In the second edition of this series, we highlight school bus drivers who saved lives with their quick thinking and vital skills. When danger arose, their training — and their instincts — came through.

Here’s a look at the latest in pupil transportation products that were on view at the NAPT trade show in Cincinnati. New offerings included bonded polyurethane bus seat foam, a stop-arm violation camera system and a low-profile condenser.

Speakers during the NAPT Summit discuss such issues as bullying, wheelchair use, training and alternative fuels. Attendees also see several new school buses.

At the annual conference of state pupil transportation directors, NHTSA Administrator David Strickland touts the safety and environmental benefits of the “humble yellow school bus,” as he calls it. NTSB Chairman Deborah Hersman credits state directors and others in the industry for their work to prevent school bus-train crashes.

At the front of the Pupil Transportation Statistics section in our 2012 Fact Book, there is this slogan: "It's what's behind the numbers that counts." What a great reminder of the importance of school bus transportation.

Executive Editor Thomas McMahon shares his thoughts on what may cause some parents to avoid having their children ride school buses, but points to the industry's success and the need to inform those parents of the industry's unrivaled safety record.

Alternative fuels are already being derived from an eclectic range of sources; the future will surely hold many more.

August and September were busy months for federal agencies influencing school buses. Here's a wrap-up of major actions announced or in the works.

Ricon Corp.’s K and S Series wheelchair lifts feature an interlocked restraint belt, as well as barriers to prevent excessive rolling on the platform. The company offers training for operators and technicians.

Students who have suffered a traumatic brain injury or near drowning will require close physical safeguards and assistance in a bus evacuation. The commotion could set off a seizure.

Pupil transportation leaders often have to meet with angry people. Staying calm, being respectful, and listening carefully and actively can go a long way toward resolving conflicts.

In this roundtable, board members from four school districts share insight on the struggle to maintain school bus services in the face of funding shortfalls.

Kicking off his second year as NASDPTS president, Mike Simmons focuses on promoting pupil transportation with other associations and the feds. He also aims to get more states involved in a national stop-arm running survey.

In this new feature, we turn the spotlight on the younger side of school transportation. Find out how these movers and shakers got involved in the industry, how they contribute to its success and what they see in its future.

At this year’s conference in Cincinnati, Alexandra Robinson will become president of the National Association for Pupil Transportation. Her goals include analyzing the link between student achievement and access to school bus service, and maintaining and growing the industry’s pool of strong leaders.

This year’s NASDPTS and NAPT conferences will be held in Cincinnati, covering such topics as student behavior challenges, stop-arm violations and maintaining a transportation program under serious budget restraints. The NAPT trade show will feature more than 100 exhibits from industry suppliers.

Officials say it is important to conduct both federal and state checks, as well as monitor applicants’ driving records. Pupil transporters discuss their operations’ hiring policies and procedures, which include contacting previous employers, and also share suggestions on ways the industry could protect itself against undesirable candidates who move from state to state.

The Type A school bus manufacturer’s 42-passenger eTrans unit will feature a zero-emissions chassis, a regenerative braking system and the ability to travel 100 to 130 miles per charge. The bus is scheduled to debut at this year’s National Association for Pupil Transportation conference and to go into production next year.

Footage from surveillance cameras can exonerate bus drivers who are falsely accused; on the other hand, it can help in correcting a driver or aide who may not be following proper procedures.

I recently heard the harrowing story of Jaycee Dugard’s life for nearly two decades after she was abducted from a school bus stop in South Lake Tahoe, Calif., in 1991 by convicted sex offender Phillip Garrido and held captive in the backyard of his home. This got me thinking about what school districts can do to maximize student safety at bus stops.