Thomas has been covering the pupil transportation industry with School Bus Fleet since 2002. When he's not writing articles about yellow buses, he enjoys swimming, riding bicycles and running long distances.
Former SBF Executive Editor Thomas McMahon bids a fond farewell to the school transportation industry after 16 years.
Who served as a mechanic for Marine One, the presidential helicopter? Which Texas transportation director was born in Iran? And who used to draw blood for a living? Learn about these and other intriguing school bus industry people in the return of this popular series.
With healthy property tax revenue and high demand to replace old school buses, industry sales will hit recent highs again this year, says the Blue Bird CEO. Meanwhile, the manufacturer has new electric models hitting the road and a new propane engine with ultra-low NOx emissions, helping fuel a shift toward more non-diesel buses.
Dr. Tammy Knipp, Tennessee's state director of student transportation, discusses her background and her role in overseeing school bus safety, training standards, and regulation compliance.
After retiring from the Marine Corps, Adam James took on the role of director of transportation for Greenville (S.C.) County Schools. Here, he shares details on the similarities, such as daily inspections and leadership principles.
In some parts of the country, school buses are back on the road amid high temperatures. Two recent incidents show what a touchy subject the use of bus windows can be when it comes to student conduct.
The Logan Bus Co. leader grows the family business while staying connected with staff and customers, who say he exceeds requirements to do what’s best for students.
As a teen, Teresa Hartley had to take action after a school bus crash. Now as a transportation director, she’s working to ensure every student is on board with emergency preparedness.
The First Student president shares details on new developments, including mobile apps, paperless shop technology, and a division that offers consulting, routing, and other solutions.
Read more from our conversation with four contracting pros. In this web exclusive, they discuss changes they’ve seen in the industry and what they like most about working in school transportation.
Four school bus operators from four states find common ground in dealing with driver shortage, tapping into the benefits of GPS and video cameras, and assessing fuel options. For the most part, they’re sticking with diesel for now, but one is seeing success with an electric bus.
John Gonzales, a senior engineer for NREL, discusses alt-fuel trends, funding from the Volkswagen settlements, and the potential of electric school buses.
The cost factors of alternative fuels and the transportation impact of school reform are also key topics at the 2018 edition of the event.
As state agencies work out plans for their share of the Volkswagen diesel mitigation funding, it has become clear that allocations for school buses will vary widely from state to state.
With a variety of non-yellow vehicles, app-based companies are offering parents an easy way to schedule rides for their children. Some see this type of dynamic service playing a bigger part in pupil transportation in the near future.