Biz Briefs covers the latest supplier and OEM news in the school bus industry. In School Bus Fleet’s latest installment, we take a look at recent news from EverDriven, First Student, Gatekeeper, Allison Transmission, Geotab, and JVCKENWOOD.

EverDriven Report Highlights Key Trends Driving School Transportation Modernization

EverDriven has identified three forces shaping school transportation in 2026: the need for greater flexibility, stronger equity, and the use of technology as core infrastructure. Based on national district trends and daily conversations with transportation leaders, EverDriven’s latest report highlights how these forces are driving widespread modernization efforts.

According to EverDriven’s Future of Modern Student Transportation and Safety Report, 98% of districts report active modernization efforts. With uncertainty surrounding key federal programs like EHCY, IDEA, and Title I, transportation leaders are adopting blended fleets, working with vetted transportation partners, and implementing dynamic routing tools. These strategies allow districts to adapt quickly and maintain service reliability, especially as student needs become more individualized.

Equity is also emerging as a central planning priority for 2026. Requests for McKinney-Vento transportation have surged (167%), special education populations are growing (62%), and family homelessness is rising (39%), placing pressure on districts to ensure all students have consistent, reliable access to school. Equity in transportation now means shorter ride times, stability during student transitions, and access regardless of housing or support status.

Technology is becoming essential infrastructure, enabling districts to manage increased complexity and maintain transparency. With 68% of district leaders citing tech as critical to their 2026 strategy, tools that integrate routing, compliance, parent communication, and data reporting are reducing manual burdens and improving responsiveness. These systems help teams stay efficient while meeting safety and compliance standards.

Together, flexibility, equity, and technology are setting a new foundation for student transportation. Districts are building more resilient, student-centered systems that respond to today’s evolving challenges.

First Student Partners With Eden Village to Transform School Bus Into Mobile Hub

First Student recently announced a new partnership with Eden Village to convert a donated school bus into a mobile innovation hub that will support 3D-printed housing projects for individuals experiencing chronic homelessness.

"At First Student, our purpose has always been bigger than the yellow bus," said John Kenning, CEO and president of First Student. "We exist to support students, families, and the communities that shape them. This partnership with Eden Village and Drury University is a powerful example of what happens when innovation and compassion come together.”

The repurposed bus will be used to safely transport components for Eden Village’s industrial 3D printer, which is currently being used to build tiny homes in Springfield, Missouri. Because the equipment includes high-precision parts, the bus will be redesigned to safely carry components that cannot be transported on traditional equipment haulers.

Students in Drury University's School of Architecture, specifically members of the nationally recognized Design-Build Program, will lead the redesign, transforming the school bus into a dual-purpose mobile unit. Their plans include creating a secure transport vehicle for sensitive 3D-printing components and building a functional mobile construction office.

"Repurposing a former school bus into a dual-purpose mobile unit – serving as both a construction office and a mobile hub for 3D printer storage and fabrication – embodies our shared commitment to innovation, collaboration, and hands-on learning in service of the community," said Traci Sooter, director of the Design-Build Program at Drury University.

Gatekeeper Reports $31.8M Revenue in Fiscal 2025

Gatekeeper recently reported on its audited financial results for the fourth quarter and fiscal year ended August 31, 2025, with total revenue of $31.8 million. The previous fiscal year saw $37.8 million in revenue, including a large transit contract of $9 million, in addition to the company’s regular business.

According to a company release, excluding the large contract and comparing regular business, Gatekeeper grew approximately 10% year over year. Gross profit for the fiscal year was $13.1 million, compared to $17.2 million in the prior fiscal year. Gross margin as a percentage of revenue was 41%, down from 46% in the prior year.

“2025 has been a transformational year for Gatekeeper,” said Doug Dyment, president and CEO of Gatekeeper. “Earlier this year, against the backdrop of increasing regulatory mandates for video in public transit and school buses, we made a strategic decision to increase investment in the business to build the necessary foundation pillars to allow the company to pursue larger customers and larger contracts.”

Approximately $43.8 million in new business contracts were announced subsequent to August 31, 2025, including:

• $27 million transit video contract with New York MTA’s Long Island Rail Road.

• $9.3 million school bus video contract with a student transportation provider.

• OEM contract with Alstom for transit video.

Dana Off-Highway Drive and Motion Systems Now Part of Allison Transmission

Allison Transmission Holdings, Inc., recently announced its acquisition of the Off-Highway Drive & Motion Systems business of Dana Incorporated, a provider of drivetrain and propulsion solutions, for approximately $2.7 billion.

“We are excited to welcome our new colleagues from Dana Incorporated’s Off-Highway Drive & Motion Systems business to Allison,” said David Graziosi, Allison Transmission chair, president, and CEO. “Together, we have an expanded market reach and broader portfolio of high-quality and reliable products, creating a global platform that will continue to deliver strong financial performance from both organic and inorganic growth.”

The combined company will be headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana, USA, and led by Graziosi. The company will operate under the Allison name and be comprised of two business units. Allison Transmission will be led by Fred Bohley, president and business unit leader, and Allison Off-Highway Drive & Motion Systems will be led by Craig Price, president and business unit leader. Both Bohley and Price will report to Graziosi, and Bohley will continue to serve as Allison’s chief operating officer.

According to a release, these changes allow the company to better serve an expanded customer base by enabling more local sourcing, production, and service through a deeper pool of engineering and technological expertise.

Geotab Expands Sourcewell and Canoe Contracts

Geotab recently announced a significant expansion of its cooperative purchasing contracts with Sourcewell and Canoe Procurement Group. The contracts now include four innovative solutions: the GO Focus, GO Focus Plus, GO Anywhere asset tracker, and Altitude by Geotab data analytics platform.

This enhancement provides public sector agencies with streamlined access to advanced tools that optimize driver safety and asset utilization and enable smarter infrastructure planning. According to a company release, using the Sourcewell and Canoe contracts enables agencies to more quickly deploy telematics solutions tailored to their unique operational complexities and stringent security requirements.

“Public sector fleets face unique challenges, from managing diverse assets to planning for future infrastructure needs,” said Neil Garrett, associate vice president of business development, government at Geotab. “By adding GO Focus, GO Anywhere, and Altitude to our Sourcewell contract, we are providing powerful, purpose-built tools that directly address these challenges. It’s about delivering innovation with ease, so our public sector partners can focus on working more effectively and efficiently.”

JVCKENWOOD Recognized on  CDPʼs Climate Change A List

JVCKENWOOD Corporation has been recognized for the first time on CDP's Climate Change A List, the highest rating in the 2025 climate change assessment conducted by CDP, a global non-profit organization that operates an international environmental disclosure system.

The corporate environmental reporting data is “widely used by investors and procurement organizations to inform decision-making.” In 2025, more than 22,100 companies worldwide disclosed environmental information through the system.

CDP evaluates companies on an eight-level scale ranging from D- to A, with JVCKENWOOD receiving an “A” score. Companies awarded an A score are recognized as global leaders for their proactive approach to addressing environmental risks and for taking initiative in implementing advanced climate actions, earning inclusion on CDPʼs Climate Change A List.

According to a release, in the previous 2024 assessment cycle, only approximately the top 2% of all companies evaluated worldwide were included on the Climate Change A List.

Based on the sustainability strategy under its medium-term management plan, VISION 2025, JVCKENWOOD has established its environmental policy, “JK Green 2030,” and has positioned addressing climate change as one of its key sustainability priorities.