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Derek Graham

Pupil Transportation Consultant

Derek Graham served 21 years as state director of pupil transportation with the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction. Beginning his career with the Institute for Transportation Research and Education, he worked for 33 years with computer routing, software support and all aspects of the pupil transportation program in North Carolina including information systems, funding formulas, as well as vehicle specifications, purchasing, maintenance, inspection, and disposal. He was involved in numerous school bus safety initiatives. Graham is a former board member and president of the National Association of State Directors of Pupil Transportation Services (NASDPTS). He currently provides consulting services to clients including Edulog, where he helps school districts succeed in technology implementation, and ToXcel, LLC, working on a number of NHTSA-related projects including lap-shoulder belt implementation and illegal passing.

a photo of seat belts on a school bus with a headshot of derek graham and text that reads "why are we still debating seat belts 20 years later?"
Articlesby Derek GrahamJanuary 13, 2026

10 Years, Same Debate: Why We Need to Implement Seat Belts on School Buses

From NHTSA in 2015 to NTSB in 2025, the message on school bus seat belts hasn’t changed. In this op/ed, Derek Graham explores what a decade of data reveals about safety, student behavior, and driver satisfaction.

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Articlesby Derek GrahamApril 6, 2018

Navigating the Road Ahead for MDT Policies and Practices

This final installment looks at federal rules on distracted driving and state specs on mobile data terminals. As with the technology itself, regulations need to be honed based on experience.

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Articlesby Derek GrahamMarch 2, 2018

To See or Not to See? Weighing the Benefits of Visual Navigation

For substitute drivers, an illuminated display with directions might be a safer alternative to fumbling in the dark with a hand-held route sheet.

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Articlesby Derek GrahamFebruary 7, 2018

Boosting Security at the Bus Stop With Mobile Data Terminals

Tablets with ridership apps can help the driver ensure that the right students get on and off the bus. The key is to make the technology part of the driver’s routine — rather than a distraction.

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Articlesby Derek GrahamAugust 18, 2011

Taking Routing Data Beyond Routing

From key performance indicators to school redistricting to stop-arm violation tracking, there are many ways to benefit from the information in a computerized routing program.

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