The School Bus Blogosphere

Since SCHOOL BUS FLEET began its foray into the blogosphere, I’ve been looking for other blogs that discuss school buses and the business of getting students to and from school. Many drivers, companies, associations and even a school bus mechanic have started blogs with various goals — some want to share information and exchange ideas, some want to log their daily experiences and some simply want to entertain.

School Bus Mechanic is run by a mechanic named John Whelan, who’s been working on buses and other heavy duty vehicles for 31 years. Not only does he have an extensive archive, with posts dating back to October 2005, but Whelan links to our forum on the SCHOOL BUS FLEET Website, a show of refined taste! Whelan’s installments cover mechanical topics in detail, featuring troubleshooting, reviews and even embedded video.

School Bus Drivers is an example of a blog run by a driver, chronicling tales of challenging routes, sharing jokes and emphasizing safety issues.

The Manic School Bus cataloges news items about school buses and provides safety information, links to pupil transportation organizations and other resources, and relays the occasional humorous item.

In an interesting use of blogging technology, at Daily Life on a School Bus, a driver logs her daily routes with notes on her passengers’ behavior, arrival and departure times and discipline strategies. Even though her updates are spotty, it’s entertaining to get a glimpse into the daily routine of a school bus driver.

On a related topic, the School Safety News Blog, run by safety consulting firm SafePlans, provides news updates about school safety as well as an interactive map of theU.S. showing school safety incidents across the country, including school bus accidents.

There’s a lot out there. If you know of an interesting blog that covers some aspect of the pupil transportation industry, or if you write one, tell us about it in the comments section or by e-mailing info@schoolbusfleet.com.

--Claire