When Laura Neiswonger stepped into her role as transportation director at Redbank Valley School District less than a year ago, she was handed a complex system with a fast-approaching deadline.

Officially assuming the role in May 2023, just a few months before the new school began, she needed to make critical decisions fast—and she turned to Transfinder to help reinvent how transportation operates in the rural western Pennsylvania district.

“I got my access to Transfinder on Aug. 1,” Neiswonger said, “and school started Aug. 21 and we were fully implemented by that time.”

With more than 1,000 students to manage, including those in non-public schools, Neiswonger needed a tool that could give her better control over her entire transportation operation. She was not satisfied with the district’s existing transportation product – “It was pretty cumbersome” – and began asking neighboring Pennsylvania districts about the solutions they used.

At the same time, Neiswonger would speak to other vendors in the school transportation space. The one common theme was each vendor trying to tear down Transfinder. It was a turnoff.

“I said, ‘I want you to tell me why I should use you? What do you have to offer?’” Neiswonger said. Instead, other companies “kept putting down Transfinder. In my mind, that was a negative approach and I kind of stopped [one representative] in the middle of a sentence. I’m here to ask what you are and that basically ended the conversation because she had nothing else to say.”

With Transfinder it was a different story. First, after attending a Pennsylvania Association of School Business Officials (PASBO) conference, she kept hearing positive things about Transfinder from attendees. Transfinder kept coming up during training sessions at the PASBO conference.

On her first day back at the office she told her superintendent and business manager it would be a good idea to see a Transfinder demo. Next thing she knew, a Transfinder sales representative was calling her.

“And that’s where it all began. Transfinder did a much better job at portraying what they had to offer without putting down any other company,” she said.

Neiswonger liked what she heard and saw from Transfinder.

“It just blew my mind. It is easy and intuitive,” she said. “And the fact that I was able to implement it in just three weeks goes to show you just how amazing Transfinder is.”

She quickly moved from exploration to acting decisively.

Redbank Valley, with its 44 vehicles and 89 routes, covers a large, rural area. The routing complexities range from geocoding unmapped rural students to navigating unpredictable infrastructure delays like bridge closures.

“At the beginning of the year we had several bridge projects within the district that caused significant delays to morning and afternoon traffic,” she said. “Once these bridge projects are over, we’ll be able to shave five to 10 minutes off these routes.”

Neiswonger leans heavily on the award-winning Routefinder PLUS to overcome these hurdles.

“Everything is going great,” she said.

For example, setting up nightly and midday imports from the district’s student information system allows for near real-time updates to routing assignments. Having a scheduled midday import has been a game changer.

“It automatically pulls from my SIS into Routefinder PLUS and that allows me to make changes in the afternoon,” she said.

Routefinder PLUS also helps her address any concerns in her district. For example, one parent of a special needs student who had insisted his child’s bus ride was an hour and 20 minutes was able to see his child’s time on the bus was not that long.

One of the standout aspects of Transfinder’s suite for Neiswonger is Viewfinder, which provides visibility to administrators and secretaries across all buildings. It’s been especially helpful in those chaotic first weeks of school.

“The whole first week of school there were only two missed buses the first week. With 1,000 students transported, I call that a win.”

Viewfinder also revealed gaps in previous processes—like the case of a student who had been riding the wrong bus for two years without anyone noticing.

With Viewfinder, the secretary could see the discrepancy. It turned out the family had moved and never told the school, and the bus driver just kept doing what they’d always done,

“Drivers tend to do what they want because they’ve been doing it forever,” she said. Neiswonger explained. This tool helped everyone get back on track.

And when Neiswonger was away at a conference, she used Viewfinder to print ridership reports for the secretaries for quick reference as a backup.

Meanwhile, Stopfinder, launched mid-year as a soft rollout, is proving to be another essential resource for the community, letting parents know bus stop information as well as information on a bus run.

One day when Neiswonger was supposed to be off, she started getting calls about a road closure. From home she was above to divert buses and notify parents that their children would be arriving home late.

“It’s been really nice to have that tool,” she said. “When a bus is delayed for any reason, I can push out notifications.” Neiswonger also likes the feedback she receives with two-way communication. “I get messages from parents letting me know so-and-so is not going to ride this week, you don’t have to stop at my house.”

Stopfinder is expected to play a starring role this summer when Neiswonger sends out bus assignments. Rather than fielding hundreds of calls, she plans to direct parents to the app.

Neiswonger said she is pleased with the innovative technology Transfinder has created and happy with the support the company provides.

“Anytime I needed anything I was getting a call in minutes,” she said. “If I need something, I’ll call and someone will pick up the phone.”

It’s why she is quick to add: “I’m a big fan of Transfinder.”

To learn more about Routefinder PLUS or Transfinder’s suite of solutions, visit Transfinder.com, email getplus@transfinder.com or call 800-373-3609.

The views expressed are those of the content sponsor and do not reflect those of School Transportation News.

The post Why Pennsylvania Transportation Director Declares: ‘I’m a Big Fan of Transfinder’ appeared first on School Transportation News.

Transitioning a fleet of school buses from diesel to electric power can offer dramatic benefits.

eBuses (electric school buses) have the potential to significantly reduce not only noise and air pollution throughout the school district, but also the fleet’s total cost of ownership (TCO). However, the road to electrification requires careful navigation around an assortment of planning pitfalls. Every aspect of the project is complex, from planning and financing to implementation and operations.

For districts that lack the internal resources and expertise to maximize benefits across all these areas, ENGIE North America offers a turnkey eBus solution. ENGIE is the world’s number-one provider of energy services, with decades of experience supporting school districts on sustainable energy initiatives.

Read on to learn how we’re helping K-12 school districts optimize the value of their eBus transition.

Fill out the form below and then check your email for the white paper download link.

The post (Free White Paper) Developing Your Plan for an Electric Bus Fleet appeared first on School Transportation News.

Twice a year, the district reminds students about danger zone safety rules during its bus evacuation drills. Yet, a recent incident involving Henry confirmed that words and training are not enough to prevent life-threatening events.

Henry, an eager pre-K student, arrived late at his bus stop one day due to a power outage at home. Like any excited youngster, he ran to board his bus. Without thinking, he crossed in front of the bus and out of the driver’s sight.

Was it dumb luck that Henry eventually caught his driver’s attention? Or did the driver have an onboard assistant to thank? Read on for the answers.

1. The 360° Advantage

A second set of eyes can be invaluable for student safety – a statement that Henry’s driver can attest to. Because of REI’s 360° HD Camera System and its expansive views, he spotted Henry in the danger zone and promptly braked, preventing an unspeakable tragedy.

Now, this system provides full coverage of bus surroundings via bird’s-eye and three-dimensional views. For drivers, that means unobstructed, real-time views of students, objects or vehicles that may be hidden from sight. Henry’s driver uses it at bus stops and during turns and lane changes to avoid collisions. Your drivers would likely appreciate the extra visibility too.

But the district didn’t stop at just one solution to improve danger zone safety. They doubled up by adding a vision-based AI tool.

2. The Violation Detector

An estimated 251,000+ stop-arm violations occur daily around the U.S.* To oversee the stop-arm zone and deter illegal passings by repeat offenders, the district installed an REI AI Stop-Arm Violation Camera System on every bus.

The system’s vision-based AI camera sees vehicles enter its detection zone while the stop arm is extended. It then triggers the license plate cameras into action and facilitates an automated report in REI’s ARMOR Software Suite.** The report allows the district to quickly review violators’ license plates and data before sharing the information with law enforcement if needed.

Imagine both systems at work for your district. Your drivers would likely feel more at ease with 360-degree danger zone views. In addition, you would likely feel more relaxed knowing an automated detection system monitors your danger zone for stop-arm violators. A definite win-win for students and your district.

Visit radioeng.com to watch a 360° System demo or learn more about our AI Stop-Arm Camera System and ARMOR Software Suite.

*2024 survey results, National Association of State Directors of Pupil Transportation Services
**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 Doubled Vision: Covering Your Danger Zone appeared first on School Transportation News.

When East Noble School District’s transportation operation needed to make security updates, the district found itself in urgent need to move to Transfinder’s cloud-based Routefinder PLUS platform.

The move to PLUS was a game-changer for the Kendallville, Ind. District that serves some 4,000 students. Josh Buhro, the Kendallville, Ind district’s transportation director, set out to not only restore the district’s transportation operation but also significantly enhance its efficiency.

He accomplished both by implementing Transfinder’s Routefinder PLUS routing solution.

“We jumped in full steam ahead,” Buhro said.

A History of Transportation Technology at East Noble

Buhro has been in transportation for nearly a decade. When he first joined East Noble, the district was using (another company), a routing software he described as clunky and not user-friendly. Looking for an upgrade, East Noble had switched to Transfinder’s Routefinder Pro solution five years ago, which had been recommended by neighboring districts.

Then in 2024, the district moved to the award-winning Routefinder PLUS.

“There are districts around us who had moved to PLUS and had nothing but good things to say,” Buhro recalled. “They were implementing is and moving forward and I was maybe a little stubborn.”

He added, it was more of an “if it’s not broke, don’t fix it kind of thing. But looking back, I was scared of stuff. I shouldn’t have been scared. Ultimately, I think we’re in a better place now.”

During the move to Routefinder PLUS, Buhro and his team, including a newly hired transportation secretary who attended Transfinder University Livestream. This training proved invaluable, allowing them to quickly adapt to the new platform. The secretary, with no prior experience with Transfinder’s solutions, found PLUS to be highly intuitive, taking to it “like a fish to water,” Buhro said. “They said, ‘Josh, don’t be scared of it!’”

The Advantages of PLUS

One of the biggest surprises for Buhro and his team was how seamlessly PLUS integrated with other Transfinder tools the district uses, such as Tripfinder, the district’s field trip management solution, and Viewfinder, a solution that provides an overview of the district’s operation and student rider data.

“We love Tripfinder,” he said. “It allows us to manage our buses, our resources and our drivers. We’ve got some custom reports set up. Quite frankly, I don’t know how we would manage our extracurricular activity trips without the use of Tripfinder. It cuts out so much of that cumbersome sort of communication piece that used to have to take place by phone or email,” Buhro said.

He noted that one morning he had 36 extracurricular and field trips requests that he was able to quickly assign.

“It does it all for us, other than drive the bus,” Buhro said, “and that’s the part that’s easy for us to manage.”

Regarding the PLUS platform, Buhro described it as more user-friendly, efficient and responsive. He highlighted:

• Ease of Use: Editing routes is easy. PLUS allows for simple, drag-and-drop modifications. “You just right-click and edit,” Buhro noted, highlighting how much more intuitive the system is.
• Streamlined Communication: Tripfinder revolutionized how East Noble manages field trips, athletics and extracurricular activities. Requests are processed digitally, eliminating the cumbersome back-and-forth that used to take place via phone and email.
• Transfinder Community: The online Transfinder Community portal provides a wealth of resources, including video tutorials and guides, which allows Buhro and his team to troubleshoot issues independently. “Anytime we’ve got a question, that’s the first place we go and there are usually videos in the library or trainings that have been done. Rarely, if ever, do we actually reach out to support.”
• Enhanced Support: When direct support is needed, Transfinder’s response times were “obscenely fast,” often returning calls within minutes.

Buhro said the Transfinder team understands the need for speedy response times.

“Even three days before school started they need it was critical for us to have things up and running,” he said. ‘They put in the time to help us make things happen. We’re very grateful for all that support and input.”

A New Era for East Noble’s Transportation

In a district serving multiple schools, including a high school, middle school and five elementary schools, an efficient transportation system is crucial. The ability to quickly assign drivers, manage routes, and coordinate field trips is no small feat.

Thanks to Transfinder’s PLUS platform, East Noble has improved its transportation operation. What began as an urgent need has ultimately led to a stronger, more resilient system that better serves students, staff and the community.

“There are so many pieces of it that are just intuitive,” Buhro said.

As Buhro reflected on the transition, he expressed gratitude for the support and partnership from Transfinder. “We were very fortunate with the trainer we were assigned. They let us work at our own pace and answered every question we had.”

With a solid foundation in place and considering new tools in the future, East Noble School District is well-positioned for what’s around the bend.

Future Plans with Transfinder

With the great results from the move to PLUS, East Noble is now exploring additional Transfinder tools, such as the driver app Wayfinder, which offers turn-by-turn navigation and attendance, and the parent app Stopfinder, which provides information on bus location and two-way communication between parents and the transportation department. These tools could further assist the transportation operation in dealing with issues such as substitute drivers and last-minute route changes.

“Based on the success with that [PLUS] implementation, that’s what’s been the impetus for us to investigate Wayfinder and Stopfinder solutions for turn-by-turn directions and fleet tracking,” Buhro said.

Buhro emphasized the importance of ensuring these tools integrate smoothly with their existing processes.

“I need to make sure it’ll do everything we’re doing now—and do it better,” he said.

Buhro said he knows the Transfinder team will be there to help along the way.

“You guys did a beautiful job of easing concerns and getting us rolling with the new stuff,” he said.

To learn more about Routefinder PLUS or Transfinder’s suite of solutions, visit Transfinder.com, email getplus@transfinder.com or call 800-373-3609.

The views expressed are those of the content sponsor and do not reflect those of School Transportation News.

The post Support ‘Obscenely Fast’ as Indiana District Enhances Transportation with Transfinder Technology appeared first on School Transportation News.

As weeks passed, the Midwestern district’s fleet management duties escalated. So much so that Tim, the transportation director, hired bus drivers to pull hard drives after hours and assist with other tasks. There simply weren’t enough hours in the day, and fleet demands stressed Tim’s typically upbeat team.

The trend soon changed thanks to REI’s wireless, automated ARMOR Software Suite. The district integrated the cloud-based data powerhouse to streamline fleet management for Tim’s team and help reduce expenses.

Let’s review its features – the same features that could help reduce your duties and costs too.

Actions

Tim accessed this feature to assign permissions, parameters, thresholds and automated procedures for all ARMOR functions. Most noteworthy: He set up the automatic download of event videos from fleet DVRs which eliminated drivers’ help in pulling hard drives.

Diagnostics

Once Tim configured ARMOR’s settings, the Diagnostics feature’s data showed that all engines and bus camera systems worked properly.* In addition, the vehicle logs and automated status updates helped the team:

• Detect problems early to mitigate/prevent major repairs
• Anticipate/correct issues before dispatching vehicles
• Monitor the video systems on the vehicles en route
• Gauge fuel efficiency, battery voltages, odometer readings and mechanical problems

Diagnostics made it possible for them to solve problems quickly, saving time and potential maintenance costs.

AutoPilot

An archive for downloaded surveillance videos and data, the team often accessed AutoPilot to review events and email the password-protected videos to others. This feature’s search tool also made it incredibly easy to find videos, saving the team hours of time (see image at top).

Dashboard

The team frequently checked Dashboard to monitor data about active vehicles, their locations, frequency of events and server storage space. With this feature at your disposal, you too could monitor fleet efficiency and safety remotely to save time and keep costs down.

Insight

Suppose you want to track vehicles in real time, request event video from a specific location or view event hotspots. ARMOR Insight is your source. Tim’s team frequently viewed the mapped routes, vehicle speed graphs and other useful data to locate and solve problems in a timely manner.*

StopArm

StopArm’s data made it easier for the team to find, review and manage violation videos. Having supporting data, license plate images and video in one place also expedited their reporting process. StopArm could save hours of work for your team too.

Work smarter, not harder on fleet management. Let ARMOR Software Suite’s automated data collection and reporting features do much of the legwork for you. Contact us today for more info!

*Additional hardware required.

The views expressed are those of the content sponsor and do not reflect those of School Transportation News.

The post Data: The Power Behind Streamlined Fleet Management appeared first on School Transportation News.

Weld County RE-3J School District in Colorado has been actively enhancing their transportation services to ensure safety, efficiency and reliability for their students. A significant aspect of this improvement involves the adoption of advanced routing and transportation management solutions provided by Transfinder, the leader in the industry.

Implementing Advanced Routing Solutions

Leading the effort is Nate Forbes, the transportation supervisor who has been with the district five years, following 16 years as a dispatch supervisor at UPS. Forbes, who’d worked overnights at UPS, made the move to school transportation so he could spend more time with his children.

Weld County RE-3J is one of the largest school districts in the state geographically, located in the largest county in the state, just 35 miles northeast of Denver. Transportation covers about 500 square miles and Forbes’ team transports 1,050 students on 14 large buses and three smaller buses.

Forbes’ move to school transportation was far from smooth.

“It was a mess of a department,” Forbes said. He wasn’t pleased with the transportation software the district was using.

At UPS, he was used to dispatching 75 drivers delivering 24,000 packages a day. When he logged into the product the Weld County district was using, it was sluggish.

“I couldn’t do it,” he said. “It was slow. The technology just wasn’t there. It took so long to zoom in on a map, to move a kid and route a kid or route that bus. I mean, it was taking me days to do what should have taken 10 to 15 minutes.”

That set him on his own journey about two years ago to find something better. He watched webinars, did some trainings, heard sales pitches, spoke with others in the industry. In total, he looked at five different companies and their products.

When he saw Transfinder’s award-winning Routefinder PLUS technology in action. One demonstration showed all the functions he was trying to do with his legacy product but couldn’t.

“You could grab a group of kids in a geographical area and it automatically routed them. You weren’t having to pick each individual student,” he said. “It was, in my opinion, very, very user friendly.”

The pieces of the puzzle then began to come together.

Standout

Asked what made Transfinder stand out from the pack, Forbes talked about the Transfinder sales team that was also “user” friendly. He didn’t feel the pressure that other companies he was dealing with were applying by overloading his inbox.

“I get turned off by that,” he said. And what Transfinder was providing was better than what he was seeing. After speaking to colleagues in the industry, reading online reviews and watching videos, it became apparent that Transfinder’s advanced routing technology was significantly better than the others.

“Just looking at map routing students, it’s just super easy,” he said. “I had a driver come in on a Wednesday and tell me that his last day was on Thursday. I cut out the route and moved those kids around and made sure parents were communicated with.” He was out of town and checked in with his team who confirmed things went smoothly.

Last year, when he hired a new secretary, Ashley Diller, he found himself out of the office during her first two weeks on the job. He encouraged Diller to look at the Transfinder Community site, to look at Routefinder 101. Between the great DIY tools in Community and the intuitiveness of PLUS, Forbes said she picked it up very quickly and could be a backup router when he wasn’t available.

The Need for Responsiveness

After turning to Routefinder PLUS, Forbes set his sights on Transfinder’s other award-winning solutions, the driver app Wayfinder and parent app Stopfinder.

“I just got everything I could get,” he said.

His previous experience with a different vendor was not so positive. “The customer service was horrible” at the district’s previous vendor, he said. On top of that, the product wasn’t reliable. Not helping things was the vendor’s constant employee turnover.

“I’d be talking to this guy and then two weeks later it’s this guy and it was just constant movement within their company. They weren’t very quick and responsive.”

He said in some cases it would take as many as eight business days before getting a call back from a previous vendor.

“When it’s a technical issue that’s too long,” he said.

Forbes said he needs responsiveness as he deals with challenges within the district. He said that, for a period of time, the district experienced dwindling enrollment but there are pockets in the district that are growing.

“That’s probably our biggest challenge,” he said.

When changing or consolidating routes, using Stopfinder to communicate with parents is extremely helpful and his staff loves the solution.

Stopfinder ‘Super Easy’ To Use

“They said, ‘This is super easy, especially with Stopfinder,’” he said, referring to informing parents of route changes. “We really have pushed that this year. They’re like, ‘This is super nice, seeing where the buses are at and getting the notifications.’”

The way to get more buy-in on the parent app was informing parents that they could find their student’s routing information through Stopfinder. He said the district constantly promoted this with parents in various communications.

“They would call the office and we would not give them their student riding information until they downloaded the app,” Forbes said. “We spent a lot of time on the phone and walking people though it. But in the long run it has made it so much better.” He estimates about 90 percent of parents are now using the app.

Forbes said Stopfinder has been a huge help keeping parents informed.

“We had a pretty big construction project that was supposed to be done in the middle of July and it didn’t wrap up until the end of September. Our buses were running late because there was no way to go,” Forbes said. “So I just sent out a quick notification saying we’re going to pick up 10 minutes early at magnet stops (subdivisions). I can see who’s reading it. I love that ability.”

He sent the notifications only to the families impacted by the construction rather than blasting to an entire route.

“Parents will tell you that they didn’t see anything and I can say, ‘You opened it at this time,’” Forbes said. “You opened it. If you didn’t read it, that’s on you.”

Parents are also good at providing feedback through the app, though sometimes, they tell him more than he needs to know.

“I think when I roll it out next year I’ll put a blurb in there saying you do not need to let me know little Johnny’s going to be out sick next Tuesday,’ Forbes said.

Viewfinder a time-saver

The district also has Viewfinder, which gives a customizable view of a district’s transportation operation. It also provides reader-only student ridership information to unlimited users, which district personnel can access to answer parent questions.

“I like it. We have a few of our secretaries who are very proficient in it and can go in and see what they need to see,” he said. “It’s saved quite a few phone calls on my end.”

Customer service

After dealing with subpar customer service from other vendors, Forbes has been amazed by the white-glove treatment he receives from Transfinder.

“The training was outstanding,” he said. “I was very, very surprised with the training. It was very, very good, very detailed. And when I had a question, even after the training, I could email the trainer and they were very responsive, very quickly.”

He said the trainer knew how to put him at ease at a stressful time planning for the new school year. He hit a “wrong” button and thought he lost two to three weeks’ worth of work just days before school starting.

“I had a moment where I thought I was going to cry. I’d panicked a little bit,” he said, laughing. “The trainer said, ‘Calm down. It’s archived.”

She brought up everything where they’d just left off. And when he has a question, he still gets responses quickly and Transfinder team members will hop on a call to walk him through something.

“My experience has been great,” he said. “I don’t know if there’s anything I would even suggest changing. It’s worked out well.”

The views expressed are those of the content sponsor and do not reflect those of School Transportation News.

The post Routefinder PLUS, Stopfinder Key Pieces of Puzzle for Colorado District appeared first on School Transportation News.

School bus transportation plays a crucial role in getting children to and from school safely every day. However, ensuring the safety and efficiency of this process requires more than just well-maintained buses and reliable routes.

Effective and streamlined communication between bus drivers, parents, school administrators, and transportation departments is essential for keeping a secure and efficient transportation system.

Here’s why communication is so critical and how it can be improved for the benefit of students, parents, and school communities.

Ensuring Safety

The safety of children is the top priority in school bus transportation. From the moment a child boards the bus until they safely arrive at school or home, clear communication is needed to address any potential issues that arise during the ride.

Real-Time Updates: Bus routes are sometimes subject to delays due to traffic, weather conditions, or mechanical issues. A streamlined communication system allows parents, school administrators, and transportation departments to be informed in real-time about delays or changes. By using communication tools such as two-way radios, apps, GPS systems, and automated messages, parents can track their child’s bus and adjust their schedule accordingly.

Emergency Communication: In case of accidents or emergencies, clear communication channels ensure that the right people are alerted quickly. Bus drivers can contact the school or emergency services, and parents can be notified at once to ensure a timely response.

Incident Reporting: A streamlined system enables prompt reporting of issues such as bullying, inappropriate behavior, or unsafe driving. When parents and school staff can easily communicate with the transportation team, it leads to faster resolutions and keeps the environment on the bus safe for everyone.

Improving Efficiency

School bus systems are large and complex, serving hundreds or even thousands of students each day. For this operation to run smoothly, it’s crucial to coordinate effectively between different parties.

Route Optimization: Communication allows transportation departments to adjust bus routes in real time based on factors like student attendance, road conditions, or changes in traffic patterns. This helps to prevent delays and ensures that buses are running on schedule.

Driver Support and Training: Streamlined communication ensures that bus drivers are well-informed about route changes, student needs, and any unique requirements for children (such as allergies or medical conditions). It also helps ensure that drivers receive continuous training updates and support from their supervisors, which improves overall service quality.

Preventing Overcrowding: With clear communication between transportation departments and schools, it’s easier to monitor bus capacity and adjust schedules accordingly. Overcrowded buses are a safety hazard, and by tracking attendance and bus usage, schools can prevent this issue and improve student comfort and safety.

Leveraging Technology for Better Communication

In today’s digital age, technology can play a huge role in improving communication in school bus transportation.

Automated Messaging Systems: Automated calls or text messages to parents can alert them of route changes, delays, or incidents involving their child’s bus. This minimizes confusion and ensures that parents are always in the loop.

Transportation Two-Way Radios Over Cellular, GPS and Tracking: With the ease of use of Push-to-Talk Over Cellular Radios (PoC), schools can check the progress of buses throughout the day, providing real-time data on location and estimated arrival times. This reduces the likelihood of missed pickups or drop-offs and improves overall time management for bus routes. School-Radio can do just that for school communication from transportation to administration.

Aaron Mannan Director of Project Management B&G Transportation, Inc. M&M Tours, Inc. says of their integration of the School-Radio PoC system: “Coming from a background in 9-1-1 communications to School Transportation, there are many differences, but the needs are very much just as important. We were frustrated with outdated aging radio equipment, and even worse, couldn’t find anyone to work on our system to keep us running. But then we were introduced to School Radio. Clarity is what they are all about. Our dispatch can handle communications from anywhere on the planet, our drivers are kept aware of safety sensitive information, and we know where our fleet is at all times”

Streamlined communication in school bus transportation is essential for ensuring the safety, efficiency, and overall success of the system. By using technology, improving parent-school relations, and enhancing real-time communication, school districts can create a safer and more efficient transportation environment for all students. The benefits of a well-coordinated transportation system extend beyond simply getting students from point A to point B—it helps build trust, ensures safety, and fosters a more connected school community.

By prioritizing communication at every step of the process, we can help keep our children safe and our school systems running smoothly. For more information on how School-Radio can optimize your communication, visit www.school-radio.com.

The views expressed are those of the content sponsor and do not reflect those of School Transportation News.

The post The Importance of Streamlined Communication in School Bus Transportation for Safety and Efficiency appeared first on School Transportation News.

School was scheduled to start in two weeks. Yet, installation of the district’s new bus camera systems was delayed. As anxiety grew, so did the questions: Why the delay? Where were the buses? How quickly can the issues be resolved? The district raced to find answers.

While planning your installations, consider these eight tips to facilitate efficiency and help you stay on budget:

1. Hold Up-front Meetings

The more details you cover with stakeholders, the better. Organize meetings before installation begins to establish deadlines, review system requirements and settings, assign duties and expectations, examine shipping schedules, and discuss the approval process. Also, anticipate potential delays that could impact completion. Figure them into your timetable to ease deadline pressure.

2. Check State Regulations

Rules for bus safety solutions vary by state and may impact your hardware orders and installations. For example, some states require that cameras be recessed. Other states prohibit windshield-mount cameras but permit pedestal-mount models. Know the laws before you order to optimize expenses.

3. Confirm Bus Availability

Will your installer have access to the number of buses promised and at the right location(s)? Missing buses or incorrect addresses can result in lengthy delays and wasted time and money.

4. Set Up a Preview

Request the installation of one system on a vehicle. Assess the results with your installer to fine-tune the camera views, test DVR settings and identify potential barriers. Once you approve the setup, your installer can apply the same specs to the remaining installations to save time.

5. Be Available During Installations

Avoid costly do-overs by being present during installations. Should issues arise, you’ll be the first to know, enabling you to address questions quickly or make calls to find answers.

6. Require Sign-off Sheets

Have installers sign completion forms prior to receiving payment. A sign-off sheet after every installation helps ensure completion, accuracy and quality workmanship by the installer.

7. Request a Guarantee

If installation-related problems arise, you’ll want reassurance that they will be fixed at no charge. Ask your installer for a guarantee lasting a year or longer. When purchasing hardware, buy from a reputable vendor, like REI, with speedy turnaround on parts. In the unlikely event you receive a defective product, a replacement is sent within two business days.

8. Ask For 24/7/365 Support

When questions arise, installers need answers fast. Live, in-house Support can help prevent downtime. Let’s say your installer wants to confirm your REI camera system is operating correctly. You could call REI Support at any hour for troubleshooting assistance.

Contact REI for more information about its HD safety solutions and planning tips to facilitate their installation.

The views expressed are those of the content sponsor and do not reflect those of School Transportation News.

The post 8 Must-Know Tips for Bus Camera System Installations appeared first on School Transportation News.

Hunter Eddy’s decade-long career in transportation reflects a profound commitment to improving mobility systems for communities. His journey began nearly 12 years ago as a driver for Green Mountain Transit (GMT) before advancing to supervisory roles and ultimately becoming a training supervisor.

After 10 years at GMT, Eddy transitioned to serving as Director of Transportation at Essex Westford School District in Essex, Vt. His career trajectory highlights a dedication to understanding and optimizing transportation systems to better serve communities.

In Transfinder he found a similarly dedicated partner passionate about improving the transportation of students and putting parents’ and transportation leaders’ minds at ease.

Building Expertise in Transportation

Eddy said during his tenure at GMT, he acquired a deep understanding of route design and management. Initially, routes were developed manually without advanced software solutions. By the time he left GMT, the organization was beginning to adopt apps for bus tracking—a precursor to the more sophisticated tools he would encounter later. Eddy’s exposure to these evolving systems laid the groundwork for his bringing innovations into school transportation.

“We did build routes at Green Mountain Transit but we didn’t use software to do it,” he said. “So Transfinder and Routefinder PLUS is all brand new to me.”

Upon assuming his role in Essex, Eddy identified inefficiencies in the district’s routing processes and early on advocated for adopting the move to Routefinder PLUS, Transfinder’s award-winning, browser-based routing solution to streamline operations and enhance efficiency.

The Shift to Routefinder PLUS

The transition to Routefinder PLUS proved transformative. Eddy recalls how tasks that were cumbersome before the move and are now more intuitive. Features like drag-and-drop functionality for stops, easy map editing and the ability to create custom routes significantly reduced the time required for planning.

“It was a game changer,” Eddy said, noting how PLUS allowed him to recreate all district routes within a few weeks—a task that would have been daunting under the previous system.

Eddy also emphasized the benefits of enhanced map editing capabilities in Routefinder PLUS. Issues such as inaccurate road designations—for example, roads marked as one-way when they were two-way—were resolved with ease. The system’s intuitive interface enabled Eddy to identify and correct these discrepancies, ensuring that routes were accurate and efficient.

Serving a Diverse District

The Essex district’s transportation network is extensive, covering nine schools and approximately 1,200 active students, with around 1,800 signed up for bus services. The district’s rural nature introduces unique challenges, such as navigating dirt roads and adapting routes for mud season.

The team manages 37 primary routes, picking up elementary students first, then doubling back to pick up the remaining students, an approach they added last year. Eddy’s implementation of PLUS streamlined these complex logistics, enabling more effective route management and improved service delivery.

Training and Community Engagement

Eddy’s success with PLUS was bolstered by comprehensive training sessions. He highlighted the value of recorded classes and the supportive Transfinder Community platform, which provided resources and answers to specific challenges. What also stood out were the classes’ emphasis on foundational setup. By establishing clear parameters—such as curb approaches, stop positioning, and school-specific defaults—Eddy was able to troubleshoot routing issues quickly and efficiently.

Another key aspect of Eddy’s approach was engaging with school administrators. Through surveys and feedback sessions, he tailored the system to meet their needs. For instance, administrators now have easy access to reports detailing which students are assigned to specific buses, pickup and drop-off times, and route details. This autonomy has reduced reliance on the transportation office, fostering greater independence and efficiency within schools.

Key Features of Routefinder PLUS

Eddy highlighted several standout features of Routefinder PLUS:

1. Drag-and-Drop Functionality: Simplifies the process of adjusting stops and routes, saving significant time.
2. Map Editing: Allows quick resolution of road inaccuracies and route adjustments, enhancing overall accuracy.
3. Customizable Reporting: Empowers administrators to generate tailored reports, reducing communication bottlenecks.
4. Route Comparison Tools: Facilitates alignment of AM and PM routes, ensuring consistency and efficiency.

“Being able to compare two routes on top of each other was a huge help,” he said.

And seeing the impact of a decision before finalizing it was also helpful.

“I can change a lot of things pretty easily, like locking in certain times and see what that would affect,” Eddy said. “That helped quite a bit.”
These features not only streamline operations but also provide Eddy with a comprehensive view of the district’s transportation network, enabling data-driven decision-making.

Looking Ahead

Eddy sees immense potential in fully leveraging Routefinder PLUS. Beyond routing, he envisions using the system for staffing analysis, maintenance planning, and district-wide optimization. The platform’s ability to provide a holistic view of transportation operations—from walking zones to district-wide route maps—positions it as a vital tool for strategic planning.

For those considering a transition to Transfinder’s advanced transportation management platform, Eddy’s advice is clear: “Don’t wait. It has saved us and made us a lot more efficient. For me, it’s like the tip of the iceberg. I think there’s so much that we haven’t even touched on.”

Eddy’s experience underscores the substantial time savings, efficiency gains and enhanced service delivery achievable with Transfinder. By adopting PLUS and Transfinder’s award-winning suite of solutions, districts are revolutionizing their transportation operations, ultimately benefiting students, staff and the broader community.

To learn more visit Transfinder.com, email getplus@transfinder.com or call 800-373-3609.

The views expressed are those of the content sponsor and do not reflect those of School Transportation News.

The post The Transfinder Transformation: Efficient Transportation Management appeared first on School Transportation News.

Every year, millions of children across the United States rely on school buses to get to and from school. With the rise of traffic and the increased distractions of daily life, ensuring that students can board and exit the bus safely has become more challenging. One of the most alarming issues on the road today is motorists illegally passing stopped school buses, when drivers ignore current external warning signs, putting children at risk of serious injury or death.

The Alarming Statistics are a Growing Problem

According to the National Association of State Directors of Pupil Transportation Services (NASDPTS) 2023 Stop Arm Survey, an astounding 62,482 vehicles illegally passed school buses on a single day during the 2022-2023 school year. With nearly 45 million illegal passes projected annually, the scope of this issue is staggering. This problem isn’t just a statistic; it’s a daily reality for school bus drivers and the children they transport.

In every state, it is illegal for drivers to pass a school bus when its stop-arm is extended and its red lights are flashing. Despite this clear rule, the violations continue, endangering the lives of children who are simply trying to get on or off the bus. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that the most dangerous part of the school bus ride isn’t the ride itself but getting on and off the bus. This is when children are most vulnerable to being struck by an illegally passing vehicle.

Are Stop Arm Extensions a Game-Changing Solution?

As tragic as incidents are, there’s hope on the horizon in the form of an innovative solution: Stop Arm Extensions. These retractable barriers extend from the bus nearly 5 feet, making the stop signal even more visible to oncoming traffic. By increasing the visibility of the stop sign, even in poor weather conditions, through LED lights, and adding another barrier to vehicles from passing, stop arm extensions, like those from BusGates – a leading manufacturer of the technology – have shown to significantly reduce the occurrence of drive-arounds by as much as 95%.

In fact, research and studies suggest that visibility improvements on school buses are directly correlated with a reduction in traffic violations. BusGates’ innovative product provides a simple yet effective way to ensure that drivers stop when required, keeping children safe as they cross the street or board their bus.

The History of School Bus Safety

The school bus stop sign, introduced in 1939, has long been a vital part of keeping children safe. However, its design has largely remained unchanged for more than 30 years and its impact has been diminished, especially in high-traffic areas. Despite the sign’s clear indication to stop, too many drivers continue to violate the law, often with tragic results.

Stop arm extensions are an important evolution of the classic stop sign, a logical next step in improving school bus safety. Just as the original stop sign was a crucial advancement in its time, these extensions represent a modernization of a tried-and-true method to protect students.

Safety Improvements in Action

School districts across the U.S. are already seeing the benefits of stop arm extensions, and many have reported a dramatic reduction in incidents of vehicles illegally passing stopped buses, going from multiple incidents before the stop arms to zero after using stop arm extensions. One school district superintendent referred to the purchase of BusGates stop arm extensions as a “no brainer”. These successes are driving more districts to consider adopting the technology, and the results speak for themselves.

However, it’s not just about technology. School bus drivers, parents, and community leaders must all work together to educate the public about the dangers of passing a stopped bus. Awareness campaigns highlighting the importance of obeying the stop-arm laws are essential in building a culture of safety on the roads. When drivers understand the consequences of their actions, potentially causing harm to a child, they are more likely to respect the law.

A Call for Vigilance

While technology plays a crucial role in improving safety, it’s important for everyone, drivers, pedestrians, and passengers, to stay vigilant. Everyone must do their part to ensure that students can get on and off the school bus without the constant fear of being struck by a passing vehicle.

Whether you’re a parent, bus driver, or motorist, remember: when a school bus stops, we all must stop.

A Safer Future for All Children

As we look toward the future, stop arm extensions offer a glimpse of hope in the battle to keep kids safe as they travel to and from school. In an era where technology continuously reshapes the world, it’s clear that innovation is playing a crucial role in making school buses safer.

With continued efforts to integrate new safety measures, along with increased awareness and enforcement, the number of illegal passes can be reduced, helping to ensure that every child’s journey to school and back home is as safe as possible. In the fight to protect all children, BusGates stop arm extensions are a clear beginning.

The views expressed are those of the content sponsor and do not reflect those of School Transportation News.

The post New Stop Arm Technology Making School Bus Stops Safer appeared first on School Transportation News.

Leo eagerly waved to his school bus driver, excited for the weekend ahead. His plan: attend a high school football game that night and a birthday party on Saturday. He could hardly wait. Unfortunately, a motorist could hardly wait for Leo’s bus to pick him up and hurried past, spoiling Leo’s excitement – and his weekend fun.

What really happened? Did Leo’s enthusiasm lead to the event? Was the school bus stopped? Stop arm extended?

So many questions, so few answers. But the district obtained answers within minutes thanks to their fleet management solution’s automated features and a stop-arm camera system.

Now, to address stop-arm violations like the district, your operation would need to integrate these reliable REI products: an AI Stop-Arm Violation Camera, one or two license plate cameras, a sensor harness, an HD6 DVR and ARMOR Software Suite, the cloud-based, wireless fleet management solution.

Together, the products would capture data and HD images with little to no effort from your team. Here’s how:

• The AI Camera would see a motorist enter its detection zone while the stop arm was out and automatically mark the video on your DVR.
• The marker would automatically prompt ARMOR to download the violation video from your DVR.
• ARMOR would also be prompted to send event alerts to your team to initiate a timely investigation.
• Your license plate camera(s) would capture images of the violator’s license plate(s).
• All images and metadata would be saved in ARMOR, ready for review and sharing by your operation shortly after the incident.

Wouldn’t you like to resolve events quickly? Provide greater peace of mind for parents, students and your district? Streamline your fleet management to save time and money? REI solutions make it possible.

Using the integrated solutions, Leo’s district verified the stop-arm violation by an impatient driver. Also confirmed: Leo’s bus had completely stopped, and its flashing stop arm was fully extended. Even so, the motorist’s speed made it impossible for Leo to avoid her. Luckily, he escaped the potentially catastrophic event with a broken arm due to the motorist’s side mirror.

The breathtaking incident happened on a quiet, two-lane highway near Leo’s home. It’s just one of the estimated 250,000+ illegal stop-arm passings that occur on a single day, according to a National Association of State Directors of Pupil Transportation Services survey. So, the need for violation detection exists.

Imagine having powerful tools to help deter, prevent and resolve stop-arm violations quickly. Think of the time, effort and stress you’d save. The savings and safety benefits could be transformative for your operation.

There’s no time to wait!

For more information about this solution, or a more advanced stop-arm solution, contact REI.

The views expressed are those of the content sponsor and do not reflect those of School Transportation News.

The post What’s the 411 on Stop-Arm Violations? appeared first on School Transportation News.