and clients in safe vehicles. We would not have the success as one of the largest door to door specialty transportation companies in Ohio without a good mechanic, fortunately we have a great one.

Clayton Francis
Fleet Manager
Hoglund Transportation, Minnesota:
I’m nominating my school bus maintenance staff because they’re hands-down the most hardworking and talented crew out there. We’ve got a team of ten, and these guys can build a bus from scratch and make it look brand new. One day, they’re rebuilding an engine, the next they’re fixing a rental car, and the day after that, they’re working on an ambulance or even a jet ski. No matter what the problem is, they can handle it with barely a concern, they revel in the new challenges from day to day. Our fleet of school buses is one of the best in the state thanks to their attention to detail, which also leads to fewer breakdowns and fewer buses on the side of the road making the students in the Monticello School District safer every day.Simply put, without them, buses wouldn’t run in Monticello. They’re the backbone of this operation, and I can’t think of a group more deserving of recognition.

Matt Gordineer
Head Mechanic
Katonah-Lewisboro School District, New York:
This team has been short a mechanic for over a year. And there was a time when they where two man down. Yet they have kept their DOT score unchanged (98 to 99%) Often we need to take them away from their primary work in order to cover runs because of the driver shortage. They are ready, willing and able to help. Matt does a great job with minimal supervision. He very conscientious. He and his team are hard workers who I feel should be recognized.

Ross Henry
Lead Mechanic Tech
CJUSD/G&T Trucking, California:
Ross is a great communicator and has been training our newest mechanic since October 2024. His best attribute is diagnostic. This guy can diagnose anything and is 99% correct. He is extremely thorough in maintenance and repairs with excellent knowledge of school bus reporting as well as organizational. He always returns texts or calls the same day. He is enthusiastic with a friendly, humorous personality. Very social

Eugene Huang
M2 Mechanic
New Hanover County Schools, North Carolina:
Eugene and his family came to the U.S. from India and has excelled here in the transportation department. First as a full time bus driver and part time fuel house attendant, he then moved to a full time fuel truck driver and part time bus driver. I recognized early on that Eugene picked up on things very fast and isn’t afraid to try anything. I asked if he would like to apply for the open mechanic position and he did. Eugene has a regular bus route in the morning and then works in the garage the remainder of the day. He has become a valued asset to our department in a very short time.

Zachary Hulin
Service Manager
DS Bus South, Louisiana:
Zachary is forward thinking and proactive. He has implemented new ideas and procedures to our shops to help in preventive and proactive maintenance. He demonstrates leadership and is relatable to his subordinates. He understands how the maintenance department’s performance directly effects the operation department’s ability to run routes safely and dependably.

Joe Huster
Head/Lead Mechanic supervisor
Mehlville School district, Missouri:
When I say Joe Huster and team are phenomenal, it’s an understatement. Not only does he go above and beyond through rain, sleet and snow (literally)! Joe always shows up to keep our fleet in top condition, Mehlville just had our annual State inspection and again was awarded with a 98 percent with over 100 buses to inspect! Pretty impressive! Joe has also had some major medical issues that he continue to push through and never takes off! Wow! Joe has also been down two mechanics since last year, he is making the impossible happen with x6 staff, including himself. If Joe Huster and the Mechanics at the Mehlville school district are not perfect candidates for if nothing else but true acknowledgement and gratitude for the hard work and services, I don’t know who would be.

Melvin Jabob
Maintenance Manager
Howard County/Zum Services, Inc., Virginia:
Mel has done an outstanding job with our fleet maintenance program in Howard County. The performance of the team has been stellar. KPIs and Out of Service lists are well maintained.

Ryan Janowski
Mechanic Coordinator
Klein Indepdent School District, Texas:
I am writing to nominate Ryan Janowski for the prestigious Garage Star Award, recognizing his exceptional contributions and dedication to Klein ISD over the past 18 years. Ryan has served as a Mechanic Coordinator for two decades, demonstrating unmatched expertise and leadership in the field. He is ASE certified and has maintained this certification for 11 years, reflecting his continued commitment to excellence. Over the years, Ryan’s technical skills and knowledge have significantly contributed to the success of our maintenance operations, he consistently goes above and beyond to ensure everything runs smoothly.One of Ryan’s most outstanding qualities is his exceptional leadership and his ability to manage complex tasks, guide team members, and foster a collaborative work environment has had a lasting impact on our department’s productivity and morale. Ryan is known for his reliability—whether it’s for a major project or everyday tasks, he can always be counted on to deliver outstanding results. Ryan’s work ethic, leadership, and consistent ability to deliver results are qualities that make him a truly deserving candidate for the Garage Star Award. We are incredibly fortunate to have him on our team, and I am proud to nominate him for this well-deserved recognition. Ricardo Jimenez

Mechanic
Lakeport MOT, California:
Young man with the responsibilty of maintaining nine type1 buses and four type2 buses by himself. Not to mention the 45 -day inspections this young man is a Rock star always attentive always there to listen to issuse from drivers and address them. For one man i have nothing but respect he does the darn thing in our yard. Not to mention he’ll jump in a bus as a substitute driver.

Frank Jonas
Chief Mechanic
West Milford BOE, New Jersey:
Mr. Jonas and his entire team make bus maintenance feel simple. They are knowledgeable, accommodating to outside districts, and practical in their recommendations and repairs. Everyone on the team are friendly and considerate in any form of communication. I appreciate all of the hard work they do.

Zack Jones
Shop Foreman
Robertson County Schools, Tennessee:
Zack is a leader who goes above and beyond to train and support the shop team members that he leads everyday. When he is not training, he is either giving tremendous customer service to the bus drivers of our county to make sure they are able to provide transportation to and from school for the students of Robertson County. Additionally, Zack also helps sub drive to cover routes to make sure students are provided the opportunity to a free education. He is a ASE Master School Bus Technician as well.

Mikayl Kippen
Heavy Duty School Bus Mechanic
Allegan Area ESA — Allegan, Michigan:
Mikayl makes sure that his main priority is always safety and comfort of our students. Dealing with Special Needs students and young adults, Mikayl understands the importance of performance and safety in the fleet. He never thinks twice about jumping up to help a driver or check out an issues that they may be having.

Doug Klein
Mechanic
Rockwall Independent School District, Texas:
Knowledgeable, lead, integrity and willing to help.

Chad Klinge
Bus Mechanic
Patrick Henry Local Schools, Ohio:
Chad is the top in his industry in Northwest Ohio. He is sought after by neighboring districts for advice and his services. Chad has led and developed multiple grants that have provided for a safer and more effective bus garage for our school district. Additionally, Chad hosts regional workshops on our campus to bring vendors to a part of the state that they may not normally go. Lastly, Chad is willing to go above and beyond for our district. He is willing to plow snow, help students when in need, and even barbecue lunch for our students.

Chris Kurzmann
Heavy Duty Mechanic
Allegan Area ESA — Allegan, Michigan:
While upholding safety and security of our fleet of 25 special needs school buses, Chris finds the time to be a late night instructor for our young adult program at the Allegan Area Tech Center. Chris goes above and beyond not only in the garage, but also on the school bus. He notices a vacancy and is the first to offer up his time to make sure our students receive their transportation. Chris strives to be the best and offers his guidance and support to our local districts and/or any staff member that may need it. His work will never go unappreciated to Allegan Area ESA!

Kyle Lawrence
Lead Mechanic
Oakdale Joint Unified School District, California:
Kyle goes above and beyond for our transportation department making sure our buses are running correctly. He makes sure the 45-day inspections are getting done correctly and that we pass our terminal inspections. He is involved in our CSEA union. Kyle is very efficent as a mechanic and has a lot to offer the district in that respect. With Kyle here at our district the repairs are done in a timely fashion instead of being sent out, Kyle has been a mechanic for 20 plus years. He has been with our district since 2018 and in that time has made our buses safer on the road and made the time it took for major repairs less time . He cares a lot about his job and puts in all his effort to ensure the safety of our student at Oakdale Joint unified School district. He is also involved with CASTO and goes to the conferences for the last 2 years, to learn more about the Transportation industry. Kyle attends training that he made need to keep up eith the every changing world of school buses and their safety. Kyle is a very valuable part of our transportation department .

Joe Liff
Mechanic
Granville Exempted Village Schools, Ohio:
Our mechanic team has saved the district money from not having to send out things for repair and keeping up on daily PM’s with no problem. Along with being a mechanic they are also sub/driver’s for the district. Joe also does routing for us. They have also created a breakdown “bus” that can go on site to a bus that is having issues and fix right there. They really are “Jack of all trades” when it comes to the garage, and we would be lost with out them. Any district would be lucky to have the skill and knowledge in mechanics that we have here in Granville. Not only do I feel that they both are deserving of this, I feel that they deserve this and so much more.

Clayton Lovell
Lead Mechanic
Snohomish School District, Washington:
Clayton has gone above his job expectations whenever asked. He has a vast knowledge of information and is willing to share with anyone. He has patience for every employee and project that is asked of him.

Antonio Luna
Fleet Maintenance Manager
Los Angeles Unified School District, California:
Antonio and his team have show substantial leadership both within LAUSD as well as in the community. Showing both innovation and leadership in bus maintenance practices and sustainability, Antonio encourages his team to continue to advance their skills and their knowledge base.

Dan Mangan
Fleet Manager
Alexandria City Public Schools, Virginia:
Dan maintains and manages an efficient fleet ensuring vehicles are in good condition and safe. Dan prioritizes safety, ensuring our drivers and vehicles are well – maintained and compliant with regulations. Dan communication with his staff, and peers are invaluable, active listening and building strong relationships. Dan is always there when we need a listening hear and good advice. Dan wears many hats. Besides being an outstanding Fleet manager for the past 4 years, he is also Head of the Teams committee, and we have the best work get together and everyone enjoys them. We are fortunate to have Dan, and you can see his success from his team and how well they work together.

Tom McCracken
Garage Manager
W.L. Roenigk Inc. — Leechburg Area School District, New Kensington-Arnold School District & Burrell School District, Pennsylvania:
There is no one title that suits Tom McCracken and all that he does every day at W.L. Roenigk Inc. Garage manager, dispatcher, mechanic, leader and more all describe Tom. He’s not your typical 71-year-old. Known for his loud, commanding voice, he’s never one to back down from a challenge and will always take the lead. He’s helped to develop a talented mechanical crew and an outstanding group of employees at his garage.
He has a long history at our company, starting back in 1979 as a mechanic, he never set out to be in management, but stepped up to the plate in the early 1980s. Tom helped lead his garage to what is now a location that transports three area school districts with over 100 vehicles in his fleet and all the staff that drive them. You will catch Tom working all over his garage, from in the shop, on the phone at his desk or even in the wash bay pitching in. He’s anywhere and everywhere. He is always one to lend a helping hand whether offering his mechanical expertise or helping to cover a run, Tom is there to help anyone who needs him.

Edward Meindersee
Lead Mechanic
Pittsburg Unified School District, California:
Ed Meindersee is our lead mechanic. A very responsible and trustworthy person. You can count on him and will never fail you on his services. My district service transportation is always in good condition.

Josue Mendoza
Mechanic
Rockwall Indepdent School District, Texas:
Knowledgeable, lead, integrity and willing to help.

James Meyer
Technician Team Lead
United Bus Sales, Minnesota:
United Bus Sales believes that we have something rare and worth recognizing. We have three second generation technicians who have proudly followed in their father’s footsteps. These individuals are more than just skilled technicians, they are specialized in HVAC, Video/Audio installations, and ADA equipment. They represent passion, legacy, and dedication to school transportation. James Meyer began in the field in 2019, Carlos Ortiz in 2016, and Donald Barthel in 2015 continuing a family tradition of excellence. Each were mentored by experienced professionals—often family—and now mentor others, helping shape the next generation. Their contributions go far beyond the shop. Throughout their careers, each of them has worked in many areas of school transportation —washing buses, driving routes, and training new drivers. This hands-on experience gives them deep insight into the industry’s daily challenges and needs. Their pride, mentorship, and dedication strengthens the team and helps move the entire school transportation community forward.United Bus Sales is more than a workplace—it’s a living legacy. As a third-generation family-owned dealership, its roots run deep.

Jeromy Mink
Shop Foreman
Corsicana Independent School District, Texas:
He is a pastor of a congregation. Mr. Mink has various certifications as being a mechanic He’s shows great leadership. He doesn’t ask anyone to do something that he won’t do himself. Helps out on routes when we are short drivers. This man is a person of great integrity. He is a problem solver according to the day to day problems, whether its a route problem, a student leaving items on the bus, or just his co-workers problems. He prays with them and tries to keep everyone encouraged. He will cook food for the employees and he loves the students. Students have to be really disrespectful for him to do a Bus Conduct Report. Valuable to our district.

Daniel Moreno
Maintenance Manager
STORER Transportation, California:
I have enjoyed working with Mr. Moreno, Maintenance Manager at the Palmdale School District of Transportation, for four years. He has demonstrated exceptional technical expertise, strong leadership, and a commitment to excellence. A good leader contributes significantly to team success, and Mr. Moreno exemplifies this. He is reliable and proficient, with a deep understanding of our bus systems. His ability to analyze complex mechanical issues and implement effective solutions has ensured smooth operations. Mr. Moreno actively participates in our Christmas parades and plays a key role in the engineering and decorating efforts. He is dedicated, organized, and consistently meets deadlines. Beyond his technical skills, Mr. Moreno brings integrity and passion to his work, always seeking innovative ways to optimize processes. I wholeheartedly recommend him for the Garage Star of the Year.

Bart Nielsen
Transportation Director/Mechanic
Rangely School District, Colorado:
Our transportation director and head mechanic is the heartbeat of our transportation department and a true leader in our district. With years of hands-on experience, he understands every nut and bolt of our fleet and takes personal responsibility for keeping students safe and buses road-ready. As a certified trainer and “Train the Trainer” for safety checks, he not only ensures compliance but builds capacity in others. His leadership extends far beyond the garage—serving on our local college board, coaching junior high football, and mentoring students daily. He’s deeply invested in our community, often the first to arrive and the last to leave, even on weekends. He brings innovation and care to every task—from sourcing the latest training videos to jumping behind the wheel when a route is uncovered. He’s also quick to support neighboring districts, offering training, inspections, and driver assistance without hesitation. His commitment is driven by a deep love for kids and a belief in doing what’s right. With no job too small and no challenge too great, he models integrity, service, and excellence. A great husband, father, and colleague—he’s not just a transportation leader—he’s an irreplaceable part of our school family.

Mahlon Osterhout
Head Mechanic
Raystown Transit Service, Pennsylvania:
Mahlon is a perfectionist and demands this from his team. He doesn’t place a band aid on a breakdown just to get it back on the line quickly. Mahlon is keenly aware of the importance of his role in keeping vehicles maintained to a high standard as these vehicles transport children. When a driver comes to him with an issue, he stops what he is doing to do a quick evaluation and outline of what needs done. He is very efficient in working through problems and repairs to get drivers going in their vehicle. Mahlon’s talents are many in the garage from mechanical to body work. He keeps a clean and organized garage that brings comments from many individuals such as vendors, police inspectors and drivers. He is well respected and liked by all.

Dan Page
Lead Bus Mechanic
Eaton Community Schools, Ohio:
Dan is the type of person and professional the will go above and beyond not only for his district’s bus fleet but our ESC bus fleet as well. He makes it a point to work us in and get us finished in between routes knowing we can’t afford a bus to be downed due to us having only one spare to fall back on.

Darron Parker
Assistant Director
Alexander County Schools, North Carolina:
Let me start by providing some background on the Alexander County school bus garage. For nearly two years, the county operated without a director, and during that time, the lead mechanic (one of only two mechanics) was appointed assistant director to manage the day-to-day operations. He did his best with limited resources, relying on just one other mechanic. When I came on board as the new director, there was a lot to be done. My first priority was to build a team of mechanics.Michael Younce, who had been employed as a fuel truck driver, was moved into a Mechanics I position and joined the shop on my first day. The next step was hiring a new fuel truck driver and another mechanic. Josh Knotts was brought in as the fuel truck driver, and Bradley Whitener was hired as our newest mechanic.Now, let me introduce you to this hard-working crew. Michael, the oldest of the group, is probably our best motivator. He’s known to serenade us on our birthdays and is always the first to take on the most challenging tasks.

Roger Pearson
Mechanic
Mustang Public Schools, Oklahoma:
Roger tries his best to ensure each bus is cared for to the best of his ability. During routes, he will check over activity buses going out that day to prepare for coaches who may be driving them. Roger will use his knowledge and resources to pinpoint a problem rather than brush it off for later. He is a great mechanic, and we are blessed to have him in our organization.

Michael Pendergraph
Transportation Shop Supervisor
Savannah Chatham County Public School System, Georgia:
Michael Pendergraph, a product of the Savannah Chatham County Public School System, has provided exceptional service and leadership for over 20 years in the Transportation fleet department. As an accomplished technician with automotive and school bus certifications, Michael’s engine-building expertise has saved the district hundreds of thousands of dollars. His approach to maintaining the fleet is driven by passion, love, and safety, treating every bus as if his own child were riding in the front seat. Currently serving as the shop supervisor, Michael leads a crew of seasoned technicians who strive to make every day better than the last. His leadership fosters an environment of accountability, action, and empowerment. Michael’s dedication to his work and his team is evident in the high standards he sets and the positive impact he has on the district’s transportation services. His commitment to safety and excellence ensures that the fleet operates smoothly and efficiently, benefiting the entire school community. Michael Pendergraph’s contributions are invaluable, and his leadership continues to inspire those around him.

Jonny Petaros
Mechanic
Nye County School District, Nevada:
Utmost work ethic coupled with a need to help and learn all the new technology. Jonny is always ready for any challenge with a smile and an attitude that keep us comfortable with the process of repairs

Michelle Peterson
Maintenance Supervisor
Pacific Union District, California:
Shelly is the best maintenance supervisor at our school for several reasons. First and foremost, her dedication to maintaining a safe and clean environment is unmatched. She consistently goes above and beyond to ensure that all facilities are in top-notch condition, which directly impacts the well-being of students and staff. Moreover, Shelly possesses exceptional leadership skills. She communicates effectively with her team, fostering a collaborative atmosphere where everyone feels valued and heard. Her approachable nature encourages open dialogue, allowing her to address concerns promptly and efficiently. Additionally, Shelly’s problem-solving abilities are remarkable. Whether it’s a minor repair or a major issue, she tackles challenges head-on, often finding innovative solutions that save time and resources. Her proactive approach to maintenance not only prevents future problems but also enhances the overall functionality of our school. In summary, Shelly’s commitment, leadership, and problem-solving skills make her an outstanding maintenance supervisor. She truly embodies the qualities of an effective leader, and her efforts significantly contribute to the positive environment at our school.

Don Philippe
Fleet Maintenance Supervisor
Dysart, Arizona:
Fleet Supervisor, for their exceptional contributions to creating a team-oriented atmosphere in the shop, unwavering dedication to student safety, and their strong reputation within the industry. Don has consistently demonstrated leadership by fostering an environment where collaboration, support, and communication thrive among all mechanics. This positive team atmosphere enhances productivity and ensures everyone feels valued. Don is also highly regarded in the industry as a skilled mechanic whose advice is frequently sought after by peers and industry professionals. His extensive knowledge and hands-on experience makes him an invaluable resource to both the team and the student services community. The guys in the shop are continuously fostered and when learning something new Don will use a hands on approach and complete the fix side by side. Don is very deserving of the Garage Star nomination.

Kevin Popp
Supervisor of Vehicle Operations
Frederick County Public Schools, Virginia:
The team at Frederick County Public Schools does an amazing job of keeping our fleet of buses, vans and cars up and running. They are all very helpful whenever anyone needs something. They fleet has grown so much in the last few years, yet no new additions of mechanics has been added. They have keep up on the work load and still greet with a smile and take time to help anyone that is in need. They each go above and beyond for our department. I can say they are such a pleasure to work with. I am proud to nominate Frederick County Public Schools transportation fleet for the amazing reward.

Keith Popp II
Multi-shop manager
Student Transportation of America, New Jersey:
Not only is Keith a talented mechanic, but he is also an integral part in the future of the bus transportation industry. Keith is a volunteer firefighter who fought the New York/New Jersey border fires in November 2024. He worked during the day and fought fires at night. He works closely with many local fire departments and first responders to hold evacuation drills involving school buses. One drill included an extrication drill where he flipped buses on their sides to give responders experiences that they might face on scene. Keith is also the lead diesel technology instructor at Sussex County Community College. Here, he inspires future mechanics to join the field. Being at STA for 10 years, Keith is the go-to guy for electrical issues. Other shop managers reach out to him to help them troubleshoot or diagnose an issue that they might be stumped on. With that said, Keith is an asset to his field and continues to grow with the industry.

Lynn Porter
Lead Mechanic
Coeur d’Alene School District 271, Idaho:
The Tech Team of Coeur d’Alene has individual areas of expertise to provide exceptional support. Lynn Porter, the lead mechanic, uses his 27 years of experience to direct innovation and change needed to provide the best, cost effective and quality service to the fleet of 60 school buses and additional white fleet in the school district. Porter has taken part in the Bus Roadeo and brought home regional and state trophies. He supports his granddaughter in the community’s Girl Scouts program. George Rey has 9 years’ experience with the school district and uses IT knowledge to maintain up to date technology needed in busing, has implemented software to enhance service and efficiencies for fleet maintenance, work orders and inventory. Racheal Slaughter, in her 3rd year with the school district, brings her experience in aviation mechanics to the fleet, adding a high level of precision while maintaining the fleet at optimal state and federal requirements. Slaughter’s first year with the school district, she brought home a regional trophy in the Bus Roadeo and went to state. The team soon will be implementing the first mechanic internship within the school district. Always striving to provide exceptional service with the resources they have.

Chris Privia
Mechanic
Bill’s Service, Illinois:
Chris and the team at Bill’s service in Concord, IL work on school buses for multiple school districts. They also do the warranty work for my Blue Bird School buses. They are so far away from me that I only use them if its something that my normal 3rd party mechanic or myself can’t fix but I do send at least 3 to 4 buses at a time during Christmas and spring breaks. I always call a couple months ahead to get on the schedule. I drop them off the 1st day of the break and they are always ready for pick up on the last day of the break so that I always have my buses back in time before school starts up again. Having only one spare bus, this is very critical for me. Because they already work and have worked on other school districts that run Bluebird buses, they know the folks at Central States Bus in Fenton, Mo. Chris and the secretarty Amber are always available if I have a question about something, I know that I can call them for help or advice with other issues.

Jim Radley
Maintenance
Altmar Parish Williamstown Central School District, New York
Jim works very hard to not only maintain the buses, doing services, brake jobs, and getting ready for DOT. He drives a bus route when needed, and assist me in paperwork for the district. He has worked long hours if covering school bus runs and does anything we need. He stays late to assist the afternoon dispatch in case there is a problem on bad weather days. Jim always has kind words to say about the employees and puts his best effort in as his role as the union representative for the building.

Lafayette Sanders-Dorsey
Lead Mechanic
Baltimore City Public Schools, Maryland:
Lafayette has consistently demonstrated a forward-thinking mindset and an unwavering commitment to operational excellence that has significantly enhanced our fleet performance and overall efficiency. Lafayette’s innovative approach to maintenance has led to the implementation of proactive diagnostic procedures that have reduced downtime and improved vehicle reliability. In addition to his technical expertise, Lafayette does not hesitate to support the dispatch team in transporting the students to and from school.

Curtis Schwartz
Technician In Charge
Highland/First Student, Illinois:
Curtis is a Great Shop Manager and always on top of our fleet. If a driver has an issue with a bus, either major or minor he is always willing to take a look and fix it, or if need be take the bus out of service and get a driver a spare bus. He keeps an immaculately clean garage and his personality makes things run! Overall, he is a great presence at the Highland First Student Location!

Scott Sexton
Mechanic
Southern Kern Unified School District, California:
Scott has been working with Southern Kern USD for decades, dedicating his energy and time to ensuring the school bus fleet is not only operational but also safe. Scott has been active in School Bus associations and networking groups, for example attending STN and the training sessions for many years, and has also been the focal point of the district’s transportation fleet, making sure that compliance and regulatory items are implemented, adhered to/renewed, and updated. Further, Scott has been involved in continuing education and certification throughout his career at SKUSD and has also been active to train new mechanics at the district, ensuring that the knowledge is passed to new staff members and providing mentorship. Scott is pivotal to SKUSD’s transportation program

DeMarcus Singleton
Master Mechanic
Madison Parish School District, Louisiana:
I became transportation supervisor July 1,2024. Since then, Mr. Singleton has shown great work ethics. Mr. Singleton has been with Madison Parish School District for mor than 6 years. Mr. Singleton have a very respectful way for communicating his work, and very responsible, dependable, and passionate about the transportation department here at Madison Parish School District. Being a small school district with about 25 buses in our fleet, Mr. Singleton always keep our EV as well as diesel buses up and running. He also have a enormous drive for furthering his knowledge on being a mechanic, and as a supervisor, I’m always trying my best to make it happen. Mr. Singleton always keeps me a brushed on all my buses, and makes certain that all of our scholars are being transported in a safe way to and from school. Even when the buses have to go on activities, Mr. Singleton is there early in the morning to make sure the buses are safe for the highway. I am pleased to say that With Mr. Singleton receiving this garage star, it would be a honor to him, and a great look for our schools, and small town.

Ryan Spencer
Lead Bus Mechanic
Middlebury Community Schools, Indiana:
Ryan is outstanding on maintaining our bus fleet. He keeps everyone in top working order, if you need anything he gets it right away. He strives in keeping all or our outgoing buses clean and shiny to represent our school at all extra curricular activities and sporting events. Ryan keeps the shop neat and tidy as well. Everyone in our school appreciates his friendliness and his smile when we joke around. Ryan is very involved in his church community, he shows all his strong values and beliefs in the way he works and maintaining kindness in helping everyone. He has been lead mechanic for the last five years but has several years before that working as a mechanic. Keeping the bus fleet in top shape is a lot of responsibility and we could not do it without him and Randy Shriner his assistant bus mechanic. Ryan and Randy also keep our school vehicles as well as our SRO officers cars in top working condition. We thank you!

Christopher Staples
Maintenance Superintendent
Town of Yarmouth, Maine & Yarmouth School Department, Maine:
I am writing to enthusiastically nominate Christopher Staples for his exceptional dedication and unwavering commitment to ensuring the safety and operational readiness of our town’s entire vehicle fleet. Chris consistently goes above and beyond in his role, diligently maintaining and repairing our school buses to the highest safety standards. He takes immense pride in guaranteeing the secure transportation of our students to and from school and extracurricular activities. Beyond the school buses, Chris is also responsible for the mechanical upkeep of a wide range of essential town vehicles, including fire trucks, police cars, and Parks and Recreation vehicles. His expertise and proactive approach ensure that all these vital assets are always in optimal working condition. Christopher Staples commitment to safety and his tireless efforts in maintaining our town’s vehicles are truly commendable and deserve recognition.

Fleet Manager and Fleet Technicians
Charlotte County Public Schools, Florida:
Gayelynn Stonis has been fleet manager at Charlotte County Public Schools since 2021. In Her time here her team has changed the way we do things in transportation. Everything from scheduling our Bus inspections to getting her team the training to help drive students. They are always available to help. The garage team makes sure that our bike program continues to operate since we do not have funding anymore. They service the Bicycles to make sure that the students get a chance learn bicycle safety. They help transport the bicycle trailer to the schools and participate in School Career Fairs to ignite interest among younger students. They are the silent heroes of transportation.

Chris Sutton
Fleet Manager
Douglas County School District, Colorado:
The Parker Shop’s leadership, mechanics, and parts team exemplify dedication and teamwork. Their strong work ethic and willingness to go above and beyond keep our fleet running smoothly at the Parker and Highlands Ranch Shops. A truly outstanding team and wonderful group of guys. Same goes for our Castle Rock Shop. The group of guys there are a great group of guys who are always willing to dive into a project. All in all, our fleet department is a terrific group of folks that are always willing to jump into a project and get it done.

Herbert Thacker
Chief Mechanic
Lincoln County Board of Education, West Virginia:
We have a brand new crew in Lincoln County. Our chief mechanic, Herbert Thacker has only been the in his position for a little over a year and this is the first school year for our two mechanics. These guys work together to get things done. They are constantly learning through trial and error and local training sessions. They make sure our buses are safe and ready to transport our precious cargo. During this school year we have only had 5 primary defects during our state inspections. These three want to learn. I am constantly looking for training to send them to so they can enhance their mechanical skills. Any three of them would do anything for anyone. They go above and beyond for Lincoln County Schools and the safety of our buses and students.

Jon Thompson
Head Mechanic
Byron Bergen CSD, New York:
Jon is a tremendous asset to our department. He is our head mechanic, and only mechanic at the moment. He works 10+ hours a day without any complaints. Jon’s inspection record has been 100 percent for years. He not only keeps our buses running but also all the maintenance vehicles running. Jon drives our sports run and numerous times this year our actually routes. The children love it when he drives them, he is called the “Bus Doctor”. He always goes above and beyond and always with a smile on his face. I can not think of anyone more deserving and truly is a “Garage Star!”

John Warming
Mechanic/Technician
MSAD6, Maine:
John is a dedicated and hardworking professional who continuously strives for growth and excellence in his field. His commitment to advancing his skills is evident in his recent achievement of Blue Bird Tech Certification, further solidifying his expertise in school transportation maintenance and technology.As a lifelong member of the Bonny Eagle community, John not only excels in his role but also serves as a role model for others. While raising a young family, he remains an active and engaged team player, always ready to support his colleagues and improve our operations. His involvement in the state transportation association (MAPT) demonstrates his dedication to the industry beyond our immediate team. John actively seeks opportunities to learn and advance his skills.John is a natural problem solver, tackling challenges with efficiency and innovation. His ability to analyze issues and implement effective solutions makes him an invaluable asset to our team. His enthusiasm, strong work ethic, and unwavering commitment to safety and excellence make him truly deserving of this recognition.John’s contributions and leadership exemplify the qualities celebrated by this award. Thank you for your time and consideration. Key Contributions and Achievements: Dedication to Work-Life Balance: John joined our team to have more quality time with his young family and has seamlessly integrated his professional responsibilities with his personal priorities.Proactive Networking: He has actively sought out networking opportunities across various avenues, fostering robust relationships and collaborations, including developing a strong working rapport with our local dealership.Commitment to Education: John’s pursuit of continuous learning is evident. He recently became a certified Bluebird Technician, significantly enhancing his diagnostic capabilities and contributing to budget savings. Additionally, he is furthering his education with Roush to deepen his knowledge of propane engines.Community Engagement: By aligning himself with the Maine State Association for Pupil Transportation, John has played a pivotal role in facilitating the sharing of knowledge and best practices across the state.

Shop Foreman
Buncombe County Schools Transportation, North Carolina:
On September 27, 2024, Hurricane Helene devastated Buncombe County Schools, leaving widespread destruction and critical infrastructure failures in its wake. This dedicated team worked tirelessly behind the scenes to restore essential services, ensuring that the community could begin its recovery. They fueled generators and light towers, cut locks to access mountain-top communication towers, and kept radio and cell phone networks operational—critical lifelines in the aftermath of the storm. Amidst the chaos, two team members lost their homes, yet they selflessly chose to serve others rather than focus on their own losses. Their unwavering commitment to the safety and well-being of students, staff, and the broader community exemplifies true leadership and sacrifice. Through their expertise, resilience, and teamwork, they played an instrumental role in bringing Buncombe County Schools and its surrounding infrastructure back online.Their dedication, in the face of both professional and personal hardship, is nothing short of heroic. This nomination recognizes their extraordinary efforts, ensuring their impact is not forgotten.

Mike Wilburn
Service Writer
Spotsylvania County Public Schools, Virginia:
Mike goes above and beyond to make sure all of our drivers are taken care of. He is very professional, always has a smile, and just a wonderful, knowledgeable person to talk to. Mike is a former bus driver, so, he understands our drivers. He makes sure the tickets are wrote accurately, and in a fast timely fashion. Our garage fleet, would not be able to run as smoothly as it does without Mike. He truly is just the best that we can ask for.

Tyler Wilson
Mechanic
Perry Local Schools in Massillon Ohio, Ohio:
Tyler came to Perry Local Schools from Canton Truck sales and service. Tyler has been with Perry for 7 years. Tyler brought with him a lot of knowledge and experience that has been a bonus for our garage. All our maintenance and repairs are done in house. This is a great savings to our district. Tyler is always a pleasure to work with and our staff has a tremendous amount of respect for him and his work ethic.

Thomas Ziak
Mechanic
Maple Heights City School District, Ohio:
Tom goes above and beyond to keep our fleet running. He is a one band man. He starts his day extra early and will stay as late as needed. Not only does he keep our fleet running, but he plows in the winter, and will driver a route if needed. Tom is very personable and always has a smile on his face. As a new Director of Transportation he has assisted me with patience, care, and overall concern. He truly is the BEST. He deserves to be recognized for his diligence and hard word. Not only does he work for the District but he is an alumni of the District and takes pride in being a Maple Mustang.

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