SEATTLE, Wash. – Zonar, a leader in commercial vehicle fleet health and safety, today announced the release of its next generation Zonar LD Telematics Control Unit (TCU), delivering more comprehensive and faster vehicle intelligence and security data to meet the broadening demands of fleets. With advanced telematics capabilities, faster installation, and expanded vehicle coverage, the new iteration empowers fleet operators to optimize operations while continuing to prioritize strengthening efficiency, safety, and performance.

Light-duty vehicles form the backbone of today’s vocational fleets and extend beyond into passenger vans for school districts and transit systems, field services and last-mile delivery vehicles. The Zonar LD TCU offers a plug-and-play telematics solution tailored to the unique needs of these vehicles. It continues to provide robust Zonar Ground Traffic Control reporting capabilities as its predecessor, including in-depth diagnostics to ensure vehicle health and safety.

Enhanced features introduce key improvements for a better user experience:

Faster installation: Calibrate and sync in as little as two minutes to get on the road faster.
Enhanced over-the-air updates: Receive device performance enhancements, including expanded vehicle, engine control module (ECM), odometer and diagnostic trouble code (DTC) coverage more quickly and efficiently.
Expanded vehicle coverage: Benefit from increased support for a broader range of vehicle models and types.
Towing detection: Gain visibility into towing events for added security and situational awareness.
Cold start event tracking: Detect soft or hard reboots to better identify device tampering to improve the security of fleet vehicles and technology assets.
“Demand for light-duty tracking and diagnostics capabilities continue to grow, particularly in field services, retail, grocery, package delivery, and passenger transport sectors,” said Greg Colvin, senior director of solutions engineering at Zonar. “Fleets need a solution that’s simple to install, easy to manage, and delivers complex vehicle data insights across the wide spectrum of light-duty fleet vehicles all in one platform. Our next generation light-duty TCU builds on the strengths of its predecessor and allows for a quicker deployment, more expansive vehicle support, faster insights, and more visibility than before.”

Today’s fleets require more flexible, non-traditional transportation options to meet the pressures of delivering offered services. School districts increasingly rely on smaller passenger vehicles to transport students to special programs and after-school activities, or to provide ride-share alternative transportation, but still need to track students and vehicle safety alongside their school bus fleet. Additionally, the surge in e-commerce has increased last-mile delivery needs, where distribution costs account for nearly half of supply chain expenses. With these diverse demands, fleets need a true plug-and-play solution with wide light-duty vehicle coverage and a universal platform that monitors vehicle health, location, and performance across all vehicle types—light, medium or heavy duty.

For more information on the Zonar LD TCU, visit:https://www.zonarsystems.com/zonarld

About Zonar:
Founded in 2001, Zonar has pioneered smart transportation mobility solutions for vocational, public sector/pupil, mass transit, and commercial trucking industries. The Zonar mission is to enhance the safety, performance, and success of its customer’s fleets by transforming the delivery of innovative insights for commercial fleets. Headquartered in Seattle, Zonar also operates a distribution center in West Chicago.

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Woven City is a key project in Toyota’s shift to a mobility company Will test ideas, products, and services for mobility Could affect in-vehicle software, or the shape of urban vehicles, among many areas At CES 2025 in Las Vegas on Monday, Toyota provided an update on its Woven City project that was first presented in concept form at CES...

WOBURN, Mass. — Today, Beacon Mobility announced TransAction Associates and Corporate Shuttles, a Woburn-based transportation industry leader for the public and private sectors, as the newest member of the Beacon Mobility family. TransAction Associates and Corporate Shuttles have been serving communities, businesses, and institutions across the Commonwealth for nearly 35 years with a focus on consulting, planning, and managing commuter programs and providing high-quality transportation services. With this acquisition, Beacon Mobility now serves its transportation customers through 27 companies in 25 states nationwide, including six companies in Massachusetts.

“TransAction Associates and Corporate Shuttles have been faithfully serving Massachusetts communities for over three decades and we are pleased to welcome them to our growing family of transportation companies,” said David A. Duke, Chief Development Officer for Beacon Mobility. “This organization not only provides a host of important services to the public and private sectors, but also has a dynamic and talented consulting team with expertise in data analytics and transportation efficiencies. We look forward to working with their teams during the transition as we strive to deliver comprehensive and essential transportation services to the Commonwealth and New England.”

“Since 1990, thanks to our incredible employees, we have delivered safe, reliable, and innovative transportation options to a variety of public and private sector clients,” said Cindy Frené, President and Founder of TransAction Associates and Corporate Shuttles. “We are proud of what we have accomplished and look forward to the new opportunities that will be realized as part of the Beacon Mobility family.”

“TransAction’s talented team is ready to support and strengthen transportation initiatives across different sectors,” said Michele Brooks of TransAction Associates and Corporate Shuttles. “As we continue to grow our operations and portfolio, we are thrilled to join the Beacon Mobility team and look forward to our future partnership.”

Founded in 1990, TransAction Associates and Corporate Shuttles operate out of their facility in Woburn and offers a range of shuttle services and transportation programs. TransAction currently provides shuttle services for a variety of clients, that include municipalities, hospitals, developers, universities, and employers. The managed services and consulting options can collect and analyze data, research and evaluate options for clients, and make recommendations on implementation.

The TransAction Associates and Corporate Shuttles team is comprised of nearly 130 highly skilled employees and operates a fleet of more than 100 vehicles ranging from vans to shuttle buses and includes accessible services.

About TransAction Associates and Corporate Shuttles

TransAction has been an industry leader and a trusted name in transportation for nearly 35 years. TransAction Associates focuses on consulting, transportation planning, and managing commuter programs. The TransAction Corporate Shuttles division officially spun off in 1995 to provide reasonably priced, high-quality transportation services with an emphasis on safety. Working with TransAction means clients get an experienced leadership team committed to delivering a standard of excellence on every project from planning to marketing to operations. To learn more, visit: https://www.transactiontransportation.com

About Beacon Mobility

Beacon Mobility is a growing family of transportation companies committed to serving the diverse needs of their customers. Now operating 27 local brands in 25 states, their experienced, compassionate, and dedicated team takes pride in their ability to create customized, mobility-based solutions that empower people to get where they need to go. To learn more, visit: https://gobeacon.com/

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On the bustling mornings of Northport, New York, Kayla Soliman’s heart would race as she stood at the edge of the driveway, eyeing the big yellow school bus.

The second grader, just 7 years old during the fall of 2022, struggled with anxiety after watching her younger sister, Kelsey, get sick during the school bus ride home in Suffolk County on Long Island. Despite her mother Lindsey’s efforts, nothing seemed to ease Kayla’s fears. For an entire school year, Kayla avoided the school bus ride, her trepidation growing with each passing day.

But one person saw her struggle and decided to help.

Margaret Hall, affectionately known as “Miss Margaret” by her young riders, had been driving for contractor Huntington Coach for seven years and knew the importance of making each child feel safe. Sensing Kayla’s hesitation, Hall didn’t just sit back. She began to offer small gestures—a warm smile, reserving a seat in the front row, gentle words of encouragement.

“We need to be proactive in having a good attitude, helping their day start off correctly,” Hall explained.

Inspired by Kayla’s story, Hall decided to take her approach a step further. School Transportation News asked Hall what led her to write her children’s book “Why Does My Heart Go Thump When I See The Bus?” Margaret’s son David Hall provides the illustrations.

“Through the months of trying to help and encourage Kayla to return to riding the bus, the story formed in my mind, and I had to write it down,” she shared.

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Related: Learn more about Margaret Hall Books

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For Kayla, Hall’s gestures, and eventually the book, made all the difference. When Hall handed the girl a draft of the book, it marked the moment Kayla decided to step onto the school bus again.

“I got emotional,” Kayla’s mom Lindsey recalled.

“Kayla has now been an encouragement to her fellow-riders,” Hall proudly added.

Hall’s book has since become more than just a story—it’s a tool helping children across Long Island, New York, confront their fears. Hall has sold thousands of copies, many of which are distributed to local school districts free of charge. It’s an initiative that underscores a simple yet profound truth: A bus driver’s role goes beyond transporting students. It’s about guiding them through moments of uncertainty.

Brendan Clifford, vice president of operations for Huntington Coach that is owned by Beacon Mobility, reflected on the impact of Hall’s work.

“Our drivers represent the heart of Huntington Coach and consistently go above and beyond their job description to support the students and families we serve,” he said. “We are grateful for Margaret’s willingness to apply her talent of writing children’s books to lift up students dealing with bus anxiety and are hopeful her story will reach more kids to enrich their riding experience.”

Hall reflected on how her approach has impacted her riders over time.

“Kayla has been on my bus for three years, and in the last two years, I have seen her learn how to cope. Now, as a fourth grader, she takes the initiative to encourage others,” she explained. “Most students love to ride the bus, but those who are apprehensive often lose that feeling when greeted with a friendly smile, encouraging words, and a joyous atmosphere.”

For Hall, and drivers like Wing Hang Chiu of nearby East Williston, New York, the work is personal. Chiu, a school bus driver trainer for Beacon Mobility company Dell Transportation, often speaks with Chinese American students in their native Cantonese and Mandarin. He said he knows how important it is to build trust and familiarity.

“They open up and talk to me a little more,” he said, understanding that even a short interaction can set the tone for a child’s day.

Whether it’s offering a friendly face or taking extra time with nervous children, Long Island’s school bus drivers — and their peers nationwide — do more than drive. They provide a safe space, especially crucial in an era where anxiety is on the rise. As Shari Lurie, senior director of mental health services at epilepsy care center Epic Long Island, noted, “It’s not uncommon for kids to not want to take the bus. Having someone who is friendly and warm can make all the difference.”

The feedback Hall has received from her efforts and her book has been overwhelmingly positive. She shared with STN, “A school counselor has already put the book to use this year with an apprehensive student. A 12-year-old facing anxiety over taking the bus for the first time found the facts presented in the book helpful in facing his fear.”

Hall also noted, “A safety manager stated that ‘Margaret and David are ambassadors for the school bus industry.’ Kayla wrote a note last year, saying ‘Thank you for helping me when I really needed it.’”

Hall’s efforts have rippled beyond her Northport route. Her children’s book is now a staple in various districts, including Sachem Central, where hundreds of copies have been distributed. Each book, like each ride, offers a chance for children to feel seen, heard, and safe.

“It’s fun to be a bus driver. You get the opportunity to show people you care,” Hall said, smiling as she watches Kayla, now a confident 9-year-old, board the school bus without hesitation.

When asked what advice she would give to other bus drivers and schools to help students overcome bus-related anxiety, Hall offered this: “As the first and last face seen on a child’s school day, it is important that bus drivers put a smile on their face, meet students with a friendly greeting, and present an atmosphere of joy and safety as they ask their students to be seated and buckle up.”

Schools, she added, “can include facts about some of the issues that lead to anxiety in the bus drills performed throughout the year.”

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Related: Sharing Positive Employee Stories Should be Part of Social Media Strategies

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MESA, Ariz.,- Verra Mobility Corporation (NASDAQ: VRRM), a leading provider of smart mobility technology solutions, has launched the ‘Zero in on School Bus Safety Toolkit’ to champion National School Bus Safety Week (October 21-25) and encourage others to embrace the importance of using safe driving behavior around school buses.

Passing a stopped school bus with its stop-arm extended is against the law, yet thousands of Americans do this on a daily basis. The National Association of State Directors of Pupil Transportation Services (NASDPTS) annual survey showed 45.2 million drivers received a violation for illegally passing school buses last school year – up from 43.5 million during the prior school year. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration relates this to the most devastating consequence, stating an average of 108 fatalities occurred each year via school transportation-related crashes from 2013-2022.

To encourage communities and organizations to raise awareness around this issue, Verra Mobility created ‘Zero in on School Bus Safety Toolkit’ with resources including social media posts, statistics, and digital collateral to raise awareness and create safer school bus transportation. To download the free materials and share this important safety message, visit www.verramobility.com/national-school-bus-safety-week-toolkit.

“Every day, millions of students rely on school buses for safe transport to and from school,” said Belinda Olivares, general manager of the school bus stop arm division at Verra Mobility. “The illegal passing of stopped school buses threatens our students’ safety. That’s why Verra Mobility is partnering with school districts to install school bus safety arm technology to protect students as they board and exit the bus. These programs are proven to alter driver behavior, but we must do more. The goal of the toolkit is to give school districts and organizations across the nation a way to deliver the safety message in one easy step.”

Verra Mobility’s school bus stop arm program works when the bus’s stop arm is deployed, and a camera automatically detects vehicles that pass the stopped bus within the enforced zone. The camera records video of the vehicle and captures event images including its license plate and the extended stop-arm.

Verra Mobility’s program has shown that 98 percent of drivers who are issued a violation for illegally passing a stopped school bus do not repeat their behavior, with some programs experiencing up to a 70 percent reduction in issued citations when comparing the beginning of the school year to the end. Violations act to raise awareness and change driver behavior.

“School buses carry very precious cargo…our students. While protecting their safety is a daily priority, this week allows us to spotlight the importance of safe school bus transportation and reduce the risks to children,” said Olivares. “Verra Mobility has equipped thousands of school buses, transporting tens-of-thousands of students, with safety camera technology to better protect children on their commute to and from school.”

To learn more about the school bus stop arm safety program, visit www.verramobility.com/government/school-bus-safety/.

About Verra Mobility:
Verra Mobility Corporation (NASDAQ: VRRM) is a leading provider of smart mobility technology solutions that make transportation safer, smarter and more connected. The company sits at the center of the mobility ecosystem, bringing together vehicles, hardware, software, data and people to enable safe, efficient solutions for customers globally. Verra Mobility’s transportation safety systems and parking management solutions protect lives, improve urban and motorway mobility and support healthier communities. The company also solves complex payment, utilization and compliance challenges for fleet owners and rental car companies. Headquartered in Arizona, Verra Mobility operates in North America, Europe, Asia and Australia. For more information, please visit www.verramobility.com.

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