By Courtney Pallotta For decades, managing a school transportation fleet has centered around the yellow bus. And while the school bus remains a critical piece of the transportation landscape, today’s student needs call for more. Modern student transportation is more complex, more diverse, and far more urgent than ever before. Modern fleet management is about […]
By Spencer Sydorko As electric vehicles (EVs) gain traction in student transportation, many directors and maintenance professionals are beginning to ask a crucial question: What does it actually mean to maintain an electric school bus? As someone who oversees school bus sales for RIDE along the East Coast, I’ve had countless conversations with garage supervisors […]
By Terry Moran Managing a school bus fleet today is about long-term financial planning. Whether you’re responsible for a single-bus operation or a 500-bus fleet, understanding how financing strategies support fleet decisions can make a measurable difference in safety, reliability, and cost control. Financing as a Planning Tool Fleet management begins with knowing your district’s […]
Presented by RTG Fleet Maintenance For many school districts, maintenance is a logistical tightrope: balancing cost, minimizing downtime, and ensuring every school bus safely transports its most precious cargo. Traditionally, districts either operate in-house maintenance departments or contract with off-site vendors—both of which come with limitations in terms of responsiveness, recordkeeping, and continuity. But a […]
From left: Janice Cooper, Jamie Lynch, and Operations Manager Cory Lynch. Presented by Transfinder Managing a fleet of over 150 school buses is no small feat, especially when that fleet includes a variety of vehicle types and models, from wheelchair-accessible minibuses to full-sized, 56-passenger coaches. At Lynch Bus Lines, which serves the greater Vancouver […]
This month, On the Road continues the visual story of NAPT’s vibrant spring and summer momentum. We feature Executive Director & CEO Dr. Molly McGee Hewitt in three powerful events where she shared dynamic leadership insights and brought regional voices into the national transportation conversation: May 17–18 | NAPT Professional Development Weekend Kicking off at NAPT’s own […]
Welcome to the inaugural edition of “Stats and Trends,” your monthly snapshot of key data shaping the school transportation landscape. Each month, we’ll spotlight timely statistics and insights from authoritative sources like the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to help industry professionals, policymakers, and educators stay informed and proactive. This month, we focus on […]
Education Department Budget Details Revealed The following summary is excerpted in part from the analysis by the American Association of School Administrators (AASA) with whom NAPT closely partners on federal advocacy efforts: On May 30th, the Trump Administration released additional details of the so-called ‘skinny budget’ for Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26). This includes specific funding […]
By Molly McGee Hewitt, PhD, CAE During my time as a teacher, I came across a cartoon in an educational magazine featuring a school principal in their office. The illustration portrayed the principal as a man, dressed in a short-sleeved shirt and tie, casually sipping coffee with his feet propped up on the desk, appearing […]
Welcome to our newest edition of School BUSRide! We are so glad that you are a subscriber and a NAPT VIP! This issue is packed with great articles and important information. As summer approaches, we recognize that your work never takes a break! The conclusion of the school year brings a flurry of field trips […]