School BUSRide spoke with Normand Paquet, chief commercial officer at Micro Bird Inc., about significant changes in the school bus industry, alternative propulsion, the rise of electric vehicles, and the critical steps being taken to train the techs and drivers of tomorrow. Please introduce yourself and your day-to-day role at Micro Bird. I have been […]
United Safety is pursuing a multi-tiered approach to school bus safety, aiming to help pupil transportation providers face new paradigms and challenges. The spread of COVID-19 throughout the nation – and the ensuing challenges which statewide lockdowns placed on bus travel – was the catalyst for some elements of this holistic safety view. Jeff Krueger, […]
Alternative Transportation Myth #3: Alternative Student Transportation Is Not as Consistent as Traditional Transportation There are several alternative transportation models to explore when evaluating what is best for your district. Each model is different in how they structure their drivers, vehicles, and routing services. Districts utilizing alternative forms of student transportation typically fall within one […]
Please provide an overview of your time in the pupil transportation industry. Steven A. Simmons III: I’ve been in the pupil transportation industry for about 42 years. I started out as a mechanic working for a private contractor in Columbus, Ohio and then applied and got a job with the school district. I worked my […]
Merriam-Webster defines a pandemic as something “occurring over a wide geographic area (such as multiple countries or continents) and typically affecting a significant proportion of the population.” We have seen that definition in action over the last nearly two years. I believe there is another pandemic in our midst and that we must be mindful […]
Several months ago, we explored the issue of advocacy for school transportation professionals. Given the time of year and the environment in which we find ourselves, it seems appropriate to revisit that topic and go a little deeper. Why? Because it is getting pretty real out there! The nation is still reeling under the COVID […]
It is a widely held belief that alternative forms of student transportation do not meet the standards or regulations of traditional student transportation. There are thousands of districts out there that use alternative types of vehicles though (some of them even own their own “white fleet”), so is it true? Do alternative types of transportation […]
School BUSRide spoke with Kevin Trudeau, director of commercial sales for BraunAbility, to discuss accessible student transportation in the wake of COVID-19. BraunAbility provides mobility products to numerous transportation industries. Trudeau discussed disruptions due to the pandemic, new safety concerns, the role technology plays in the “new normal,” and more. From an equipment standpoint, what […]
In a post-COVID environment, cleanliness on school buses has become a paramount concern for education professionals. Disinfecting should no longer be a reactionary response due to “spikes in COVID cases,” but become part of a “daily routine.” It is critical for school buses to be disinfected regularly, in a safe, and effective manner, to restore […]
After a long day (and despite the school bus industry’s exceptional safety record), children are sometimes left behind on the school bus. Best practices, surveillance systems, and training help a lot — but is there more you can do to ensure every kid is off the bus each night? No school bus driver intends to […]