In the U.S., pupil transportation is highly structured, professionalized and heavily regulated. The yellow school bus has become a global icon of education and with good reason. Every day, nearly 25 million American children ride them to and from school. In scale, the U.S. school bus network is the largest mass transportation system in the country — larger than all municipal transit systems combined.

Last month, Bret Brooks shared his experiences with pupil transportation in the United Kingdom as part of this ongoing series exploring how different nations move their most precious cargo: Children.

The emphasis is on safety and uniformity. School buses are designed with reinforced bodies, high-backed seats and flashing stop arms. Drivers undergo training that covers not only vehicle operation but also student management and emergency response. Transportation departments map routes with precision, ensuring children in rural areas, suburbs and congested cities alike can access education. In short, the American system reflects the resources of a nation that prioritizes regulation, logistics and consistency.

India, by contrast, presents a far more diverse and uneven picture. In major urban centers like Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore, larger private schools often operate their own fleets of buses with professional drivers and attendants. These buses can resemble their western counterparts, and for middle- and upper-class families they provide reliable and relatively safe transportation. Yet this represents only a fraction of India’s pupil transportation reality.

In rural areas, where the majority of India’s population still lives, the journey to school is often difficult and sometimes dangerous. Many children walk long distances along narrow, unpaved roads. Others cycle, navigating crowded lanes where cars, buses, livestock and pedestrians all compete for space. In some regions, groups of children set off together for safety, with older siblings informally supervising younger ones. When school buses are available, they are often overcrowded and poorly maintained, with students packed into every available seat and standing in aisles.

Alternative transport methods are common. It’s not unusual to see motorcycles carrying three or four children in addition to the driver or auto-rickshaws crammed with a dozen students zigzagging through traffic. These solutions may raise serious safety concerns, but for many families they are the only affordable and practical means of getting children to school. In some remote areas, parents pool resources to hire small vans or jeeps, transforming them into improvised school shuttles.

The risks in India extend beyond traffic safety. Seasonal monsoons can flood roads, making routes treacherous. In certain rural districts, children face threats from wildlife or must cross rivers without bridges. The lack of consistent enforcement of regulations compounds the danger. Although rules for pupil transportation exist, compliance depends on local authorities and school budgets, leading to stark disparities between urban and rural systems.

Yet what stands out most to me in India is the resilience and determination of families and communities. Education is viewed as a vital pathway to opportunity, and parents will go to extraordinary lengths to ensure their children can attend school. I know of communities pooling funds to purchase a shared bus, parents rotating responsibility to escort groups of children on foot and entire villages organizing safe walking paths. This sense of collective responsibility and improvisation reflects the cultural emphasis on education as a shared priority, even when resources are scarce.

When comparing the two systems, the contrasts are sharp. The U.S. offers a regulated, resource-heavy model designed around prevention and consistency. Every component, from vehicle design to driver training, aims to reduce risk before it occurs. India’s model, however, is less a single system than a mosaic of solutions. Some children board modern school buses in cities, while others cling to the back of motorcycles or trek long distances through the countryside.

Both nations also reveal strengths. The U.S. demonstrates what is possible with planning, investment and regulation. India illustrates adaptability, community spirit and perseverance in the face of obstacles. The American system excels in uniform safety, while the Indian experience highlights resilience and the willingness to sacrifice for education.

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Despite the stark differences in execution, the underlying value is the same: Children must get to school safely. Parents in both countries share the same hopes of their children arriving ready to learn, protected along the way. Both also face the modern challenges of congestion, environmental concerns and the need for sustainable solutions.

In the U.S., conversations increasingly focus on electric school buses, emissions reduction, and the integration of technology. In India, the emphasis is on access, affordability and safety enforcement, particularly for rural and low-income families. Both nations are striving, in their own ways, to evolve pupil transportation systems that serve future generations.

Examining pupil transportation in the U.S. and India has deepened my appreciation for the many forms this work can take. America showcases the strength of regulation and logistics, while India reveals the determination of families and communities to overcome daily challenges.

In the end, whether it is a meticulously scheduled yellow school bus in Missouri or a child in rural India walking miles to class, the goal remains the same: Connecting students with education, and through that, with opportunity. That commitment to children’s futures unites both nations, even as their systems differ dramatically.

Next month, this series will turn to South America—specifically Colombia—where geography, safety, and social conditions shape pupil transportation in unique and challenging ways.

Bret E. Brooks is the chief operating officer for Gray Ram Tactical, LLC, a Missouri-based international training and consulting firm specializing in transportation safety and security issues. Bret is the author of several books and articles. He is also a keynote speaker and presents around the world. He can be reached directly at bretbrooks@grayramtacticaltraining.com.

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The California Air Resources Board (CARB) proposed an emergency action to continue enforcing engine emissions regulations because it says federal government efforts to undo them could result in the sale of vehicles that are not certified to any standard.

As California’s lawsuit continues against the Trump administration, challenging the presidential executive order in January directing federal agencies to terminate state emissions waivers and a resulting revocation of those waivers through the Congressional Review Act (CRA) signed into law in June, CARB said it wants to provide regulatory certainty and flexibility to manufacturers. For school buses and trucks, manufacturers could meet the Omnibus Low-NOx regulation adopted in 2020 or the previous regulation that met the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency levels set in 2010. The CRA this spring revoked three waivers, one of which allowed CARB to set a new level of 0.05 g/bhp-hr of NOx.

The public had five business days from Monday’s announcement to weigh in on CARB’s intent to enact its Emergency Vehicle Emissions Regulations by filing comments with the state’s Office of Administrative Law.

The emergency regulations do not address the Advanced Clean Trucks rule, which the CRA also revoked an EPA waiver for.

“The amendments would confirm that, until a court resolves the uncertainty created by the federal government’s actions, certain antecedent regulations (displaced by Advanced Clean Cars II and Omnibus) remain operative (as previously adopted) with the caveat that CARB may enforce Advanced Clean Cars II and Omnibus, to the extent permitted by law, in the event a court of law holds invalid the resolution purporting to disapprove those waivers,” the proposal reads.

In other words, manufacturers would be able to continue certifying engines under either the earlier-adopted emissions standards or the more stringent standards.

CARB noted that most engine and vehicle manufacturers have already planned on or achieved compliance with the more stringent emissions requirements. But CARB also warned that manufacturers choosing to certify to previous emissions levels assume the risk of having engines out of compliance with regulations, should current legal cases brought against the Trump administration go in California’s favor.

Cummins spokeswoman Drew Blair told School Transportation News that it was premature to respond in detail to CARB’s proposal, as it was not final. But she added Cummins is following the issue closely.

“Cummins is focused on delivering products with the power and performance our customers need to get their jobs done, while also meeting emissions requirements,” she commented. “We also will continue to advocate for national standards to bring clarity to our business and customers and ensure efficient and affordable products are available to power their needs.”

Earlier this month, a group of vehicle manufacturers led by Daimler Truck North America, the parent company to Thomas Built Buses, filed a suit against CARB, claiming the agency would need to re-enact previous legislation before it could enforce earlier emissions regulations.

“In the event the vehicle manufacturer’s claims were deemed correct … then CARB must take immediate action to maintain a stable vehicle market in the state and prevent the sale of vehicles into the state that would not be certified to either set of standards …,” CARB writes. “… Otherwise, in light of these unprecedented circumstances, there may remain questions — for the first time since CARB’s program began decades ago — as to whether any California standard is in effect.”

A Daimler Truck spokesperson said Wednesday the company could not comment on CARB’s proposal.

International, the parent to IC Bus, signed onto the Daimler Truck lawsuit. An International spokesman declined comment because the litigation is ongoing.

Meanwhile, CARB said Tuesday 23 percent of new medium- and heavy-duty vehicle sales in 2024 were zero emissions, more than double the minimum statewide requirement. The data is based on 30,026 zero-emission trucks, buses and vans reported to CARB by manufacturers. School buses are included in the reporting.

It was the fourth year in a row that ZEV sales increased. More than 57,000 ZEVs have been sold in California since 2021.

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LISLE, Ill.– IC Bus, LLC (IC Bus), the leader in student transportation solutions, is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2025-2026 IC Bus Scholarship Program. This initiative, created in collaboration with the IC Bus® dealer network, underscores the company’s dedication to fostering a bright future in the communities where its employees live and work.

Each recipient of the program will receive a $5,000 scholarship to support their education expenses for the 2025-2026 school year.

This year, 14 exceptional students were selected to receive scholarships after a competitive application process. Among them, four students were recognized with special honors, exemplifying the values and legacy of the scholarship’s namesakes.

2025-2026 Scholarship Recipients

Harlow Hageness Scholarship:

· Isabelle Forde – Harlow’s Truck and Bus Sales, Bismarck, N.D.

Holly Hoglund Klein Scholarship:

· Livia Takanen – Ascendance Truck Center, Marshfield, Wis.

Richard Wolfington Sr. Scholarship:

· Damon Wright – Wolfington Body Co., Chester Springs, Pa.

Floyd Morris Scholarship:

· Christopher Shoemaker – White’s IC Bus, Greensboro, N.C.

General Scholarship Recipients:

· Ainsley Boyd – Southland Transportation Group, Birmingham, Ala.

· Aiden Herley – Midwest Transit Equipment, Whitestown, Ind.

· Loran Thieneman – Midwest Transit Equipment, Whitestown, Ind.

· Madison Ballard – Waters International Trucks, Columbus, Miss.

· Ava Lazzara – Leonard Bus Sales, Deposit, N.Y.

· Erica Wilson – Leonard Bus Sales, Deposit, N.Y.

· Max Clara – RWC Group, Huntington Park, Calif.

· Alex Rodriguez – Longhorn Bus Sales, Houston, Texas

· Sari Johnson – Rush Truck Centers, Salt Lake City, Utah

· Carter Reineke – Cornhusker International, Lincoln, Neb.

“We are incredibly proud to support these talented students through the IC Bus Scholarship Program,” said Charles Chilton, vice president and general manager of IC Bus. “Education is a powerful tool for shaping the future, and we are honored to play a role in the journeys of these exceptional young individuals. Congratulations to this year’s recipients—you represent the values, ambition, and potential that make our industry and our communities thrive.”

Since its inception, the IC Bus Scholarship Program has supported hundreds of students across the nation. By investing in education, the program has created a lasting impact on the lives of students, families, and communities.

The 2025-2026 scholarship cohort continues this proud tradition, paving the way for a new generation of leaders, innovators, and changemakers.

About International:
Based in Lisle, Illinois, International Motors, LLC* creates solutions that deliver greater uptime and productivity to our customers throughout the full operation of our commercial vehicles. We build International® trucks and engines and IC Bus school and commercial buses that are as tough and as smart as the people who drive them. We also develop Fleetrite® aftermarket parts. In everything we do, our vision is to accelerate the impact of sustainable mobility to create the cleaner, safer world we all deserve. As of 2021, we joined Scania AB, MAN Truck & Bus and Volkswagen Truck & Bus in the TRATON GROUP, a global champion of the truck and transport services industry. To learn more, visit www.International.com.

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