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SEARCHThese stories highlight the evolution of school transportation, from the vehicles that carry our children to the next generation of industry leaders blazing new trails.
John Phraner of Trans Tech said he expects his company to expand all-electric school bus capacity to meet demand created by mandates in California and New York.
Photo: Trans Tech
Emerging from the COVID-19 pandemic, school transportation leaders continued to find their footing as they carried the industry forward with ambition, optimism, and innovation.
School Bus Fleet selected a handful of stories from 2023 that help capture these approaches that could help create a cleaner and more efficient yellow bus fleet across North America.
Look for the next class of School Bus Fleet Trailblazers in January 2024!
Image: School Bus Fleet
Our inaugural class of School Bus Fleet Trailblazers comes from across the student transportation industry, from behind the wheel to vehicle manufacturers to alternative transportation providers.
Discover the latest breakthroughs in Type A school bus design that are elevating safety standards, embracing eco-friendly technology, and incorporating smart features.
The technology that goes into the school bus and makes it run may change, but the goal remains the same: safe and reliable transportation between home and school for children.
Cook-Illinois Corporation, among the largest family owned and operated school-bus contractors in the U.S., has relied on biodiesel to transport children safely and affordably to and from school for more than 15 years.
Karim Johnson led Bethlehem Central School District in New York through a technological evolution before moving on to Stafford County Public Schools in Virginia.
Photo: Karim Johnson
School Bus Fleet’s Administrator of the Year for 2023 is a longtime devotee of the “Cheese Bus” who has kept electronic evolution and cleaner vehicles front of mind for his New York school district. Editor's Note: Johnson moved on to lead the transportation department for Stafford County Public Schools in Virginia over the summer.
Stop bidding everything and try a simpler way. Here's how cooperative purchasing can streamline purchases while maintaining compliance. Sourcewell breaks down the process in this episode of The Route, sponsored by IC Bus.
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The alternative transportation company expands its services to traditional yellow buses with the launch of a new division focused on helping school districts optimize their routes.
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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.
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Swazer, 29, serves as director of transportation at Puyallup School District, where he champions student wellbeing and inspires the next generation of industry leaders.
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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.
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Kramlick, 30, runs operations for TransPar in Hawaii, where he also showed dedication while helping Maui recover from the recent wildfires.
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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).
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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.
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Maybee, 36, leads transportation operations for Denver Public Schools, where he is advancing equity, efficiency, and cross-department collaboration to improve student access.
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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.
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