As powerful winter storms moved across the Midwest and into the Northeast last month, snow-covered highways, icy overpasses and whiteout conditions disrupted daily travel across multiple states. For many commuters, the storm meant delayed workdays or staying home altogether.

For school bus drivers, it meant something entirely different.

Like the U.S. Postal Service, school bus drivers navigate rain, sleet, snow, ice, high winds, and reduced visibility—often on tight schedules and challenging terrain—while transporting students safely to and from school. For districts returning from the winter break and resuming operations in regions where winter weather is unpredictable or severe, these conditions are not occasional obstacles but a routine part of operations.

School Transportation News last month asked school bus driver-trainers and safety leaders in Colorado how school transportation professionals prepare for and manage these high-risk conditions. They have spent years operating and training others to operate school buses in some of the most challenging winter environments in the country.

Preparing for Unpredictable Conditions

In Weld County School District 6, driver-trainer Shadra Terrill said rapid weather shifts are a constant consideration when preparing drivers to navigate roads in and around Greeley, Colorado.

“In Colorado, there are several different weather days,” Terrill said. “You could wake up to 60–80-degree weather and by the end of the day have a tornado or blizzard. We are always teaching and training for Mother Nature.”

Preparation begins well before drivers leave the yard. Terrill said district mechanics and technicians start buses well before dawn to ensure engines and systems are operating properly.

“Our mechanics start our buses at 3 a.m. on cold days,” she said. “We give drivers an extra 10–15 minutes as needed to clean off snow from all lights and windows.”

Beyond mechanical readiness, Terrill emphasized that driver judgment plays a critical role in winter safety. She shared an experience that continues to shape her approach to training.

“I once had heavy wind and rain. The roads were flooding, so I pulled off the highway, parked the bus in a gas station parking lot with a line of trees as a windbreak on one side of the bus,” she said.

With six students onboard, Terrill focused on both physical and emotional safety.
“I had six students and had them all sit one to a seat, facing each other with their backs to the windows,” she said.

Clear communication followed immediately.

“We called dispatch, and some called their parents to let everyone know where we were and that we were safe,” Terrill said. “I stayed calm, which helped them stay calm.”

Once conditions improved, the route was completed safely. That experience reinforces the core message Terrill shares with drivers, which is “to stay calm, take a deep breath and stay focused on safety.”

Mountain Training as a Core Requirement

For districts operating in mountainous terrain, winter preparation often extends well beyond standard CDL requirements. In Weld County and across Colorado, mountainous driving is mandatory training.

“Weld County School District 6 does have a specific training class for mountains, which includes weather training,” she said. “They have a class for approximately eight hours, and each driver is taken to the mountains for a daylong trip.”

Training covers chaining procedures, auto socks, hairpin turns, grade and pitch management, and adverse weather response.

“All [brake] retarders must be turned off, if there is any moisture on the ground or falling from the sky,” Terrill said. “Drive slowly and give yourself doubled stopping and following distance.”

Drivers progress through federally mandated Entry-Level Driver Training, skills development and pre-trip mastery before testing for a CDL. Training does not end there.

“Once a trainee has completed ELDT, driving techniques, skills training, and learned their pre-trip of the bus, they would receive their CDL after testing,” she said. “We then take the trainee and teach them all series of buses, so they are comfortable with driving before any adverse weather.”

Routes are rarely modified, she added, but support is always available.

“Should anyone ask for assistance or would like someone to ride with them, we will make that happen,” Terrill said.

Her guidance remains consistent.

“The best advice I can give is take your time, be observant, slow down and give yourself space,” she said.

Lessons from Historic Winter Storms

In nearby Colorado Springs, Debbie Thomas, lead driver-trainer for Widefield School District, said her approach to winter driving has been shaped by decades of experience, including the blizzard of 1997.

“The most challenging, memorable winter weather situation was the blizzard of 1997,” Thomas said. “The school districts shut down due to the whiteout conditions that were prevalent, and the forecast for continuous high winds with blizzard conditions.”

She recalled winds exceeding 60 mph, snow accumulation over three feet and snowdrifts reaching 15 feet.

“The schools had to shut down for three days for the area to dig out,” she said.

Thomas said preparation and composure are essential when conditions deteriorate.

“I always respect the weather and prepare for the unexpected,” she said. “I remained calm and relied on my driving capabilities so that my students would have faith in me to get them home safely.”

Maintaining a steady environment for students is also part of safe operation.

“I love to have fun with my students, so talking to them and ensuring that everything was going to be all right made the hourlong drive enjoyable,” she said.

From a technical standpoint, Thomas emphasized fundamentals that apply in all severe weather.

“Using my over-the-road experience and training, I increased my following distance, used my gears, went slow and delivered my students to their homes,” she said.

Training for Severe Weather Conditions

When discussing how new drivers are prepared for winter conditions, Thomas emphasized confidence built through repetition and fundamentals.

“Trust your driving abilities. Trust your training. Trust your vehicle by ensuring that they have done a proper safety inspection. Slow down. Increase your following distance. Use engine compression first (gearing down). Use feather braking when needed,” she said, adding that situational awareness is also central to training.

“Check your surroundings and expect the unexpected. Look for those hazards — Other roadway drivers, stalled vehicles, icy intersections, etc.,” she continued.

Widefield School District distributes monthly safety flyers focused on adverse weather and operates a mountain driving program that blends classroom instruction with hands-on experience.

“For mountain driving, we do hands-on application of actual driving,” Thomas said. “Certificates are issued for drivers participating in the mountain driving program.”

Despite this month’s storm, Thomas said Colorado operations were not significantly affected.

“Colorado usually gets the bulk of its snow in the spring, and then it is a heavy, wet snow,” she said, adding that support from trainers is critical.

“Being there and supporting them when they need it most,” Thomas said. “Answering questions with clarity and from my own experiences.”

Confidence, she noted, develops over time.

“Eventually, new drivers have to drive in adverse weather conditions without a trainer on board,” she said. “This builds confidence when a trainer is there to guide and direct correct maneuvers for driving in rain, sleet, snow and ice.”

Her message to first-time winter drivers is clear.

“Have confidence in your training. Go slow, do not be in a hurry, and you can do this.”

Managing Loss of Traction in Mountainous Terrain

For Marcus Thomas, transportation safety manager for Colorado Springs School District 11 and unrelated to Debbie Thomas, winter driving risks are most pronounced on steep grades, where packed snow and black ice can quickly compromise traction. Drawing from years of experience operating school buses on mountain roads, Thomas described one situation that underscores how rapidly conditions can change.

“Many miles and years of driving up mountainous roads, hills and downhill with snow-packed roads utilizing the Onspot Automatic Tire Chains,” he said. “Driving on black ice on a downhill, the school bus lost traction and started to slide sideways.”

In that moment, Thomas said, the priority was maintaining control and resisting overcorrection.

“Stayey alert. Slow down. Stayed in control,” he said. “Drove slowly and deployed the Onspot Automatic Tire Chains in the snow-packed roads.”

Black ice, he added, leaves little margin for error and demands patience and space. He advised driving cautiously, riding it out slowly and increasing the following distance when driving in snowy conditions (increased following spacing by doubling the four- to six-second rule). He said his district follows Colorado Department of Education guidance for adverse weather and mountain driving certifications.

“All drivers are certified on a Mountain Road Drive Certification in a school bus,” Thomas said.

Operational Adjustments During Severe Weather

Thomas said winter storms may prompt operational changes, but safety remains the priority.

“Some school closings will happen if necessary to keep the public, students and employees safe,” he said.

Routes and student stops are adjusted when needed, and two-hour delays are used to allow conditions to improve.

“All drivers will get the experience of driving in adverse conditions,” he said.
Preparation also includes reinforcing equipment checks.

“Even though it is inspected every day during pre-trip inspections, double-check the following: Onspot Automatic Tire Chains, tire depth, windshield wipers and fluid and also check heaters and defrosters,” Thomas said.

Winter in-service briefings begin in October and include hands-on practice.

“We have the drivers deploy their chains and also turn in adverse-weather student stop and route directions,” he said.

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Safety Culture and Driver Mindset

Across all three districts, one message remained consistent: Safety takes precedence over schedules.

“One key thing we push is the first stop is the only one that matters,” Marcus Thomas said. “All the other stops you will be late for due to the safety precautions and hazardous conditions.”

Terrill echoed the same principle.“We teach drivers to stay calm, take a deep breath, and stay focused on safety,” she said.

Debbie Thomas summed it up simply. “Trust your training,” she said

The post White-Knuckle Rides: School Bus Drivers Trained to Navigate Severe Winter Weather appeared first on School Transportation News.

The Lion Bus electric school buses pulled from service in Quebec two weeks ago have reportedly all returned to the road after repairs were made to faulty HVAC fuses.

The Quebec Ministry of Education had ordered LionC electric school bus models to be taken out of service after a fire in Montreal Sept. 9, leading to school disruptions across the province and a renewed scrutiny of electric school bus safety. Lion360 diesel school buses, which Lion manufactured prior to only producing electric vehicles in 2017, were also affected by the issue. Lion Bus issued an inspection bulletin detailing the four-hour repair.

“We have identified some potential anomalies in a sub-component of the HVAC system that Lion obtains from a third-party supplier,” the bulletin states. “In the interest of safety above all else, we request that Lion bus operators perform the following inspections and modifications: [M]andatory inspection of several low-voltage electrical connections, replacement of certain electrical connectors, replace fan fuses with less powerful ones, adding a fuse to an HVAC control panel circuit. This inspection and modification procedure must be carried out on all Lion360 (diesel) and LionC 3rd generation and earlier buses (Gen3, Gen2 and Gen1).”

Lion Bus, the new name of the former Lion Electric based in Saint-Jérôme, Quebec, has become the centerpiece of Canada’s electric school bus transition. The manufacturer has delivered more than 1,200 all-electric buses across North America, with the majority operating in Quebec. But at the same time, the company recently emerged from Canada’s version of bankruptcy protection and was acquired by a Quebec real estate magnate. Per terms of the deal, all warranties outside of Quebec became null and void.

The Sept. 9 fire occurred while the English Montreal School Board bus, operated by contractor Transco, was parked and unoccupied. No injuries resulted. Transport Canada confirmed it was investigating three total reports of LionC fires, the Montreal incident and two earlier fires, with the focus was on the low-voltage heating system. The agency, Canada’s version of the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, said its investigation has yet to identify a safety defect “due to the extent of fire damage in affected buses.”

Transport Canada recommended fleet owners immediately inspect their LionCs “in accordance with the manufacturer’s inspection bulletin.” For school bus drivers who see any smoke or smell anything burning, Transport Canada advises them to stop the bus, evacuate all passengers and, if safe, turn off the high-voltage and 12-volt power supplies.

CBC reported that three similar fires and a smoke-filled school bus have occurred since last November. It took the Sept. 9 incident for Transport Canada to investigate, according to the article.

But reports from local firefighters indicate the fire did not spread to the lithium-ion battery pack, added nonprofit climate advocate Green Communities Canada.

“It’s important to remember that data consistently shows gas-powered vehicles are six- to eight-times more likely to catch fire than electric vehicles,” added Leif Einarson, communications manager for Green Communities Canada. “One incident should not derail the momentum we’ve built in transitioning to cleaner, safer student transportation.”

Lion Bus said in a statement on Sept. 12 that it was working with Transport Canada to determine the exact cause but confirmed “neither the electric battery nor the propulsion system was involved.”

That same day, Lion said Société de l’assurance automobile du Québec approved its plan to return LionC electric school buses to service.

The English Montreal School Board confirmed in an Instagram post Sept. 20 that Transco received the missing parts needed for its electric buses. Two days later, Sunday, Sept. 22, the school posted that all buses had been repaired, inspected and cleared for operation Monday. In all, 76 school buses were grounded, cancelling 68 routes.

First Student owns Transco in Quebec. But the largest contractor in North America, First Student also operates more Lion ESBs than any fleet, including in the U.S.

“Our maintenance and engineering teams are following the Lion Inspection Bulletin to guide all inspections and replacements. As part of this [Lion] bulletin, we are conducting a multi-step inspection focused on electrical safety and system integrity,” company spokeswoman Brenna Rudisill told School Transportation News. “This includes replacing the HVAC control panel for wiring damage and foreign objects, replacing specific fuses to optimize fan performance, checking electrical panels and starter solenoid connections for proper torque and alignment, and verifying bulkhead terminal tightness.”

Rudisill added First Student technicians replaced any faulty components found and upgraded connectors. The issue had been receiving the parts. She said the contractor advises school districts across Canada and the U.S. to “continue to follow Lion’s inspection bulletin.”

Valérie Tremblay, coordinator for the Canadian Electric School Bus Alliance (CESBA), said the inspections brought an unexpected upside.

“The good thing is it pushed school districts, operators and Transport Canada to thoroughly inspect all electric school buses,” she explained.

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Related: Report: Inequities in Canadian Electric School Bus Transition Threaten At-risk Populations
Related: Green Bus Summit Commences with Discussion on Future-Proofing Electric Buses
Related: Canada Becomes First Country to Mandate External School Bus Surveillance Feeds
Related: Arkansas School District Thanks Driver for Quick Response During Bus Fire

The post Lion Electric School Buses Return to Quebec Roads After HVAC Fires 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.