Presented by HopSkipDrive
School districts and transportation teams face the ongoing challenge of providing reliable transportation for students with increasingly diverse needs amidst budget and resource limitations. While fixed bus routes serve many effectively, they often fall short in meeting the requirements of every student.
Yellow buses are efficient for densely populated routes with regular schedules. However, their fixed nature can make them inefficient and expensive when serving students with unique circumstances, including those experiencing homelessness, youth in foster care, students with special needs, and other highly mobile or vulnerable populations.
Supplemental school transportation can offer a valuable solution for districts. By incorporating flexible transportation options that work in tandem with existing yellow bus systems, districts can achieve significant cost efficiencies while sustaining or even enhancing service quality for all students.
The numbers don’t add up when school buses try to serve every student
Consider the financial reality: A full-size school bus can cost up to $400 a day to operate. When that bus transports just a few students who live far from others or need to travel to different schools, the cost for each student’s ride is unreasonably high. Districts simply can’t afford to send nearly-empty buses across town, but students still need reliable transportation to access their education.
Driver shortages compound the problem
School bus driver shortages make getting kids to school even harder. With over 12% fewer school bus drivers available today than before the pandemic, many districts are facing difficult choices. Some are paying costly overtime to keep routes running. Others are cutting or combining routes, forcing students to spend more time traveling and less time learning. Neither solution truly serves students who depend on district transportation to get to school.
Supplemental options help districts cut costs where it matters most
Supplemental transportation works alongside the yellow bus to help students who need something different. Instead of replacing yellow buses, it adds flexible options for students who live far from campus or need specialized transportation support. This approach reduces costs where traditional buses are least efficient while getting every child to school safely and reliably.
Right-sized vehicles reduce per-ride expenses
When transporting individual students or small groups, smaller vehicles use less fuel and cost less to maintain and operate. For students who need unique transportation support — like those with special needs — this approach saves money while actually giving them a better, more personalized experience. Students receive the attention they deserve, and districts reduce costs where traditional buses would run nearly empty.
Districts maintain reliable service despite driver shortages
Finding and keeping qualified school bus drivers remains challenging nationwide. Supplemental transportation brings additional capacity through a supply of drivers who use smaller vehicles that don’t require commercial licenses. This expands the available driver pool precisely when districts need it most.
For students who would otherwise face unreliable transportation, this approach ensures consistent school attendance and access to educational opportunities. Detroit Public Schools Community District saw measurable improvements in attendance for students experiencing homelessness after implementing a more flexible transportation model — proof that reliable rides can directly impact academic outcomes.
Technology helps districts make smarter transportation decisions
Transportation planning has evolved beyond spreadsheets and paper routes. Today, districts can use data-driven tools to analyze their entire transportation network and uncover opportunities to increase efficiency and cut costs.
HopSkipDrive’s RouteWise AI™ exemplifies this shift. This school transportation planning tool helps districts visualize their operations and model more efficient plans by analyzing existing routes, bell times, vehicle capacity, and more. The result: optimized routes, better resource utilization, and meaningful cost savings.
Districts using RouteWise AI are seeing measurable results:
- Colorado Springs School District 11 identified opportunities to reduce their transportation capital budget by 40% over 10 years by increasing vehicle utilization, right-sizing their fleet, and utilizing more efficient routes.
- Denver Public Schools used RouteWise AI™ to reconfigure its transportation mix and save more than $500,000 annually.
HopSkipDrive helps districts reduce costs and support students
HopSkipDrive offers flexible, scalable transportation that complements traditional school buses. Our network of thoroughly vetted CareDrivers helps fill transportation gaps when and where schools need it most.
For students experiencing homelessness or in foster care, HopSkipDrive provides responsive service that adapts to changing living arrangements and ensures uninterrupted access to school. RouteWise AI™ supports these efforts by helping districts identify where supplemental transportation delivers the most value — financially and educationally.
Build a transportation system that works for every student
The most effective student transportation system combines traditional yellow buses with strategic supplemental options. As student needs evolve and district resources remain strained, flexibility is no longer optional — it’s essential.
By integrating data-driven planning and right-sized solutions, school districts can build a future-proofed transportation system that works for every student.
Get in touch to learn how you can unlock cost savings for your district with HopSkipDrive.