Transportation directors are responsible for one of the most complex and important operations in a school district. Every morning, hundreds of vehicles need to be tracked, dozens of alerts need to be reviewed, and any incident that happened the day before needs to be investigated and documented. If your team is doing most of that work manually, you’re not alone. But you may be spending more time managing data than acting on it.
Modern fleet management technology is changing what’s possible for school transportation operations. Especially platforms, like VisionCloud, that combine AI-powered analytics with integrated video and telematics. Here’s a look at three areas where the right tools can give your team meaningful time back, while also raising the safety bar.
When an incident is reported, one of the first things an administrator needs is video. In many operations, that means manually retrieving and searching through separate server and device archives, toggling between different playback modes, and scrolling through hours of footage to find the relevant clip.
Advanced video management systems eliminate that hunt. A unified playback interface combines server-stored and device-stored footage in a single view, with color-coded timelines that immediately show where alarm events, high-definition clips, and standard footage are located. Smart date search calendars and searching by location display video availability at a glance, and screenshot preview navigation lets staff scan footage quickly without downloading full clips. What used to take 30 minutes can now take three.
Most operations generate far more safety data than any director has time to analyze. AI-powered event detection changes that. Rather than waiting for a complaint or a serious incident, systems that automatically detect and upload driver behavior give administrators a real-time picture of risk across the fleet.
Pairing an intelligent video management system with advanced AI hardware helps drivers respond to risks in real time while giving transportation directors the insight needed to improve training and reduce incidents. Solutions like the SafeDrive-AI 2 windshield DVR combine a road-facing ADAS camera with a 1080p driver-facing lens, using AI to detect lane departure, collision risks, fatigue, and distraction while issuing real-time alerts. When integrated with a platform like VisionCloud, these events are automatically uploaded and surfaced for review, providing immediate, actionable visibility without manual effort.
AI safety analysis modules go further by identifying patterns across the fleet: the most frequently triggered alarm types, the highest-risk vehicles, and the drivers who would benefit most from coaching. You’re not just collecting safety data, now you’re acting on it.
Operational reporting is essential, but manually generating reports on driver mileage, vehicle idling, fuel consumption, fleet health, and driver attendance takes time that most transportation offices don’t have to spare.
Platforms with customized scheduled report delivery can push the right data to the right people automatically. Paired with a comprehensive dashboard that surfaces fleet-wide KPIs and rolling trend data at a glance, the result is a department that stays informed without being buried in data pulls.
When a transportation team spends less time on administrative tasks, they spend more time on what matters: making sure students get to school and back home safely. AI-powered fleet management platforms aren’t just productivity tools, they are safety infrastructure.
As fleets grow and staffing pressures continue, the operations best positioned to deliver consistent, safe service will be the ones that have built smarter systems that work as hard as the people running them.
Choosing the right technology can transform how your organization operates. Download Safety Vision’s free VisionCloud platform comparison report for a detailed, feature-by-feature guide built for transportation directors.
The post Using AI to Reclaim Time & Improve Safety appeared first on School Transportation News.
For Clifford Jones, Superintendent of Horry County Schools in Conway, South Carolina, student safety isn’t just a priority; it’s a responsibility that travels approximately six million miles every single year.
With one of the largest geographic school districts in South Carolina, Horry County’s fleet covers urban corridors, coastal routes and rural roads alike. Each morning and afternoon, buses carry thousands of students across the large county. Like districts nationwide, Horry County began seeing a disturbing trend: the growing challenges of resolving onboard incidents without clear evidence.
“AngelTrax cameras on our buses support the district’s student safety goals by improving supervision, discouraging misbehavior, and helping us investigate incidents, all of which advance our commitment to safe, equitable, and accountable transportation,” Jones explained.
Identifying the Need
The responsibility of protecting thousands of students prompted the district leadership to explore camera solutions. Without video evidence, protecting students from interior incidents, from student behavior concerns to accident investigations, required more efficient documentation.
“AngelTrax provides a solution that would allow us to retrieve video from the bus specific to the concern that we were trying to address,” explained Robert Grimes, transportation coordinator for the district. “This video could then be shared with the school to allow administrators to better handle the situation.”
The district also recognized the value of providing drivers with added layers of protection and accountability. Videos would provide objective clarity and documentation should any issues arise.
“Bus drivers seem to be appreciative of the fact that there is video footage that can help with the management of bus behaviors,” Grimes added.
Measurable Impact
After evaluating multiple options, the district selected AngelTrax as its mobile security and surveillance partner, equipping buses with interior cameras to help deter onboard incidents. Since then, Horry County Schools has installed cameras on approximately 450 buses currently in service, covering roughly 1,500 bus routes.
Since installing the cameras in 2017, as one of the first school districts in the country to use AngelTrax’s Vulcan
Series cameras, the district has observed meaningful improvements in student behavior on their school buses.
The presence of cameras has increased awareness around school bus safety across the community.
“Based on my understanding, the cameras have enhanced the peace of mind for parents, students, and drivers by increasing accountability, deterring poor behavior, and providing clear evidence when incidents occur,” Jones shared. “We share school bus safety information with students, families, staff, and the community using multiple channels. These channels include sharing information during open house events, as well as through printed and digital/video materials, our website and social media platforms, ensuring that everyone is aware of the expectations, procedures and the process for reporting concerns.”
A Driver’s Perspective
For veteran bus driver Steven Lombardi, the cameras have made a noticeable difference in safety, noting that in the past, he has witnessed everything from students out of their seat, to throwing objects, fighting and other behavioral issues.
“I have never been a driver when there were no cameras on the bus,” Lombardi noted. “However, prior to having the AngelTrax cameras, we had a much less dependable camera which made capturing data more difficult.”
He said he believes the presence of the AngelTrax cameras positively influences student behavior.
“When I tell students that there are cameras on the bus generally, they are less likely to misbehave,” Lombardi added.
For Lombardi, the investment Horry County Schools made in camera technology represents more than a safety upgrade. It reinforces a culture of accountability and care.
“Knowing that there is a camera system to assist with capturing behaviors gives me a sense of relief,” he shared. “I would be hesitant to drive a bus that did not have cameras.”
As Horry County Schools continues to evaluate data and refine its transportation strategies, one goal remains constant: ensuring every student arrives safely, every mile, every day.
About AngelTrax
AngelTrax is a leading designer, manufacturer and provider of in-vehicle mobile surveillance for school buses and school white fleets. Powered by AngelTrax, the Child Safety Program automated stop arm violation system is created to keep kids safer by changing driver behavior, from violation detection to citation through adjudication. AngelTrax drives the market with state-of-the-art products, including Vulcan Series MDVRs and MNVRs, stop arm photo enforcement technology with AI detection, 360-degree camera systems, IP cameras, HD cameras, live view, live tracking and driver behavior with AI. AngelTrax is a CJIS-compliant organization and strategic partner with Nlets for accurate DMV data.
The views expressed are those of the content sponsor and do not reflect those of School Transportation News.
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Product purchasing often raises many questions and anxiety for school districts, but Veronica’s district was an exception. As a transportation director, she recently gained approval to purchase new fleet surveillance cameras. Instead of preparing and distributing an RFP, she chose a far simpler approach: buying through a co-op.
“I reached out to my REI salesperson, and she sent me a quote. I then sent it to my supervisor, Tom. He, along with our school board, approved it and we bought the cameras. That’s how simple it was. Working through co-ops, it’s so easy to make purchases,” states Veronica.
Purchasing through co-ops can benefit your operation as well. Here are five ways joining a co-op can transform how you acquire fleet solutions:
1. Bypass lengthy RFPs.
Preparing a Request for Proposal (RFP) requires significant time, coordination and administrative effort. By purchasing through a co-op, districts can rely on contracts that have already been competitively solicited. This eliminates the need to develop and manage your own RFPs yet still meet procurement requirements. The result: less administrative burden and a faster path to securing the fleet solutions you need.
Veronica recalls, “The bidding process is long, tedious and involves a lot of paperwork. When I worked at another district, we had to publish bids in the newspaper for 30 days. Vendors would submit bids, and we had to conduct a formal bid opening. It was a big undertaking.”
2. Access competitive, pre-negotiated pricing.
Cooperatives solicit contracts and negotiate pricing with multiple vendors on behalf of their members. Districts then have access to pricing that has already been evaluated for competitiveness. The approach helps you maximize budgets while reducing the time and effort required to conduct independent negotiations.
3. Accelerate procurement timelines.
Because contracts are already in place, districts can move forward with purchases immediately, instead of waiting for a full bid cycle. The faster turnaround allows you to get the needed equipment in place sooner.
According to Veronica, “I got thousands of dollars’ worth of cameras, and I don’t think I would have received them as quickly through a traditional bidding process. It probably would have taken 60 to 100 days. In this case, it took about a month from quote to shipping, and I had them within 30 days.”
4. Strengthen audit documentation and readiness.
Many cooperatives maintain detailed documentation and can provide supporting records if questions arise during an audit. This helps districts prove compliance and simplifies internal reporting.
“If anything were to come back, [the co-op] will step in and give you everything that you need and help you,” Veronica explains. “It makes purchasing easier and helps make the audit process quicker.”
5. Focus on best-fit solutions, not lowest price.
Traditional bidding processes often require districts to select the lowest bidders, which may limit flexibility. Cooperative contracts are awarded based on a combination of factors such as pricing, qualifications, service and product quality. In the end, co-op purchasing enables you to select solutions that best support your operational goals.
As Veronica notes, “Sometimes vendors undercut each other just to win the bid, and you don’t always get what you really need. Cooperative contracts help ensure the vendor and solution are the right fit.”
If you’re not a co-op member, join one or more today. Collaborate with your purchasing decision-makers. Conduct research, then decide which co-op(s) offer the products and solutions that align with your goals.
“Most co-ops are pretty easy to join. Typically, you just need to fill out an application. You don’t want to pay an application fee or anything like that. Fill out an application to become a member of their co-op purchasing and get approved that way,” advises Veronica.
She concludes, “In the long run, [REI] is doing the work for us, which is always good because we already have enough work to do.”
Four nationally recognized co-op purchasing programs list REI. Interested in joining? We have contact information. Call 800.228.9275, send us a message or get in touch with your sales rep for details. Let us help you simplify purchasing.
The post 5 Ways Purchasing Co-Ops Can Benefit Operations appeared first on School Transportation News.
All schools and districts that applied for funding for eligible safety features ranging from seatbelts to collision avoidance to additional lighting through the $10 million Ohio School Bus Safety Grant received an award.
An Ohio Department of Education spokesperson confirmed that it received 371 applications from schools, districts and county boards of developmental disabilities for the School Bus Safety Grant. Of those applications, 56 requested funds for “Occupant restraining devices that conform to the school bus seat belt requirements of 49 C.F.R. 571.”
The other authorized safety features are external school bus cameras, fully eliminated stop arms, crossing arms, illuminated school bus signs, lane departure warning systems, collision avoidance systems, and electronic stability control.
The school bus safety grant program was created in response to recommendations made by the Ohio School Bus Safety Working Group, which Gov. Mike DeWine convened to review all aspects of student transportation, following an August 2024 school bus crash that resulted in a student fatality.
Among its 17 recommendations made in January 2024, which did not include the use of lap/shoulder seatbelts — a main reason Gov. DeWine called together the working group — were strategies for improving bus safety features, driver training and emergency response.
Safety rant funding may be used for the repair, replacement or addition of the eight authorized safety features on school buses in active service or for safety enhancements on new school bus purchases.
Related: Ohio School Bus Grant Program Launches, $10M Available
Related: Ohio School Bus Safety Working Group to Investigate Seatbelts Following Fatality
Related: Ohio School Bus Safety Recommendations Call for Technology Funding, No Seatbelt Mandate
Related: Brother and Sister Help Save School Bus Driver During Medical Emergency in Ohio
Indian Hill EVSD in Ohio, applied for the safety grant. Diane Spurlock, transportation director, said they asked for collision avoidance systems and lane departure warning system.
“The program we selected is an AI camera that can notify the driver if either of the instances occurs while they are on the road,” she said. “The main reason is that we recently had an incident happen with a driver where this could have kept it from happening thus ensuring a safer drive. A secondary reason is that our current cameras are getting outdated quickly and I hope this opens the door to purchase more products from this company.”
Additionally, Indian Hill applied for the ground wash lights “because our district does not have street lights and some streets are very narrow. We have added the LED lights near the back tires but believe the ground wash lights will be especially helpful for turnarounds,” she continued.
Gov. DeWine, the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce Director Stephen D. Dackin announced via a press release that, “the grants will help ensure safer travel for Ohio students through safety upgrades to existing buses and the addition of advanced safety features on new buses.”
“Whether students are in the classroom or on the school bus, we owe it to parents and families to do everything we can to keep them safe,” said DeWine. “We’re raising the bar for student safety on Ohio’s buses, and these grant awards demonstrate our dedication to making school transportation safer.”
Dackin added, “Student safety is our top priority, and Ohio is investing in critical safety improvements to equip school buses with proven technology that keeps children safe.”
The post Ohio Announces School Bus Safety Grant Recipients for Technology Enhancements appeared first on School Transportation News.
According to a recent NASDPTS survey, more than 218,000 illegal stop-arm passings occurred daily in the U.S. during the 2024/2025 school year. For bus drivers who witness these violations then press event markers to capture them, the tasks can be overwhelming. In addition, the few seconds spent activating stop-arm cameras can distract drivers, pulling their attention away from students and the surrounding traffic. These crucial seconds could mean the difference between safe stops and serious events.
The AI Solution
To reduce drivers’ daily tasks, alleviate distractions and improve violation detection, the AI Stop-Arm Violation Camera provides an innovative, effective solution. Using vision based artificial intelligence, this IP camera sees motorists enter its detection zone while the stop arm is extended. Here’s how it works:
Software Suite to auto-download the video clip, plate images and metadata from the DVR.Driver Benefits
Drivers no longer need to observe and press event markers to capture violations. The AI Stop-Arm Violation Camera does it for them. This reduces stress and allows drivers to stay focused on students as they board and exit rather than violation detection. What’s more, the camera helps reduce missed violations due to human error, improving accuracy.
Administration Benefits
For administration, the streamlined, automated detection and management process eliminates hours spent searching for violation video. It also ensures evidence and relevant data, like bus ID, date, time and location, are ready when needed for law enforcement. School officials access clear, indisputable video evidence in ARMOR within minutes, freeing up valuable time for other operational tasks.
Community Impact
Beyond its benefits for bus drivers and operations, the solution signals to the community that school bus safety laws are enforced. Over time, consistent, reliable violation detection and prosecution have the potential to change motorists’ behaviors. Motorists who once took chances when they saw extended stop arms may reconsider if they know their actions are detected and recorded. This can help ease the minds of parents, students and the community.
More Than Detection
Besides its ability to detect illegal passings, the AI Stop-Arm Violation Camera assists in liability protection. The time-stamped video and license plate images it initiates can help verify violations and resolve disputes quickly. This minimizes lengthy investigations and supports accurate reporting to insurance companies.
Next Steps
While the survey revealed fewer violations occurred during the 2024/2025 school year than the previous year, illegal stop-arm passings remain a serious problem. By implementing REI’s AI-powered stop-arm camera solution, districts can take a proactive, automatic approach to detection. The result can lead to a safer environment for students and greater peace of mind for drivers and school officials.
If your district is ready to take the next step toward detecting and reducing stop-arm violations, REI can help. Call 800.228.9275, contact us or your REI sales representative for more details about this advanced technology.* Together, we can make a difference in student safety.
*Additional hardware and software required.
The views expressed are those of the content sponsor and do not reflect those of School Transportation News.
The post How to Automate Stop-Arm Violation Detection appeared first on School Transportation News.
Onboard school bus cameras have changed the game when it comes to school bus driver and student safety. Combined with proper procedures and training, they can be a pivotal part of an enhanced safety strategy for student transportation operations.
In North Carolina, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools (CMS) has had cameras in place since area manager Monique Jackson joined the transportation department in 2018. Her passion for safety has been front and center throughout her career as an educator and now in student transportation.
“The number one reason for us to have those cameras is for bus safety and, of course, to capture whatever footage is necessary for reporting and documentation purposes,” said Jackson.
She noted the cameras originally used physical hard drives for video storage. Video is now cloud-based, so transportation leadership can make requests to view certain parts of the footage and be able to access it electronically in a more timely manner.
At the Transporting Students with Disabilities and Special Needs (TSD) Conference held in Frisco, Texas, keynote speaker and special education attorney Betsey Helfrich outlined common pitfalls when school districts and transportation departments don’t have clear policies and procedures for handling video footage. Lawsuits filed against the district can succeed if they prove there was insufficient training for employees and that the correct action wasn’t taken as soon as an incident is discovered.
She advised timely, documented communications with Title IX coordinators about incidents. However, there’s often a tricky balance between open record laws and FERPA, or Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, when distributing footage among staff members. She cited cases where districts used FERPA to justify not releasing footage of incidents onboard the school bus to parents of students who were involved but were later overruled in court. FERPA is also no excuse for keeping specific information from school bus drivers that pertains to their passengers’ access and safety.
Helfrich urged cautioned when sharing sensitive footage of safety incidents to ensure transportation personnel are fully educated on what constitutes an
immediate or imminent health and safety emergency. These would require footage to be shared with multiple parties that are trained on how to act when an incident is discovered or reported.
“Reviewing footage after an incident is important, but it is vital to randomly and periodically review footage,” said Bret Brooks, chief operating officer for school safety and security consultant Gray Ram Tactical. “Don’t wait for something bad to happen to review the recordings. There should be a written policy detailing how often recordings will be reviewed and by whom. Recordings should be kept for 30 days with the ability to retain for longer if needed.”
Ron Deming, territory manager for REI’s school bus division, said many customers praise cameras’ abilities to provide evidence for investigations. “Footage from cameras can serve as crucial evidence in case of accidents, injuries or misconduct, making it easier to identify causes and fault,” he said. “This reduces liability risks for districts.”
STN reported on an incident in October of a parent boarding a Ferguson Florissant School District bus near St. Louis, Missouri. Onboard cameras captured a disturbing scene of the father commanding his daughter to strike her alleged bully. The faces of other students and the school bus driver were blurred, which Helfrich advised districts to do, before the footage was shared.
Mike Dorn, executive director of nonprofit global K-12 school security consultant Safe Havens International, noted school districts should state on school bus driver applications that cameras are recording all driver behavior. That can serve as a deterrent to individuals who could be trying to harm students or behave inappropriately. It can also exonerate them if wrongly accused.
He discussed a case he worked on where a student reported they had been inappropriately touched by a driver. Pulling footage from the 30 days prior to the incident showed the veteran driver assaulting the pre-K student. He noted that the driver “knew from experience that the district only pulled camera footage when an incident like a fight was reported, not a typical occurrence
on a pre-K route,” hence the need for consistent review of footage even when no incident has been reported.
Driver Training
“For drivers, there has typically been an initial hesitancy and reluctancy to use the camera systems, but once they see how video and audio can back up their side of the story during incidents, most ultimately like having the camera systems in placem,” shared Brooks. Jackson echoed this sentiment by saying drivers she oversees at CMS have found that onboard cameras provide peace of mind that safety incidents don’t turn into “he-said, she-said” situations.
“While traditionally more of a post-incident investigative tool, modern security cameras can also be a powerful prevention tool,” said Dorn. “For example, we advise our clients to consider crafting, implementing and following a policy [that] outlines how supervisory personnel will use a random selection process to pull segments of video footage from school buses at key route times, check for policy compliance and archive the footage to document their efforts.”
Dorn noted drivers are made aware their performance is being regularly monitored and that management can recognize them for adhering to safety standards.Stephen Satterly, senior analyst at Safe Havens International, said when he was a school transportation supervisor in Ohio he would conduct a “hot wash” footage review with individual school bus drivers to “identify what went well and what could be improved.”
Jackson shared that she not only uses the footage in her CMS area to identify when and why drivers need more training but also to back up her drivers when there are behavioral challenges with students that required changes be made for the safety of everyone on board.
Clint Bryer, vice president of student transportation sales for Safety Vision, demonstrated camera features that aid in driver performance review and training at the TSD Conference Trade Show. He said school districts can customize what qualifies as an infraction, such as looking away from the road, not wearing a seatbelt, or using a cellphone while driving. Different infractions can carry “heavier weight” when it comes to scoring driver performance.
“Driver behavior management solutions have significantly contributed to improving driver performance by providing actionable data from AI detection of phone use, following too closely, seatbelt compliance and front collisions,” added AngelTrax CEO Richie Howard. “The most effective solutions integrate GPS and G-Force sensors with high-resolution video, with interior and exterior views, to provide context for the driver’s decisions and/or reactions along the route.”
Multiple video vendors and safety experts noted thatAI is becoming an increasingly used tool to detect safety incidents. Howard noted that the industry is only “scratching the surface” and the capabilities of AI will continue to grow and be used to notify transportation immediately if a safety concern is detected.
“Machine learning can be integrated into school bus cameras to predict dangerous situations, such as student bullying or a conflict about to break out,” said Deming. Brooks summed up his advice regarding the use of cameras for increased safety and driver training by highlighting the importance of that human involvement.
“Even with the advancements of AI, or any technology, we must remember that human involved is paramount. Training drivers will always be critical regardless of any technology that can assist them. Assist is the key term, not
replace,” he said. “Don’t allow cameras to replace human involvement, training, reviewing, interactions, etc. Cameras are great tools but not a cure all in of themselves.”
Editor’s Note: As reprinted from the January 2026 issue of School Transportation News.
Related: (STN Podcast E187) Onsite at the TSD Conference, Part 1/2: Technology, Cameras & Special Needs
Related: 8 Must-Know Tips for Bus Camera System Installations
Related: Is Safety Everyone’s Responsibility?
Related: (STN Podcast E286) End of Year Review: Safety & Technology Trends of 2025
The post Eagle Eye on Student Transportation Safety appeared first on School Transportation News.
Our first issue of 2026 brings the focus back to transportation of students with special needs and disabilities. Learn more about leveraging camera technology for student safety and driver training, Medicaid reimbursement management, the considerations of using non-yellow school bus vehicles for student transportation and the details on new securement technology for students with disabilities and how to train staff to use it correctly. Also read articles on targeting sexual assault onboard school buses and the multi-faceted approach needed to build and retain student transportation teams that are prepared for the wide variety of student needs.
Find more information about our upcoming 2026 conferences in the magazine as well as a recap of the 2025 TSD Conference!
Read the full January 2026 issue.
Features
Navigating the Complexities
The arduous task of tracking students and routes for Medicaid reimbursement can be off-putting. However, software companies are highlighting the benefits of how technology can help with documenting and reporting.
Smaller Options
Switching to alternative transportation vehicles like vans and SUVs for students with disabilities is beneficial in some circumstances, but at what cost?
Secure & Ensure
As securement devices for students with disabilities become more specialized, ensuring transportation staff are trained in securing them properly inside the school bus is a top safety element.
Special Reports
Eagle Eye on Student Transportation Safety
Leveraging camera technology can offer a host of safety solutions, from identifying student behavior issues to detailing driver performance behind the wheel.
Editor’s Take by Ryan Gray
Driving Change in 2026
Thought Leader by Linda Bluth
Sexual Assault on School Transportation Vehicles: A Call for Action
Publisher’s Corner by Tony Corpin
Innovative Staffing & Retention
The post January 2026 appeared first on School Transportation News.
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