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Wes Platt

Former Executive Editor

Wes Platt joined Bobit in 2021 as executive editor of School Bus Fleet Magazine and maintained the helm through 2024.

He writes and edits content about student transportation, school bus manufacturers and equipment, legislative issues, maintenance, fleet contracting, and school transportation technology - from classic yellow diesel buses to the latest EPA-funded electric, propane, and CNG vehicles.

Wes has moderated online webinars related to student transportation, hosts a video podcast called The Route on the SBF YouTube channel that covers bus-related news and issues, and enjoys attending events with the National Association for Pupil Transportation (NAPT), National School Transportation Association (NSTA), and National Association of State Directors of Pupil Transportation Services (NASDPTS).

Previously, Wes worked as a journalist for The St. Petersburg Times (now Tampa Bay Times) - he has no shortage of "Florida Man" stories. Be sure to ask about the armadillo hit man sometime. He also worked for North Carolina's Durham Herald-Sun, covering diverse beats ranging from crime and courts to K-12 education, including school transportation issues. He’s a Florida native transplanted to North Carolina, and a graduate of the University of South Florida (B.A. mass communications).

Articlesby Wes PlattSeptember 29, 2022

Top District Fleets: Georgia District Holds Top Spot for Second Year

Gwinnett County Public Schools remains No. 1 among School Bus Fleet survey respondents with 1,630 route buses transporting 135,000 students for annual mileage of 23,000,000.

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Articlesby Wes PlattSeptember 13, 2022

Protecting Precious Cargo: Safety Comes Standard

School bus manufacturers keep their focus on making every child’s ride as safe as possible with a variety of safety features.

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Articlesby Wes PlattSeptember 9, 2022

Bus Driver Takes the Wheel as American Legion Commander

Vincent J. "Jim" Troiola's lifetime of service now turns toward a commitment to save veterans from suicide through the American Legion's "Be the One" initiative.

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School Bus Fleet Blogby Wes PlattSeptember 9, 2022

3 Lessons Learned During My First Year

It’s hard to believe I’ve already been at the wheel of School Bus Fleet for a year. A lot of the job has been drinking from the firehose of information – the alphabet soup of associations, the different types of buses, the varieties of equipment, the manufacturers, the rules and regulations. I’ve taken in a lot, but there’s so much more to absorb and process.

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Articlesby Wes PlattAugust 31, 2022

Slow Going on the Sunshine Protection Act

The main issue seems to be the language of the Sunshine Protection Act. Many legislators seem to prefer no more clock changing, but they can’t agree on whether to stick with standard or daylight saving as the new default.

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Newsby Wes PlattAugust 23, 2022

Friends and Colleagues Remember Thomas Built’s Mike Stotler

The Thomas Built Buses customer support manager died on Aug. 20 at the age of 50.

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Newsby Wes PlattAugust 4, 2022

U.S. Rep. Jackie Walorski and Staffers Killed in Indiana Crash

Walorski, who helped champion the Stop for School Buses Act (STOP Act), was mourned by the National School Transportation Association. NSTA leaders remembered her as compassionate and kind.

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Newsby Wes PlattAugust 2, 2022

Minnesota School Districts Could Get Matching Dollars for Clean Buses

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency aims to help non-prioritized applicants get the most funding possible for new battery-electric school buses in tandem with the EPA's Clean School Bus Program.

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Articlesby Wes PlattAugust 2, 2022

What You Need to Know About the EPA's Clean School Bus Program

An Aug. 19 deadline awaits districts that want to take advantage of federal funding from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

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School Bus Fleet Blogby Wes PlattAugust 1, 2022

With Patience and Tolerance, Occasional Chaos Can Be Rewarding

Disruptive behavior, sometimes caused by these summer breaks, is on the rise and can prove particularly challenging during the first six weeks of the school year, Brooke Garcia said. In those instances, “the driver needs to the thermostat in the bus, rather than the thermometer.”

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