As the school bus industry navigates aging fleets, rising costs, workforce challenges and evolving technology, Blue Bird is approaching 2026 with a focus on safety, fuel choice, reliability and the next generation of school transportation. The school transportation industry is no stranger to change and challenges. For Blue Bird, those challenges are helping shape […]
By Molly McGee Hewitt, PhD, CAE Every profession has organizations that bring people together. I’ve found that to be especially true in student transportation. There are state and regional associations, coalitions, business partners and neighboring national organizations that serve the student transportation industry, plus those that serve the educational enterprise and adjacent transportation safety […]
By Molly McGee Hewitt, PhD, CAE Student transportation leadership is not for the faint of heart. Every day, you are responsible for people, equipment, budgets, schedules, compliance requirements, and, most importantly, the safe transportation of students. You manage employees, support families, solve problems, navigate policies, and make decisions that affect your school community. It’s […]
By Matthew Milewski For transportation directors, a top priority has always been keeping school buses operating safely and efficiently. Today, advances in connected vehicle technology, predictive analytics, and service planning offer new ways to improve uptime, use maintenance resources more effectively, and help control operating costs. Historically, fleet maintenance has been largely reactive. A […]
After years of piloting, the Q’STRAINT ONE is changing what wheelchair securement looks like on a school bus. This is a closer look at the product that is redefining the standard. On a Hamilton Southeastern Schools bus in Fishers, Indiana, 20-year-old Madison enters into her securement position. Her driver, Tonya, presses a single button […]
In May 2026, AASA, The School Superintendents Association collaborated with the Association of School Business Officials International (ASBO) and the National Association for Pupil Transportation (NAPT) to administer a timely survey of school districts across the country to gauge how changing diesel costs are impacting their budgets. Further coverage of the survey results can be […]
As part of NAPT’s “Driven Together” initiative and the monthly theme “Greener Miles, Cleaner Future,” School BUSRide spoke with Sue Gander, director of U.S. transportation at the World Resources Institute (WRI), about the current state of the electric school bus industry and the momentum behind WRI’s Electric School Bus Initiative. Gander discussed the continued […]
By Molly McGee Hewitt, PhD, CAE Every year around this time, I find myself asking the same question: how did we get here so quickly? One minute we are preparing for the first day of school, and the next we are already planning summer programs, staffing adjustments, budgets, training, and the start of another […]
Rather than clear a path for cleaner air, why are we throwing down inequitable hurdles for schools to overcome By Randy Jubb, Todd Mouw & Ryan Vance Earlier this year, Potomac Edison, a subsidiary of FirstEnergy Corp., announced the launch of an $11.1 million five-year pilot program to deploy 28 electric school buses […]
Medical Marijuana Re-Scheduling Announced The Dept of Justice’ has announced its plans to reschedule Marijuana in certain circumstances and purposes. It appears to relate primarily to marijuana used in medical research and similar purposes. This has been pursued for several years by those seeking increased use of the substance for medical objectives. In 2024, […]