Join us in an open-ended conversation about children and school buses – and the people who bring them together.
National School Transportation Association President John Benish Jr. says that while the pupil transportation industry invites innovation, factors such as cost and infrastructure support need to be considered in working to meet the Biden Administration's ambitious Clean Energy Plan.
The future of the COVID-19 pandemic is uncertain, but safety technology innovations to help with staggered schedules — such as bus and ridership tracking and apps, as well as tablets — are here to stay.
The U.S. has seen a 960% increase in propane-powered school bus fleets since 2012. Companies are responding with upgraded engines and fueling infrastructure and renewable propane.
Whether through advocacy or technology, in easy or tough times, success comes down to the incredibly dedicated people of this industry to bring us beyond hope and help all schoolchildren safely access an education every day.
John Benish Jr., the National School Transportation Association's president, hopes the COVID-19 vaccine will provide a level of comfort for parents and school employees — including bus drivers — that would allow more schools to reopen for in-person learning.
Although COVID-19 was unforeseen, we have seen bus sales drop even further — although more gradually — during the Great Recession and recovery, and they bounced back.
The National School Transportation Association has petitioned for school bus drivers to be made a high priority for phased allocation of COVID-19 vaccines. The association's president stresses that without a healthy and plentiful workforce of drivers, more children may be forced into less safe ways to get to school.
Regardless of your location, it is important to perform periodic seasonal maintenance. When doing so, consider the operation of specific systems rather than individual components.
A Pennsylvania-based driver supervisor points out how, although the COVID-19 pandemic has dealt a harsh blow to school bus companies and the industry in general, contract negotiations have been a growing challenge for years, as has a lack of support and respect for drivers.
The Center for Transportation and the Environment discusses the positive impact that the alt-fuel vehicles can have in reducing air pollution and its work with school districts nationwide to increase electric school bus use.
Virtual events are expanding access to information and a greater variety of perspectives. Also, the intense focus on safety measures could lead to more attention being paid to driver wellness.
The National School Transportation Association's president emphasizes the importance of in-person instruction and urges pupil transporters to remind parents that the yellow bus continues to be the safest form of transportation for students.
A special-needs student in South Carolina advocates for his school to add a propane school bus to its fleet. He ends up getting a “green” bus all his own.
Asking and seeking answers to the right questions can help nail down some steps to take to plan even as the pandemic and its impact on school start remains uncertain in so many parts of the U.S.
We are poised for the complete return to classroom learning, and ready to do what we do best: transport students safely and efficiently, each day, every day.