A few days before Christmas, I was watching the news and was saddened to learn that many travelers had to rearrange their holiday plans due to flight delays and cancellations prompted by a snow storm on the east coast.

I have lived in Southern California my entire life, so I have never experienced the challenges that harsh weather can present. Occasional bouts of strong wind pass through the area and every so often we’ll get some heavy rain, but the weather here is usually pretty mild.

Hearing about the problems people were having reaching their destinations got me thinking about the obstacles school bus operations must face and overcome when transporting students to and from school in, say, a days-long rain or snow storm.         

I recently spoke to a transportation director in North Carolina who said that a strong storm passed through the county where his operation is located last year and it affected pick-ups — the bus drivers couldn’t go down some roads because they were flooded, and buses had to be rerouted.

I am interested to learn what problems severe weather (hurricanes, tornadoes, heavy snow and/or rain, etc.) causes for you at your operation and how you’ve handled those problems. What has been effective in helping you keep everything running smoothly?

Tell us by sending an e-mail to info@schoolbusfleet.com or by posting a comment below.

Until next time,

Kelly Roher
Senior Editor