LAS VEGAS, Nev. – ACT Expo today announced the opening of early bird registration and released its 2027 conference agenda, bringing together the technologies, strategies, and real-world fleet experiences operators need to improve performance and protect their bottom line. Taking place May 17–20 at the Las Vegas Convention Center, ACT Expo 2027 brings together fleet operators, shippers, vehicle manufacturers, technology innovators, and industry leaders for a comprehensive program spanning advanced vehicle technologies, diesel and alternative fuels, AI, automation, fleet safety, infrastructure, and operational efficiency.

Designed for the entire fleet leadership team—from operations and maintenance to safety, technology, finance, IT, and sustainability—the agenda tackles the decisions that directly impact fleet performance and profitability. At the top of fleet concerns, U.S. on-highway diesel prices reached a record weekly average of $6.53 per gallon in September 2026, with prices projected to remain elevated through 2027, highlighting the need for technologies and strategies that address the issue. ACT Expo’s program uniquely combines the latest technology innovations with real-world fleet results, giving attendees the insights they need to make confident purchasing and investment decisions.

“With fuel and operating costs continuing to climb, and the technological complexity of today’s commercial vehicles ever-increasing, fleet leaders can’t afford to stand still,” said Erik Neandross, founder of ACT Expo. “Every investment decision matters, and understanding which technologies can deliver real savings and operational improvements has never been more critical. ACT Expo brings together the technologies, industry leaders, and real-world fleet experiences that operators need to reduce costs, improve performance, and stay competitive. This isn’t just a sustainability conversation anymore; it’s a business imperative.”

2027 Program Highlights

Shaped by input from ACT Expo’s Fleet Planning Committee, whose members collectively manage hundreds of thousands of commercial vehicles, and other industry stakeholders, the 2027 agenda focuses on the technologies, operational challenges, and investment decisions that matter most to fleets. Programming will examine how fleets are:

• Reducing fuel and operating costs through advancements in diesel technology, aerodynamics, vehicle efficiency, right-sizing, telematics, and AI-enabled fleet management.

• Using AI, connected vehicle data, and predictive technologies to improve maintenance, asset utilization, uptime, safety, and operational decision-making.

• Deploying autonomy in real-world fleet operations, with a focus on what early commercial applications are revealing about safety, productivity, workforce impacts, and scalability.

• Navigating changing vehicle and emissions requirements, including the operational, maintenance, purchasing, and replacement-cycle implications of next-generation engines.

• Improving fleet safety and reducing risk through advanced driver assistance systems, AI-enabled safety tools, vehicle technology, and better use of fleet data.

• Building stronger business cases for technology investments, with sessions focused on total cost of ownership, vehicle-to-mission matching, deployment economics, and measurable ROI.

• Evaluating the right technologies for the right applications, including diesel, natural gas, electric, hybrid, hydrogen, and other emerging powertrain solutions.

• Supply, cost, and access to alternative fuels, including renewable diesel, biodiesel, and traditional and renewable natural gas, hydrogen and propane.

• Scaling EV infrastructure and overcoming energy challenges, including scaling operations, temporary and megawatt charging solutions, energy management, utility coordination, and new technologies.

The program features real-world fleet case studies, C-suite perspectives, technical workshops and sector-specific discussions. Visit www.actexpo.com/agenda to view the full program.

Continuing Education Credit
For the second consecutive year, ACT Expo will offer continuing education credit opportunities for fleet professionals. In 2026, more than 25 conference sessions and 10 workshops were approved for credit through NAFA Fleet Management Association and Green Business Certification Inc. (GBCI). Details on eligible 2027 sessions and workshops will be announced as they are finalized.

Expo Hall and Ride & Drive
The ACT Expo exhibit hall, open May 18-19, will feature more than 400 exhibitors and sponsors, over 200 advanced commercial vehicles, and one of the industry’s most comprehensive showcases of technologies transforming commercial transportation. Attendees can explore the latest light-, medium- and heavy-duty trucks, commercial vans, buses, and off-road equipment alongside innovations in AI, autonomous driving, fleet management, vehicle efficiency, safety, alternative fuels, and charging infrastructure.

The expansive exhibit floor gives fleet operators a unique opportunity to compare competing solutions side by side, connect directly with manufacturers and technology providers, and identify the products and partners best suited to their operations. The Expo Hall Theater will also feature product demonstrations and discussions highlighting emerging technologies.

The ACT Expo Ride & Drive takes the experience a step further, putting attendees behind the wheel of the latest advanced commercial vehicles. Fleet operators can experience vehicle performance, handling, safety features, and driver comfort firsthand, with manufacturer representatives available to answer questions about range, maintenance, infrastructure requirements, and total cost of ownership.

Registration and New Team Offers

Registration is open at https://www.actexpo.com/register, with early bird rates through December 11, 2026. Fleets and shippers can now bring more of their team for less, with two new registration offers:

• Fleet & Shipper Team Package: Buy two passes and receive additional qualifying team passes complimentary

• First-Time Fleet and Shipper Offer: Qualified fleets and shippers may be eligible for a complimentary pass

ACT Expo 2027 is supported by presenting sponsors Daimler Truck North America, Penske Transportation Solutions, and Geotab. Visit www.actexpo.com to register and learn more.

About ACT Expo
ACT Expo is North America’s largest fleet technology conference and expo, covering the vehicles, fuels, infrastructure, and digital technologies that improve commercial fleet performance. Produced by WSP, and recognized by Trade Show Executive magazine as one of the nation’s Gold 100 events, ACT Expo brings together fleet operators, vehicle manufacturers, infrastructure providers, and technology developers to share emerging solutions to the most pressing challenges and opportunities in commercial transportation, especially decarbonization. ACT Expo hosts approximately 10,000 attendees from 50+ countries, 275+ speakers, 200+ vehicles on display, and 400+ exhibitors and sponsors. www.actexpo.com

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DENVER, Colo.- Diesel prices reached a record high this fall, and many school districts that built their budgets around last year’s fuel costs are now absorbing the difference. The U.S. average price of on-highway diesel peaked at $6.529 a gallon the week of Sept. 21 and stood at $6.199 the week of Oct. 5, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA). That is about 69% above the 2025 average of $3.66.

EverDriven, a category leader in Modern Student Transportation, is showing how a routine route review can turn fuel volatility into a measurable budget opportunity for districts. Consider an example of a district operating 120 daily bus routes with an average route length of 35 miles per day round trip. This calculation uses the following baseline:

• Bus fuel economy of 6 miles per gallon, typical for a diesel school bus.
• Diesel at $6.199 per gallon, the EIA national average for the week of Oct. 5, 2026.
• A 10% reduction in routes by right-sizing service to actual daily ridership.

Consolidating routes by 10% alone could reduce annual diesel fuel costs by more than $78,000 annually:

• 10% of 120 routes = 12 routes consolidated.12 routes x 35 miles = 420 fewer miles driven per day.420 miles / 6 mpg =
• 70 gallons of diesel saved per day.70 gallons x $6.199 =
• $433.93 saved per school day. $433.93 x 180 school days = $78,107.40 in annual diesel savings.

District transportation leaders looking to calculate their own diesel savings from route consolidation can use EverDriven’s Diesel Savings Calculator, available at https://www.everdriven.com/resources/blog/diesel-route-savings-calculator

“This scenario counts fuel only. Running fewer routes also reduces tire wear, maintenance, and driver salary and overtime, so the full return for a district would likely be higher,” said Greg Jackson, General Manager of Consolidated Routing Services at EverDriven. “Because each mile optimized saves a fixed amount of fuel, the value of a leaner route plan rises with fuel prices. When prices ease, the efficiency carries forward into every future budget cycle.”

Route consolidation matches the number of routes a district runs to the number of students riding each day. Enrollment patterns have shifted in many communities, and route plans built for past ridership often go years without a full review. A well-planned consolidation keeps every eligible student on a route.

Districts that have adopted this model have seen route costs decrease by up to 15%, along with measurable improvements in on-time performance and reduced ride times for students with additional needs. Consolidated Routing Services complements EverDriven’s Alternative Student Transportation offering, which serves students that fixed routes cannot efficiently reach.

About EverDriven
EverDriven delivers modern student-centered transportation that’s safe, consistent, and built for those who need it most. EverDriven specializes in routing and transporting students across all ranges of needs — from everyday support to the most complex circumstances — including students with disabilities, students experiencing housing instability, and other high-need populations. Serving more than 800 districts across 38 states, the company completed more than 2.1 million successful trips in the 2025–26 school year. EverDriven’s deeply human, fully compliant, and AI-powered approach helps districts get students on the road in hours, not days, while maintaining consistent, high-trust rides that complement traditional yellow bus fleets. For more information, visit everdriven.com.

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While the industry awaits information on the remaining $2.3 billion available through the EPA Clean School Bus Program, three U.S. representatives hope to extend the program through 2031, reauthorizing another $1 billion in funding annually for five more years.

To date, the CSBP has awarded $2.7 billion to replace more than 8,500 school buses, reaching nearly every U.S. state. More than 5,200 electric school buses funded through the program have already been delivered to schools. Ninety-one percent of the new school buses applied for were electric. The remaining 9 percent consisted mostly of propane with a small number of CNG also awarded. No new CNG-powered school bus models are being manufactured.

The Clean School Bus Reauthorization Act builds on the Clean School Bus Program funding included in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, signed into law in 2021. The program was expected to award $5 billion over five years, through competitive grants and rebates. However, following President Donald Trump’s return to office, the funding has reached a standstill. The last funding opportunity from the EPA was the 2024 Clean School Bus Rebate Program, which opened September 2024. However, the EPA canceled the rebate and no organizations received awarded funds. The last round of distributed funds was the 2023 rebate program.

The new legislation would amend the Energy Policy Act of 2005 by replacing the program’s current authorization period of fiscal years 2022 through 2026 with fiscal years 2027 through 2031. Under the existing statute, the program is authorized to receive $1 billion annually, totaling $5 billion. Rep. Jahana Hays, D-Conn., introduced the bill Oct. 9 and was joined by Reps. Greg Landsman, D-Ohio, and Buddy Carter, R-Ga.

“Since I came to Congress in 2019, I have advocated for clean school bus funding. As an educator with over a decade of classroom experience, I know how damaging diesel exhaust can be for student well-being and learning. The consequences of diesel emissions extend to our environment, exacerbating the effects of greenhouse gas emissions,” Hayes said in a statement. “The Clean School Bus Reauthorization Act will help to provide cleaner and healthier air for school children in Connecticut and across the country, support clean energy jobs, and protect our environment for decades to come.”

The legislation would maintain the existing funding structure, which allocates $500 million annually for clean and zero-emission school buses and another $500 million exclusively for zero-emission school buses. Funding supports the replacement of older school buses with cleaner alternatives.

It does not establish new grant requirements or change program eligibility. Rather, it extends the existing authorization for five additional years.

According to a press release, The Clean School Bus Reauthorization Act is endorsed by the American School Bus Industry Coalition which includes Blue Bird, First Student, Beacon Mobility, National Express, Highland, Greenpower Motor Company, National School Transportation, Student Transportation of America, and IC Bus. Additional endorsers include the American Bus Association, American Asthma and Allergy Foundation (AAFA), League of Conservation Voters, Moms Clean Air Force, Sierra Club, Union of Concerned Scientists, and World Resources Institute’s (WRI) Electric School Bus Initiative.

Sue Gander, director of WRI’s Electric School Bus Initiative, stated that children’s health is not a partisan issue.

“As this bill shows, there’s real enthusiasm on both sides of the aisle to give children the clean ride to school they deserve,” she said. “This bipartisan support is no surprise, as 51 percent of school districts with electric school buses on the road or coming soon are in Congressional districts represented by Republicans.

Related: EPA Opens $180 Million in 2026 Diesel Emissions Reduction Act Grants 
Related: Oregon School Districts Make Case for Propane at STN EXPO West
Related: School Buses as Power Plants? Real-World V2G Journey Offers Roadmap
Related: Updated: EPA Seeks to Expand Fuel Scope of Clean School Bus Program

“The Clean School Bus Program has been a game-changer, answering school districts’ call to replace aging diesel buses with clean, zero-emissions vehicles in rural, suburban and urban communities alike,” Gander continued. “Replacing diesel buses with electric buses protects children from the dangers of diesel exhaust pollution, which disproportionately impacts low-income and Black communities.”

She added that electric school buses are popular with school districts that use them, especially the drivers behind the wheel. The number of ESBs on the road today is 12 times higher than it was five years ago, she noted.

“With diesel prices at record highs, Congress has a chance to help school districts save big on fuel costs and improve children’s health at the same time,” she said.

Meanwhile, First Student posted on Facebook that it welcomes the bipartisan introduction of the legislation.

“As the program’s largest recipient of funding, First Student has seen firsthand its importance in helping bring zero-emission school buses to our customers students and communities we serve,” the post reads. “Continued bipartisan support for this program is important to helping school districts and communities access funding for cleaner school bus technologies, including electric school buses.”

The school bus contractor added that reauthorizing the program would help preserve a pathway for Congress to continue supporting ESBs.

The post U.S. Representatives Seek Clean School Bus Program Reauthorization appeared first on School Transportation News.

With the return of the Clean School Bus Program reportedly still one month away, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is accepting applications for approximately $180 million through the 2026 Diesel Emissions Reduction Act (DERA) national grant competition.

Eligible projects include school bus replacements powered by battery-electric, diesel, gasoline and propane as well as after-treatment retrofits and engine upgrades. The DERA funding also covers other diesel vehicles and equipment.

EPA announced the national grants on Sept. 24. Applications are due through Grants.gov by 11:59 p.m. Eastern on Jan. 22, 2027. Selection notifications are anticipated in May, with awards expected in July.

According to the Notice of Funding Opportunity, the national competition combines approximately $65 million from fiscal 2024, $62 million from fiscal 2025, and $53 million from fiscal 2026. Final awards depend on funding availability, application quality and agency priorities. EPA said it expects to award 120 entities, with the maximum amount of each award set at $12 million. No minimum dollar amount was provided.

School Bus Eligibility and DERA Funding Limits

Eligible DERA applicants include public school districts responsible for student transportation that own or operate diesel fleets, other qualifying government agencies and certain nonprofits. For-profit school bus contractors cannot apply directly but may receive support through programs administered by eligible grant recipients, including rebates.

Diesel, alternative-fuel and electric school bus replacements are eligible, subject to program requirements. For selected school bus replacement projects, federal funding is limited to 25 percent, 35 percent or 45 percent of eligible vehicle costs, depending on certified nitrogen oxides emissions. Electric replacements fall under the 45 percent limit, but charging equipment including is ineligible. EPA said charging equipment includes chargers/EVSE, electrical panels or service upgrades, wiring and conduit, design and engineering, electricity, and stationary battery storage.

Existing school buses must be operational, have at least three years of remaining life, and have been owned and operated by the participating fleet owner during the two years before the upgrade. They generally must have accumulated at least 7,000 miles annually during those years.

Replacement projects generally require scrapping or permanently disabling the old bus within 90 days after the replacement becomes operational, with limited EPA-approved alternatives.

National program webinars are scheduled for Oct. 13, Oct. 28 and Nov. 12. Questions about the competition are due Nov. 24.

DERA State Funding and Oct. 1 Webinar

Separately, EPA said last week it anticipates approximately $27 million in DERA state funding for fiscal 2025 and another $27 million for fiscal 2026 — approximately $54 million combined, subject to appropriations.

That funding is allocated by formula rather than through the national competition. Participating states and territories will receive both fiscal years’ funding in one grant to support state-administered grants and rebates. School buses are eligible.

States that match their federal base allocation with qualifying nonfederal funding can receive an additional federal incentive equal to 50 percent of that base allocation.

EPA held an Oct. 1 webinar that provided an overview of the state program. State and territorial notices of intent to participate are due Oct. 8, with final allocations scheduled for Oct. 15. Application packages are due Nov. 19.

Those deadlines apply to participating states and territories, according to EPA. School districts seeking state-administered funding should follow their state agency’s grant or rebate process.

Article written with the assistance of AI and EPA documents.

Related: Federal Grants Provide Opportunities for School Transportation Emergency Training
Related: Engine, Truck Manufacturers Support EPA Easing Derate of SCR Diesel Emissions Controls
Related: Report Highlights Shift in Federal Policy from EVs to Conventional Fuels

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