Articles

School Bus Fleet graphic featuring Bill Pepping of CharterUP in a suit and tie, alongside the headline “Five Questions with Bill Pepping” and the CharterUP and School Bus Fleet logos.

Management•by Elora Haynes•October 30, 2026

5 Questions: How CharterUP Brought a Marketplace to Student Transportation

What does it take to bring a transportation marketplace into K-12? Hear firsthand what CharterUP has learned about the unique needs of schools and bus operators.

Management•Cover Story•by Amanda Huggett•October 28, 2026

6 School Transportation Trends to Watch: 2026 District Survey Results

School bus buying is up, fuel choices are shifting, and driver shortages persist. This and more in the latest K-12 public school survey, plus the largest fleets in the U.S.

Yellow Fairfax County Public Schools buses line up outside an elementary school, with the lead bus displaying its extended stop arm and flashing red lights.

Management•by Amanda Huggett•October 28, 2026

The 100 Largest School Bus Fleets in America: 2026 Rankings

Which public K-12 school districts are the largest in the nation in terms of bus fleet size? Here are the new standings of the top 100 district fleets.

From Our Partners

From Reactive to Proactive: Making Every Ride Visible

Most Bus Crashes Aren’t Your Fault. Here’s How to Prove It.

A guide for what to do in between a school bus crash and a claim: what to preserve, who to notify, and how to keep the facts available when they matter.

School Bus Fleet graphic showing a school bus safety inspection in the background, with the headline “2026 National School Bus Safety Week” in large orange and white lettering.

Safety•by Elora Haynes•October 19, 2026

National School Bus Safety Week 2026: Tips, Toolkits & Resources to Keep Students Safe

School bus safety takes more than awareness. Explore expert tips, enforcement strategies, and free resources to help protect students on every ride.

Maintenance•by Jamie Tuinstra, Modine•October 14, 2026

Tips for Ensuring School Bus Garages Are Safe and Warm Year-Round

Cold maintenance bays and rising heating costs? Learn how school bus garages can improve comfort with targeted heating, better airflow, and winter preparation.

School Bus Fleet graphic featuring three illustrated yellow school buses carrying students beneath the headline “The Comfort of Consistency,” with a red bottle of ketchup drawing a line across the upper left corner.

Management•by Chris Jones, School Bus Driver•October 9, 2026

Predictability Is Like Ketchup (According to 6-Year-Olds)

To students, a different school bus can feel like a full-blown crisis. One driver reflects on why familiar routines, showing up on time, and being reliably boring matter more than we think.

Graphic showing hands counting $100 bills with text reading, “How to Finance Your Next School Bus: Municipal Leases, VPAs, Residuals.”

Management•by Aaron Lindsten, Baystone Government Finance•October 7, 2026

How Tax-Exempt Municipal Leases Can Help Finance School Buses

Let’s explore school bus financing options, including municipal leases, vendor payable accounts, and balloon payments, and how they can help stretch fleet budgets.

School Bus Fleet graphic reading “When Fuel Prices Change the Math: What rising diesel costs mean for fleet planning,” illustrated with a fuel pump and oil barrels.

Alternative Fuels•by Steve Mitchell•October 4, 2026

Nobody Told Diesel Prices They Were Supposed to Come Down

With diesel prices surging, school bus fleets have new reason to stress-test fuel costs, consider diversification, and calculate what each route really costs to operate.

Yellow full-size school bus traveling along a tree-lined road beneath the words “Gas is Back!” in a School Bus Fleet graphic.

Alternative Fuels•Cover Story•by Amanda Huggett•October 2, 2026

Why Gasoline School Buses Are Making a Comeback

Gasoline is gaining ground in full-size school buses. See how today’s options stack up against diesel on cost, maintenance, emissions, performance, and more.

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