Tennessee District Adds GPS Solution, Projects Over $100K in Savings

Mike Snell, the transportation director for Rutherford County (Tenn.) Schools, said the new Edulog GPS system could help the district save $104,000 per year.

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — When students return to school, all school buses in Rutherford County will have Education Logistics’ (Edulog’s) GPS system on board, potentially saving the district more than $100,000 per year.

With about 250 school buses, Rutherford County Schools transports more than 25,000 students every day. The county has been growing rapidly, and adds seven or eight new buses every year, according to Mike Snell, the transportation director for the district.

Student safety is a top priority at the district, and the school board voted unanimously last spring to install the system on all buses, Snell said.

Edulog’s GPS system provides school districts with real-time data about where school buses are located at all times, helps ensure that students are on the right buses and keeps parents informed about student transportation schedules.

Snell has been at the Rutherford County Schools for the past 11 years and is looking forward to starting off the new school year with a GPS system in place, he said. The transportation department will be able to carefully monitor routes and update them more quickly and efficiently, saving the district about $104,000 per year, he added.

The GPS technology allows school districts to operate more efficiently throughout the school year. It also helps districts better handle parent phone calls about bus location; respond quickly to emergency situations such as mechanical difficulties and bus breakdowns; and identify problems — such as late buses and missed stops — and solve them before they become catastrophic.

“We are excited about the possibilities and opportunities an active GPS system will provide,” Snell said. “The ability to monitor buses in real time will be an important component to maintain safe environments for our students while they are being transported to and from school.”