Last year, the appetite for electric school buses waned. The reason had a lot to do with President Donald Trump retaking the Oval Office and signing numerous executive orders that changed course on the drive toward zero emissions.

The Clean School Bus Program was shelved until recently, with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency expected at press time to finally announced it would make good on awarding the final $2.5 billion remaining in the five-year $5 million program. Seemingly it comes the official re-emergence of diesel, which had been obvious across all sectors.

Diesel is 90 percent cleaner than it was two decades ago and, while it still emits harmful particulate matter especially for children’s developing lungs, it remains the fuel type of choice for many fleets due to its workhorse and longevity characteristics. That makes federal subsidies for drop-in biodiesel blends, which many school districts have been using for decades, and renewable diesel especially attractive.

Granted, maintaining diesel systems has become more arduous and expensive. And those costs extend to the fuel pump.

Petroleum prices were already volatile, then the Iran war broke out. The Strait of Hormuz closed, and the price of oil soared well past $100 a barrel. Diesel and gasoline prices followed suit globally. Despite the U.S. opening domestic oil reserves, those prices have stayed high, and there is no end in sight. This has spelled doom for school districts and school bus operators.

The National Association for Pupil Transportation and AASA: The Superintendents Association conducted a survey last month that illustrates the impacts. Of the 188 school districts responding, 22 percent said their diesel fuel costs increased by 11- to 20 percent over their current school year budget. Another 20 percent said they
are 6- to 10 percent over budget.

Scott Lee, the director of transportation for Washoe County School District in Nevada, said diesel costs increased a whopping 89 percent from January of this year to May, rising from $3.01 per gallon to $5.69 per gallon. The Reno-area school district, however, seemingly has it better than a lot of states in terms of actual prices being paid. Outside of Portland, Oregon, the Beaverton School District was paying $6.57 per gallon through April, a 38-percent increase from $4.77 paid last July.

The saving grace for school districts like Beaverton and Washoe is a reliance on electric and propane school buses. Craig Beaver, who retires as director of transportation this summer, said the fleet of electric school buses is closing in on the sweet spot of achieving 1.5 kWh per mile efficiency. In April, the school district’s Type C and Type D electric school buses averaged 1.6 kW per mile, the best mark since last October, when the average was 1.59.

Meanwhile, both he and Washoe County’s Lee are also increasingly relying on propane. Lee shared that propane fueling cost remains relatively flat with an increase of 4 percent for fiscal year 2027, at which point the district also is purchasing another six propane school buses for the 2026-2027 school year.

Beaver said he kept the budget the same for the coming school year, as more electric and propane school buses will be on the road at a cheaper cost. This, he added, will hopefully offset the increase in diesel cost per gallon over the course of the year.

“It’s a good plan, as long as the Strait of Hormuz opens up in the next month or two. We will have minimal diesel usage this summer as well,” he shared. “Only use those buses for long trips. Everything else will be EV supplemented by propane.”

Beaverton’s long-term plan includes transitioning all 140 Type D school buses in the fleet to propane over the next five to eight years, once Blue Bird comes to market with an option.

The writing on the wall, no matter the politics at play, is the TCO of both electric and propane pencil out. Despite higher upfront costs, both options are often surpassing diesel in terms of lifetime fuel and maintenance csts. That story was also told at ACT Expo last month, in the 2026 State of Sustainable Fuels report.

With the Clean School Bus Program relaunching and no matter the assumed new funding mechanism for biodiesel and renewal diesel, millions if not billions of dollars will be spent in the coming years to add more electric and propane school buses to the national fleet.

And that is welcome news in a world where fuel volatility and higher new vehicle purchase prices will continue.

Editor’s Note: As reprinted from the June 2026 issue of School Transportation News.

---

Related: (STN Podcast E308) Past & Future: Fuel Volatility, 10 Years of School Transportation Trends
Related: (STN Podcast E307) Buy With Confidence: Fuel Price Frustration, School Bus Buying Tips
Related: Survey: Half of School Districts Paying At Least 6% More for Diesel
Related: Survey Shows 87% of Parents Support Low-Emissions School Buses, Yet Diesel Dominates

The post Alternative to Fueling Discomfort appeared first on School Transportation News.

In student transportation, communication is not just an operational tool. It is a safety system. As fleets expand across districts, regions and states, traditional communication models are increasingly unable to keep pace with the demands of real-time coordination, incident response and compliance. Forward-looking transportation leaders are rethinking communication not as a standalone function, but as a foundational layer of a modern, safety-critical operating model.

This shift is redefining how drivers, dispatchers and operations teams collaborate to deliver safer and more reliable service for students and families.

The Growing Gap in Legacy Communication Systems
For decades, school transportation has relied on analog radio systems. While historically effective, these systems now present structural limitations in a modern, distributed operating environment: Limited range across rural, suburban and multi-district routes; channel congestion during peak routing windows; fragmented communication across regions and operating companies; lack of integration with routing, safety and compliance platforms; and ongoing infrastructure and maintenance overhead.

At scale, these constraints are not just inefficient. They introduce risks. When communication slows down, safety responses slow down.

Reframing Communication as Strategic Capability
Leading transportation providers are approaching communication transformation with a different mindset. Instead of viewing it as a device upgrade, they are treating it as a core operational capability that directly impacts:

• Driver confidence and retention.
• Dispatcher effectiveness and workload.
• Incident response times and safety outcomes.
• Cross-regional coordination during disruptions.
• Visibility for leadership and decision-making.

This shift requires strong leadership alignment and a deliberate focus on change management, not just technology deployment. As one operations leader noted, the goal is not to replace radios, but to future-proof communication across the organization.

What Modern Communication Looks Like
Modern communication models in school transportation are defined by a few key characteristics:

1. Real-Time, Nationwide Connectivity
Communication is no longer constrained by geography. Dispatchers can connect with drivers across regions instantly, enabling coordinated responses to weather events, route disruptions, or safety incidents.
2. Seamless Integration with Operations
Communication is increasingly integrated with routing systems, safety platforms and operational dashboards. This creates a unified environment where communication and data work together.
3. Simplicity for Frontline Users
Despite backend complexity, the user experience must remain simple. One-touch communication, intuitive interfaces and minimal training friction are critical for driver adoption.
4. Security and Reliability
As communication becomes digital, encryption, uptime and reliability become essential components of a safety-first architecture.

Execution Matters: The Role of Change Management
Technology alone does not drive transformation. Execution does. Successful implementations typically follow a structured approach: Pilot deployments across diverse operating environments; standardized onboarding and training for drivers and dispatchers; device and workflow standardization to reduce variability; continuous feedback loops to refine usability; and close collaboration between technology, operations and safety teams.

Organizations that invest in change management see faster adoption, higher satisfaction and more measurable outcomes.

Measurable Impact on Safety and Operations
When communication is modernized effectively, the impact is tangible: Faster dispatcher-to-driver response times, often reduced by 30 to 40 percent; improved coordination during emergencies and service disruptions; reduced dependency on physical infrastructure and maintenance overhead; enhanced incident escalation and documentation; and greater consistency across multi-location operations.

More importantly, these improvements translate into better outcomes for students. Faster communication means faster response. And in a safety-critical environment, minutes matter.

Beyond Tech: A Cultural Shift
Perhaps the most important outcome of modern communication is cultural. Drivers feel more connected and supported in the field, dispatchers operate with greater clarity and confidence, and leadership gains real-time visibility into operations. Additionally, organizations move from reactive to proactive decision-making.

This is not just a systems upgrade. It is a shift toward a more connected, responsive and people-centered operating model.

The Road Ahead
As the student transportation industry continues to evolve, communication will play an increasingly central role in enabling: Scalable growth across regions and contracts; compliance with evolving safety and regulatory expectations; integration with AI-driven routing, monitoring and analytics platforms; and a more resilient and adaptive transportation network.

The organizations that lead this transformation will not be defined by the tools they adopt, but by how they integrate communication into the fabric of their operations.

Final Thought
In student transportation, every conversation has the potential to impact
safety. Modernizing communication is not just about efficiency. It is about
ensuring that every driver, dispatcher and operations leader is equipped to
respond, support and protect the students they serve. And that is where technology, leadership and purpose come together.

Editor’s Note: As reprinted from the May 2026 issue of School Transportation News.

---

Gaurav Sharda is the chief technical officer for student transportation company Beacon Mobility and the 2025 STN Innovator of the Year.

---

---

Related: Ignite Your Leadership
Related: How District Turned a Transportation Crisis into a Communication Win
Related: How Technology Powers Daily Student Transportation Operations
Related: (STN Podcast E296) Technology Has Blossomed: School Bus Mirrors & Student Safety

The post Modernizing School Transportation Communications appeared first on School Transportation News.

I received an email from an industry colleague challenging me to tackle the topic of world-class safety. That seemed like a daunting task, but I am always up for a challenge.

Why are minimum standards the baseline for many school transportation operations? Why is it the minimum that we strive to meet as an industry? If someone came to me and said we meet the minimum safety standards, I wouldn’t be confident that my child was safe.

Let’s face it—The minimum means you cannot do any less. It is the bare minimum that is required. Almost every parent takes for granted that everything possible is being done to transport their children safely. They have no idea of the many factors that lead to the wide variation of safety practices and equipment that result in a wider variation of safety levels being delivered.

School transportation operations view whatever their states require as the level they need to meet, no more and no less. This is a generalization, as I know many school transportation operators go above and beyond with safety training and safety equipment investment. Still, many others do not.

States have their own requirements, and they are all over the map. California has the highest minimum standard for crossing elementary school students to and from bus stops, for example. Meanwhile, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration Entry Level Driver Training requirement is an effort to raise the minimum standard in every state. Having said that, ELDT simply lists subjects that are to be taught. It does not detail how or to what extent the subjects are to be taught. You can still comply with ELDT but provide minimum training.

What does world-class safety look like? What industry standards are we trying to meet that go beyond the state requirements? We have the National Congress on School Transportation, which will be held every four years starting in 2029. But a lot can change in four years. Plus, it also outlines minimum standards, and most states don’t adopt it in its entirety.

As Senior Editor Taylor Ekbatani reports in this month’s issue, uniformity is key when addressing safety. She writes that laws on when oncoming vehicles stop for a school bus can differ based on divided and undivided roads.

When you compare your first day of the school year to today, is there an improvement in performance, optimization and a reduction in stress? Have any crashes or other safety incidents occurred? School buses have been rolling for many months. As we inch closer to summer, the topic of safety must remain top of mind.

At the end of March, a major crash in Tennessee that resulted in two student fatalities and a half-dozen injuries drew much attention to school bus safety. A lawsuit claims the driver didn’t receive the proper training and the school bus lacked safety technology like seatbelts. The state and federal investigation was ongoing at press time.

Statistically, the school bus is by far the safest way for students to travel to and from school. Still, over the past six school years, at least 62 students were killed in or around school buses or stops, according to STN research.

Six, including the recent Tennessee victims, were passengers in crashes. One choked to death in her wheelchair. Another fell off the wheelchair lift. The rest were hit by the bus in the danger zone, crossing the street as pedestrians, by a passing vehicle, or were shot or beaten to death.

There is no or limited accounting for injuries and other student pedestrians killed or injured around school buses. So, how do we improve safety on and around the school bus? I recommend starting with the parents as they have a vested interest in their child’s safety. The burden of school bus safety can’t fall solely on school transportation and the school bus driver.

Jeff Cassell of the School Bus Safety Company shared recommendations to help mitigate potential tragedy around the school bus. He suggested reducing student crossing as much as possible, teaching the students safe crossing procedures, informing parents of those procedures, ensuring school bus drivers enforce the correct crossing procedures, and installing extended stop arms to make sure passing vehicles stop.

“Safety means you continually do all you can to remove or reduce risk. The required behaviors that remove or reduce risk are a function on the location leadership,” he added. “World-class safety is where an organization follows the safest best practices in every area of their operations. They use the leading practices, processes and training systems to integrate these best practices into every facet of the organization, always, with a structured plan to do so.”

Striving for world-class safety should always be the goal. Keep reinforcing safe behaviors around the school bus with your school bus drivers, kids and parents. As an industry, being 100-percent safe all the time isn’t easy. But removing risk from operations that saves a child’s life is well worth the effort.

The post Meeting the Minimum Standards appeared first on School Transportation News.

As I continue examining pupil transportation systems around the world, one consistent theme is clear. Italy, like in many other countries we have looked at so far, has an approach vastly different from the American model centered around the iconic yellow school bus.

In the U.S., pupil transportation is highly standardized, centralized and built around dedicated fleets of school buses. In Italy, however, the system is far more decentralized and varied, relying on a mix of municipal services, public transportation, walking, family transport, and in some cases even taxis. It is not uncommon, particularly in certain regions or unique circumstances, for students to utilize taxi services as a means of getting to and from school. This diversity of options highlights a fundamentally different philosophy—one that emphasizes flexibility and integration rather than uniformity.

Italian pupil transportation is not governed by a single national model. Instead, it is managed at the municipal level, meaning each city or town determines whether transportation services are provided, who qualifies and how those services operate. This creates significant variation across the country. In some communities, particularly smaller or rural municipalities, there are dedicated school transport services known as scuolabus. These are typically smaller buses or vans that provide limited routes for students who live farther from school. While these services resemble the American model in function, they are far less standardized and operate on a much smaller scale.

In contrast, many students in urban areas rely heavily on public transportation systems. Buses, trams and regional trains are commonly used by students traveling to and from school. What stands out to me is the level of independence expected of students. It is not uncommon for younger students to navigate these systems on their own, something that would raise significant concern in many parts of the U.S.. In Italy, however, this independence is culturally accepted and supported by the structure of communities and public transit systems.

Walking is also a primary mode of transportation, particularly in densely populated towns and historic city centers where schools are located within close proximity to residential areas. Families may also transport students by car, scooter or bicycle, but the reliance on large-scale, dedicated school bus fleets is minimal compared to the U.S.

U.S., Italy Differ in More Ways

From a safety and security perspective, the differences are equally striking. The U.S. has developed a highly controlled environment around pupil transportation, with strict regulations, specialized vehicles and clearly defined safety procedures such as stop arms, compartmentalization and driver training standards. In Italy, safety is governed more broadly through general traffic laws and community norms rather than a dedicated, uniform system. While some scuolabus routes may include adult monitors for younger children, there is not the same level of standardized supervision or protection that we see in U.S. school transportation.

Cost is another distinguishing factor. In many parts of the U.S., pupil transportation is largely provided at no direct cost to families as part of public education. In Italy, transportation services are often partially subsidized, and families may be required to pay fees depending on the municipality and level of service. Discounts are sometimes available, but the system reflects a shared responsibility between local government and families.

As I reflect on these differences, it is clear that each system is built around its own cultural, geographic and operational realities. The U.S. prioritizes standardization, safety controls and centralized management, while Italy emphasizes flexibility, independence and integration with existing infrastructure. Neither system is inherently right or wrong—each simply reflects different priorities and risk tolerances.

However, from a professional safety and security standpoint, the comparison raises important considerations. The U.S. model provides a higher degree of controlled safety, particularly in managing risk during loading, unloading and transit. Italy’s model, while efficient and cost-effective, places greater responsibility on students and families and relies more heavily on environmental awareness and community structure.

Ultimately, studying systems like Italy’s reinforces the important principle that pupil transportation is not just about moving students from point A to point B. It reflects how a society balances safety, efficiency, costs, independence and responsibility.

As we continue to evaluate and improve our own systems, there is value in understanding how other countries approach the same challenge. Within those differences are insights that can inform better decision-making at home.

---

Bret E. Brooks is the chief operating officer for Gray Ram Tactical, LLC, a Missouri-based international consulting and training firm specializing in transportation safety and security. He is a keynote speaker, author of multiple books and articles and has trained audiences around the world. Bret also presents the online series, Third Thursday Training, to school districts across North America. He can be reached at BretBrooks@GrayRamTacticalTraining.com.

---

Related: Pupil Transportation Around the World: A Comparative Look at U.S., Brazil
Related: Pupil Transportation Around the World: A Comparative Look at U.S., Australia
Related: Pupil Transportation Around the World: A Comparative Look at U.S., Germany
Related: Pupil Transportation Around the World: A Comparative Look at the U.S. and Colombia
Related: Pupil Transportation Around the World: A Comparative Look at the U.S. and India
Related: What Differs Between Pupil Transportation in the U.S. and the U.K.?

The post Pupil Transportation Around the World: A Comparative Look at U.S., Italy appeared first on School Transportation News.

At this writing, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency had yet to announce the final award round for the Clean School Bus Program. At the same time, could the school bus industry be bracing for the end of the Diesel Emissions Reduction Act?

Since 2008, DERA has been responsible for replacing over 8,500 older operating school buses with cleaner alternatives. The Trump administration last month released its fiscal year 2027 budget request and asked Congress to cut over 52 percent of EPA’s discretionary funding. Included is a call on Congress to cancel DERA, which for nearly two decades has funneled hundreds of millions of dollars to the school bus industry via national grants, rebates and Tribal government awards.

Any attempt to end DERA at least in the Oval Office is unlikely. Congress still must pass its own budget appropriations. And a bipartisan DERA reauthorization bill has been in the works for the past year, which would extend the program at $100 million a year through fiscal year 2029. But the attempt demonstrates ongoing scrutiny over fiscal spending and, more aptly, funding alternative energy.

The $5 billion Clean School Bus Program was going to sunset one way or another after this year. But placing DERA funding in the crosshairs is the last headwind the industry needs on school bus replacements, a consultant shared with me. Another consultant noted that about a decade ago at an industry conference he asked the audience how willing they would be to continue to buy electric school buses if DERA funding dried up. Not one hand raised.

The question remains a good one today, since the electric school bus cost discrepancy is still two or three times that of diesel school buses. It was never attractive to pay upwards of $475,000 for a large electric school bus, and that’s before factoring in the charging infrastructure. If the Clean School Bus Program and DERA both end, where is the incentive to go green outside of a handful of states?

The cost of everything has gone up. At STN EXPO East in North Carolina earlier this spring, an attendee told me new diesel school bus purchases were running over $150,000 each. That includes a surcharge of $12,000 to $20,000 to pay for the warranties on the 2027-compliant engines. (The EPA continues to re-evaluate and finalize a new proposed Phase 3 GHG rule, but OEMs have already completed all necessary R&D and manufacturing to comply with the low NOx emissions levels.)

The Iran war and blockage on the Strait of Hormuz have also created substantial uncertainty for district budgets. While locking in bulk diesel prices creates insulation from price volatility, a gallon was selling at 30-percent premium after the war began. Meanwhile, April’s national average at-the-pump price exceeded $5.40 per gallon. In California, it’s well over $7 a gallon.

We also learned at STN EXPO East that the price of propane also increased, but by about 20 cents per gallon, when the fuel was already a fraction of the cost of diesel. Despite that silver lining, the question remains, how many propane school buses can and will be made available to the market?

School districts and bus companies cannot take for granted federal funds to help them purchase new school buses. Instead, already-strapped local and state budgets will be relied upon. School transportation professionals and their leaders need to increasingly make the case with voters that new school buses are necessary to keep up with service levels.

At the same time, however, public school enrollments are falling. The Brookings Institute found that U.S. public schools lost 1.2 million students from 2019 to 2023, and they aren’t coming back. Parents are homeschooling their children. They are sending them to charter and private schools. And increasingly they as well as school districts are using non-school bus vehicles to do it.

How willing will voters be to approve millions of more dollars via bond measures and levies for school bus purchases? Student transportation leaders can make no assumptions.

Simply put, funding is not keeping pace with rising costs. In seeking to proactively understand and manage all these intersecting challenges, student transporters will need to lean heavily into optimizing and rethinking service models, routing and resource allocation to maintain service levels with fewer resources.

Editor’s Note: As reprinted from the May 2026 issue of School Transportation News.

---

Related: EPA Commences Webinar Series as Clean School Bus Program Returns
Related: ‘Prepare and Pivot,’ Advises Texas Student Transportation Director
Related: EPA ‘Revamping’ Clean School Bus Program
Related: (STN Podcast E295) Something That’s Going to Work: Federal Updates + Future of School Bus Communications

The post A Purchasing Perfect Storm appeared first on School Transportation News.

LAS VEGAS — Is there a world for autonomous school buses, after all? This industry might not have a choice, according to Rivian CEO and founder R.J. Scaringe.

Conversations increased at ACT Expo this week around autonomous commercial vehicles, with several experts indicating during sessions that self-driving trucks powered by AI will explode onto the scene over the coming decade. That point was punctuated Wednesday morning by Scaringe.

“We’re going to see changes that are maybe the most significant from [a] societal impact in the history of the adult world, where we’ll have AI capabilities that can do a very large percentage of tasks that today are done by humans, that’ll free up human bandwidth to do other things,” he said during a main stage fireside chat.

“I’m of the view that we as the humans are going to continue to find higher value ways to use our time,” he added.

Scaringe suggested that over the next decade a “significant portion” of both consumer and commercial vehicles will be electric. And they will be “connected, highly intelligent” and drive themselves.

“And when I say that, I think the important thing to consider is, if you don’t have those things, what does that mean?” he asked the audience. “By 2035, if you’re a large-scale vehicle manufacturer, whether it’s on the consumer side or the commercial side, and you don’t have a connected, highly intelligent platform that’s running the software and electronics vehicle, and the vehicle doesn’t have self-driving capabilities, it’s hard to imagine maintaining market share.”

The question remains will school buses be driving themselves? Based on ACT Expo, where the commercial truck and bus industry leaders gathered, it is looking more likely. Many truck innovations eventually work their way onto and into school buses.

Amid more chatter on the role autonomous will play, notably first for heavy-duty trucking and last-mile delivery, fleets have definitively increased the use of data and connected technologies to drive more ROI, as shown by this year’s State of Sustainable Fleets report released at the conference.

Nearly everyone agrees autonomous technology for school buses won’t mean adult-less routes to and from school with rowdy children left to their own devices. But as Scaringe, opined, autonomous school buses could beg the question of how to redeploy school bus drivers as safety aides. Might that improve the driver shortage that the school bus industry has long suffered with? A leading cause of drivers leaving school districts is student on-board behavior and a real or perceived lack of support in addressing challenges.

Scaringe also discussed his new robotics company, Mind Robotics focused on AI-powered robots for industrial automation, launched earlier this year. The venture is using factory data at Rivian to actively explore human-like capabilities for industrial applications. My mind immediately wandered back to the school bus. Humanoids working with the children? What about the potential implications on how school bus data — and that from other motorists in an increasingly connected world — could further train and automate route operations? A robot blocking traffic to allow students safer passage to and from their bus stops, perhaps?

The sky is the limit.

Re-energized Talks About Electric School Buses

Meanwhile, electric vehicles, which had been the main draw for ACT Expo over the last several years, re-emerged on day three with several exhibit floor presentations about V2G deployment following Scaringe’s talk on the mainstage.

V2G is showing gains, as charge management continues to be a must for fleets. This was evidenced by projects stretching from California and Oregon to New Jersey and New England. Challenges remain, presenters OpConnect, The Mobility House and the New Jersey Department of Environmental Quality admitted. The least of which being how utility providers are setting rates for what school districts can earn for feeding the grid. But the presentations also demonstrated the successes and learned opportunities. Those figures are only expected to increase as the EPA Clean School Bus Program is expected to return this spring.

On Monday after the exhibitor floor opened, Zenobe facilitated a discussion about a complex yet successful school bus electrification project in Massachusetts. It relied on a collaborative effort between Zenobe to identify grants and incentives as well as implement the charging infrastructure alongside school bus contractor Beacon Mobility, OEMs Micro Bird and Thomas Built Buses, Mass CEC and National Grid.

Also on Monday, propane school buses continued to show ROI. Anthony Jackson, director of student transportation for Bibb County Schools in Georgia, shared his experiences with the fuel. Savings from using propane rather than diesel has resulted in savings of nearly $3 million over the last several school years and an over 30 percent decrease in cost per mile in fuel alone, to $0.27 per mile when operating propane compared to $0.39 per mile with diesel. The maintenance savings were even better at a nearly 49-percent reduction, to $0.23 per mile with propane from $0.45 per mile with diesel.

Evident at ACT Expo was the wide reach of connected vehicles and data driving AI activity. That realization, after all, spurred an event rebrand by producer TRC Clean Solutions to expand the acronym that originally stood for advanced clean transportation to encompass AI and autonomous, connected and technology.

Eric Neandross, president of TRC Clean Transportation Solutions, on Tuesday asked an OEM panel, which included International Motors CEO Mathias Carlbaum, if in 25 years their companies will be technology providers rather than simply truck manufacturers. But the answers turned attention back to diesel remaining a major player for decades to come, burning cleaner and cleaner while continuing to supplement battery-electric and all the connected software that goes with it.

Things haven’t changed that much, after all.

---

Related: Intersection of Autonomous Vehicles and School Buses
Related: Autonomous Vehicle Implications
Related: You Can’t Spell Training Without AI

The post An Autonomous Near-Future? ‘AI’ Think So appeared first on School Transportation News.

Why is finding qualified school bus drivers, mechanics and fleet managers such a continuous pain point? According to the Transportation Director Summit survey of 82 industry leaders who attended last month’s STN EXPO East, 57 percent ranked driver retention and shortages as their single biggest challenge in 2026.

The labor market remains tight, and the challenge is no longer just “finding people”—it’s competing for them when districts cannot simply raise wages. School board-approved pay scales lock compensation into predetermined steps, often tied to seniority or certifications rather than market demand. Corporate giants like Amazon, Walmart and local logistics firms can adjust to pay overnight while public school districts cannot. So, how do you market your district or company effectively and retain talent when the most obvious lever—higher pay—is off the table?

Marketing for job candidates demands precision and authenticity, not bigger budgets. Instagram, YouTube, TikTok (where district policies permit), and Facebook remain the most cost-effective channels for hyperlocal reach. Paid campaigns now use AI-driven targeting that zeroes-in on CDL holders, retirees seeking part-time stability, stayat-home parents needing mid-day flexibility, military veterans with logistics experience, or gig-economy workers craving predictable routes—all without ever leaving your district’s geographic radius. Organic content is even more powerful because it costs nothing beyond staff time.

“Your current school transportation team members are your best brand ambassadors,” said 2026 STN EXPO East keynote speaker Jim Knight, formerly the head of global training for Hard Rock International. For more than 20 years, Knight built one of the world’s most legendary service cultures by turning every Hard Rock employee from stagehands to executives—into passionate, authentic advocates. He proved that no amount of slick advertising or big-budget campaigns can match the credibility of real people who live the brand every day. The exact same principle applies to school transportation operations. It is especially powerful when pay scales are locked by district policy.

School bus drivers are already the face of your organization. Every morning, they greet families at bus stops. Every afternoon they deliver children safely home. They interact with students, parents and the community in ways no recruitment poster or corporate ad ever could. When these insiders voluntarily share their real experiences—the satisfaction of a flawless pre-trip inspection, the joy of a kindergartner’s first-day high-five, the pride in mastering new safety technology or efficiency tools, or the camaraderie during a snow-day operation—prospects listen with a level of trust that money alone cannot buy.

This internal advocacy is your ultimate competitive advantage. Job candidates today don’t just want a paycheck. They want proof that the job is meaningful, the culture is supportive and the technology makes their day easier. Your team already has those stories. All you have to do is give them a megaphone.

Hiring is only step one. Retention must come from non-monetary levers that you can control. Offering a flexible schedule can be valuable as people demand more work-life balance. Many districts now offer split-shift or four-day route options, mid-day breaks
for drivers, and predictable “no-weekend” commitments that competing employers cannot match. These arrangements often require creative planning and dialogue—not more money.

Technology makes the job easier (most of the time). Mobile apps for real-time schedule changes, instant PTO requests and digital pay stubs reduce frustration. Performance dashboards track on-time performance and safety metrics, then automatically trigger personalized digital “thank-you,” bonus points toward extra vacation days, gift cards or priority shift selection—recognition that feels immediate and data-informed.

Districts succeeding in 2026 need to consider that public recognition events (Driver of the Month with a reserved parking spot and district-wide shout-out) create belonging. Positive reinforcement and safety are tightly linked. Districts using digital recognition platforms report measurable drops in minor incidents and absenteeism because people who feel seen and supported simply drive and maintain equipment more carefully. School transportation leaders do not need unlimited budgets. They need a deliberate, tech-enabled strategy that showcases the job realistically, removes daily friction through smart tools, and builds a culture of appreciation and growth within the financial and policy guardrails that already exist.

Start with your own employees’ stories, amplify them with the platforms and targeting tools available today, and then surround those new hires with technology and human-centered perks that make your operation the place people choose to stay, even when the pay scale stays the same.

Editor’s Note: As reprinted from the April 2026 issue of School Transportation News.

---

Related: Technology Improves Driver Recruitment and Retention at Missouri District
Related: Transportation Directors Receive Rock Star Training on Driver Retention
Related: (STN Podcast E302) Technology Tools for Bus Drivers: No More Struggling with Paper Route Sheets
Related: Bus Monitors: Your Next Driver Retention Strategy?

The post Fresh Ideas: Recruitment, Retention appeared first on School Transportation News.

age, responding to incidents, and managing schedules. AI moves those responsibilities toward decision-making and oversight. Staff are now evaluating AI-generated routes instead of building them from scratch. They are reviewing flagged video clips rather than scrubbing through entire recordings. They are using predictive diagnostic alerts instead of reacting to a bus breakdown.

As we navigate through 2026, school transportation professionals face an evolving landscape marked by staffing shortages, the accelerated shift toward zero-emission fleets, heightened student safety challenges, and increasingly complex demands from parents, local government and school executives.

Attending industry conferences has never been more essential. These state, regional and national events bring together dedicated peers to exchange innovative ideas, forge lasting networks, reconnect with trusted partners and colleagues, and commit to meaningful professional growth. The practical, actionable insights shared by expert presenters, panelists and fellow attendees translate directly into safer routes, more efficient operations and improved experiences for the students we serve every day.

“The chance to gain inspiration, motivation and network with other successful school transportation operators is a big factor in why I attend conferences like STN EXPO,” said Brooke Millar, president at 4 Seasons Transportation. Her words resonate deeply in an industry where burnout and rapid change can challenge even the most committed leaders.

“Professional development at conferences provides a nice break from daily routines to focus on my personal growth, fostering innovation and identifying knowledge gaps,” she added.

Attending industry conferences can deliver profound, multifaceted benefits. Participants draw fresh inspiration and renewed motivation from accomplished leaders who have overcome similar obstacles. They sharpen critical skills through in-depth educational sessions exploring emerging trends, regulatory updates and proven best practices. Powerful keynote presentations and interactive workshops help cultivate a resilient growth mindset, boosting confidence in tackling ambitious goals.

Beyond the classroom sessions, networking opportunities enable professionals to crowdsource real-time solutions to pressing challenges, spark collaborations across districts and states and open doors to new career advancements or operational efficiencies. The expansive trade shows connect attendees directly with cutting-edge technology, vehicles and products designed to address core priorities such as fleet optimization, advanced safety systems, driver retention strategies, procurement, and specialized transportation for students with disabilities and special needs.

Events like STN EXPO stand out for their comprehensive educational programming, including specialized deep dives into niche topics. The Transportation Director Summit offers exclusive leadership training, while creating opportunities to connect with peers, key business partners and OEMs. The Bus Technology Summit offers the opportunity to experience live technology demonstrations and to compare solutions from business partners. The Green Bus Summit delivers compelling success stories and conversations from fleet decision makers that have invested in a sustainable future. These targeted tracks provide focused education, hands-on skill development and invaluable connections with like-minded professionals.

Meanwhile, the trade show floor and evening networking receptions create an energetic environment for exploring innovative solutions, testing new equipment and building potential vendor partnerships that can transform district operations.

Our most recent attendee surveys continue to highlight professional development and networking as the primary reasons professionals invest their time in these gatherings.

Engaging peers, industry experts, suppliers, school bus dealers, and OEMs provides a unique forum for market research, product comparisons and honest discussions about what truly works in the field. Whether you’re seeking solutions for sustainable fleets, enhanced security measures, comprehensive driver training programs, or inclusive special needs transportation, the trade show serves as a one-stop resource for discovering partners that align with your district’s specific needs and budget.

In an era of tight budgets and high stakes, investing time in these events yields measurable, lasting returns: Enhanced knowledge that informs better decisions, stronger professional networks that provide ongoing support, renewed motivation to lead through challenges, and direct access to innovations that elevate safety and efficiency. Look for hands-on workshops, certifications and powerful keynotes from leaders with a focus on leadership, technology and green fleets.

Conferences are a catalyst for excellence and truly time well spent. I personally invite you to experience STN EXPO East March 26–31 and STN EXPO West July 9–15 firsthand and see the impact for yourself. Registration is open now at stnexpo.com.

It’s time to invest in leadership for you and your team. I look forward to seeing you soon and hearing about the ideas you’ll bring back to drive success.

Editor’s Note: As reprinted from the March 2026 issue of School Transportation News.

---

Related: Transportation Director Summit Provides Exclusive Leadership, Networking
Related: Giving Birth to Proper Leadership
Related: Leadership Starts From the Top Down
Related: (STN Podcast E289) 2026 Kicks Off: Winter Weather, the World Stage & Rock ‘n Roll Leadership

The post Ignite Your Leadership appeared first on School Transportation News.

When I began working with transportation professionals throughout Brazil, I quickly realized that pupil transportation in the country cannot be understood through a single framework. Brazil is vast in geography, diverse in terrain and decentralized in governance.

To truly understand how students reach school each day, one must travel from the dense urban centers of São Paulo to rural interior roadways and meet with government officials and politicians in the nation’s capital of Brasília. My experience working in both urban and rural regions of Brazil has provided a unique vantage point, especially when viewed alongside my work in pupil transportation across the U.S.

While the operational structures of Brazil and the U.S. differ in important ways, there is one highly visible and symbolic similarity between both nations: The yellow school bus. In the U.S., the yellow school bus is an unmistakable national symbol. The color itself—National School Bus Glossy Yellow—was nearly 80 years ago because it is highly visible in early morning light and poor weather conditions. Across suburban neighborhoods, rural highways and city streets, the yellow bus signals one consistent message: Children are present and safety must take priority.

Brazil, particularly since the launch of the federal Caminho da Escola or school transportation program in 2007, has adopted a remarkably similar visual standard. The “Ônibus Escolar Amarelo” is now widely deployed throughout rural regions. Like its American counterpart, it is painted a highly visible yellow and clearly marked “Escolar,” the Portuguese word for school-related.

I was struck by how familiar they appeared when first observing these buses operating in Brazil. Although I was thousands of miles from home, the visual message was the same. The yellow bus communicates protection, structure and official oversight.

The similarity in appearance is not accidental. Both countries recognize that visibility enhances safety. The bright yellow exterior improves driver awareness, reduces the likelihood of collisions, and creates a distinct identity separate from other commercial vehicles. In both Brazil and the U.S., the yellow bus is not simply transportation. It is a public safety device.

The Yellow Contrast in Brazil

Despite the shared symbolism, the systems supporting these buses differ. U.S. pupil transportation is typically managed at the local school district level with strong state oversight and federal safety standards governing vehicle manufacturing. School buses are purpose-built with compartmentalized seating, reinforced structures, flashing light systems, and strict inspection requirements. The system operates largely independent of public transit. Students ride fleets dedicated exclusively to school transportation.

With Brazil pupil transportation, municipalities are responsible for operations, but the federal government plays a larger role in procurement. Through Caminho da Escola, the federal government negotiates large-scale purchases of school buses and distributes them to municipalities at reduced cost. This centralized purchasing strategy allows smaller or economically challenged communities to access standardized vehicles that meet national safety criteria.

In rural Brazil, the yellow buses are engineered for durability in ways that reflect environmental necessity. Many operate on unpaved roads that become muddy during rainy seasons. Elevated chassis, reinforced suspension systems and structural adaptations are essential for reliability. In some regions, the bus must withstand terrain conditions that would challenge standard suburban routes in the U.S.. Yet the mission remains identical: Transport students safely and consistently.

---

Related: Pupil Transportation Around the World: A Comparative Look at U.S., Australia
Related: Pupil Transportation Around the World: A Comparative Look at U.S., Germany
Related: Pupil Transportation Around the World: A Comparative Look at the U.S. and Colombia
Related: Pupil Transportation Around the World: A Comparative Look at the U.S. and India
Related: What Differs Between Pupil Transportation in the U.S. and the U.K.?

---

Urban environments reveal another contrast. In most American cities, even large metropolitan districts operate their own dedicated yellow bus fleets. Public transit and pupil transportation are separate systems. In Brazil’s largest cities, however, many students rely on municipal bus networks or metro systems for pupil transportation. Student transit passes are common, and integration with public infrastructure is routine. While yellow buses operate in certain urban districts, especially younger students or specialized routes, the system often blends with general transit operations.

This integration model reflects infrastructure development patterns unique to Brazil. However, in rural regions where public transit is unavailable, Brazil’s yellow bus functions almost identically to its American counterpart. Routes are established, drivers are assigned and communities rely on the bus as the primary gateway to education.

A Road to Equity

Both nations face rural transportation challenges. In the U.S. Midwest and Mountain West, students may travel long distances on paved highways. In Alaska, geographic barriers sometimes require alternative solutions. Brazil shares similar distance challenges but adds terrain and environmental complexity. In the Amazon Basin, rivers serve as transportation corridors. School boats operate in tandem with buses, ensuring that students in riverine communities have access to classrooms.

Funding structures also illustrate differences and similarities. In the U.S., transportation funding varies by state and is often influenced by local tax bases. Wealthier districts may operate newer fleets, while underfunded districts face maintenance pressures. Brazil’s PNATE policy provides federal transfers based on rural student enrollment, helping reduce disparities between municipalities. While funding challenges persist in both countries, the commitment to providing transportation as a means of educational access is evident.

Safety culture remains central in both systems. The U.S. enforces strict stop-arm laws and driver certification standards, creating a nationally recognized safety environment. Brazil has made significant progress in standardizing vehicle procurement and improving oversight. While enforcement consistency may vary across municipalities, the growing presence of standardized yellow buses has strengthened safety expectations nationwide.

Working in both Brazil and the U.S. has reinforced a powerful truth for me. The yellow school bus is more than paint and steel. It is a shared commitment to children. Whether rolling through an American suburb at sunrise or navigating a rural Brazilian roadway at sunset, the yellow bus represents society’s promise to protect students on their journey to education.

Despite differences in governance, infrastructure and funding models, both nations use the yellow bus as a visible expression of pupil transportation creating educational equity. It signals that geography should not determine opportunity. From U.S. neighborhoods to Brazilian riverbanks, the daily movement of students remains one of the clearest indicators of national priorities translated into action. The yellow bus, in both countries, stands as a symbol of safety, reliability, and the enduring importance of getting children to school.

---

Bret E. Brooks is the chief operating officer for Gray Ram Tactical, LLC, a Missouri-based international consulting and training firm specializing in transportation safety and security. He is a keynote speaker, author of multiple books and articles, and has trained audiences around the world. He can be reached at BretBrooks@GrayRamTacticalTraining.com.

The post Pupil Transportation Around the World: A Comparative Look at U.S., Brazil appeared first on School Transportation News.

It’s alarming: A staggering 8,000 drivers illegally passed a stopped school bus, with the stop arm deployed and red lights flashing between mid-August and Feb. 10 in Austin, Texas alone.

The Austin Independent School District (AISD) partners with BusPatrol to install cameras on every bus in the district. When a car illegally passes a stopped school bus with the red flashing lights and stop arm deployed, police issue a $300 citation after confirming a violation on video provided by BusPatrol. Every school district should be capturing the license plate of offenders. BusPatrol system has no up-front cost for a school district because they fund the program out of the revenue from fines.

The City of Austin passed an ordinance in 2015 allowing the school district to implement the program. The fine is an effective deterrent because only 1 percent of drivers who are issued a ticket re-offend. Since mid-August, 25 Waymo driverless taxis have blown by stopped school buses illegally.

Three Ways to Look at These Statistics
1. Waymo’s 25 violation are small in comparison.
2. There are 2.1 million vehicles in the greater Austin area and just over 100 Waymo autonomous vehicles. One out of every 263 normal vehicles illegally drove by a stopped school bus but one in four Waymo vehicles did. On a per vehicle basis, Waymo has 65 times more illegal drive-bys than average motorists.
3. Human drivers have a 1 percent repeat rate. Waymo AVs repeated the mistake 24 times in the last seven months.

School buses are designed to have the highest visibility possible. They’re painted bright yellow. They have flashing red lights when stopped and an arm that comes out into traffic.

Alarmed about these incidents, Kris Hafezizadeh, Austin ISD’s director of transportation, got in touch with Waymo and offered to run tests in a safe parking lot in early December so that Waymo engineers could solve this problem. Waymo updated its software a couple of weeks later as a result, but violations still have occurred since the updates.

Hafezizadeh and Austin police suggested to Waymo representatives, that until the problem is resolved, Waymo not drive during the hours that school buses are picking up and dropping off students. Waymo representatives refused and said that the cars will keep driving.

The video documentation of these violations is an important part of this story because without this evidence, Austin ISD would not know the extent of the threat that children face and the National Transportation Safety Board and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration would not have had the data that prompted their investigations.

A Waymo spokesperson is quoted by Reuters as saying, “Our safety performance around school buses is superior to human drivers” But it depends on how you look at the numbers.

In an interview with Bloomberg on Feb. 11, Waymo Co-CEO Tekedra Mawakana would not unequivocally confirm the problem has been solved.

Frightening Figure: National Epidemic
Every year, the National Association of State Directors of Pupil Transportation Services (NASDPTS) conducts a voluntary, one-day study to document how many cars illegally pass stopped school buses. Last year, bus drivers in 36 states and D.C. participated. The data was annualized and extrapolated to cover all U.S. jurisdictions. The figure is frightening: 43.5 million illegal passes a year. A NTHSA study as to why this is happening is equally disturbing: Over 30 percent didn’t care, 25 percent were in a hurry, 24 percent said they didn’t know the law, and 12 percent were distracted.

A staggering 94 percent of car crashes are due to driver error. As a result, 44,000 people are killed every year in car accidents in the U.S. and another 2.6 million end up in the hospital. So, the long-term promise of driverless vehicles is great. No more drunk driving, no more distracted driving accidents. However, currently there is a big, yawing gap between the promise and the practice.

Why Is This Important Now?
This is important right now because there is a rapid expansion of driverless cars in certain jurisdictions. In July, Waymo reported that it had completed 100 million fully autonomous rides and 250,000 paid rides per week. We are in an era of rapid expansion of driverless vehicles. This makes it critical to fix this problem as soon as possible.

Waymo operates in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Austin, Atlanta and Miami and plans to expand into Washington, Detroit, Las Vegas, San Diego, Denver and nine other U.S. and international cities this year. The service will hit more than 1 million paid robotaxi rides a week in the U.S. by the end of 2026, up from the current 400,000 paid rides a week, according to Mawakana.

It’s not just Waymo that’s rapidly expanding, all car manufacturers are deploying autonomous features. China is the most advanced market globally with 3,500 robotaxis deployed, but Goldman Sachs predicts that there will be 500,000 robotaxis across 10 Chinese cities by 2030, and UBS predicts there will be four million in China by the late 2030s. China shows us a vision of our own future. So, this problem is going to intensify.

The Way Forward
Waze and Google Maps are both owned by Waymo’s parent company Alphabet. Why not require Waze and Google Maps to publish all the school district locations on their maps and verbally warn human drivers to slow down in school zones and pay attention to stopped bus flashing lights and force Waymo vehicles to do the same?

Today, driverless vehicles only react to what they can “see” with Lidar and cameras. Future V2X technology will enable communication between autonomous systems. So, school buses will broadcast signals that Waymo and other driverless vehicles will detect and, as a result, be triggered to slow down and stop.

Predicting Illegal Passing
Safe Fleet has an AI-based Predictive Stop Arm. It looks at the speed of a vehicle and predicts whether it will illegally drive by the bus. This allows the bus driver to prevent students from getting off the bus. The system also comes with loudspeakers on the under side of the bus that warn children of a car that is not going to stop and to not cross the road.

Many school districts face serious budget cuts and constraints. The violator-funded model is not only a good deterrent but also makes the program financially possible. Districts might consider launching a public education campaign on media and social media similar to the highly effective ones launched by Mothers Against Drunk Driving.

Editor’s Note: As reprinted from the March 2026 issue of School Transportation News.

---

Jim Harris is a one of North America’s foremost thinkers, authors and on-air analysts on AI, disruption and innovation. He keynotes internationally at more than 50 in-person and virtual conferences and events a year. Association magazine ranked him as one of North America’s top ten speakers. Jim has published five books. Blindsided! was released in 80 countries and is a No. 1 International bestseller.

---

Related: NHTSA Investigates Autonomous Waymo Rides After Illegal School Bus Passing
Related: Waymo Driverless Vehicles Continue to Illegally Pass School Buses
Related: Investigation into Waymo Driverless Vehicles Continues Following Latest Collision with Student
Related: (STN Podcast E297) Deep Dive into Safety: Illegal Passing & Child Restraints, Plus Green Bus Funding

The post Intersection of Autonomous Vehicles and School Buses appeared first on School Transportation News.

School bus safety takes many forms and starts many conversations. Take illegal passing. Or lap/shoulder seatbelts. Proper securement of preschoolers and kindergartners on school buses compared to other vehicles. The required training to do so. Driver vetting, coaching and retention.

From the brightest, visibility of school buses to ensuring no student is sleeping on board—and forgotten—at a route’s conclusion, student transportation professionals fill their days planning and conjuring training topics. Emergency response and collaboration with fire, police and EMS departments. Timely, thorough evacuations. The list is endless.

But one of the most important school bus safety and security topics is the national debate on how to cure rising chronic absenteeism in our schools. Everywhere I turn is another headline on the topic.

Research has shown that the school bus ride is one of the best options to ensure students as young as kindergarten age attend classes and ultimately graduate high school. We’ve reported on a study conducted by the University of California, Santa Barbara that found 50,000 fewer kindergartners would miss school if they had access to school bus rides. And that was back in 2017. In the age of universal kindergarten and transitional kindergarten, what could those numbers be now? Put that question into the perspective of decreasing overall student ridership figures nationwide.

Last summer, I reached out to UC-Santa Barbara study author Michael Gottfried—he’s now a professor at the University of Pennsylvania—and asked if there are any new studies he’s working on or aware of. And why is there not so much of a mention of transportation options as a solution when state superintendents call together a committee on chronic absenteeism? Tongue service from a spokesperson after the fact doesn’t cut it.

“You’re absolutely correct that no one is talking about school transportation,” Gottfried told me.

He pointed out a lack of data that connects school transportation to student outcomes. Gottfried asked me to stay in touch and said he will let me know if his research strays back into the area. Fortunately, those in the best position to take up such research or at least strongly advocate for it are reading this column right now. Time and again, the student transportation industry has proactively developed guidelines and best practices when few, if any others were willing, in the position of or knowing how to help.

Certainly, school buses aren’t the only vehicle in town to help with chronic absenteeism. “Alternative vehicles” are trending but school busing has long been supplemented by other options. Transit for the older kids, Mom and Dad or the carpool for the younger. Dare I mention taxis? Even the other national pastime of walking or biking when living within a couple blocks of school.

The school bus traditionalists will argue, “Every child on a school bus.” The safety record is unflappable. Yet putting all children on school buses has never been attainable and is even less realistic today.

But just because a school bus isn’t being or can’t be used doesn’t mean student transporters should wash their hands. I had a recent conversation with a spokeswoman for the National Safe Routes to School Partnership, who told me the organization would welcome collaboration with transportation departments. NASDPTS worked with Safe Routes years ago to push for federal funding of sidewalks, which safe bus stops need just as much as kids walking and biking to and from class.

The bottom line is, student transportation leaders need to advocate for safety in all forms of transportation, not simply that on and around school buses. And student transporters should involve themselves in public policy debates centering on student outcomes as getting them to and from school by whatever means can be one of the biggest drivers—literally.

School buses can and should be the model of consistency for students in accessing educational services. They are iconic. They are highly visible. They are reliable. But when they are unavailable, those who manage school transportation still play an active role in ensuring options, those that are the safest possible, readily exist.

Editor’s Note: As reprinted from the March 2026 issue of School Transportation News.

---

Related: (STN Podcast E296) Technology Has Blossomed: School Bus Mirrors & Student Safety
Related: Eagle Eye on Student Transportation Safety
Related: School Zone: Safety Risks Surge
Related: Is Safety Everyone’s Responsibility?

The post The Security of Consistency appeared first on School Transportation News.

Pupil transportation is one of the most visible ways a nation demonstrates its commitment to education. Every school day, millions of students travel from home to classroom using systems designed not only for efficiency, but for safety and equity. While Australia and the U.S. share similarities as large, developed, federal nations, their approaches to pupil transportation reflect important structural and cultural differences. 

By examining governance, fleet design, funding models, rural challenges, and safety standards, it becomes clear that both countries aim for the same goal—safe and reliable access to education—but achieve it through different methods.

Both Australia and the U.S. operate under federal systems of government but differently distribute the responsibility for pupil transportation. In the U.S., pupil transportation is primarily managed at the local school district level. States establish regulatory frameworks, and federal safety standards govern vehicle manufacturing. However, day-to-day operations—routing, hiring drivers, maintaining fleets—are typically handled by individual districts or contracted providers. This creates a highly localized system, where policies can vary significantly from one district to another.

In Australia, pupil transportation is largely administered at the state and territory level rather than by individual school districts. States such as New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria, and Western Australia design and oversee their own school transport assistance schemes. The federal government plays a minimal operational role. This state-centered approach results in more centralized control within each state, even though policies differ between states.

What’s Different with Pupil Transportation?

The key difference is the scale of control. U.S. decisions are often made at the district level. Australian decisions are typically made at the state level. Both models allow flexibility, but Australia’s approach tends to create more uniformity within each state.

Perhaps the most recognizable feature of American pupil transportation is the yellow school bus. The U.S. yellow bus is a national symbol. Nearly every public school district operates dedicated fleets painted in a standardized shade of yellow. Strict federal safety standards regulate construction, and compartmentalized seating design has been central to American school bus safety philosophy for decades.

Australia does not have the same universal yellow bus requirement. School buses in Australia may be white, yellow, or another color depending on the contractor or region. While clearly marked as school services, they do not carry the same nationally standardized appearance as American buses. This reflects a difference in cultural identity. In the U.S., the yellow bus represents childhood and public education. In Australia, school transportation is more functionally defined than symbolically branded.

Another major difference involves seatbelt policies. In Australia, seatbelts are common in school buses and often required in newer vehicles. In contrast, large American school buses traditionally rely on compartmentalization rather than seatbelts, although seatbelt requirements are expanding in some states. These differing design philosophies reflect variations in regulatory priorities and historical safety research.

One of the clearest contrasts between the two systems is how they interact with public transit. In the U.S., pupil transportation is generally separate from public transportation systems. School buses are dedicated vehicles serving only students. Even in large cities, districts often operate independent fleets rather than relying on municipal transit systems, though some districts do provide older students with transit passes.

In Australia, especially in urban areas, students frequently use public bus, train, or tram systems. Discounted or free student travel passes are common. Rather than maintaining fully separate fleets in metropolitan areas, Australia often integrates students into existing public transport networks.

This integrated approach can increase efficiency and reduce duplication of services. However, it also means that student riders share space with the general public. The American model, by contrast, prioritizes separation and controlled environments for school-aged passengers.

What’s Similar with Pupil Transportation?

Both nations face significant rural transportation challenges due to their size and geography. In the U.S., rural districts may cover hundreds of square miles, with students traveling long distances on highways and country roads. In states such as Montana or Texas long travel times are common.

Australia faces similar challenges, especially in remote outback regions. In some parts of Western Australia or Queensland, students may travel extremely long distances to reach school. However, Australia often applies strict distance-based eligibility rules. Students must live beyond a minimum distance from their nearest appropriate school to qualify for subsidized transportation. Families living closer may be responsible for arranging their own transport.

In contrast, many American districts provide transportation to all eligible students within the district, even if they live relatively close to school. The U.S. model often prioritizes broader access, while Australia’s system focuses on distance-based need.

In extremely remote parts of Australia, boarding schools are sometimes used as a practical solution due to travel distances. While boarding options exist in the U.S., they are far less central to the public education system.

Funding structures also reveal differences. In the U.S., transportation funding varies by state and is often supported by local tax revenue. This can lead to disparities in fleet age and service quality between wealthier and less affluent districts.

---

Related: Pupil Transportation Around the World: A Comparative Look at U.S., Germany
Related: Pupil Transportation Around the World: A Comparative Look at the U.S. and Colombia
Related: Pupil Transportation Around the World: A Comparative Look at the U.S. and India
Related: What Differs Between Pupil Transportation in the U.S. and the U.K.?

---

Australia typically funds pupil transportation at the state level. Many routes are operated by private contractors under government agreements. Rather than school districts owning large fleets, governments often contract services to private bus companies. This contractor-based system requires strong oversight to ensure compliance and safety standards.

The American system uses a mix of district-owned fleets and contracted providers. However, district ownership remains more common in the U.S. than in Australia.

Both countries prioritize safety, but enforcement structures differ. In the U.S., strict stop-arm laws require motorists to stop when a school bus is loading or unloading students. Violations can result in significant fines. This legal framework reinforces the protective environment surrounding the school bus.

Australia does not use the same stop-arm system in most regions. Instead, safety relies more heavily on general road rules, bus signage and public awareness. The American stop-arm system creates a highly visible and enforceable protective zone around students.

Despite these differences, Australia and the U.S. share core principles. Both aim to provide safe, reliable transportation that supports equal access to education. Both must manage long distances, rural isolation and funding constraints. Both rely on regulated driver accreditation and vehicle inspection systems.

The primary differences lie in structure and philosophy. The U.S. emphasizes a distinct, symbolic and highly regulated dedicated school bus system. Australia emphasizes state-level coordination, contractor delivery and integration with public transit.

In the end, both systems reflect national priorities and geography. Whether through the iconic yellow bus traveling down an American suburban street or a state-contracted bus crossing the wide landscapes of the rural Australian Outback, pupil transportation remains a vital link between home and classroom. Each country has developed a model suited to its environment, but both share a common mission: ensuring that distance does not prevent opportunity.

Watch for the next article in this series as we travel to another continent-sized country – Brazil.

---

Bret E. Brooks is the chief operating officer for Gray Ram Tactical, LLC, a Missouri-based international consulting and training firm specializing in transportation safety and security. He is a keynote speaker, author of multiple books and articles, and has trained audiences around the world. He can be reached at BretBrooks@GrayRamTacticalTraining.com.

The post Pupil Transportation Around the World: A Comparative Look at U.S., Australia appeared first on School Transportation News.

Most school days start the same way: Students waiting for a ride to school. One
student might use a wheelchair, while another could be autistic and communicates
with an Augmentative Alternative Communication (AAC) device, and a third might be medically fragile. The school bus driver is trying to keep everyone safe while staying on schedule. Transportation is more than logistics. It is the first and last part of the school day, and adaptive technology is now part of how teams make that work.

On the bus, adaptive technology means tools or systems that adjust to students’ needs so they can ride safely, communicate and stay included with their peers. This might look like a wheelchair lift and securement system, an AAC device or communication board mounted where a student can reach it, a driver tablet with live routing, or an app that lets a family know the bus is three minutes away instead of “sometime soon.”

For many students with disabilities, these supports are not extras. They extend the services districts already provide under the Individuals with Disabilities Education
Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, so students can get to the learning they are entitled to.

Safety By Design, Not Just Experience
Anyone who has driven a route knows skill and instincts matter. But safety cannot rest on skill alone. It has to be baked into how routes are planned, how roles are defined, and what information drivers and aides have in front of them. The right technology links what drivers, aides, schools, students and families see, so people are not guessing when something changes or goes wrong.

Advanced Driver Assistance Systems, ridership tracking and stop-arm cameras give leaders a clearer picture of what actually happens on the road. For students who use mobility devices, need extra time or cannot easily explain what happened if there’s an incident, that level of visibility can be the difference between “we think” and “we know.”

Access, Dignity and Communication On Every Ride
Safety comes first, but anyone who has stepped onto a bus after a rough morning knows the atmosphere matters, too. The ride can either calm a student and get them ready to learn or drain them before they ever reach the building. Transportation is only truly accessible when students with disabilities can ride with safety, comfort and dignity, not just a seat.

Lifts and securement systems let students who use wheelchairs or other mobility devices board, ride and exit safely without being lifted or handled in ways that feel unsafe or embarrassing. Predictable routes and consistent routines help students who rely on structure know what comes next. This reduces anxiety and the kind of “acting out” that is often really “I don’t understand what is happening.”

But here is the part that often gets overlooked: Communication is a daily pain point for drivers and aides, and it shows up as child misbehavior. When a student loses or is denied their usual way of communicating on the bus, whether that is with an AAC device, a picture board, or a simple yes/no system, they do not stop needing to communicate. They have to show it in other ways. In addition to speech, many students need AAC devices, communication boards, or simple response systems to ask for the bathroom, say they feel sick, or tell an adult another student is bothering them.

When these tools are turned off, taken away or never offered on the bus, frustration builds. Keeping a student’s communication system available on the bus and making sure drivers and aides know the basics of how it works changes that dynamic. It lets staff respond before a situation boils over and gives students a safer, more respectful way to say what they need. Simple visual supports, such as clear signage, visual schedules, or symbols on seats or stops, paired with clear directions, also help students track where they are in the routine, reducing escalation and confusion.

Supporting the Workforce and Improving Retention
Safety stands on the shoulders of people who plan and provide this vital service. Adaptive technology can make their jobs clearer and more sustainable, or it can feel like one more thing dumped on an already heavy load. When used well, routing software and driver tablets cut down on last-minute radio calls and trying to read paper directions in the dark. New or substitute drivers can see turn-by-turn directions, key student information and alerts in one place instead of piecing it together from memory and sticky notes. Ridership tracking and telematics, when used for coaching and recognition, give supervisors a fairer, more accurate picture of driver performance than a handful of complaints. In a world of driver shortages, tight budgets and aging buses, the way technology is rolled out can either support retention or undermine it. Drivers notice whether tools are there to support them in keeping students safe while managing complex routes.

What’s Coming Next and Where to Start?
Adaptive technology is moving fast and getting more affordable. School districts are starting to see smarter video analytics that flag repeated problems at the same
stop, deeper integration of student plans and transportation platforms, and cleaner, more connected fleets that change what is possible on long or complex routes. These
changes bring new questions about safety, privacy, staff expectations, and they demand clear leadership rather than one-off purchases. The good news is that transportation leaders do not need to adopt everything at once.

A practical starting point is to pilot one adaptive tool, especially one that directly supports communication, on a small set of routes and gather feedback. Pair that with
hands-on training, not just a memo, so staff can try the technology in a low-stakes condition before using it in rush-hour traffic.

Most importantly, work with special education and school teams so communication tools and behavior plans on the bus match what is happening in the classroom. The question is no longer whether adaptive technology will shape student transportation, but how transportation teams will direct that change so rides are safer, staff feel supported and every student arrives at school with their dignity and communication intact.

Editor’s Note: As reprinted from the February 2026 issue of School Transportation News.

---

Glenna Wright-Gallo served as the assistant secretary of the U.S. Department of Education from 2023 to 2025, overseeing the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitation Services. She currently is the vice president of the office of strategic research and policy for Everway, an education and workplace technology provider for
people with disabilities.

---

Related: (STN Podcast E286) End of Year Review: Safety & Technology Trends of 2025
Related: STN EXPO East Addresses Safety Concerns in School Bus Loading Zone
Related: Ride and Drive, Technology Demo Return to Charlotte Motor Speedway in March
Related: Is Safety Everyone’s Responsibility?

The post School Bus Adaptive Technology: Safer Rides, Stronger Teams, Better Access appeared first on School Transportation News.

The spotlight on autonomous vehicle safety intensified in late 2025, when multiple Waymo robotaxis were caught illegally passing stopped school buses in Austin, Texas.

Footage from Austin Independent School District revealed at least 24 such violations since the start of the school year through the middle of January, with vehicles
ignoring flashing red lights and extended stop arms while children boarded or exited. Despite a software recall in December affecting over 3,000 vehicles, incidents persisted. Investigations by both the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) followed suit last month.

Austin ISD asked Waymo to pause operations during school hours, but the company declined, citing ongoing improvements. Director of Transportation Kris Hafezizadeh will discuss the situation next month at STN EXPO East.

This saga underscores persistent challenges in AI-driven perception systems, where even advanced neural networks struggle with contextual cues like school zones, raising alarms among educators, parents and regulators about the risks to vulnerable road users.

Power disruptions have also exposed vulnerabilities in autonomous fleets. During San Francisco’s 2025 outages, hundreds of Waymo vehicles halted abruptly, creating gridlock and highlighting dependency on stable infrastructure. Similar events in other cities have fueled debates on redundancy measures, such as onboard backup power and enhanced telematics for real-time rerouting.

As technology matures, industry experts anticipate 2026 will bring more resilient systems, with AI algorithms trained on diverse failure scenarios to minimize disruptions. Optimism persists that real-world testing will refine these tools, but incidents like these remind us that innovation must prioritize safety, especially around
schools and school buses.

The consumer automotive market is evolving rapidly, with autonomous driving features projected to become standard in over 20 percent of new vehicles this year, according to industry forecasts. Tesla’s Full Self-Driving (FSD) supervised software, for instance, has seen significant patches in 2025 and early 2026, particularly for school bus interactions. Updates have improved detection of flashing lights and stop signs, with user videos demonstrating reliable stopping and waiting behaviors.

However, NHTSA’s ongoing probes into FSD including an October evaluation of traffic law violations covering nearly 2.9 million vehicles, reveals lingering issues like occasional failures in reduced visibility. Adversarial tests by The Dawn Project staged demos showing a Tesla Model Y ignoring bus signals and striking child dummies. Tesla extended its response deadline to this month amid scrutiny of over 8,000 potential incidents. A 2023 North Carolina case, where a 17-year-old was struck by a Tesla after exiting a bus, echoes these concerns. While software fixes addressed the bug, it illustrates how AI must evolve to anticipate unpredictable child movements.

As self-driving cars proliferate in urban areas, school bus drivers face added complexity. Children in loading zones demand split-second recognition yet early AV
systems have faltered. By this year, expect wider adoption of Level 3 and 4 autonomy, where minimal human input is needed in defined conditions, promising fewer crashes
through precise sensor fusion.

NHTSA’s early 2025 estimates show overall traffic fatalities dropping: 27,365 deaths in the first nine months, a 6.4 percent decline from 2024, with the rate per 100 million vehicle miles traveled falling to 1.10. The first half of 2025 saw 17,140 fatalities, down 8.2 percent, even as miles driven rose. While distracted driving specifics for 2025 remain preliminary, trends suggest AVs could further reduce human-error crashes, though flaws in software like those in Tesla and Waymo highlight the need for rigorous validation.

Emerging trends are transforming school transportation itself. AI and telematics are shifting from reactive to proactive safety, with predictive maintenance using data
analytics to forecast bus failures, reducing breakdowns. High-definition cameras, integrated with AI software, provide 360-degree views, detecting illegal passers and
alerting authorities. Automation extends to digital forms for route planning and incident reporting, streamlining operations via cloud platforms that unify GPS/Telematics, video and RFID for student tracking.

The growth of vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communication potentially enables school buses to signal AVs directly, which could prevent illegal passes.

The school transportation industry must adapt to these innovations to safeguard students. From apps providing real-time ETA alerts to parents, to HD cameras deterring
misconduct inside buses, technology enhances efficiency and accountability.

As we share roads with evolving AVs, collaboration between manufacturers, regulators and districts is crucial. Staying ahead of the curve ensures we don’t lag in safety, after all, the families our industry serves count on us daily to innovate for the best interest of kids.

Editor’s Note: As reprinted from the February 2026 issue of School Transportation News.

---

Related: Investigation into Waymo Driverless Vehicles Continues Following Latest Collision with Student
Related: Waymo Driverless Vehicles Continue to Illegally Pass School Buses
Related: Waymo Driverless Car Illegally Passes Stopped School Bus in Atlanta
Related: NHTSA Investigates Autonomous Waymo Rides After Illegal School Bus Passing

The post Autonomous Vehicle Implications appeared first on School Transportation News.

The debate on lap/shoulder seatbelts in school buses has divided the student transportation industry. Advocates champion their life-saving potential, while skeptics raise concerns about evacuation challenges and the added cost of equipping
buses with this technology. However, as we reflect on 20 years of data from California, the first state to mandate lap/shoulder belts on new school buses, it appears the benefits of these safety measures outweigh the concerns.

The Golden State’s experience with lap/shoulder belts offers a compelling case for its adoption. Rather than focusing on student fatalities, which we all know are extremely rare each school year, the report released last month investigates student injuries that are infrequently discussed.

Since the state began requiring lap/shoulder belts on new school buses in 2004, pupil passenger injuries have decreased by three-quarters in absolute numbers and by nearly 50 percent in per million miles traveled. These statistics courtesy of Ron Kinney, a former California state director of student transportation and director of government relations for Laidlaw, are not simply numbers. The data taken from California Highway Patrol crash reports represent thousands of children who avoided injury, trauma and life-altering consequences.

Critics argue that lap/shoulder belts could hinder evacuation during emergencies. However, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has repeatedly emphasized that properly worn lap/shoulder belts reduce the severity of injuries in crashes, particularly in side impacts and rollovers—scenarios where traditional compartmentalization falls short. And as such, these students are better able to self-evacuate, largely because they remain conscious.

The 2014 Anaheim, California school bus crash, cited in Kinney’s research, serves as a reminder of this. NTSB simulations showed that lap/shoulder belts significantly
reduced upper body flailing during the crash and prevented passengers from being thrown into the area of maximum intrusion. This minimized injuries.

California also mandates annual safety training for students, including proper use of passenger restraint systems and emergency evacuation drills. These drills ensure that students are familiar with how to unbuckle their belts quickly and safely in the event of an emergency. Moreover, the data shows that no pupil passengers have been killed in California school bus crashes since the lap/shoulder belt mandate took effect—a testament to their effectiveness in preventing fatalities.

Another common argument against lap/shoulder belts is the cost. Equipping a new school bus with lap/shoulder belts adds a few thousand dollars to the purchase price. However, when spread over a 20-year lifespan of a bus, Kinney’s report claims, this cost amounts to approximately $500 per year or pennies per day per student. Who keeps a school bus that long anymore, you ask? Ahead of the approaching funding cliff for school districts next school year, skipping on replacement cycles is a likely coping strategy. And today’s school buses are at least 90 percent cleaner than 20 years ago, which was a leading reason for hastening replacement cycles, to begin with.

Compare $500 or even $1,000 per year (Blue Bird now makes lap/shoulder belts standard equipment) to the financial and emotional toll of a single injury or fatality, which can result in millions of dollars in litigation costs and immeasurable pain for families. The California data demonstrates that the reduction in pupil passenger injuries alone justifies the investment.

It’s also worth noting that student transporters routinely invest in technologies to improve operational efficiency and safety, such as GPS tracking, routing software and telematics systems, many of which have recurring costs. Lap/shoulder belts are a one-time purchase.

Lap/shoulder belts advantages extend beyond injury prevention. Districts implementing these systems report significant improvements in student behavior and a reduction in driver distractions. When students are properly secured, they are less likely to move around, fight or engage in other disruptive behaviors. This creates a calmer, safer environment for both students and bus drivers, reducing stress and improving job satisfaction.

Fewer behavioral issues mean fewer disciplinary write-ups and less time spent on administrative tasks, freeing up resources for other priorities. Drivers are also
less likely to have to pull over to address misconduct, improving route efficiency, and reducing delays.

The data from California is clear: Lap/shoulder belts not only save lives but reduce injuries and improve the overall safety and efficiency of school transportation. A reconsideration of the three-point seatbelts in school buses is happening. NAPT is expected to release a new paper later this year.

Is it time to finally move beyond the debate?

Editor’s Note: As reprinted from the February 2026 issue of School Transportation News.

---

Related: California School Bus Report Shows Lap/Shoulder Seatbelts Reduce Injuries
Related: Illinois Bill Advances to Require Lap/Shoulder Seatbelts on New School Buses
Related: (STN Podcast E251) Making Safety Safer: Seatbelts, Technology, Training & Electric School Buses
Related: School Bus Safety Act Renews Call for Seatbelts, Other Safety Improvements

The post Strongest Case Yet for 3-point Belts? appeared first on School Transportation News.