REDWOOD CITY, Calif. – Zūm, a leader in student mobility, today introduced Zoe, a conversational AI assistant built into Zum CMX. Designed for transportation teams, operators, and administrators, Zoe turns each district’s own data into clear answers and next steps, helping teams solve problems faster so every student starts the day on time and is ready to learn.

Every morning, student mobility teams make hundreds of decisions in minutes, often with incomplete information. With more than 1 in 5 students chronically absent in the 2024-25 school year, and 7 in 10 school districts surveyed facing driver shortages, the need for faster, smarter decision-making has never been greater. Unlike standalone AI tools layered onto fragmented systems, Zoe is built directly into Zum CMX, a unified system that connects every aspect of student mobility in one platform. With a single source of real-time data across the entire operation, Zoe delivers deeper insights, identifies underlying issues and recommends actionable next steps to improve performance.

“AI is only as powerful as the system and data behind it,” said Ritu Narayan, Founder and CEO of Zum. “For decades, student mobility has relied on outdated, disconnected systems that limit visibility and efficiency. We built Zum CMX to change that. Now, with Zoe, we’re embedding AI directly into the operating system, turning real-time data into actionable intelligence. This isn’t AI layered onto outdated technology. It’s AI built into the entire system, synthesizing actionable insights from comprehensive operational data captured through multiple daily touch points, helping districts make smarter decisions, improve reliability and deliver a better experience for students and families.”

How Zoe Helps Decision-Making
Zoe is designed to be the colleague who can simultaneously read routes, runs, and timesheets. Whether the issue is information displaced across screens or routes that could run more efficiently, Zoe is built to help close the gap. The data is protected under Zum’s existing data privacy and security commitments.

“In student transportation, every minute matters. Having real-time visibility into our operations is critical, but the real value comes from being able to quickly understand what the data is telling us and take action,” said Tomas Beccar Varela, Interim Executive Director of Transportation, San Francisco Unified School District. “We see promise in tools like Zoe that can make complex transportation data easier to access, interpret, and analyze. As we evaluate these capabilities, our focus remains on making more informed operational decisions, improving service reliability, and providing a better transportation experience for students and families.”

Zoe will help:

Improve on-time performance (OTP): Zoe assesses overall OTP and separates isolated incidents from recurring patterns. School mobility leaders can review trends at a glance and receive recommendations for recurring route and timing issues.
Improve route coverage: By identifying routes that routinely need cover drivers or are frequently split, Zoe helps show the pattern. Zoe can compare the current version of a route or run with a prior one and summarize what’s changed.
Control avoidable pay costs: By spotting unusual paid-hour patterns, Zoe is able to drill into repeated extra stops or unexplained dwell time using historical telematics, and surface specific instances for review and operational efficiency.
Quickly learn product functionality: Zoe helps transportation teams make the most of Zum CMX by allowing them to ask questions and receive up-to-date, step-by-step guidance tailored to their specific needs and the latest product capabilities.
Zoe was designed with privacy, security and human oversight at its core. Read more here.

The introduction of Zoe marks the next evolution of Zum CMX and Zum’s mission to reimagine one of the nation’s largest mass mobility systems. With more than 7,500 schools across 19 states relying on Zum CMX, the company continues to bring technology and innovation to an industry that has remained outdated and fragmented for decades.

Built on a shared AI foundation across Zum CMX, Zoe goes beyond identifying operational challenges and can help districts anticipate issues, understand their impact and take action before they disrupt service. As new capabilities are introduced, Zoe will continue to aid in making the entire system smarter and help improve mobility experiences for all stakeholders, advancing Zum’s vision of making the ride to school a reliable on-ramp to learning for every student, every morning.

About Zum
Zum is redefining mass mobility with Zum Connected Mobility Experience (CMX), a fully integrated, intelligent system which connects and coordinates people, vehicles, and operations in real time to deliver a reliable, transparent, and efficient mobility experience. Zum is also advancing the transition to electric mobility, turning school buses into mobile energy assets that can support a cleaner, more resilient grid. Today, more than 7,500 schools in 19 states have relied on Zum CMX. Learn more at www.ridezum.com.

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REDWOOD CITY, Calif., — Zūm, a leader in student mobility, is recognizing National School Bus Safety Week (Oct. 19-23) by announcing an update to its driver training curriculum designed to support the safety, well-being and individual needs of all students and recognizing drivers with outstanding safety records.

“Safety is more than what happens while the bus is moving. It starts before a driver leaves the yard and continues through every pickup, ride and drop-off,” said Ritu Narayan, founder and CEO of Zum. “School bus drivers are the heart of our operation and the ‘everyday heroes’ we depend on to deliver our children to school safely and set them up for a successful day of learning.”

‘Safe Rides, Everyday Heroes’
This week Zum is honoring drivers with celebrations at its bus yards nationwide and by acknowledging drivers who set the standard for safety. The theme of this year’s events is “Safe Rides, Everyday Heroes.”

Zum also announced an expansion of its SPED Safe driver training course that now requires all drivers to complete a training module devoted to “Supporting Students with Autism on the Bus.” Developed with industry-leading safety experts as well as Zum’s in-house team of state-certified trainers, SPED Safe equips drivers with evidence-based strategies to support the safety, well-being, and individual needs of all students, including students with disabilities.

Zum drivers receive comprehensive training that meets or exceeds county and state requirements, along with real-time feedback on their driving performance. Zum requires drivers to follow strict safety protocols, including completing a Daily Vehicle Inspection Report (DVIR) before and after each trip. Each driver also has a GPS-enabled tablet that provides real-time route updates, information about individual student needs and easy-to-use incident reporting tools.

‍Zum CMX: Prioritizing Student Safety
Zum also enables student safety through its AI-powered Connected Mobility Experience (CMX) platform. Zum CMX connects routing, dispatch, drivers, schools, families, safety and operations in real time, helping districts improve reliability, optimize resources and provide families with greater visibility.

Zum CMX enables transportation systems to move from uncertainty and disruption to coordinated, predictable execution — keeping student safety at the forefront.

• • Real-time visibility: Zum CMX provides real-time, map-based ride tracking, AI-powered arrival time estimates, and rider verification for every trip. This shared visibility reduces uncertainty, ensures that all stakeholders have access to the same information and enables coordinated action across the system.
  • Reliability driven by AI coordination: Zum CMX coordinates routing, dispatch, and execution based on real-time conditions. AI-powered systems are designed to continuously update routes, identify emerging issues such as road closures or traffic, and resolve disruptions before they cascade. Instead of reactive problem-solving, transportation teams can proactively manage their systems to improve reliability and reduce delays.
  • Transparency for families: The Zum App allows parents to see real-time information about vehicle location and their child’s pickup or dropoff status, along with a profile of their child’s driver, to give them peace of mind every step of the way.

“At Zum, student safety is our highest priority, before, during and after every ride,” said Ritu Narayan, Founder and CEO of Zum. “We believe the school bus is the on-ramp to learning. By providing safe, reliable student mobility, we help students access education and start their school day on the right foot, while giving families greater transparency and peace of mind throughout their child’s journey to and from school.”

Today, Zum supports more than 7,500 schools across 19 states. To learn more about how Zum is leading the nation in redefining student mobility, visit www.ridezum.com.

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PHILADELPHIA, Pa.- Zūm, a leader in modern student mobility, today announced it will celebrate the opening of its new Philadelphia operations center with a driver and family celebration and hiring event on Thursday, August 6, marking the next milestone in Zum’s continued investment in local drivers and its partnership with the School District of Philadelphia.

The event is designed for current and prospective school bus drivers, especially those with a commercial driver’s license (CDL) and their families. Attendees will have the opportunity to meet Zum’s local leadership team, hear from experienced drivers about their careers, tour the new school bus yard, participate in onsite interviews, and learn more about joining the Zum team. Families will enjoy free food, Kona Ice, bounce houses, face painting, and raffle prizes throughout the day.

The celebration marks the opening of Zum’s new Philadelphia operations center, a modern home base designed to support drivers with state-of-the-art facilities, training, and technology as the company prepares for the 2026–27 school year. It also represents the next chapter of Zūm’s previously announced investment in Philadelphia.

“When we announced our investment in Philadelphia, we made a commitment to local drivers, their families, and the School District of Philadelphia that we were here for the long term,” said Missy Lash, General Manager, Philadelphia at Zum. “Thursday’s celebration is about delivering on that promise. We are excited to welcome current and prospective drivers and their families to our new home, celebrate the people who make student mobility possible every day, and continue building a world-class team that will serve Philadelphia students for years to come.”

The new operations center reflects Zum’s driver-first approach to student mobility. Drivers benefit from modern facilities, digital tools, real-time communication, and technology that simplifies daily operations, reducing administrative burden and allowing them to focus on what matters most: serving students safely and reliably.

Every school day, thousands of Philadelphia students depend on reliable student mobility to access education. By combining technology, operational excellence, and investments in people, Zum is helping create a more reliable experience for students, families, school districts, and the drivers who serve them.

“Our drivers are the heart of everything we do,” said Liz Sanchez, Executive Vice President of Student Mobility at Zum. “They are the first and last face many students see each school day, providing families with peace of mind and making access to education possible. As we grow in Philadelphia, we are investing in our drivers because they are the foundation of a stronger student mobility system.”

The driver and family celebration also serves as a hiring event for school bus drivers and monitors interested in joining the Zum team. Current drivers will share their experiences working at Zūm and discuss the company’s culture, growth opportunities, and technology-enabled approach to student mobility. Hiring managers will be available throughout the event to assist prospective employees with applications, interviews, and offer letters.

Zum now serves more than 6,500 schools across 18 states, helping school districts improve reliability, strengthen communication with families, and transform one of the nation’s largest public mobility systems through its AI-powered Connected Mobility Experience (CMX) platform.

Event Details

Zum Philadelphia Driver & Family Celebration and Hiring Event

Thursday, August 6, 2026
10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

Zum Philadelphia Operations Center
2502 Wheatsheaf Lane
Philadelphia, PA 19137

Current and prospective school bus drivers—especially those with a CDL—are encouraged to attend. Families are welcome.

Event Highlights

Grand opening of Zūm’s new Philadelphia operations center

Inside tours of the state of the art Zum buses

Meet the Zūm Philadelphia leadership team

Hear from veteran Zūm drivers about their experience, career growth, and what makes Zūm different

School bus driver and monitor hiring event with onsite interviews and applications

Free food and Kona Ice

Bounce houses and face painting for children

Raffle prizes for drivers and their families throughout the day

About Zum
Zum is modernizing mass mobility with its Connected Mobility Experience (CMX) that connects and coordinates people, vehicles, and operations in real time. In the student mobility market, Zum is addressing a daily source of anxiety and disruption by providing a reliable, transparent, and efficient mobility experience for students and families. Learn more at www.ridezum.com. Today, more than 6,500 schools in 18 states have relied on the Zum CMX system.

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