A webinar dove into the 2026 State of Student Transportation report conducted in February by Zonar and School Transportation News as well as how technology can assist with both current and projected challenges.

Operational, Safety Challenges

Rachel Trindade, chief marketing officer for webinar sponsor Zonar, shared Thursday that almost 60 percent of the 118 survey respondents were transportation directors or assistant transportation directors. About two-thirds operate under 100 buses and the rest have over 100.

Hiring and maintaining drivers was the top reported operational challenge at 75 percent, followed by budget constraints at 52 percent, rising operational costs at 42 percent and aging fleet and maintenance issues at 30 percent.

Trindade noted that the school bus driver shortage and recent sharp fuel increases compound all these issues. This was confirmed by panelist Tony Harris, the director of transportation for Monongalia County Schools in West Virginia who oversees 135 buses transporting almost 12,000 students on mostly urban routes.

Tim Ammon, a longtime industry consultant, noted that these top four challenges create a feedback loop that keeps districts struggling.

The panelists agreed that modern technology, which supports things like preventative maintenance, reduced idling and optimized tire pressure, results in incremental savings that add up to a significant difference.

The most challenging student safety issues, per the survey, were parent communication gaps and driver behavior and compliance at 45 percent each, followed by tracking student ridership at 36 percent.

In both safety and operational challenges, on-time performance was still the number one Key Performance Indicator (KPI) ranking, Trindade noted.

Implementing Technology to Help

Harris shared that Monongalia County Schools will soon be implementing a student ridership tracking app, which he estimates will lead to a 50 percent reduction in parent calls to the office. He added that it will also help in data collection for reporting and reimbursement purposes.

As a consultant who works with both district and contracted fleets, Ammon noted that more districts are moving toward multi-modal transportation – often due to driver shortages or budget pressure – which means that parents want more visibility than ever into their children’s whereabouts.

When it comes to data management difficulties, over half the survey respondents ranked limited staff resources as number one. Manual processes and managing video footage volume came in at about 35 percent each.

The data problem is a people and process problem rather than a technology gap, Trindade explained, since many transportation teams are data-rich and resource-poor. Ammon noted that technology must be leveraged wisely. For instance, onboard video may be implemented to deal with behavior incidents, but staff could also utilize it for driver training and then to arrange more efficient student seating.

The survey found practically all respondents were either using or planned to use routing software. About half use parent communication apps and dashcams. Forty-one percent use student tracking, and 33 percent said they considered it for 2026, making this the most desired technology.

Related: School Bus Fuel Innovation, Technology Education Meet at STN EXPO West
Related: How Technology Powers Daily Student Transportation Operations
Related: (STN Podcast E302) Technology Tools for Bus Drivers: No More Struggling with Paper Route Sheets
Related: School Bus Adaptive Technology: Safer Rides, Stronger Teams, Better Access

Harris said that the student ridership tracking the district is adding will produce an accurate student ridership count, which previously had been attempted via onboard cameras. Ammon spoke on survey respondents’ interest in predictive maintenance, which shows districts want to better utilize school bus assets.

“Transportation has always been kind of behind when it comes to technology, and I think now we’re starting to move in the other direction, where we’re embracing technology,” Harris commented.

To help drivers accept new technology, he recommended showing them its advantages. For instance, he said, explained that onboard cameras can help protect drivers accused of improper behavior.

Before adding technology, Harris recommended seeking feedback from peers. Ammon advised determining what the district is trying to control, then taking that issue to vendors.

“Start small, look at what you’re wanting to accomplish first, and build from that,” Harris agreed. “Don’t just think you’ve got to jump in all the way because, if you do, you’re going to overwhelm yourself and it’s going to defeat the purpose.”

Future-Facing Outlook

The top transportation technology investment priorities for 2026 were student ridership verification, driver coaching and safety tech, real-time GPS tracking, and parent communication solutions.

The respondents’ primary overall transportation focus over the next two to three years is on addressing driver shortages, reducing operational costs and improving student safety and compliance. Trindade pointed out how these are all interconnected.

Harris and Ammon agreed that an effective leader will distribute the right information and grant technology access to the right people, so staff isn’t burdened with unnecessary concerns.

Ammon addressed how industry suppliers can use AI to become more intuitive and provide the most accurate reports to districts. Trindade added that AI can expedite manual processes and bring actionable insights to leaders, who can then make informed decisions.

Trindade quipped that Zonar’s motto is, “AI where you want it, humans where you don’t.” She noted that Zonar supports over half of all U.S. school districts with transportation technology.

Watch the webinar on demand.

The post How Technology Can Assist the 2026 State of Student Transportation appeared first on School Transportation News.

For most student transportation teams, the day-to-day reality is a short-staffed operation managing complex logistics that families depend on. The 2026 State of Student Transportation Report captures exactly that.

In February 2026, Zonar and School Transportation News surveyed 118 transportation professionals across the U.S. The results confirmed what many already know from experience: staffing is stretched, budgets are tight, and the technology teams have isn’t always translating into action.

Join Zonar and a panel of experts for a live walkthrough of the report’s findings. We’ll dig into what the data shows, where the industry is heading, and what it means for your operation this year. Get direct insights from the perspective of providers, districts and consultants.

What we’ll cover:

• Why 75% of transportation professionals still rank driver hiring and retention as their top challenge and what the long-term data tells us about where this is headed
• How safety expectations have evolved: parent communication gaps alongside driver behavior compliance tied as the top student safety challenges at 45% each
• Where technology adoption stands today and why student ridership verification shows the largest gap between current use (41%) and 2026 investment intent
• Why the data problem is a people and process problem: 48% of respondents cite limited staff as their primary data challenge, not technology gaps
• Practical recommendations for transportation leaders on where to focus technology investments for the strongest operational return

Brought to you by Zonar

REGISTER BELOW:

Featured speakers:

Tony Harris
Director of Transportation
Monongalia County Schools

Tony Harris brings more than two decades of firsthand experience to his role as Transportation Director at Monongalia County Schools in Morgantown, West Virginia. He spent 18 years as a school bus driver in Preston County before moving into administration, navigating mountain roads, narrow lanes, and harsh winter conditions before transitioning to overseeing the operation. Today he manages more than130 drivers across over 100 routes, providing daily transportation for roughly 9,500 students across both urban Morgantown and the rural reaches of the county.
Harris has been an active champion of new transportation technology, including piloting electric buses in the district and developing driver recruitment and training programs to address workforce challenges.

Rachel Trindade
Chief Marketing Officer
Zonar

With more than 25 years in marketing and 15+ years in logistics, Rachel has helped companies drive significant growth faster than industry norms. At Zonar, she leads marketing and demand generation.
Before joining Zonar, Rachel served as CMO at FlavorCloud and Extensiv, and led global marketing at Teletrac Navman (Vontier) across four continents. She holds a BBA from the University of Texas at Austin and has been recognized as a leading Woman in Supply Chain by Supply & Demand Chain Executive and named California’s Most Visionary Tech CMO by CEO Monthly.

Tim Ammon
Owner
Ammon Consulting Group, LLC

Tim Ammon has spent more than 25 years supporting transportation and fleet operations, working with more than 500 organizations across three countries. His work focuses on identifying opportunities to improve operational performance through process improvements, technology adoption, and personnel practices, consistently helping organizations bridge the gap between desired and actual performance.
Tim has also provided extensive professional development services in leadership and management, decision-making, organizational resilience, and cost and technical analysis. He holds a Master of Public Administration from American University and certifications in School Risk Management, Operational Risk Management, and Change Management.

The post (Free Webinar) 2026 State of Student Transportation appeared first on School Transportation News.

In February 2026, Zonar and School Transportation News surveyed transportation professionals across the United States to document the pressures shaping fleets today and where leaders are investing next. The result is the most comprehensive look at student transportation challenges, safety priorities and 2026 technology plans available today.

Inside the report:

• Understand why driver shortages aren’t going away and what leading districts are doing about it.
• Identify where your safety program may have gaps in communication and driver compliance.
• Know which technologies are worth prioritizing in 2026 before you finalize your budget.
• See how fleets your size are investing and where adoption is lagging across the industry.
• Find out which KPIs your peers are tracking and how to measure what actually matters.

Download the complimentary report to see how your fleet compares.

Fill out the form below and then check your email to get the report.

The post 2026 State of Student Transportation Report appeared first on School Transportation News.

According to our recent survey, 75% of student transportation teams cite driver shortages are the top operational bottleneck. Budget constraints and rising operational costs weren’t far behind.

This white paper outlines 12 practical, proven ways to improve efficiency, control expenses, strengthen compliance, and protect student riders.

Learn how to stretch your transportation budget with strategies that could pay for themselves in a year.

• Right-size your fleet using actual utilization and ridership data.
• Optimize routes, stops and fuel use to reduce operating costs.
• Cut required vehicle inspection times while catching more defects.
• Reduce idling and emissions for added overhead expense control.
• Manage driving performance without adding administrative work.

Download the complimentary white paper to access all 12 strategies.

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

The post (Free White Paper) 12 Ways to Do More Without Blowing Your Fleet’s Budget appeared first on School Transportation News.

A webinar sponsored by Zonar saw Katrina Falk, director of transportation routing and training compliance at Madison Consolidated Schools in Indiana, share tools and tips that help her maximize student safety and school bus routing efficiency.

Falk, also a certified pupil transportation specialist through the National Association for Pupil Transportation and frequent speaker at events organized by School Transportation News, Transfinder and Zonar, said Thursday technology provides accountability and efficiency opportunities for managers dealing with ever-rising fuel costs, which have increased to over $5 per gallon for diesel in her area.

When it comes to evaluating planned versus actual routes, she said she uses Zonar maps and reports to carry out route reviews or high-level audits in mid-August and during spring break.

“We do a quick shakedown to make sure everything is going to work properly when school is in session again,” she commented.

She explained that she works with route sheets turned in by drivers, updated student housing or eligibility information, and special education or related accommodations. Her audit keeps safety as the bottom line by confirming safe and appropriate bus stop locations, verifying that students end up where they need to be, and ensuring drivers comply with state and local laws.

She shared the benefits of updated, accurate route sheets, including reduced operational costs, fuel savings, route consolidations or reduction, accurate information on parent apps and therefore happier parents, and improved driver adherence.

Quality data received means quality decisions made, not “garbage in, garbage out,” Falk quipped. She explained that decisions the transportation department makes rely heavily on information flowed in by parents and schools, such as enrollment information and authorized bus stop locations.

She noted that small data entry errors can create large operational and money-wasting problems, such as a bus repeatedly going miles out of the way on a country road to pick up a student who is not there because they moved. Accurate, timely updates about new enrollments, withdrawals, or schedule changes are essential, she said.

Related: From First Day to Fine-Tuning: Webinar Gives School Bus Routing Tips
Related: Ins, Outs of Routing Software Discussed at STN EXPO Reno
Related: New Technology Provides Data to School Bus Routing
Related: TSD Conference Panel Discusses Routing for Students with Special Needs
Related: (STN Podcast E263) Not an Easy Button: Expert Gives School Bus Routing Technology Tips

Falk reviewed two scenarios of school bus drivers deciding to deviate from planned routes for seemingly innocuous reasons that created major safety concerns. In one case, a time-saving change canceled planned right-hand curbside stops which forced students to cross an unsafe curved road with a history of speeding and stop-arm violations.

The other scenario was a driver adding an unauthorized shortcut, which backed the bus down obstructed roads and an uncontrolled intersection. A bigger issue was the driver habitually running late on her morning run and attempting to make up time by making these on-the-spot decisions.

“This is an accident waiting to happen,” Falk pointed out.

A third situation involved incorrect geocoded locations keeping students from showing up on the routing software, preventing almost 1,000 students from being routed correctly. Suitably utilizing technology and manually reviewing it to catch glitches prevents issues from snowballing, Falk stated.

Bryant Maxey, product marketing manager for Zonar, reviewed triggers such as opened doors or stop-arm deployments that capture data points managers can later review, comparing where the bus really went to where it was supposed to go.

Alerts can also be captured for illegal passing incidents, but Falk added that proving stop-arm violations requires data showing bus performed the stop procedures correctly.

Falk advised transportation supervisors to regularly check their incoming data and request updated information or suggestions from drivers.

“Your local knowledge cannot be replaced with technology,” she declared.

Leave the office, take the wheel of a bus, or watch your routes in real-time, she encouraged.

“Make deliberate, decisive changes backed by data and your local knowledge,” Falk said. “All of these pieces have to be there for the puzzle to work.”

Concluded Maxey: “At the end of the day, we’re all trying to be the most efficient and optimized we can be.”

Watch the webinar on demand. 

The post “An Accident Waiting to Happen”: Transportation Director Gives Routing Advice appeared first on School Transportation News.

Does your team know exactly where each school bus goes every day? The gap between planned routes and real-world activity often reveals inefficiencies, detours, unapproved stop changes, and safety risks that quietly add up over time. Before you know it, operational efficiency and reliability aren’t what they were.

In this webinar, Katrina Falk, who oversees Transportation Routing and Training Compliance at Madison Consolidated Schools, shares how her district used their fleet data and routing software to conduct route audits, comparing planned versus actual performance. Through real-world examples, hear how they turned those insights into measurable improvements to optimize operations, reduce risk, and improve routing accuracy without adding to their workload.

Katrina will also share the route audit process she refined as a director and router, using real scenarios that illustrate how actual versus planned insights helped them address challenges nearly every operation faces: ongoing driver shortages, budget constraints, administrative demands to streamline, and the need for greater fleet visibility. You’ll walk away with a practical framework for conducting route audits, as well as insights into how real-world fleet visibility supports accurate routing, reduced risk, and operational accountability.

Learn how fleet data can reveal efficiencies, improve safety, and support more effective decision-making. Bring your questions and share your experiences during an interactive conversation about improving routing processes districtwide.

Brought to you by Zonar

REGISTER BELOW:

Presenters:

Katrina Falk
Transportation Routing and Training Compliance
Madison Consolidated Schools

Katrina has worked within the Pupil Transportation Industry for 25 years, having started as a School Bus Driver at 18-years-old. As a previous Zonar Gold All Star Award Winner, she has a keen interest in Routing, Fleet Management, Fleet Optimization, and Telematics.

She was previously Director of Transportation for Fayette County Schools (IN) and Shelby Eastern Schools (IN) and is now fulfilling a newly-created role at Madison Consolidated Schools (IN) that concentrates solely on Routing and Training Compliance.

She has professional certifications as a Certified Pupil Transportation Specialist, Certified Supervisor of Pupil Transportation, and Transfinder Routefinder Pro and PLUS Certification.

Bryant Maxey
Product Marketing Manager
Zonar

Bryant Maxey has been with the Zonar team for over 9 years and currently serves as the Product Marketing Manager, where he currently leads various go-to-market strategies and product launches at Zonar. Bryant started his career in the customer support department, where he was the Tier III escalation for Zonar’s tablet solutions. He has also performed many onsite and virtual training courses to Zonar’s customer base.

The post (Free Webinar) Route Reality Check: Turning Planned into Actual Efficiencies appeared first on School Transportation News.

Budgets are tight, drivers are hard to come by, and districts are under pressure to do more with less. School bus operations still need to rely on modern technology to meet the complex requirements of transporting students safely, efficiently and on time. Identifying the operational, functional, technical, and financial needs that truly matter can feel overwhelming, as can choosing a provider. Where to start?

Download this white paper for clear guidance on evaluating your organization’s needs and selecting a partner who delivers long-term value.

Inside, you’ll learn how to:

• Take a wide, objective look at your operation to understand what’s needed.
• Identify how new technologies will impact end users and other departments.
• Define KPIs with potential partners and calculate projected ROI.
• Evaluate providers in detail to assess their long-term potential.
• Ensure compliance and look for strong integrations across systems.

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

The post (Free White Paper) 7 Key Criteria for Choosing a School Bus Technology Partner appeared first on School Transportation News.

SEATTLE, Wash. — Zonar, a leader in smart fleet management and compliance solutions, today announced it has become the first telematics provider certified by the California Air Resources Board (CARB) to support Clean Truck Check (CTC) compliance through OEM-installed vehicle integrations. With 14+ years of the Zonar V4 telematics box installed on approximately 400,000 Freightliner Cascadia, Thomas Built Buses, and Western Star trucks at the factory, any fleet operating these vehicles in California today can immediately access the solution.

A first in the industry, this expanded executive order allows fleets operating California CTC-regulated vehicles to meet emissions compliance requirements without physically connecting to the vehicle’s diagnostic port or installing additional aftermarket hardware.

Why Zonar’s CARB Emission Solution Is Different

CARB’s Clean Truck Check regulation requires non-gasoline vehicles over 14,000 lbs operating in California to submit emissions data on a recurring schedule. Until now, compliance typically required:

Manual scans at a shop or yard.

Third-party service providers.

Vehicle downtime and scheduling complexity.

Zonar’s newly approved certification introduces a new compliance pathway.

With this executive order, OEM-installed and hardwired Zonar devices, already embedded in supported vehicles, can automatically collect and submit required emissions data directly to CARB. No shop visits. No plug-in scans. No operational disruption.

Zonar is the only provider whose CARB executive order explicitly permits compliance via a hardwired vehicle harness, not just a direct OBD connection.

Who This Impacts

With large and distributed fleets facing increasing compliance frequency, moving to four checks per year beginning in 2027, this certification directly benefits:

Fleets operating in California subject to CARB Clean Truck Check requirements.

OEM-equipped vehicles, including factory-installed telematics configurations.

School transportation, transit, and commercial fleets seeking to reduce downtime and compliance risk.

Mixed and transitioning fleets, where OEM-equipped vehicles can now meet compliance requirements without operational inconsistency.

Fleets can now achieve CARB compliance automatically, in the background, using hardware already installed in their vehicles, either as a standalone emissions solution or alongside Zonar’s broader telematics, diagnostics, and maintenance offerings.

First to Market Again
Zonar was the first telematics provider certified by CARB as a continuously connected Clean Truck Check solution and is now the first, and only, provider approved for OEM-installed and hardwired configurations.

This milestone reflects years of close collaboration with CARB, OEM partners, and Zonar’s in-house engineering team to meet the most rigorous regulatory and technical standards.

“CARB compliance is becoming more frequent, more complex, and more disruptive for fleets—but it doesn’t have to be,” said Amit Anand, SVP of Product at Zonar. “Because we design our own hardware, work directly with OEMs, and partner closely with CARB, we were able to deliver a solution no one else in the market could. This certification removes downtime, eliminates guesswork, and allows fleets to stay compliant automatically using technology they already have.”

Why Zonar’s OEM-Certified CARB Emission Solution Changes the Experience for Fleets

With Zonar’s Emission Check, fleets experience:

No downtime for compliance scans.
Earlier detection of emissions issues within CARB’s compliance window.

Lower cost compared to manual or third-party scans.

Future-readiness as CARB enforcement and inspection frequency increases.

With enforcement tied to vehicle registration, roadside inspections, ports, and rail yards, CARB compliance is no longer optional. Zonar’s solution helps fleets meet these requirements proactively and seamlessly, reducing risk while keeping vehicles on the road.

To learn more about the CARB Clean Truck Emissions Check, go to https://www.zonarsystems.com/solutions/carb-clean-truck-emissions-check/.

About Zonar Systems:
Zonar combines a unified fleet management platform with reliable telematics hardware and always-on human support giving mission-critical fleets precise, trustworthy data to improve safety, ensure compliance and reduce operating costs. Proven every day in pupil transportation, where it safeguards millions of children, Zonar’s technology and partnership deliver the trust, transparency and confidence public-sector, field service and vocational fleets need to perform when it matters most. To learn more, go to www.zonarsystems.com.

The post Zonar Becomes First Telematics Provider Approved for OEM-Based California Air Resources Board Clean Truck Check Compliance appeared first on School Transportation News.