Transporting students with special needs is one of the most complex and critical responsibilities school districts face. Beyond the obvious challenge of getting students safely from home to school and back again, transportation directors must also consider medical requirements, mobility equipment, individualized education plans (IEPs), specialized training for drivers and aides, and the need for clear communication with families. For decades, these demands have placed enormous pressure on transportation departments, often with limited resources.

This is where Transfinder steps in, offering solutions that give districts the tools they need to ensure every student—especially those with special needs—receives safe, reliable, and personalized transportation.

Precision in Routing and Scheduling

For students with special needs, transportation is not one-size-fits-all. Some students may require a shorter ride to minimize stress, while others may need vehicles equipped with wheelchair lifts or space for medical devices. Traditional routing methods often struggle to accommodate these individualized requirements.

Transfinder’s Routefinder PLUS software transforms how districts plan and adjust routes. Transportation staff can enter detailed information about each student’s unique needs—whether that involves proximity to a school entrance, a preference for curb-to-curb pickup, or specific vehicle accommodations. Knowing a student’s unique needs and balancing social considerations for that child is important. The system then builds routes that respect these requirements, balancing efficiency with personalization.

For example, if a child has a sensory sensitivity and cannot be on the bus for more than 20 minutes, Routefinder PLUS allows planners to create a route that honors that limitation. If another student requires a bus with air-conditioning due to a medical condition, the system ensures the student is assigned to the appropriate vehicle. These details, once managed manually and prone to error, are now built into the daily operation.

Flexibility When Needs Change

Students’ needs often evolve throughout the school year. A new medical diagnosis, a change in therapy schedules, or even a family move can dramatically impact transportation. Traditionally, making these changes meant long hours of reworking routes and notifying families.

With Transfinder, those adjustments happen quickly and accurately. Transportation staff can easily reassign a student to a different route or vehicle, while the system automatically recalculates times, distances, and driver assignments. Parents are informed immediately through Stopfinder, Transfinder’s parent communication app, which provides real-time updates about their child’s transportation.

For families of students with special needs, this peace of mind is invaluable. Parents know their child’s safety and comfort are always at the center of planning, and they can track buses on a map or receive notifications if a vehicle is delayed.

Supporting Drivers and Aides

Transporting students with special needs requires more than just the right route—it requires well-informed drivers and aides. They must know which students may require extra assistance boarding, which may need a calm and quiet environment, and which have medical considerations.

Transfinder equips staff with the information they need. Through mobile solutions like Wayfinder, drivers can receive turn-by-turn directions as well as notes about student needs. This reduces stress for substitute drivers, who may not be familiar with a particular route or group of students. Instead of relying on memory or binders of paper notes, all critical details are available at their fingertips.

This not only improves safety but also ensures continuity of care. If a student typically rides with a familiar driver but that driver is unavailable, substitutes can step in with the same level of preparedness and confidence.

Reducing Ride Times, Increasing Comfort

One of the biggest concerns parents express about special needs transportation is long ride times. Spending excessive time on a bus can be overwhelming or even harmful for certain students.

Transfinder’s optimization tools help districts reduce unnecessary mileage and minimize student ride times. By analyzing traffic patterns, student locations, and school start times, the software creates routes that are efficient without compromising individual needs. The result is students arriving at school calmer, less fatigued, and more ready to learn.

Compliance and Accountability

Federal laws like the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) place specific obligations on districts regarding special education services, including transportation. Failure to meet these obligations can result in complaints or even legal challenges.

Transfinder helps districts stay compliant by maintaining detailed records of routes, assignments, and accommodations. If questions arise about whether a student’s transportation needs are being met, transportation directors have the data to demonstrate compliance. This transparency not only protects districts but also reassures families that their children’s needs are being taken seriously.

A Human Difference Through Technology

At its core, Transfinder’s mission is not just about buses and routes—it’s about students. For districts serving special needs populations, that mission carries extra weight. The technology provides tools, but the ultimate result is human: a student who arrives safely at school, a parent who feels confident in their district, and a driver who is empowered to provide excellent care.

Districts that partner with Transfinder often report reduced stress for staff, improved relationships with families, and better outcomes for students. One transportation director put it simply: “With Transfinder, we can focus less on the logistics and more on the children.”

Conclusion

Transporting students with special needs is one of the most demanding and important services a district provides. By combining precise routing, real-time flexibility, parent communication, and staff support, Transfinder ensures that every child’s journey to and from school is safe, dignified, and tailored to their individual needs.

With Transfinder, districts don’t just move students from point A to point B—they deliver peace of mind, equity, and opportunity.

To learn more about Transfinder technology and support, visit Transfinder.com, email solutions@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 Finding the Right Route: How Transfinder Helps Districts Transport Students with Special Needs appeared first on School Transportation News.

After more than two decades of working with Transfinder’s Pro software, Frank Gunn, a seasoned transportation consultant at Greenburgh Central School District, made a pivotal decision that would reshape the district’s student transportation system.

Gunn, who initially joined Greenburgh for a 45-day consulting stint and has now been there for six years, led the district’s transition to Transfinder’s browser-based routing solution, Routefinder PLUS, and its companion tool, Viewfinder.

His story is one of trust, adaptability and a commitment to excellence in student transportation.

It’s also one of loyalty.

Gunn’s journey with Transfinder began long before his time at Greenburgh, a district located in Westchester County, about 30 miles north of New York City.

“I’m 20-plus years with you guys,” he said of his relationship with Transfinder. “I was a Pro user for the longest time,” he said, “and it really didn’t give me any problems.”

He admits he wasn’t eager to make the move to Routefinder PLUS.

“I’m 63 years old and things scare me that are new,” Gunn said. But he knew that Transfinder’s award-winning routing solution Routefinder PLUS was the future and recognized his own need to adapt.

“So, I said, ‘Let’s take the plunge.’” What made the decision easier to make was knowing “the customer service I’ve always known you guys to have.”

The move paid off. Gunn describes the transition as smooth and well-supported, thanks to Transfinder’s training team.

“They walked,” he said of the implementation team. “We didn’t run. They knew I was apprehensive, and we just went through it step by step. It was never a rush thing. That’s what made this the easiest.”

That’s a good message for anyone looking to move to Transfinder’s technology, whether moving from Pro to PLUS, manual routing or leaving one vendor to partner with Transfinder: Transfinder’s support and implementation teams come alongside clients and put them at ease.

As a one-man transportation department, Gunn handles everything from routing to communication with contractors. Greenburgh Central transports approximately 2,380 students, including 360 special education and private school students going to more than 70 schools.

With 85 vehicles and 78 drivers, the logistics are complex—but PLUS has made it manageable.

Gunn highlights several features of PLUS that have streamlined his workflow:

• Speed and Efficiency: “I think it’s faster,” Gunn said. “I like that I can open up two map grids at once and print right from right-clicking on the routes.”
• Bus Pass Integration: “I can grab a group of students and print bus passes right from a window.”
• Enhanced Graphics: “The circular stops and boundaries are more crisp.” It is easy to zoom into a location to look at specific bus stops.
• User-Friendly Interface: “It’s very user-friendly. Every time I turn around, there’s another thing I learn.”

One of the most impactful additions to Greenburgh’s transportation toolkit has been Viewfinder, which Gunn describes as a game-changer for contractor communication. The district contracts with Royal Coach Lines for 90 vehicles. Viewfinder allows Royal Coach to access the same routing data Gunn uses, enabling real-time responses to parent inquiries.

“If a parent calls the bus company, they have the exact same information I have at their fingertips,” Gunn said.

This transparency and accessibility have improved service and reduced confusion.

Looking ahead, Gunn is interested in expanding Greenburgh’s use of Transfinder technology. Gunn is enthusiastic about Stopfinder, Transfinder’s award-winning parent app.

“We have to walk before we run,” he said, acknowledging the importance of a phased approach.

Support from Transfinder has been a cornerstone of Gunn’s positive experience. “Support from Transfinder is second to none,” he said. “I’ve never had a bad dealing in over 20 years.” Noting even receiving calls at 5:30 in the morning to resolve issues.

“They treat you like family,” Gunn said. “That’s the easiest way to sum up Transfinder—from the top down.”

For districts considering the switch to PLUS, Gunn offers heartfelt advice: “If you’re a Pro client afraid to take the plunge to PLUS, I’m living proof it’s idiot-proof. It would be the best decision you ever made in your life,” he said, adding, other than marriage.”

Gunn’s story is more than a testimonial—it’s a blueprint for how thoughtful leadership, trusted partnerships and innovative technology can transform student transportation. At Greenburgh Central School District, Transfinder isn’t just a vendor—it’s part of the family.

“I’m not a client,” he said. “I’m part of your family.”

Take your plunge for improvement and work with the best software and safety product as voted by the industry multiple years running. To learn more about Transfinder technology and support, 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.

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When Lori Smith stepped into the role of transportation coordinator at Bellbrook-Sugarcreek Schools, she inherited more than just a fleet of buses. She walked into a department in transition, a community in flux, and a software system she hadn’t chosen—but would soon come to champion.

Bellbrook-Sugarcreek, a growing Ohio district nestled in a nine-square-mile area, serves more than 2,600 students, with more than half relying on school transportation. Despite its modest size, the district’s transportation needs are complex, shaped by rural roads, frequent flooding, and a transient population due to its proximity to a military base.

Smith joined the district four years ago as a transportation assistant. Within 18 months, she was promoted to coordinator after her predecessor abruptly left. “It was a baptism by fire,” she recalls. “I had to learn how to be a supervisor, train my replacement, and figure out a new software system—all at once.”

That software system was Transfinder’s suite of tools designed to streamline school transportation. Smith hadn’t been involved in the decision to switch from another vendor to Transfinder. In fact, her first official act as coordinator was to finalize the contract.

“I was told, ‘This is what we’re doing. Get on board or this wasn’t going to be the job for me,’” she says.

Smith was determined to make it work. She reached out to peers as well as support members at Transfinder. Those calls changed everything, noting Transfinder’s expert “set up regular meetings, gave me homework, and held me accountable.” She said she felt empowered by the experience.

In fact, she said, the implementation experience “is why I am going to use your product as long as I’m sitting in this seat.”

Smith attended Transfinder’s Annual Client Summit in 2024, where she discovered not just tools, but a community. “I walked out of there thinking, ‘This makes so much sense now,’” she says. “Everyone took responsibility for the rocky start and committed to helping me succeed.”

Today, Smith uses a number of Transfinder’s award-winning solutions: Routefinder PLUS for routing, Tripfinder for field trips, Stopfinder for parent communication, Viewfinder for school staff, and Formfinder for managing non-public school students. Each tool has brought measurable improvements.

With Routefinder PLUS, the district eliminated manual data entry, reducing address errors and improving efficiency. “We used to hand-key everything,” Smith says. “So, every time a new student moved into the district, every time an address change happened, we would have to hand-key all of that. And as you can imagine, hand-keying means human error.”
Tripfinder, the first product Smith implemented, revolutionized field trip management. “We were able to customize it from the get-go to get information out of it, pulling, doing some data mining.”

Smith, a self-described data-driven person, said she was in the midst of preparing the district’s T-2 report, which certifies the actual expenses incurred in the transportation of eligible pupils.

“I was able to drill down into field trips. Which ones were done by bus drivers? Which ones were done by substitute drivers? Which ones were in a van? What coaches took most of the driving? How many hours were invoiced? How many miles were invoiced? Just the amount of data that you can pull out of any of the “finders” is, in my opinion, invaluable. Tripfinder runs so well.”

Stopfinder has transformed communication with parents. Instead of mass alerts that caused confusion, Smith can now send targeted messages about delays or reroutes due to flooding — a frequent issue in the district. This eliminated hysteria. “It’s been very helpful to target just specific areas,” she said.

Viewfinder has empowered school secretaries and administrators. Smith created custom views for each building, allowing staff to quickly access bus numbers, stop times, and routes. It has eliminated most phone calls about busing, she says. “The secretaries love it.”

Formfinder, the newest addition, allows Smith to manage transportation for parochial and non-public students who aren’t in the district’s student information system. “Families fill out the form, and it creates a record. It’s interesting, the versatility of all the products to be able to dig deeper for information and use it for different purposes.”

Despite the success, Smith still faces challenges. Convincing her veteran mechanic to embrace digital tools has been tough.”

Still, Smith is playing the long game. She knows that as veteran staff retire and new drivers come on board, the need for modern, efficient systems will only grow. “We’re going to have a lot of turnover in the next few years,” she says. She wants to be ready.

Her vision is clear: a fully integrated, tech-forward transportation department that serves students, supports staff, and communicates seamlessly with families. And thanks to her persistence—and the support of the Transfinder team—she’s well on her way.

Despite not being part of the decision-making process to dump a previous routing product for Transfinder, Smith said, “I am very pleased that we are where we are now. We had a very robust start.”

To learn more about how Transfinder’s tools have transformed transportation departments, call 800-373-3609, email getplus@transfinder.com or visit Transfinder.com/solutions.

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

The post From Chaos to Clarity: How Transfinder Transformed Ohio District’s Transportation System appeared first on School Transportation News.

RENO, Nev. —  Transfinder took home best hardware, software and safety technology awards for the second consecutive year and RIDE won best green technology for the third year in a row, as judged by STN EXPO West attendees during the trade show held July 14 and 15.

The 153 attendees who cast votes in the fourth annual STN EXPO Innovation Choice Awards represented a rise in participation from last year’s 125 votes. Exhibitor and guest votes were not counted. Eligible voters represented school districts, state or federal organizations, Head Start agencies, and school bus contractors.

To be eligible for an entry, participating trade show vendors had to introduce a new, market-ready product between January 2024 and July 2025. STN EXPO attendees voted by scanning a QR code at participating company booths.

The Schenectady, New York, company received 114 votes for Best Safety Technology, 123 votes for Best Hardware and 121 votes for Best Software. It was the fourth year in a row that Transfinder won the Best Software category, the third consecutive year winning Best Hardware, and the second year it took all three categories.

Transfinder entered the three products in all three categories.

Stopfinder Digital Card ID turns a student’s Android or IOS cellphone into their ID card. “This advancement eliminates the need for substituting RFID cards and/or replacing lost costs. This technology augments Transfinder’s parent app Stopfinder, providing parents peace of mind that their child made the bus and tracking the bus’s location,” Transfinder stated in its nomination.

Meanwhile, Transfinder Enterprise includes everything from route visibility to attendance routing, posts to student lookup. Transfinder’s Wayfinder ETA dashboard and real-time capability can now be shared with school building personnel and other stakeholders in Viewfinder. This capability enhances communication. Additionally, using the driver app, Wayfinder, the most efficient route based on student riders can be generated.

“For example, a late bus can have different students riding different days depending on the activities they participate in,” Transfinder stated. “When students scan their ID cards as they get on the late bus, for example, the safest and most efficient route is created for the driver.”

Related: Innovation Awards Returns to STN EXPO, Vote on Site
Related: (STN Podcast E265) Onsite at STN EXPO West: Innovations & Partnerships for School Transportation Success
Related: Transfinder Scores Hat Trick with STN EXPO Innovation Choice Awards

Users can post on any record type, such as student, trip or vehicle to facilitate a conversation around that record. The information is then accessible across all Transfinder solutions.

Transfinder said its map incidents solution tackles a growing concern of students crossing by adding a functionality in Routefinder PLUS to “view where students not just cross the street to get on the bus but what streets they cross on their way to the bus. With PLUS, users can embed trip and street data and logic into their maps and trips, making it easier for routers to design safer trips.”

Transfinder noted, adding the data is then viewed on Wayfinder.

Meanwhile, BYD electric school bus spinoff RIDE was unopposed last month in the green technology category. The manufacturer was attendees’ choice for the third consecutive year, this time for its blade battery (below). The manufacturer won the same category last year for its Type C “Creator” and in 2023 for its Type A “Achiever.” The lithium iron phosphate blade battery features a direct cell-to-pack design, utilizing thin “blade-like” cells that eliminate the need for conventional modules.

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