In the October 2022 issue of School Bus Fleet, former editor Wes Platt wrote a column celebrating 100 subscribers of The Route and reflecting on the first 50(ish) episodes of the podcast and video series.

This year, we hit a few more milestones: 400 subscribers and 100 episodes of The Route, 3,000 followers on LinkedIn, and 10,000 on Facebook (not to mention 70 years in existence as School Bus Fleet).

Now that I’m two years into this role, I wanted to take a minute to review some of my favorite episodes of The Route, too, because they’ve shaped what I’ve learned about this ‘biz and who I’ve become behind the desk.

(This list was agonizing to narrow down, and I mean it when I say I truly adore every single person who’s been on camera with me.)

Episode 91: Leadership Lessons with Kim Jones

Kimberly Jones, executive director of student transportation at Chicago Public Schools, was the first SBF award winner I worked directly with. And this Administrator of the Year set off a streak of stories so powerful that they made me cry. By the time I finally talked to her, I felt like her biggest fangirl and was starstruck. Jones taught me what it looked like to be a true servant leader, to put kids above everything else, and to persevere past tough times.

Episode 94: Human Trafficking

Not really the lightest topic out there, but one that is literally lifesaving. When I first heard Lexi Higgins from TAT speak at my first NASDPTS conference, I couldn’t shake what she had said: that human trafficking can and does show up on the school bus. Then, when I learned that our very own editorial advisory board member, Greg Jackson, was involved in uncovering this in a Colorado district, I had to learn more. We sat down together to hear his firsthand account of a student in danger and the driver who saved much more than just her day, and learn what red flags others can watch for. It was our most-watched YouTube video in 2025!

Episode 100: Stories Behind SBF Reporting

I firmly believe that you should honor those who came before you, and that’s what I tried to do in this special anniversary episode. I invited back three former SBF editors to take a walk down memory lane and share what stuck with them from their years here and what they’re up to now. Wes Platt, Nicole Schlosser, and Tom McMahon talked about the hot topics back in their day (spoiler: it was a lot of what we’re still dealing with today) and the stories they remember fondly.

Episode 101: The Lived-Experience Gap in Mobility Tech

By the time I interviewed Brianna Pauwee, I already felt like she was a friend. We met in the front row of a conference, where I admired her horror movie-themed bag. When I learned her story, she was a guest I couldn’t wait to have on. Pauwee describes her own life-altering story that left her paralyzed and what others miss about mobility and wheelchair securement. Thanks to her, I’ve got my eye out for spaces that are and aren’t accessible and better understand why training is so, so important.

53 Years Behind the Wheel: Connie Duff

Most of my interviews are done from my desk, so it was a treat to get out in my community and meet a long-time school bus driver in Minnesota. Connie Duff of Palmer Bus Service talked about her early days behind the wheel and what driving is like now. She’s effortlessly funny, and when the cameras stopped rolling, she had me in stitches, telling the wildest stories with a straight face. I imagine many of you have similar behind-the-scenes tales.

What’s Yet to Come

If these episodes and more have taught me anything, it’s that this industry has no shortage of people worth listening to. My list of potential guests is already longer than we’ll ever have time for, but we’ll keep connecting with interesting leaders and sharing what they’ve learned to help inspire you.

Who should I talk to next on The Route? Share your suggestions with me at amanda.huggett@bobit.com.