More Northwestern district transportation departments are adopting Transportant's latest technology to support student safety and parent connectivity.

Systems are being installed on South Kitsap, Washington, and Estacada, Oregon, buses. They will be used, starting this school year, to safely transport students to and from school, on field trips, and to athletic games throughout their communities.

The South Kitsap district operates a fleet of 99 buses that transport 6,600 students daily across 15 schools, averaging more than 6,000 miles per day. The Estacada district operates dozens of buses that cover approximately 750 square miles over 13 different daily routes.

Transportant technology is now used in 19 states, 85 school districts, and more than 2,500 school buses.

"We've seen great interest in Transportant technology in the Northwest, where communities continue to grow with young families," said Martin Staples, Transportant CEO. "These families are used to using convenient, connective technology — like DoorDash and Uber. Today's school bus technology is built on similar consumer experiences. Our mobile app, for example, allows parents to know exactly when the bus will arrive, where their child is on the route, and that they've arrived safely at the correct destination."

"If there is an emergency, we want to see what's going on and when, so live cameras have been game changers for us," said Sarah Lawson, Estecada district transportation director. "I can access video anywhere, in an instant, and address an issue right away — we don't have to pull the cameras' hard drive, we just choose the bus and review it quickly or as the bus is still driving around."

Transportant provides school bus technology that is integrated into districts' existing transportation management systems. The technology shows where every school bus is, and who and what is happening on the bus. Its solution includes the company's first and only live camera, powered by AI, and an audio system for detecting incidents and sending alerts, allowing for the proactive resolution of problems en route as managers intervene in real-time to thwart unwanted behaviors.

It interfaces with a transportation department dashboard and driver tablet that allows drivers to know riders and their routes and stops. Drivers are equipped with a digital check-in-and-out system for students and turn-by-turn directions, replacing paper rider lists and maps.