The new communication tool was purpose-built for student transportation, offering vehicle tracking, a family app, routing requests, video access, reporting tools, and real-time messaging.
The platform aims to improve transparency, safety, and coordination across districts, families, and transportation providers.
Photo: Beacon Mobility/SBF
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Beacon Mobility, the fourth-largest contractor in North America, has launched Beacon Connect, a fully integrated communications platform designed specifically for school transportation.
Beacon Connect was developed in response to long-standing communication challenges in the student transportation space, according to the announcement. Drawing from cross-industry practices and ongoing user feedback, the platform provides a streamlined, user-centric experience for families, drivers, dispatchers, and school officials.
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The company said that currently, Beacon Connect is only available for districts partnering with Beacon for its transportation services.
Key Features of Beacon Connect
Live and Historical Vehicle Tracking The newest and most anticipated feature, this tool gives families and school staff real-time visibility into bus locations during active routes. Parents can view where their child’s bus is at any moment, reducing uncertainty and improving peace of mind. Historical trip data also supports operational reviews and allows schools to track past bus activity for greater accountability.
Beacon Connect Family App Offers parents an intuitive interface with real-time alerts and seamless trip tracking.
Digital Routing Requests Enables families to submit route changes digitally, improving efficiency and responsiveness.
Secure Video Access Allows for request-based access to onboard video recordings to support safety and incident review.
Incident Reporting & Safety Tools Drivers can quickly log issues while dispatchers receive live fleet updates to improve awareness and response times.
Two-Way Communication Real-time messaging between dispatch, drivers, and school staff improves coordination and reliability.
Beacon Connect has already earned support from school districts currently utilizing the technology, including the Ashburnham-Westminster Regional School District in Massachusetts. "The new online portal for communication works very well for office referrals and video requests,” said Kathleen Taylor, principal, Ashburnham - Westminster Regional School District. “The turnaround this year for video requests has been greatly improved.”
Beacon Connect was developed under the leadership of Chief Technology Officer Gaurav Sharda and a team committed to advancing innovation in mobility services. “We wanted to build more than just a technology product,” Sharda said. “We wanted a platform that reflects the values and needs of the communities we serve.”
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Roberts, 35, serves as the lead IT application engineer for vehicle electrification at First Student, where he helps shape scalable, real-world EV infrastructure to support student transportation.
Swazer, 29, serves as director of transportation at Puyallup School District, where he champions student wellbeing and inspires the next generation of industry leaders.
Dubas, 38, serves as sales manager and safety advocate at IMMI, where she advances school bus occupant protection through industry education, OEM collaboration, and proactive safety policy efforts.
Moore, 32, grew up around the school bus, leading him to the classroom and eventually inspiring high-performing teams while bringing operations in house (twice).
Baran, 38, serves as transportation supervisor at Odyssey Charter School in Delaware, where he leads daily operations with a focus on safety and professional growth.
Maybee, 36, leads transportation operations for Denver Public Schools, where he is advancing equity, efficiency, and cross-department collaboration to improve student access.
Higgins, 38, serves as director of industry engagement at TAT (Truckers Against Trafficking), where she equips school transportation professionals with the tools to recognize and report human trafficking.
