More safety technology is headed for First Student's buses. 

The country's largest school bus contractor today announced it will equip its ~46,000 vehicle fleet with Samsara’s AI technology suite, including video-based safety, telematics, commercial navigation, door monitors, and student ridership insights. 

By leveraging real-time data collected from Samsara’s Connected Operations AI Platform, First Student builds on its safety and performance ecosystem, helping drivers, districts, families, and students experience safe, reliable, and efficient student transportation services.

“This partnership between two industry leaders enables us to leverage advanced technology to deliver safer, smarter, and more connected student transportation,” said John Kenning, CEO and president of First Student. “By integrating Samsara’s AI insights into HALO, we are living out our value of setting the highest standards and redefining what student transportation can be. With Samsara’s AI capabilities, predictive analytics, and real-time safety monitoring, we are taking HALO to the next level — anticipating risks, preventing incidents, enhancing driver satisfaction, and advancing our mission to provide every student with the best possible transportation experience so they arrive at school ready to achieve their full potential.”

“We are proud to partner with First Student, which operates at an unmatched scale, serving millions of students daily across North America," said Sanjit Biswas, Samsara CEO and co-founder. "By integrating our AI-powered platform with First Student’s HALO, we are taking innovation to the next level to create a safer, more efficient experience. Together, we're bringing students the best possible transportation experience, powered by data-driven insights."

Partnership Benefits

• For Students: Safer, smarter rides powered by AI that can predict risks and help prevent incidents.

• For Families: More accurate ETAs and real-time updates through the enhanced First View app, reducing “where’s the bus?” calls and providing greater peace of mind. Ridership insights also allow First Student to share key updates with families, including the time of their student's boarding and disembarking.

• For Drivers: Helpful tools that provide turn-by-turn directions and real-time visibility, streamline coaching to support safe driving, and build stronger trust between drivers and their managers.

• For Districts: Tech-enabled fleet operations that optimize routes, reduce delays, and streamline maintenance, all while elevating safety standards. Onboard Wi-Fi connectivity enables buses to communicate with one another and with the broader system, strengthening overall fleet coordination and performance.

Key Safety Features Gained

• AI Cameras: AI-powered risk detection with in-cab alerts.

• Collision Avoidance & Hazard Detection: Alerts drivers to pedestrians, cyclists, motorcyclists, stopped or slowed vehicles, and more.

• Predictive Safety Analytics: Combines data from vehicle sensors, AI cameras, and external factors to generate insights. Samsara’s models learn from billions of minutes of video footage to help identify and address risks proactively.

• Post-Trip Insights: Gives supervisors visibility into trends and coachable moments to continuously support safe driving.

• Tablet-Based Pre- and Post-Trip Inspections: Improves safety checks and maintenance response.

• Smart Navigation: School bus-specific routing improves accuracy and efficiency.

• Driver Performance Dashboards: Real-time feedback supports recognition, self-correction, and continuous improvement. With Samsara’s AI coaching tools, drivers receive personalized support and training, creating a better overall driver experience and resulting in stronger retention rates.

First Student and Samsara demonstrated the impact of their collaboration through select pilots run last school year at locations across North America. These pilots confirmed how Samsara’s AI platform can be successfully integrated into First Student’s HALO platform. First Student is now deploying the technology across all of its vehicles, bringing the benefits to every student, family, and district served, and to every driver employed.