Atlanta Public Schools Names New Fleet Manager

ATLANTA — Atlanta Public Schools has hired a new fleet manager: Oliver Baird.

Baird is the former national maintenance director for Tug Technologies. He has also managed large fleets at Coca-Cola and Con-way Freight.

John Franklin, executive director of transportation for Atlanta Public Schools, said that Baird's experience will be invaluable as the district acquires more new buses with complex systems.

"He has really brought a great vision to our fleet maintenance," Franklin said.

The hiring of Baird is part of an overhaul of the fleet department at Atlanta Public Schools, according to Franklin. Over the past month, the district has also hired a new fleet foreman, three new master fleet technicians (with a fourth on the way), and six other new maintenance staff members.

"So far, since its inception, the reorganization has paid dividends," Franklin said.

Atlanta Public Schools has a fleet of 411 school buses that log a total of about 4.5 million miles annually. The district, which was ranked No. 68 in School Bus Fleet’s Top 100 School District Fleets of 2015, transports 23,000 students daily.