Bob Martin, transportation coordinator for Mt. Vernon School Corporation
Indiana District Ditches Startup Routing Solution for Transfinder
Presented by Transfinder
When Mt. Vernon School Corporation in Indiana evaluated its routing software, the decision was shaped by experience. Transportation Coordinator Bob Martin had already migrated two school districts to Transfinder’s Routefinder Pro. In 2025, Mt. Vernon became his third district transition (this time to Routefinder PLUS), bringing with it lessons learned, a structured migration plan, and a focus on long-term scalability.
Martin’s path into pupil transportation began in 2008, when he became a school bus driver after owning his own business. Seeking a role that allowed him to support his family during a major life change, he discovered a profession that could grow with him.
“You can make it as professional as you want it to be,” he recalled being told early on, advice that ultimately guided his career into transportation leadership.
By 2013, Martin was overseeing transportation operations and confronting the limits of legacy routing software.
“It seemed like I needed a computer degree just to figure it out,” he said.
While data-driven by nature, he needed a platform that aligned with real-world routing decisions and student safety. That search led him to Transfinder and, specifically, to its parcel-based routing approach.
“The biggest thing was the parcel point,” Martin explained. “You can assign that directly to the bus stop. I wanted to make sure they weren’t crossing the roads where they didn’t need to be.”
After successfully implementing Routefinder Pro at two districts, Martin arrived at Mt. Vernon School Corporation, a growing district with approximately 5,000 students, 3,500 of whom ride the bus daily across about 50 routes. Initially, Mt. Vernon was using a different routing platform, but Martin found it lacked the maturity and functionality needed to support growth.
“So, after presenting to the Superintendent and School Board, they made the decision to migrate to Transfinder,” he said. “They were all for it, just because of the capability of the product.”
For districts considering a similar migration, Martin points to four core criteria that shaped his recommendation. The first is post-sale support.
“By far and away, the post-sale support is tremendous,” he said, noting the role of Transfinder’s project managers, trainers, and recorded training sessions that remain available long after implementation. “The next person coming in doesn’t have to pay for more training. They just have to watch the videos that are already there, that are specific to their environment.”
Second is the integration across Transfinder’s suite of tools. At Mt. Vernon, Routefinder PLUS serves as the foundation, complemented by such solutions Tripfinder, used to schedule field trips, Wayfinder, the driver app, Stopfinder, the parent app, Infofinder I which provides bus route information for parents, and Viewfinder, which provides an overview of the district’s transportation operation.
According to Martin, the consistency of the interface among the various solutions simplifies training and daily use.“It really flows through on each of the products,” he said, making it easier for administrators, office staff, and drivers alike.
That integration also supports staff development. Mt. Vernon’s routing specialist, a former bus driver, quickly gained confidence using the system.
“With the help of Transfinder, I mean, she is just a rock star now,” Martin said, crediting both the software and the training structure for accelerating her growth.
The third and fourth criteria are reporting and scalability. These are especially critical for a fast-growing district. With dozens of new subdivisions planned or underway, Mt. Vernon relies on the reporting and “sandbox” capabilities to model future scenarios in Routefinder PLUS.
“I can create a new database with all the data and all the routes, and really do a comparative cost analysis between a two tier and a three tier system,” Martin said. “And it’s real data. This is the actual route. This is what it will look like.”
When challenges arise, Martin emphasizes preparation and partnership. His team first researches issues internally, then leverages Transfinder’s online community, project managers, and live support. That approach paid off faced challenges on the first day of school and Transfinder assisted.
“I told the superintendent, ‘We’ve got this. It’s going to be okay,’ because I knew that Transfinder would back us up,” he said. “And they did.”
For Mt. Vernon School Corporation, Routefinder PLUS is a strategic tool that supports safety, transparency, and growth – all while guided by a transportation leader who has seen what successful migration looks like, three times over.
Learn more about Transfinder’s award-winning technology by visiting http://www.transfinder.com/solutions, calling 800-373-3609 or emailing solutions@transfinder.com.