I wasn’t very good at sticking up for myself as a 7-year-old, and anytime I felt out of place on the bus, my kind-hearted driver, Mr. Hall, welcomed me sitting right next to him so he could tell me stories as a distraction until we arrived at school. Over three decades later, I still think of him, especially now as I recall the unique challenges he faced with such a big responsibility to safely get so many children back and forth from school.
Photo courtesy of Huggett’s mom
Picture it: Rural Indiana, 1992. A 7-year-old boarding school bus No. 6 for the very first time. A little shy and awkward as an only child with no older siblings to show her the ropes. Instead, a kind neighbor boy a year ahead — so experienced, so brave! — stewards her onto the big yellow bus. She didn’t know what she was expecting, but it wasn’t 30 other faces of school kids staring at her as she decided where to sit. And as it turns out, the driver was the local mechanic, Mr. Hall, who promised to watch out for her. As almost the last stop on the route, the ride was short. But the adventure was just beginning.
I realize I’m aging myself here (and if that Golden Girls reference didn’t seal the deal, just know that I feel 75 at heart), but close to 30 years later, I’m back in the land where that yellow bus once again rules. School is back in session, as evidenced by the 3 p.m. logjam happening right outside my office window here in Minneapolis. But now as those buses roll on by, I look at them to test myself on which vehicle class it is, see which manufacturer built it, how many students are in there, and how attentive the driver is.
The school transportation industry isn’t completely foreign to me. Readers of School Bus Fleet may remember my name from a few years ago when I worked directly with both former editors Nicole Schlosser and Wes Platt. Writing articles and collecting Snapshots for SBF were my favorite assignments. I saw quickly how vibrant and special this space was. So, when I got the opportunity to come back, I did not hesitate to jump right back onto the bus.
I truly love being a trade journalist, and I missed sinking my teeth into an industry to learn the ins and out of it. To build relationships with thought leaders, heavy hitters and boots-on-the-ground folks. To deliver content that helped each of them do their jobs just a little bit better.
A few other things you should know about me: I am Midwestern to my core, frequently rewatch my favorite ‘90s sitcoms, and am absolutely, completely obsessed with cats. I have four, by the way, and if you have cats, too, I 100% want to see photos of them. (That awkwardness as a little girl makes more sense now, right? Don’t worry, I’ve since learned how to talk to strangers and am happily married!)
While my professional career began at the local newspaper in Fargo, N.D., I soon found myself managing a casino industry trade magazine at just 24 years old. Throughout those years, I came to love the hustle and bustle, the sights, smells and sounds of a casino floor, the familiar handshakes of key players and coming back to my desk to build an entire magazine out of what I was seeing and hearing. I am so excited to do this again for the pupil transportation industry! Thankfully, there is far less smoke and better lighting here.
The other difference is knowing that everything all of you are doing is for the benefit of children. You are the ones transporting school kids every day so they can receive an education and go back home at the end of the day.
As I settle into this new role, I am soaking up every bit of knowledge that I can. I am looking to your experiences and perspectives to shape the content that we deliver to you every day. I’m getting up to speed on the driver shortage, on electrification offerings and mandates, the true concern of stop-arm infractions, innovative assistive technologies, about routing and training and maintenance needs, and so many other trends and topics in which you are the experts.
The team around our parent company, Bobit, is oh so helpful, too. Publisher George Brennan has welcomed me with open arms back to the team, and I’d be remiss to not give a shout-out to my colleague Christy Grimes, who was a finalist for a prestigious Eddie & Ozzie award for her SBF article on DEI in school transportation.
Looking ahead, we’re working on some really special content to help you stay abreast of trends and technologies and share new ideas to inspire and inform what you do every day. I plan to take the rich history that SBF and the industry has and honor and build on it. Wes’ video series, The Route, will keep on rolling, too.
As I write this, we’re getting ready to pack up and leave for sunny Scottsdale, Ariz. soon, where I cannot wait to meet many of you in person for School Bus Fleet ConneX (SBFX). The agenda is jam-packed with sessions and presentations to bring pupil transportation professionals together to learn from each other and go back with fresh new ideas. Watch for our recaps and takeaways next month!
You can bet your britches that I will be keeping my notepad close to absorb all of it. If you see me there or at any other association events, please come say hi. I want to learn what gets you up in the morning and what keeps you up at night. In the meantime, send me an email and let’s connect! You can reach me at amanda.huggett@bobit.com.
Please don’t hesitate to reach out anytime with an idea, suggestion or feedback. I can’t wait to hear from you and keep rolling together.
Amanda Huggett
Executive Editor
Amanda Huggett is the Executive Editor for School Bus Fleet.
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