The May issue dives into security and connectivity within student transportation departments. Technology meets training and utilization as incidents of violence onboard the school bus require detailed policies to address. Read articles about AI’s role in routing, how modern technology options can modernize transportation communications, maintenance software to assist the garage side of school bus operations and how safety standards are a joint effort between families and transportation personnel.

Read the full May 2026 issue.

Cover Story

Hands On
Defining policies for school bus drivers when violence occurs on the school bus is only half the story. Video cameras are showing the full picture.

Features

Route Optimization -With or Without AI-
Transportation directors define what optimization means to their operations by using routing software integrated with various AI features.

Beyond the Garage
Maintenance software helps technicians catch even the smallest of school bus defects that can lead to big out – of- service issues.

Special Reports

The Importance of Uniformity
Education is a key piece of ensuring student safety in the Danger Zone, from educating the public on the rules of the road to educating school bus drivers on proper mirror adjustment to ensure visibility. (And don’t forget the kids.)

Conversations
STN EXPO East Photo Spread
Ad Index

Editor’s Take by Ryan Gray
A Purchasing Perfect Storm

Thought Leader by Gaurav Sharda
Modernizing School Transportation Communications

Publisher’s Corner by Tony Corpin
Meeting the Minimum Standards

The post May 2026 appeared first on School Transportation News.

Reactive maintenance programs leave K-12 fleets susceptible to breakdowns, compliance gaps and rising costs. This guide gives student transportation directors a framework for shifting from costly “break-fix” repairs to a predictive, data-driven strategy that helps extend bus lifespans, reduce total cost of ownership and make every student journey safer.

Inside, you’ll learn:

• Why traditional maintenance falls short: Discover how aging fleets and untracked driver behaviors can create maintenance and compliance risks.
• How to progress from reactive to predictive: Understand the three stages of maintenance maturity and how to reach the predictive phase.
• What telematics unlocks for your operation: Move past data silos with a solution that brings rich diagnostic data, digital DVIRs, driver behavior monitoring and predictive intelligence together.
• Five steps to smarter maintenance: From benchmarking KPIs to automating key maintenance processes, turn your service program into a forward-thinking, data-driven one.
• Download this guide if you’re ready to leave the chaos of reactive service behind and create safer, more efficient student journeys.

Fill out the form below and then check your email to access the guide.

The post How to Turn School Bus Maintenance into an Operational Advantage appeared first on School Transportation News.

When the 2025 school year approached, leaders at Bismarck Public Schools in North Dakota knew they were heading into unfamiliar territory, a local television station reported.

Like districts across the country, Bismarck was grappling with a severe shortage of school bus drivers. Routes were harder to staff, schedules were tighter, and margins for error were shrinking by the day. Something had to change if buses were going to keep rolling—and students were going to get to school safely and on time.

The district made a bold decision: implement a two tier bus system with staggered bell schedules. Elementary and secondary students would ride at different times, allowing each driver to cover more ground and easing the immediate staffing crunch, KX News, a CBS affiliate, reported.

Operationally, the move worked. But almost overnight, a new set of challenges emerged.

Routes became more complex. Timing windows narrowed. Parents had more questions—and fewer easy answers. Calls to the transportation office increased as families struggled to understand where buses were, when they would arrive, and what had changed.

Transportation leaders realized quickly that solving the staffing problem had exposed a communication problem.

Parents didn’t just need reassurance—they needed real time visibility. Drivers needed help navigating increasingly complicated routes. And staff needed a better way to manage information in an environment where every delay was magnified.

That’s when Bismarck turned to Transfinder.

To support the new transportation model, Bismarck Public Schools deployed an integrated technology approach built around the driver app Wayfinder and parent app Stopfinder. Each district bus was equipped with a tablet running Wayfinder, giving drivers reliable, turn by turn navigation—especially critical as routes shifted and expanded. At the same time, Stopfinder connected that live bus data directly to families through a secure parent app.

For parents, the difference was immediate. They could see exactly where a bus was, receive notifications if it was delayed, and get alerts when it entered their customized geofence. For the transportation team, the payoff came in the form of fewer phone calls, better situational awareness, and a noticeable uptick in trust during a period of major change.

Still, Bismarck didn’t treat the rollout as a finish line.

While district owned buses performed smoothly, some contracted buses operated by Harlow’s Bus Service were using older onboard technology, creating occasional inconsistencies. Rather than accept uneven performance, the district took a long view.

For the upcoming school year, Harlow’s buses will also run Wayfinder, bringing the entire fleet—district and contractor—onto a single Transfinder platform.

Transportation Supervisor Jason Schafer describes the shift as a turning point.

“Next year, Harlow’s buses will have something very similar to what we have on our BPS buses,” Schafer told a local television station. “Instead of a third party communicating with the app, they’ll have Wayfinder right on here (the bus). … The reliability of the app on Harlow’s general education side should really be flawless.”

For Schafer, the contrast was already clear. “We’ve had no issues at all with our BPS buses this year,” he added.

As the technology matured, so did the district’s understanding of adoption. About 30 percent of families had activated Stopfinder—a solid start given the scope of operational change happening simultaneously. The remaining challenge wasn’t the platform itself, but helping families fully use it.

Bismarck is pairing its technology investment with stronger parent education to ensure families get the full benefit of real time communication and safety features.

Looking back, what began as a staffing crisis became an opportunity.

Bismarck Public Schools maintained service despite driver shortages, successfully supported a complex two tier schedule, and replaced uncertainty with transparency for families. By unifying fleet technology and focusing on communication, the district turned a headline worthy challenge into a long term operational win.

Bismarck’s story is one many districts will recognize—and one that proves transportation technology isn’t just about routes and buses. It’s about delivering clarity when uncertainty is unavoidable, and confidence when communities need it most.

To learn more about Transfinder’s suite of award-winning solutions, from routing to fleet maintenance, call 800-373-3609 or email solutions@transfinder.com.

The post How District Turned a Transportation Crisis into a Communication Win appeared first on School Transportation News.

The post Should breathalyzers be mandatory on school buses? appeared first on School Transportation News.

SHARONVILLE, Ohio — ARI-hetra, a leading U.S. manufacturer of heavy-duty vehicle maintenance equipment, will be exhibiting at the 2026 ACT Expo, taking place at the Las Vegas Convention Center, May 4-6. Attendees can visit ARI-hetra in the West Hall at Booth #2101 to experience a range of equipment engineered to support the evolving needs of commercial fleets, including those transitioning to alternative and electric powertrains.

At the show, ARI-hetra will showcase its industry-proven Mobile Column Lifts, designed with hydraulic-free ball-screw technology for dependable, low-maintenance lifting. The company will also feature its EV Battery Lift, purpose-built for the safe and precise handling of heavy electric vehicle battery packs, along with the versatile TT-2000 Lift Table and a range of heavy-duty shop equipment designed to enhance safety and efficiency in the shop.

“As fleets continue to adopt new vehicle technologies, the need for reliable, adaptable maintenance equipment has never been greater,” said Bill Gibson, Vice President of Business Development at ARI-hetra. “ACT Expo is an important opportunity for us to connect with fleet operators and service professionals who are navigating that transition. Our solutions are designed to deliver the uptime, flexibility, and dependability they need to keep operations running smoothly.”

ACT Expo is North America’s largest advanced transportation technology event, bringing together fleet operators, OEMs, and industry leaders focused on clean transportation solutions. ARI-hetra’s presence underscores its commitment to supporting fleets across diesel, hybrid, and electric platforms with equipment that meets the demands of modern maintenance environments in heavy-duty fleet operations.

Attendees are encouraged to stop by Booth #2101 in the West Hall to see ARI-hetra equipment up close and speak with product experts about solutions tailored to their operations.

About ARI-HETRA:
For more than 35 years, ARI-hetra has been a leading manufacturer of heavy-duty vehicle maintenance equipment, including ALI-certified mobile column lifts, platform lifts, wheel service solutions, exhaust extraction systems, and shop equipment that’s built to perform and built to last. With a dedicated team of sales and service experts, ARI-hetra delivers the most comprehensive warranty and preventive maintenance programs in the industry. From tailored system designs and professional installation, to direct distribution and responsive in-shop repairs, ARI-hetra supports your operations every step of the way. For more information, visit www.ari-hetra.com.

The post ARI-hetra to Bring Hydraulic-Free Mobile Column Lifts and Heavy-Duty Maintenance Solutions to the 2026 ACT Expo in Las Vegas appeared first on School Transportation News.

DENVER, Colo. — As school districts nationwide continue to navigate tight budgets, driver shortages, rising safety expectations, and increasing demand for specialized transportation, new data from EverDriven, the leading provider of alternative transportation solutions, highlights a critical but often overlooked factor in student success: getting students to school safely and consistently.

According to EverDriven’s 2026 Safety and Operations Report, 99.99% of more than 2.6 million student trips were completed without an accident, major or minor, demonstrating how a safety-first, reliability-driven model can directly support attendance and learning outcomes.

“Reliable transportation doesn’t happen by chance. It requires the right systems, standards, and accountability at every step,” said Mitch Bowling, CEO of EverDriven. “We’ve built our model to deliver that consistency at scale, combining rigorous driver vetting, real-time visibility, and operational oversight. That’s why 99.99% of trips run without incident, and more than 83% of rides for students with disabilities are served by the same driver—building trust, reducing stress, and helping students arrive ready to learn.”

Reliability Drives Attendance and Stability
The report underscores a growing reality for districts: transportation reliability is directly tied to student attendance and engagement. When students miss rides or face inconsistent service, they are more likely to miss school, contributing to chronic absenteeism, a challenge facing districts across the country.

EverDriven’s model is built to close that gap:
~97% of trips arriving within an acceptable window.
90.36% of trips arriving within five minutes of scheduled drop-off.
83.62% of rides for students with disabilities maintaining the same driver, providing. consistency and comfort.

For students with specialized needs, including those with disabilities or experiencing housing instability, this level of consistency is especially critical. Familiar drivers, structured routines, and trained monitors help students feel safe before they even enter the classroom.

Serving Students with Complex Needs at Scale
From March 1, 2025 through Feb. 28, 2026, EverDriven transported more than 30,000 students across 37 states, including:
16,250 students experiencing housing instability.
10,333 students in special education programs.

These populations often face the greatest barriers to consistent attendance, making reliable transportation a key component of educational access.

“Transportation is the bridge to opportunity. By diversifying our transportation options with trusted partners like EverDriven, we can breathe a sigh of relief knowing that every student, regardless of their situation, has a safe way to get to and from school each and every day,” said Megan Patton, Director of Transportation for Pittsburgh Public Schools.

A Safety Model Built for Students
Unlike traditional rideshare or fragmented transportation models, EverDriven’s approach is purpose-built for student safety, combining:

Multi-layered driver vetting and continuous monitoring.
Specialized training for transporting vulnerable student populations.
Real-time GPS tracking on 100% of rides.
AI-powered in-vehicle cameras in nearly half of vehicles.
This layered approach contributed to zero critical incidents, zero fatalities, and zero incidents of sexual misconduct during the reporting period.

Building Trust with Families and Districts
For caregivers, visibility and reliability are just as important as safety. EverDriven’s technology platform provides real-time ride tracking, driver information and proactive updates, helping families stay informed and confident that their child will arrive safely.

For districts, that trust translates into fewer disruptions, reduced administrative burden, and greater confidence that transportation systems are working as intended.

To read the full 2026 Safety and Operations Report and learn more about EverDriven, visit everdriven.com.

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 37 states, the company completed over 2 million successful trips last 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.

The post When School Transportation is Reliable, Students Show Up: New EverDriven Report Links Safety and Consistency to Stronger Attendance appeared first on School Transportation News.

LAS VEGAS, Nev. – As commercial vehicle programs face mounting pressure from electrification, evolving regulatory requirements, and increasing system complexity, Triz Engineering is introducing its New Engineering model at ACT Expo in response to a growing industry shift: the primary risk in vehicle development is not only technology, it is execution.

Commercial vehicle programs don’t fail in design, they fail in launch. As programs become more complex, with multiple propulsion pathways, increasing software integration, and competitive development timelines, the challenge is no longer only selecting the right technology, but executing it successfully at launch.

“Commercial vehicle programs don’t fail because of a single technical issue,” said Dion van Leeve, Vice President of Engineering, Advanced Technology at Triz Engineering. “They fail because of compounding misalignment, decisions made too late, systems not integrated early enough, and execution that isn’t structured to manage complexity from the start.”

Across the industry, this shift is becoming more visible:

Launch delays driven by late-stage performance challenges.

Increasing rework due to early misalignment.

Cost overruns at both program and product levels.

As complexity increases, these factors are driving execution risk, not just technical risk.

New Engineering: A Structured Model for Delivery
Triz Engineering’s New Engineering model is a structured execution model designed to address these challenges at the program level.

The model is built on:

Specialization in commercial vehicle systems, enabling system-level integration and faster decisions.

Full-system ownership from concept through integration, compliance, and production.

Disciplined delivery with clear accountability for cost, timing, and performance.

Right-first-time decision-making grounded in application and production reality.

This replaces fragmented execution with focused delivery, reducing variability, minimizing rework, and protecting launch timelines.

Engineering Certainty: The Outcome
Triz does not sell engineering hours, they sell Engineering Certainty on launch-critical programs through disciplined execution, clear accountability, and right-first-time delivery.

“Technology uncertainty is something every OEM has to manage,” van Leeve added. “What they can control is how their programs are executed. Engineering Certainty is about removing execution risk, so outcomes become predictable, even in highly complex environments.”

Applied Across Launch-Critical Programs
Triz Engineering works with leading commercial vehicle OEMs and specialty vehicle manufacturers across North America, supporting programs in heavy- and medium-duty trucks, fire and emergency vehicles, last-mile delivery platforms, and commercial chassis systems.

These engagements are delivered at vehicle or system level but always with vehicle level understanding, with responsibility from concept through integration, compliance, and release. They reflect Triz Engineering’s ability to deliver predictable outcomes on complex, launch-critical programs.

Reframing the Industry Conversation at ACT Expo
At ACT Expo, Triz Engineering is highlighting the shift from technology-driven risk to execution-driven risk as complexity increases across commercial vehicle programs. Execution discipline, not just engineering capability, is becoming the defining factor in successful vehicle development.

About Triz Engineering:
Triz Engineering Solutions provides engineering to commercial vehicle OEMs, supporting the development, integration, and launch of vehicle systems and platforms. Focused exclusively on the commercial vehicle sector, Triz works across heavy- and medium-duty trucks, delivery and vocational vehicles, bus and coach, fire and emergency, and other specialty and off-highway applications. Triz supports programs at the system level, taking responsibility from concept through integration, compliance, and release. The company delivers Engineering Certainty on launch-critical programs through disciplined execution, clear accountability, and right-first-time delivery. Built with OEM DNA, Triz embeds within governance structures while preserving internal ownership. Its New Engineering model replaces fragmented delivery with focused execution and early, decisive decision-making. The result is predictable delivery, reduced execution risk, and improved product success at launch.

The post Triz Engineering Introduces New Engineering Model to Address Rising Execution Risk in Commercial Vehicle Development 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.

The School Bus Safety Company announced today they have just completed the recreation and updating of their OSHA Compliance Training Course for both school bus technicians and drivers.

The OSHA Compliance Course is a single source management tool designed specifically for school bus operations. This course will help managers quickly and easily achieve compliance with OSHA regulations. There are many hazards in a bus workshop and the technicians deserve the required safety training to make their workplace safer.

The course provides education and training materials addressing 26 OSHA standards that apply to maintenance facilities and 3 that apply to drivers. The subjects covered are:

Manager and Employee Introduction
Manager and Supervisor Introduction. Maintenance Employees Introduction to OSHA.

Facility Safety
Emergency Action Plan
Fire Prevention/Response Plans
Signage
Confined Island
Fuel Island
Diesel Exhaust
Electrical Hazards
Spray Painting
Lifts, pits, Jacks and Stands
Rails, Stairs and Ladders
Workplace Security

Personal Safety
Hazardous Materials
Personal Protective Equipment
Emergency Eye Wash
First Aid & Infectious Diseases
Slips, Trips and Falls
Fall Protection
Violence in the Workplace

Equipment Safety
Lockout/Tagout
Machine Guarding
Hand Tools
Forklift and Powered Platform Safety
Welding
Single Piece and Multi-Piece Rim Wheels

“The Process Guide includes action plans and checklists with step-by-step instructions detailing what you must do to be in compliance” said Jeff Cassell, president of The School Bus Safety Company. “Simply put, if you follow all the action plans and document the steps taken, you’ll be in compliance and your technicians will be safer.. It’s that simple.”

“School districts in some states are exempt from complying with federal regulations,” said Cassell.“However, many states have similar rules and the safety of the technicians and drivers in every school bus operation deserve the same high level of safety whether it is required or not. Doing the right thing and protecting your employees should be the standard, not the regulations.”

A hard copy of the course on hard drive or thumb drive is only $2,000 and can be used for many years. For online pricing, call 866 275 7272For more information, please visit the web site at www.schoobussafetyco.com

The post School Bus Safety Company Releases Updated OSHA-compliance Training Course appeared first on School Transportation News.

COLUMBUS, Ind. – Cummins Inc. (NYSE: CMI) offers its customers a broad portfolio of power solutions pursuing many paths forward to meet its customers’ and the planet’s evolving needs today and in the future. For the 2026 Advanced Clean Transportation (ACT) Expo, the company is showcasing its 2027 X15 along with its L9N and X15N natural gas engines. Accelera by Cummins will feature its next generation Advanced LFP batteries and 14Xe eAxle. In addition, the 2027 X10 and 2027 X15 will be featured in the ride and drive, joined by a hybrid simulation truck.

“Our customers depend on Cummins to provide solutions that are dependable, efficient and cost effective. This reputation is rooted in our technical expertise and deep understanding of their business needs and is supported by our global sales and service network,” said José Samperio, Vice President, North American On-Highway Business, Cummins Inc.

Forever Rising with Cummins 2027 X15
The 2027 X15 will be displayed with its integrated transmission and aftertreatment system, advancing the company’s flagship heavy‑duty platform. Built on more than 25 years of X15 architecture, the 2027 engine incorporates familiar components and updated controls that support improved fuel efficiency with similar diesel exhaust fluid consumption. The engine also anchors the company’s Forever Rising Tour fleet, where customers can evaluate drivability, integration and performance in real‑world operation.

Natural Gas Engines Power a Broader Ecosystem
Cummins also will feature the X15N and L9N engines to demonstrate the breadth of its natural gas portfolio. Built for heavy-duty and linehaul applications, the X15N provides power and performance while offering a practical path to reduced fuel costs and lower emissions. The L9N is suited for regional haul, refuse and municipal operations. Together, the engines give fleets multiple options across mixed duty cycles and varying infrastructure conditions.

Cummins Clean Fuel Technologies (CCFT) will highlight its newest product: an internally designed and manufactured all‑composite Type 4 CNG tank with a fully carbon‑fiber‑wrapped polymer liner. The tank is engineered to be light weight and for integration into CCFT fuel delivery systems for heavy‑duty trucks. The product incorporates technology designed and shared by NPROXX, Cummins’ composite pressure vessel design and manufacturing entity based in Europe.

Advancing Commercial Vehicle Electrification
Accelera by Cummins will showcase its next generation 14Xe eAxle, its most versatile electrified axle solution to date. The 14Xe delivers improved energy efficiency alongside increased torque, power and voltage capability to support both heavy- and medium-duty applications. Available with either a 2- or 3-speed twin countershaft transmission or 2-speed planetary configuration, the 14Xe has the ability to reduce the need for wheel-end reductions while enabling greater system flexibility across vehicle platforms. When paired with Accelera’s ELFA 3 high-power inverter, the system can also enhance functional safety and cybersecurity for 6×4 tandem, medium-duty and school bus applications.

Accelera will also feature its highly modular Advanced LFP battery platform, designed to support flexibility, long service life and fast charging. With 102 kWh of energy capacity and up to 840V, the platform leverages advanced LFP chemistry and cell-to-pack architecture to deliver improved energy density, enhanced safety and a strong cost competitiveness for commercial vehicle applications.

Enhanced Digital Experience for the Life of Your Vehicle
Cummins provides a full suite of digital capabilities that connect customers’ day-to-day operations directly to the service and maintenance experience using real-time data.

These features, available in Connected Solutions or via participating OEM portals, include remote diagnostics, predictive service insights, over-the-air software updates and digital maintenance tools that help minimize downtime, optimize fleet maintenance and ensure that vehicles are operating with the latest technology directly from Cummins.

These features and capabilities are enabled by Acumen, Cummins’ advanced computing hardware, or an OEM telematics device.

Ride and Drive: Customer Ready Demonstration Vehicles
In the ACT Expo Ride & Drive, Cummins will feature two vehicles from its Forever Rising Tour: one equipped with the 2027 X15 and another showcasing the new Cummins X10 mid-bore diesel platform designed for vocational, transit, pickup-and-delivery and regional haul operations. The third vehicle, which has been in service with Walmart since November 2025, is a demonstration of both companies’ commitment to advancing hybrid technology development. As part of this effort, Cummins and Walmart have collaborated in evaluating hybrid powertrain configurations under real world operating conditions using a development vehicle that can simulate multiple hybrid architectures without physical hardware changes. The hybrid simulation truck will be showcased publicly for the first time in the ride and drive.

About the Hybrid Simulation Platform
Cummins and Walmart are jointly testing and refining hybrid configurations using engines, components and controls from both Cummins and its zero-emissions business, Accelera by Cummins. Walmart has been operating the vehicle across a range of routes and duty cycles, validating system controls and accumulating mileage to evaluate performance in day-to-day service.

For more information on Cummins’ broad portfolio and the Forever Rising Tour and upcoming stops, visit this site and meet with experts May 4-7 at ACT Expo Booth #2038.

About Cummins Inc.
Cummins Inc., a global power leader, is committed to powering a more prosperous world. Since 1919, we have delivered innovative solutions that move people, goods and economies forward. Our five business segments—Engine, Components, Distribution, Power Systems and Accelera by Cummins—offer a broad portfolio, including advanced diesel, electric and hybrid powertrains; integrated power generation systems; critical components such as aftertreatment, turbochargers, fuel systems, controls, transmissions, axles and brakes; and zero-emissions technologies like battery and electric powertrain systems. With a global footprint, deep technical expertise and an extensive service network, we deliver dependable, cutting-edge solutions tailored to our customers’ needs, supporting them through the energy transition with our Destination Zero strategy. We create value for customers, investors and employees and strengthen communities through our corporate responsibility global priorities: education, equity and environment. Headquartered in Columbus, Indiana, Cummins employs approximately 67,400 people worldwide and earned $2.8 billion on $33.7 billion in sales in 2025. Learn more at www.cummins.com.

The post Cummins Builds on Many Paths Strategy at ACT Expo  appeared first on School Transportation News.

Ian stood patiently at the crowded bus stop when he noticed a nearby woman glaring at him. Is she mad at me? he wondered. A moment of unease settled in, but because he didn’t recognize her, he brushed it off as mistaken identity. Soon after, his normal morning took a frightening turn.

The woman’s aggression escalated to physical assault, leaving Ian shaken. His split upper lip and swollen cheek caught the driver’s attention as he boarded the bus, and she immediately pressed the panic button.

What happened to Ian? How and why did he sustain injuries? The busy driver missed the event as she approached the stop, so the transportation director had many questions. Within minutes, he had answers.

The Solution

ARMOR Software Suite, an advanced, wireless fleet management tool, and an integrated interior/exterior surveillance system enabled the speedy resolution. Two of the suite’s many features played crucial roles: automated event alerts and automated video downloading. These features could be equally effective at streamlining resolutions for your operation. Read on to learn how.

Automated Event Alerts

Seconds after Ian’s driver pressed the panic button, ARMOR auto-generated an alert and sent it to the transportation director’s cellphone. This alert compelled the director to check ARMOR Live’s high-definition views to assess the situation. The views revealed a distressed, injured Ian, but no other details. How did the director gather relevant information so quickly? He clicked over to ARMOR AutoPilot, an archive for auto-downloaded video clips.

Automated Video Downloads

During setup, the director configured ARMOR to download video clips automatically, minimizing trips to manually pull hard drives. He also directed ARMOR to add three minutes of pre- and post-event video to clips flagged by the panic button. These actions facilitated his review and response to Ian’s situation. Here’s how: The pre-event video captured the actual assault and the woman responsible. He immediately identified her as the mother of the classmate who Ian allegedly bullied.

Thanks to ARMOR’s automated capabilities, the transportation director quickly obtained proof of the assault to share with administration and law enforcement. Even more, ARMOR helped minimize investigation time and stress for his operation.

Would you like to minimize hard drive retrieval for your team? Save hours on event resolution? Provide wireless access to fleet data and video via internet-connected mobile devices? The safety and time-saving benefits could be transformative for your operation.

Solution requires additional hardware and specific cellular service/data plans. Ask for details.

Let us show you all the ways ARMOR can simplify fleet management.

Contact us, call 800.228.9275 or connect with your sales rep today.

For more REI solutions, visit: radioeng.com.

The post Event Resolution at the Speed of Automation appeared first on School Transportation News.

WARRENVILLE, Ill. – In celebration of Earth Day, Summit School Services is proud to share that its local operating brands, Durham School Services and A&S Transportation, have surpassed 607,000 combined miles driven by their electric school bus fleets – a major step in creating a healthier future for the students and communities they serve. This milestone achievement spans across three locations: Cumberland, Rhode Island and Compton, California for Durham School Services and New Orleans, Louisiana for A&S Transportation.

Durham’s Cumberland location, which serves Blackstone Valley Prep, currently boasts over 277,000 clean miles driven by its fleet of 24 electric school buses, while on the west coast, Compton Unified School District, is just 3,000 miles shy of reaching a 100,000 milestone with its fleet of 25 buses.

A&S Transportation and its two partners, InspireNOLA Charter Schools and New Orleans Charter Science & Mathematics High School, have tracked 233,000 miles total with their fleet of 42 and 9 buses, respectively.

As a premier student transportation provider and strong advocate for sustainability, our Company is pleased to be able to partner with its school district partners for such an important cause that will create positive, lasting impacts that will span across generations.

Later this year and beyond, Summit’s local operating brands and their school district partners in Florida, Michigan, and Massachusetts will join the Company’s journey toward a greener, healthier future with the introduction of their new fleets of electric school buses. An additional 140+ electric school buses are anticipated to be deployed.

“What an extraordinary achievement and milestone by our teams and school district partners,” said Wayne Skinner, Senior Vice President of Fleet, Maintenance, and Procurement, Summit School Services. “It is incredible to see such tremendous, green strides being made towards creating a more sustainable, safe world for our students to live, learn, and grow in. We are lucky to have such forward-thinking, environmentally conscious school district partners with whom we share similar values and ambitions with, and who are just as dedicated to the well-being and safety of students as we are. We’ve only just scratched the surface of this EV journey, and there’s so many more destinations and miles left to drive, so please stay tuned as we continue on this road towards a greener, better tomorrow.”

About Summit School Services:
Summit School Services sets the standard for safe, reliable student transportation across North America. As the parent organization to trusted local operators including Durham School Services, Stock Transportation, and Petermann Bus, Summit supports over 360 school districts. Driven by our five values: Safety, Care, Transparency, Communities, and Culture, we deliver transportation that works consistently, reliably, and without disruption.

The post Summit School Services Continues Journey Towards a Greener Tomorrow with 600K EV Milestone appeared first on School Transportation News.

Nathan Bauman first found love, then he found his work passion.

And finally he helped his student transportation department recover roughly $500,000 in funds associated with field trips funded by various departments.

His journey began in 2009, when he was a bus driver at Aldine Independent School District in Texas and his then-girlfriend’s mother was running the field trip department.

She was struggling to integrate a new digital system the district had invested in to streamline the request-and-approval process for field trips. The new system was designed to replace the inefficient process of back-and-forth emailing that required a month’s notice for a typical field trip.

He volunteered to troubleshoot the issue, resolved it with the vendor and was promptly asked to take on more technical tasks as challenges arose across the student transportation department.

“I was naturally strong at solving these problems and was able to help the district a lot more in a technical role that served the entire department than simply as a driver,” he explained. “It’s rewarding to be able to troubleshoot issues that I know help the drivers and the staff run smarter.”

A year later he was promoted into a technical assistant role and he’s been helping the transportation department leverage busHive, the field trip software, ever since.

His work culminated in the efficient recouping of approximately $500,00 every school year from different district departments which rely on the transportation department to shuttle students to and from a diverse set of activities and programs.

“The process to recoup these funds would take an incredible amount of time, energy and focus to complete if it were not for busHive,” Bauman said.

“The fact that it automates so many of the calculations involved in so many different types of unique trips makes it easy for me to work across the district to recoup a significant amount to our department.”

A Texas-Sized Challenge: Capturing Trip Data from Various Funding Sources

Not every field trip is created equal, especially as it relates to funding.

Burnham said about 65 percent of the field trips are normal activities that are already part of the funding schedule for the transportation department, including athletics and inter-district activities.

The remaining 35 percent of the non-fixed route trips are associated with a third-party funding source, often federal or some other academic funding.

These trips carry a significant cost, averaging about $300 – $500 per run.

“There is so much variability and diversity among these trips so it’s not something we can easily crank out in a spreadsheet,” he said. “It takes a lot of focus and expertise to capture all the unique data in a way that makes it easy for us and simple for the other departments.”

In a district with 56,000 students and a transportation department that maintains 474 buses that traveled nearly five million miles last academic year, the costs of these trips add up to significant sums.

Barnham estimates these special field and activity trips total approximately 2,500 per year.

That’s where the district’s investment in the busHive software application pays dividends.

Its ability to automate the request-to-approval-to-driver assignment process without a flurry of back-and-forth emails has silenced the chaotic noise long associated with this process.

The 30-day request is still department policy, but the busHive software allows Barnham and his team to respond rapidly when a one-off last-minute request knocks at their door.

“Most of the district staff are very good about putting their requests in well in advance and it helps us manage and plan, but we’re also able to respond nearly immediately when someone forgets or a true last-minute opportunity presents itself,” he explained.

“We can get a request today and be ready to dispatch a bus tomorrow and not have it disrupt us. busHive makes it easy to route it across all the approvals and get the driver assigned in no time.”

Automating Complex Reimbursements

But the financial side of the equation is where the busHive investment shifts from efficiency accelerator to financial differentiator.

Prior to busHive, the district had to manually calculate the value of each of those 2,500 unique trips and then engage in email requests for reimbursements. The process was slow, tedious and rife with opportunities for clerical or accounting errors to disrupt prompt payments.

“There is so much variability and diversity among these trips so it’s not something we can easily crank out in a spreadsheet,” he said. “It takes a lot of focus and expertise to capture all the unique data in a way that makes it easy for us and simple for the other department.”

Today, busHive automates the calculations, creates an invoice, integrates with a third-party financial management software to make the request and receives the reimbursement.

From request to receipt, the money is often received in about three days.

“Without busHive, this could take weeks of back and forth,” he said. “The calculations alone would be an enormous burden nevermind the reconciliation of the receipts. busHive automates so much of the heavy lifting and creates a smooth system for every person in the process.”

Bauman calculates the funds recouped equate to about $500,000 per school year. Without busHive, it would be nearly impossible to process all the requests required to achieve that recouping.

“Not everyone appreciates so many of the intricacies of special trips and how we pay for them and how the transportation department serves the district,” he said.

“It has made a world of difference to our department and our accounting to have a system that automates nearly every part of the process.”

Learn More and Book a Demo.

---

About Transit Technologies

Transit Technologies delivers a best-in-class, technology suite for the K–12 transportation industry—helping school districts and school bus contractors run safer, more efficient, and more transparent operations from end to end.

busHive, a modern solution designed to simplify and streamline field trip and athletic trip management. From request intake and approvals to scheduling, communication, and billing, busHive replaces manual processes with a seamless digital workflow that saves time and reduces errors.

For daily operations, ByteCurve provides powerful tools for dispatch, timekeeping, and payroll. It equips transportation teams with real-time visibility into routes, driver activity, and labor data, ensuring accurate reporting, optimized staffing,—all within a single, fully integrated system.

Safety and visibility are enhanced through Vestige, a comprehensive suite of onboard cameras and telematics. Vestige delivers actionable insights through video capture, GPS tracking, and AI driver behavior monitoring, empowering districts to proactively improve safety, respond quickly to incidents, and build trust with parents and communities.

Rounding out the ecosystem is Faster, a robust vehicle maintenance and asset management platform. Faster helps fleets stay road-ready with preventative maintenance scheduling, work order tracking, inventory control, and lifecycle management—maximizing uptime while reducing operational costs.

Together, these solutions form a unified platform that transforms K–12 transportation—connecting people, processes, and data to drive smarter decisions, safer rides, and more efficient operations.

The post Aldine ISD Uses busHive Technology to Save Big on Field Trips appeared first on School Transportation News.

CHATHAM, Ill. – In recognition of April being designated as Distracted Driving Awareness Month, BusGates, the makers of LED stop arm extensions, is raising awareness about the ongoing risks students face at school bus stops and asking drivers to be more diligent while encouraging communities to consider additional safety measures aimed at preventing illegal passing incidents that put students at significant risk of injury or worse.

Seeing motorists repeatedly ignore traditional school bus warning signals is a daily frustration for many school bus drivers, including Cindy Morris, a veteran bus driver for the Ball-Chatham school district in Illinois whose perspective is the subject of a new video campaign being launched this month.

“It’s been a huge issue. I’ve literally had people just watch me drop off [students] and still go by. Anytime you can draw more attention to something, it’s going to make changes and BusGates has,” said Morris.National data emphasizes the scale of the issue. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, an estimated 43.5 million illegal school bus passings occur each year in the United States, highlighting the persistent danger students face when boarding and exiting the bus.

“It’s time to move beyond reactive tools after a child has already been put at risk”, said Dan Thompson, Co-Founder at BusGates. “Real solutions exist today that proactively reduce illegal passing and protect children in the moment, and our stop arm extensions are a proven way to reduce violations before they happen.”

Communities that have implemented stop-arm extensions have reported reductions in illegal passing incidents, with some school districts noting significant decreases following deployment. The approach focuses on addressing driver behavior at the point of risk by increasing visibility of the school buses’ stop arm and reinforcing the expectation to stop when it’s extended.

BusGates is also encouraging parents and educators to use Distracted Driving Awareness Month as an opportunity to talk with students about safe crossing practices and to engage in conversations about bus stop safety within their communities.

Drivers are reminded to remain alert, particularly in residential areas and along school bus routes. Safety officials recommend avoiding phone use while driving, reducing speed near bus stops, and anticipating that children may cross the street unexpectedly.

“In today’s environment of constant distraction, we need safety measures that make school buses impossible to miss”, added Jeff Stauffer, Co-Founder at BusGates. “Stop-arm extensions increase visibility of the school bus and help reduce illegal drive arounds, keeping students safe when they get on and off the bus.”

BusGates, a stop-arm extension technology designed to increase the visibility and physical presence of a school bus stop signal, is being implemented in districts across the U.S. and Canada as part of broader efforts to improve student safety. The device extends into the roadway when the bus is stopped, creating a more prominent visual cue for approaching drivers and prompting them to slow down and stop.

BusGates Stop Arm Extensions are being used by school districts in 26 states including:
Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, New Mexico, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, as well as in Canada.

About Bus Gates:
Bus Gates is on a mission to reduce vehicle “drive-arounds” at bus stops across America and make getting to and from school safer for students. Bus Gates stop-arm extensions are a simple, cost-effective solution to a major problem – cars ignoring stopped school bus warnings putting students at risk. Bus Gates stop-arm extensions easily retro fits to the existing school bus stop signs. They offer additional visibility and stick out further from the bus to make drivers more aware and reduce illegal “drive-arounds” by up to 95%. www.busgates.com

The post BusGates Urges Proactive Measures During Distracted Driving Awareness Month to Protect Students at Bus Stops appeared first on School Transportation News.

DENVER, Colo. —EverDriven, the leading provider of alternative student transportation solutions, today released new caregiver survey data demonstrating high levels of satisfaction, trust, and reliability, reinforcing EverDriven’s role as a critical partner for school districts navigating ongoing transportation challenges.

As districts across the country face persistent school bus driver shortages, increasing demand for individualized transportation, and rising expectations around safety and reliability, caregiver trust has become a clear measure of whether a transportation solution is truly working. EverDriven’s latest data shows that its model doesn’t just meet student needs; it earns the confidence of the families it serves

Based on 2026 feedback from nearly 600 caregivers, over 80% of caregivers say they would recommend EverDriven to others, a strong indicator of trust in the company’s safety-first approach and consistent service delivery. Beyond satisfaction, these results underscore the essential role transportation plays in a student’s daily experience, including consistent attendance, stability and better overall student outcomes.

Real Caregiver Experiences
“As a single mother, I am big on my kid’s safety. I had been skeptical about putting my kids in a stranger’s vehicle without me. But EverDriven changed all of that,” said Angie Nelson of Iowa. “The staff are kind, helpful and very understanding. The EverDriven VIP App allows me to track my kids from the second they get into the vehicle to when they arrive at school. EverDriven provides safety and gives caregivers comfort their kids are safe every day.”

“My child has gone through EverDriven for the last two years, and as a parent, my experience with the company has been amazing,” said Caressa Palmer of South Carolina. “The drivers are trustworthy, honest, and understanding. EverDriven is reliable and always on time. I would definitely recommend it to a friend or family member.”

What Caregivers Value Most
The survey data points to four things caregivers say matter most:
Safety and trust: Every driver undergoes rigorous background checks, identity verification, and ongoing monitoring, supported by a culture of accountability and care. Safety protocols are designed specifically for student transportation, not ride-share.
Real-time visibility: The EverDriven VIP app enables caregivers to track their child’s ride in real time, providing end-to-end visibility from pickup through drop-off.
Consistency and reliability: Dedicated drivers and optimized routing support dependable, on-time service and a more familiar experience for students. For students with disabilities, 83% of rides are completed by the same driver, helping build consistency, trust and comfort.
Communication and support: Responsive support teams work closely with families and districts to proactively address concerns and adapt to student needs.

“When a caregiver trusts you with their child, there is nothing more important than getting that right every single day,” said Mitch Bowling, CEO of EverDriven. “These results reflect the trust families place in us and our unwavering commitment to safety. From the drivers we vet to the technology we provide, everything we do is designed to give caregivers confidence that their children are safe, supported, and cared for from pickup to drop-off.”

Meeting a Growing Need
With ongoing driver shortages, increasing numbers of students requiring specialized transportation, and rising expectations around safety and reliability, districts are under pressure to deliver transportation solutions that work for every student.

In this environment, caregiver trust serves as a critical validation point. When families feel confident in transportation, districts experience fewer disruptions, reduced administrative burden, and greater confidence that students can consistently access their education.

To learn more about how EverDriven helps districts reduce transportation challenges while ensuring safe, consistent access to education, visit everdriven.com.

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 37 states, the company completed over 2 million successful trips last 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.

The post When Caregivers Trust the Ride, Students Thrive: New EverDriven Survey Data Shows 8 in 10 Caregivers Would Recommend the Service appeared first on School Transportation News.

REDWOOD CITY, Calif., — Zūm, the leader in Connected Mobility Experience (CMX), today announced a $100 million investment from TPG, bringing the company’s total funding to $430 million and valuing Zum at $1.7 billion. TPG is making its investment through The Rise Funds, the multi-sector strategy of its global impact investing platform, and in connection with the investment, Steve Ellis, a Managing Partner of The Rise Funds, will join Zum’s Board of Directors.

The funding follows the introduction of the Zum CMX platform, a Connected Mobility Experience designed to address the fragmentation, delays, and lack of visibility that have long defined student mobility. New research unveiled today quantifies the impact of this antiquated system, identifying that 54% of parents report their child experiences worry or concern about school transportation—contributing to what Zum calls a nationwide “Transportation Anxiety Crisis” — and roughly $15 billion educational loss a year.

Together, these developments reflect a growing recognition that while transportation moves vehicles, mobility is about moving people, and that daily experience has remained largely unchanged for decades.

“Every day, millions of students depend on systems that were never designed to work in real time,” said Ritu Narayan, Founder and CEO of Zum. “Zum CMX is our answer — a system we have been building and refining across 4,500 schools that brings visibility, coordination, and reliability to daily mobility. This funding allows us to accelerate what we know works and bring it to every student in America.”

Investor Conviction in a Category-Defining Platform
“TPG invested in Zum because it’s the leading innovator in one of the largest and most underserved critical transportation markets in the country,” said TPG’s Steve Ellis. “By fundamentally redesigning how student mobility is managed in real time, Zum’s fully integrated AI powered system is delivering measurable gains in reliability, efficiency, and outcomes for students, their families, and school districts across the country.”

This is a category-defining movement. Zum is not just improving student mobility —it is fundamentally redesigning how people, vehicles, and operations are coordinated in real time.

Across the $50 billion student mobility market, the largest segment of mass mobility, millions of daily rides are still managed through fragmented systems that lack real-time coordination. Zum CMX addresses this by integrating routing, dispatch, workforce management, safety, and communication into a single, continuous operating system.

Scaling Across School Districts Nationwide
Zum currently operates across more than 4,500 schools in 17 states, serving some of the largest districts in the country, including Los Angeles Unified School District, Boston Public Schools, San Francisco Unified School District, Omaha Public Schools, and Kansas City Public Schools.

The $100 million investment will accelerate:

Expansion of Zum CMX across additional school districts nationwide.
Continued investment in AI-driven coordination and predictive operations.
Scaled infrastructure to support large-scale, real-time mobility system.

Proven Outcomes at Scale
Zum CMX is already delivering measurable results across every district it serves:

98% on-time bus arrival rate on average.
20% reduction in bus fleet size through route efficiency.
4.9 out of 5-star parent satisfaction across more than 1.7 million reviews.
Up to 10% reduction in annual transportation costs for the San Francisco Unified School District.
These outcomes demonstrate how improved transportation reliability directly impacts attendance, learning readiness, and district financial sustainability.

The Transportation Anxiety Crisis
The investment coincides with the inaugural Zum Mobility Symposium in Sunnyvale, where school district leaders, policymakers, and researchers will gather to discuss the future of student mobility. At the event, Zum will formally introduce CMX as a new category and unveil research from NORC at the University of Chicago.

The findings highlight a system that was never designed to operate in real time, in which routing, dispatch, communication, and safety have historically operated in silos, creating anxiety for families and inefficiencies for districts. Zum CMX is designed to eliminate these root causes by bringing visibility, coordination, and accountability to every ride.

About Zum
Zum is revolutionizing mass mobility with its Connected Mobility Experience (Zum CMX) system that connects and coordinates people, vehicles, and operations in real time. In the $50 billion student mobility market – the largest segment of the mass mobility industry – Zum CMX is transforming a daily source of anxiety and disruption into a reliable, transparent, and efficient mobility experience for students and families. Today, more than 4,500 schools rely on Zum CMX. Recognized globally for its innovative approach and operational execution, Zum has been named to Fast Company’s World’s Most Innovative Companies, CNBC Disruptor 50 and Changemakers, the World Economic Forum, and the Financial Times’ Fastest Growing Companies lists. Zum is backed by leading investors including Sequoia Capital, GIC, SoftBank, and TPG. Zum, Zum CMX, and associated logos are trademarks of Zum Services, Inc. All rights reserved. Learn more at www.ridezum.com.

About TPG
TPG is a leading global alternative asset management firm, founded in San Francisco in 1992, with $303 billion of assets under management and investment and operational teams around the world. TPG invests across a broadly diversified set of strategies, including private equity, impact, credit, real estate, and market solutions, and our unique strategy is driven by collaboration, innovation, and inclusion. Our teams combine deep product and sector experience with broad capabilities and expertise to develop differentiated insights and add value for our fund investors, portfolio companies, management teams, and communities.

About The Rise Funds
The Rise Funds are a core pillar of TPG’s global impact investing platform. Founded in 2016 by TPG in partnership with Bono and Jeff Skoll, The Rise Funds invest behind impact entrepreneurs and growth-stage, high potential, mission-driven companies that are focused on building and scaling solutions to the world’s most complex challenges. The Rise Funds deliver capabilities and expertise across a wide variety of sectors and countries at scale, focusing on opportunities in climate and decarbonization, education, financial inclusion, healthcare, and impact technology.

TPG’s Impact Platform is the world’s largest of its kind, managing approximately $31 billion in assets across a family of funds that pursue non-concessionary returns and social and environmental impact at scale through growth equity, private equity, and infrastructure investing strategies.

The post Zum Raises $100 Million From TPG to Accelerate Zum’s Connected Mobility Experience (CMX) and for Continued Growth and Expansion appeared first on School Transportation News.

When a student experiencing homelessness moves in the middle of the night, how quickly can your district get them a ride to school the next morning? When a student with an IEP can’t be adequately served by a traditional bus route, who do you call — and what happens if they don’t show up?

For most transportation directors, solving for the most complex student needs consumes 95% of your time. McKinney-Vento compliance, IEP mandates, chronic absenteeism, driver shortages, and the everyday scramble of last-minute changes don’t slow down — and neither can you.

Join School Transportation News and HopSkipDrive for a candid, peer-led conversation on how districts are rethinking their transportation mix to serve every student — not just the ones the yellow bus can reach. You’ll hear directly from a McKinney-Vento Coordinator and a Director of Pupil Transportation and Fleet Management who have navigated these challenges firsthand, alongside a HopSkipDrive transportation analyst who has sat on both sides of the table.

We’ll dig into the real costs and tradeoffs of different transportation operating models — Transportation Network Companies (TNCs), brokers, and taxis — and explore what a smarter, multimodal approach can mean for attendance, compliance, and the students who need you most. You’ll leave this webinar with:

• A clearer framework for evaluating transportation operating models and where each fits in your district’s plan
• A practical look at what McKinney-Vento transportation can and should look like
• Real-world strategies for using supplemental transportation to reduce chronic absenteeism
• A comparison of TNCs, brokers, taxis, and white fleets: what each model actually delivers in terms of safety, speed, visibility, cost effectiveness, and compliance

This content is brought to you by HopSkipDrive

REGISTER BELOW

Featured speakers:

Claire Bergman
McKinney-Vento Coordinator
Sun Prairie Area School District (WI)

Claire Bergman currently serves as the McKinney-Vento Coordinator for the Sun Prairie Area School District, where she is dedicated to removing barriers to education for students experiencing housing instability. With a deep passion for policy reform and systems-level change, she focuses on strengthening districtwide support frameworks to ensure equitable outcomes for vulnerable students and their families. Ms. Bergman holds a Master’s in Social Work from Loyola University Chicago.

 

MeChale’ Johnson
Director, Office of Pupil Transportation and Fleet Management
Alexandria City Public Schools (VA)

MeChale’ Johnson is the Director of Pupil Transportation and Fleet Management for Alexandria City Public Schools (ACPS). For the past four years, she has overseen a fleet of 124 school buses and more than 85 passenger vehicles, ensuring the safe and reliable transportation of students to and from school each day. Her operation also provides specialized transportation services for students with unique needs through partnerships with contracted public carrier vendors. Prior to joining ACPS, Ms. Johnson served as the Director of Transportation for Falls Church City Public Schools. She possesses more than 15 years of experience in transportation management, beginning her career at the University of Maryland (UMD), where she supervised transportation services that supported university students commuting to campus from surrounding counties and local communities. She also spent several years in public mass transit leadership with the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA). Ms. Johnson holds a bachelor’s degree in Criminology and Criminal Justice from the University of Maryland and a Master of Business Administration (MBA).

Greg Dutton
Senior Transportation Analyst
HopSkipDrive
Former Director of Transportation
Renton School District (WA)

Greg Dutton is a Senior Transportation Analyst at HopSkipDrive with nearly three decades of experience spanning transportation operations and technology leadership. Greg brings a uniquely informed perspective to his role — having first engaged with HopSkipDrive on the client side as Director of Transportation at Renton School District in Washington State, he has a deep understanding of the daily struggles and tough decisions facing school transportation professionals, including issues related to the national school bus driver shortage. In that role, Greg led all aspects of the district’s transportation department — from personnel management and route planning to budget administration, safety, and fleet operations. Prior to that, Greg held the role of Assistant Director of Transportation, overseeing daily operations, accident investigations, and coordination with law enforcement and community stakeholders. He holds an MBA in Telecommunications Management from Alaska Pacific University, a BA in Telecommunications from Texas Tech University, and an AA in Mass Communications from Amarillo College.

The post (Free Webinar) Beyond the Bus: Comparing Transportation Models for Serving Today’s Most Complex Student Needs appeared first on School Transportation News.

JEFFERSON HILLS, Pa. – Matthews Bus Company’s West Jefferson maintenance team has received a letter of commendation from the Pennsylvania State Police for their extraordinary commitment to safety and fleet maintenance. This is the second time the team has received praise for their fleet inspections in the last few years – proving their unwavering, continuous dedication to ensuring their buses are maintained to the highest standards.

The letter of commendation, written by Corporal Jacob Y. Roberts, Patrol Supervisor and US DOT Inspector for the Pennsylvania State Police, praised Maintenance Supervisor Sam Borrelli and his team, stating the following:

“Sam and his team are far and away among the absolute best to work with. The buses are always extremely well maintained, clean, and never have any issues that would result in a violation on a DOT Inspection. There is never a concern when coming to the garage that things will be out of place or that the process will be difficult. In addition to the buses, the garage itself is always well kept and maintained, and it is always a pleasurable experience to visit.”

Corporal Roberts also lauded Sam, sharing, “I have known Sam for many years at this point, and I personally believe that he does an excellent job. He reflects extremely well upon the company, and more importantly, has a genuine care and concern for the children and drivers that are in the school buses every day. He should be commended for such consistent and excellent work.

John Hinners, who is Sam’s manager and also the Regional Maintenance Manager for the Company’s Great Lakes area, shared his sentiments regarding Sam and his team’s incredible achievement and efforts, stating, “This letter is a phenomenal testament to the dedication Sam’s team provides to fleet maintenance at West Jefferson. Determination and commitment builds integrity and character. It is clear we have made an impact with our consistent and steady approach to quality maintenance. I am beyond proud of the team and their achievement. Congrats and keep up the amazing work.”

Matthews Bus Company has served the Jefferson Hills community for over 60 years and currently provides transportation for the West Jefferson Hills School District. In addition to providing transportation services, the company is proud to support the community as part of its Partners Beyond the Bus community outreach program. Examples include donating 20,000 lbs. of food to a local food pantry for the holidays, holding a Stuff a Bus event, donating a bus to the West Jefferson Hills School District for mobile mental health services, donating backpacks to local students, and more.

About Matthews Bus Company
Matthews Bus Company has been providing safe and reliable student transportation across Pennsylvania since 1961. Its mission is to transport students to school safely, on time and ready to learn® and is a sister brand to Petermann Bus, Durham School Services, Stock Transportation, and more. Through this mission and a grassroots approach to our operations, Matthews Bus Company and its sister brands have earned recognition as a trusted transportation provider among our Customers and the Communities they serve.

The post Matthews Bus Company’s West Jefferson Maintenance Team Praised for Outstanding Dedication to Safety appeared first on School Transportation News.

LOS ANGELES, Calif. — HopSkipDrive, the leader in safe, fast, and simple supplemental student transportation, today announced the introduction of Flexible Invoice Groups. This new self-service tool, available directly within the ride management software RideIQ, allowing transportation directors to automate and customize how they group rides—aligning them instantly with specific school budgets, grant funding, or departmental structures.

In school transportation,”simple” billing is often a myth. Managing these operations is about more than just a ride; it’s about navigating a complex web of budgets, grants, and departmental funding. For large districts, the reality of McKinney-Vento funds, General Ed budgets, and changing Foster Youth placements often means transportation directors end up buried in manual spreadsheets and custom workarounds.

Flexible Invoice Groups is designed to simplify these complex needs by putting control back in the hands of districts and eliminating the need for manual workarounds. Every month, the system automatically generates:

● Custom Budget Alignment: Invoices are automatically pre-sorted into your district’s
specific “buckets”—such as McKinney-Vento or General Ed. Because riders are mapped to these groups on the backend, your billing arrives already aligned with your funding and departmental structures.
● Total Transparency: Every invoice automatically generates a consistent Excel backup with trip-level details. Because we maintain a direct relationship with every CareDriver, you get a verified audit trail showing exactly how each student’s ride is billed.
● Clear Reporting: Access clean, standardized PDFs that are pulled directly from our ride records. Our direct relationship with drivers on our platform means reports are generated directly from our data, not from a middleman’s spreadsheet. These PDF reports provide the easy-to-understand documentation that procurement teams often need to share with other departments and district leadership.

From a Manual Marathon to Total Accuracy
Aligning invoices with internal cost centers used to be a manual marathon, especially for
districts juggling multiple funding sources. We’ve transformed that”spreadsheet scramble” into a centralized, automated system, slashing the time spent on reconciliation and freeing your team to focus on what matters most: getting students to school safely and reliably. Unlike unregulated brokers who can subcontract to unknown third-party fleets—leading to “middleman markups” and fragmented data—HopSkipDrive maintains a direct relationship with every CareDriver. This oversight provides the verified audit trail and transparent reporting necessary to protect your district’s budget and liability, without the hidden costs.

Precision at Scale
The strength of Flexible Invoice Groups lies in providing the granular data needed to track every dollar. By enabling admins to create custom groupings and providing a standardized Excel backup for every billing cycle, this feature ensures that your financial reporting stays seamless and manageable, no matter how many rides you’re coordinating.

At HopSkipDrive, we are committed to being a trusted partner in your district’s financial health. While Flexible Invoice Groups automates the technical side of billing, it is just one part of our support ecosystem. From Shared Billing that automatically splits costs between districts, to RideIQ reports that provide the documentation needed for Medicaid reimbursements, we are giving administrators back their most valuable resource: time. As districts continue to scale their operations, these tools ensure that your billing remains as agile and transparent as you need.

About HopSkipDrive
HopSkipDrive is the leader in safe, fast, and simple supplemental student transportation. Modernizing the $30 billion school transportation industry through its care-centered transportation marketplace which supplements school buses by connecting kids to highly-vetted caregivers on wheels, such as grandparents, babysitters, and nurses in local communities. HopSkipDrive also offers its industry-leading transportation intelligence platform, RouteWise AI, to address critical challenges, including budget cuts, bus driver shortages, and reaching climate goals. With this technology, HopSkipDrive has supported over 14,500 schools and over 2,000 school districts, government agencies, and nonprofit partners. Since its founding in 2014 by three working mothers, HopSkipDrive has surpassed more than 100 million safe miles driven. This record includes nearly 3 million foster and McKinney-Vento rides and 1.7 million Individualized Education Program (IEP) rides, alongside millions of additional trips for General Education, Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs, and extracurricular activities.

The post HopSkipDrive Launches “Flexible Invoice Groups” to Simplify Complex School District Billing 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.