Chicago Public Schools’ Bureau of Student Transportation Services is developing a request for proposal to upgrade the system. Officials say that the system’s components will be integrated in four phases, with the end product incorporating all of the bureau’s business and routing functions, as well as GPS capabilities.

A year ago, Jeff Walker became transportation director at Litchfield Elementary School District #79 in Phoenix. The department has since cut costs, reduced the number of student disciplinary incidents on its buses and improved its safety record.

This year for our annual series, we shine the spotlight on five maintenance programs with dedicated staff members who have established efforts to save their operations money, work well with their colleagues and earn excellent fleet safety inspection ratings.

The president of the school bus contractor discusses with SBF her outlook on industry issues for 2011 as well as recent developments with the company.

Here’s a look at some of the latest pupil transportation products that were on view at the NAPT trade show in Portland, Ore. New offerings included a student safety seat, a three-point latch vest and a wheelchair securement module.

Speakers at the NAPT Summit take on such topics as bus loading and unloading safety, bullying and cutting costs, and sharing information to ensure student safety and increase efficiency at one’s operation.

Recent developments related to six of this year's largest school district fleets in the nation.

Efficiency in a school transportation operation can include vehicle fuel economy and productivity of technicians. But if we really want to talk efficiency, the discussion must focus on routing — specifically, the policies that shape school bus routes and the processes put in place to evaluate those routes.