As one of the largest school transportation operations in Illinois, Indian Prairie School District 204 runs a fleet of nearly 300 vehicles and more than 1,200 routes. When the impact of the bus driver shortage grew in 2019, maintaining this operation required a greater number of substitute drivers. Ron Johnson, the district’s director of support operations, looked to assist their sub drivers — as well as address a need for improved parent communication — with technology.

Indian Prairie has a longstanding partnership with Tyler Technologies, having been a user of Tyler’s routing software since 2008. Johnson turned to Tyler for solutions that would integrate with their existing software, ultimately becoming an early adopter of Tyler Drive tablets in the 2018-2019 school year. With Tyler Drive tablets installed on the district’s vehicles, paper route sheets were eliminated. Regular and substitute drivers gained turn-by-turn voice navigation through the tablets, reducing driver distraction — and, thereby, increasing student safety.

To learn more about Tyler Technologies’ student transportation solutions that connect drivers, routers, and parents, watch their Tyler Drive webinar.

Driving Efficiency

Tyler Drive tablets have also helped increase route efficiency and on-time performance at Indian Prairie.

“Before implementing Tyler Drive, our on-time network was 80.02%,” said Johnson. “Pre-pandemic, Tyler Drive helped us increase our on-time network to more than 97.50%. In 2024, with a shortage of 15 drivers, we were at 95.33%.”

Johnson attributes these improvements to drivers sticking to the approved routes that Tyler Drive guides them through. Substitute drivers are less likely to get lost, and visibility into driver activity and real-time GPS tracking helps identify inefficiencies.

Keeping Parents in the Know

In addition to using Tyler’s student transportation software and Tyler Drive tablets, Indian Prairie keeps parents informed with Tyler’s parent communication mobile app.

“Our parents were asking for a way to be alerted when a bus would arrive late and to receive timely communication from schools about bus incidents,” said Johnson. The parent app integrates with the district’s other Tyler solutions, leveraging data and dynamic communication that delivers an improved experience and real-time information for parents.

Johnson said, “Parents have access to route information and ETA, and we can notify parents of a delay on their specific route.”

Tyler’s parent app is flexible, allowing both manual and automated information and communication. While districts can manually send targeted messages to parents, approved updates in Tyler Drive automatically sync with the parent app. This gives parents instant notifications about changes to the driver, bus, or ETA for their children’s routes, without adding to the transportation team’s workload. Tyler Drive’s turn-by-turn directions also support parent peace of mind — substitute drivers can follow routes exactly as the regular drivers do, so parents know what to expect.

Leaders in Driver Support

Beyond improving their own operations with Tyler’s solutions, Indian Prairie has helped pave the way for other Illinois districts looking to implement in-vehicle driver tablets like Tyler Drive.

“We worked with the State Police, Local Police, and Department of Transportation to ensure we were incorporating safe and sound practices in the use of a Mobile Data Terminal (Tyler Drive), including the installation location and driver best practices,” said Johnson. “We wanted to ensure we were not adding a device that would create a driver distraction, as some agencies were concerned about.”

Citing increased safety for students, the district also coordinated with its State Board of Education on legislation that could make the purchase of driver tablets a reimbursable transportation expense.

Indian Prairie’s efforts — from driving legislation to establishing best practices — can help other districts reap some of the same benefits Johnson’s district has.

“We wanted a full-scale solution to solve on-time network problems, driver route reliability, parent communication, and real-time route information that was accurate,” said Johnson. “Tyler Drive does that for us!”

Tablets Support Efficiency and Drivers

Tyler Drive in-vehicle tablets support full-time and substitute drivers with optimized routes that boost on-time performance. Tyler Drive provides:

• Connected routing — Tyler Drive integrates with Tyler’s routing software, ensuring each vehicle’s route is accurate and updated to help drivers stay on track.
• Up-to-date communication — Route changes in Tyler Drive are automatically reflected in Tyler’s parent app, instantly notifying parents or guardians of a new driver, bus, or ETA.
• Turn-by-turn directions — Drivers get intuitive navigation without the distraction of paper maps and student lists.
• Maintained guidelines — Routes are calculated based on predetermined rules and riders’ needs to provide safe pickup and drop-off locations.
• Integrated messages — Drivers can receive messages from dispatchers with information about stops to skip, construction to avoid, or any other critical information.

Learn more about Tyler Drive in this webinar: Connecting Drivers, Routers, and Parents with Student Transportation.

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

The post How One District is Shaping Driver Support in Illinois appeared first on School Transportation News.

This content is brought to you by Tyler Technologies.

In today’s world, technology is no longer a “nice to have” in student transportation — it’s a must. Whether a school district operates its own fleet or partners with a contractor, technology plays a key role in enhancing safety, improving efficiency, streamlining communication, and managing long-term costs.

If you’re a district working with a contracted fleet provider, it’s essential to ask the right questions to ensure they’re using the best tools available. And if you’re a contractor, being able to answer these questions with confidence is what sets you apart.

Here are five questions districts should ask — and what to look for in the answers:

1. What technologies are in place to ensure student safety on board?

Safety is always the top priority — and the right technology helps reinforce it. From GPS tracking to student ridership verification systems, technology can significantly improve visibility into daily operations and enhance student safety.

Districts should ask whether the contractor uses real-time tools that help monitor where buses are, who’s on board, and what’s happening during the route. Do they use a scan-on/scan-off system to verify who’s on the bus? Can drivers easily confirm they have the right passengers?

At Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake Central School District in New York, Administrator of Student Transportation Katria Hitrick has seen how technology can support drivers and help them ensure student safety.

“RFID cards and Tyler Drive help our drivers and substitutes learn who their students are and know a little bit more about them. Especially with our younger population — kindergarteners and first-graders need to be received by a parent or guardian — so when they pull up to those stops, they see the student’s grade, and they know they can’t let the child off the bus until they see an adult. Having that information helps put the driver’s mind at ease,” she said. These systems take the guesswork out of students’ needs, allowing drivers to focus on other aspects of a safe ride.

To offer drivers this level of support, look for systems that allow students to scan on and off the bus. This real-time data gives parents and drivers peace of mind, strengthens schools’ ability to maintain accurate records, and helps reduce risk. It can even improve response times in emergencies.

2. How are routes planned, and are they optimized using real-world data?

Efficient routing isn’t just about saving time — it’s about reducing mileage, fuel use, and wear-and-tear, while ensuring every student has a safe and reliable ride. Contractors should be using intelligent routing software that adapts to real-world conditions and provides visibility into delays or changes.

For example, West Ada School District in Idaho, whose fleet is managed by a contractor, uses routing technology and student ridership data to make routes more efficient — and even cancel or combine routes to better allocate their resources. Erin Sweeney, a routing specialist at West Ada SD, explained, “We’re able to see that only a couple of kids are scanning onto a route, and then we can adjust routes as needed. This has led to cost savings by identifying and canceling empty shuttles … It allows us to give our students what they actually need and helps us figure out where we can best utilize the drivers we have, because everyone’s in a driver shortage.”

Today’s best fleet contractors rely on route optimization technology powered by data and automation. Intelligent routing can lead to measurable cost savings, fewer late arrivals, and a better experience for families and drivers alike.

Look for advanced route planning tools that can automatically optimize runs for efficiency, balance loads across buses, and tailor stops for students with varying schedules, destinations, and other accommodations.

3. How are parents and schools kept informed throughout the day?

Strong communication is a major differentiator for both contractors and districts. Parents want to know when buses are delayed, when routes change, or when their child is safely on board.

Timely, accurate communication builds trust and helps prevent small issues from becoming big disruptions. Ask what technology the contractor uses to streamline communication and keep everyone in the loop. Communication tools like mobile apps, real-time alerts, and driver tablets improve how quickly and clearly information flows between dispatch, schools, and parents.

At many districts, a lack of modern communication technology means transportation departments handle a large volume of parent phone calls every day. West Ada SD even noted hiring temp workers to keep up with phone calls at the start of the school year before implementing a parent communication app.

Sweeney said, “Because of the My Ride K-12 app, parents know where their students are going or why they’re late — messages are sent right to them. They’re able to look on the app and get an idea of where the bus is and how far away it is from their stop. The number of calls went down immensely because parents weren’t panicking when the bus didn’t show up on time.”

To gain similar benefits, look for a parent communication app that delivers real-time notifications — whether a bus is running late, a stop time changes, or a student misses the bus. For a bonus, look for tools that integrate seamlessly with the district’s back-office systems.

4. What tools do drivers have to help them do their jobs better?

Your drivers are the face of the fleet — and giving them the right technology supports better performance and satisfaction.

Driver tablets play a crucial role in fostering clear and efficient communication between dispatch and drivers, ensuring that vital updates are delivered seamlessly. These tools not only enhance trust and help prevent minor issues from escalating, but also enable real-time route adjustments based on rider scans. By recording student check-ins through ID badges, routes can be adapted dynamically and drivers can make informed decisions, ensuring a safer and more reliable transportation experience for everyone involved.

These capabilities can help drivers do their jobs confidently. The driver tablets used at Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake CSD, for example, have helped the district hire experienced full-time drivers and support their substitutes.

Hitrick explained, “We onboarded 8 new drivers in 2024. If those drivers were considering a job at another district that didn’t have Tyler Drive, they came to us because we have it. Knowing we use Tyler Drive instead of a paper system is a benefit for them … On the tablets, our routes are spot-on. That supports our substitute drivers and makes their lives so much easier. Because they don’t know all the stops, they don’t know all the kids, they feel more comfortable accepting a job they may have never done before because all that information is there for them.” Beyond supporting substitutes, tablets can help any driver taking on a new route or getting to know new riders.

To support drivers, look for in-cab tablets that provide optimized routes, a student manifest, and step-by-step navigation. Advanced functionality like integrated tracking can help drivers manage student riders more efficiently — it allows students to sign in with their ID badges, displays assigned student details at each stop, and alerts drivers if a student attempts to disembark at the wrong location.

5. How is maintenance tracked and managed to reduce downtime?

A proactive approach to maintenance is critical to keeping your fleet running smoothly and avoiding costly delays.

Today’s technology allows for smarter maintenance tracking, not just paper-based checklists. This keeps vehicles on the road, reduces unexpected downtime, and promotes a culture of safety and accountability across the fleet.

Advanced transportation software and tablets can help districts keep track of parts, maintenance schedules, and inspections. This technology has helped Jessamine County Schools Transportation in Kentucky increase efficiency in their shop operations.

Transportation Data Assistant Sarah Dolen said, “Tyler’s Student Transportation system’s inventory of parts enables mechanics to easily check availability and quickly identify what needs to be ordered when making repairs. When combined with Tyler Drive, Student Transportation gives our maintenance team clear visibility into which buses are due for inspection and maintenance, as well as the specific type of inspection required.” Tyler Drive tablets streamline processes and improve communication between Jessamine’s driver and mechanics, from drivers inputting their bus mileage to mechanics providing clear maintenance timelines.

When evaluating a fleet partner, check for technology that streamlines inspections and repair workflows. With driver tablets, pre-trip inspections can be completed digitally, making it faster and easier to flag potential issues before they become a problem. Drivers can submit work orders directly from the tablet, ensuring maintenance teams have up to date and accurate information.

Partnering for Innovative Fleet Solutions

The most effective technology solutions aren’t just powerful — they’re connected. Working with a technology partner who offers fully integrated, end-to-end tools helps ensure your systems work together smoothly, giving you a clearer picture of operations, stronger communication, and a more reliable experience for staff, students, and families.

At Tyler, we work with school fleet contractors across the country to deliver the technology solutions that modern school districts demand. Our platform supports safety, improves operational efficiency, and simplifies communication — helping contractors provide top-tier service while standing out in a competitive market.

If you’re a fleet contractor looking to strengthen your value proposition, or a school district seeking more from your transportation provider, we’d love to talk about how our technology can support your goals.

Empower school transportation responsibly with Tyler.

Follow Tyler K-12 on LinkedIn for the latest updates, and dive deeper into our integrated transportation solutions in our webinar, “Connect Your Operations with Onboard iPaaS,” on October 7 at 2 p.m. ET.

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

The post 5 Essential Tech Questions for School Fleet Contractors appeared first on School Transportation News.