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Sept. 21-23, 2026 | Scottsdale, AZ

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Management

Management

Find strategies for running an effective school transportation operation, from leadership and workforce challenges to routing, budgeting, procurement, and fleet planning. This channel also covers the people and business developments shaping the industry.

Graphic showing hands counting $100 bills with text reading, “How to Finance Your Next School Bus: Municipal Leases, VPAs, Residuals.”

How Tax-Exempt Municipal Leases Can Help Finance School Buses

Let’s explore school bus financing options, including municipal leases, vendor payable accounts, and balloon payments, and how they can help stretch fleet budgets.

Graphic featuring several yellow school buses with the headline, “The Most Expensive School Bus Resale Mistake,” and images representing maintenance, auctions, and resale value.

Digital Cover Features

The Most Expensive Thing You Do Before Selling a School Bus: Wait

Group of School Bus Fleet 2026 Trailblazers above a graphic announcing that nominations are open for the 2027 SBF Trailblazers, with submissions due Dec. 14, 2026.

Nominate Rising School Transportation Pros Under 40!

Graphic for School Bus Fleet’s September 2026 “Changing Lanes” personnel roundup featuring headshots of seven school transportation industry professionals who recently changed roles.

Changing Lanes: BusWhere, EverDriven, InterMotive, Summit School Services, Switzer-Carty & Thomas Built Buses

An orange and white graphic with text reading "Changing Lanes" and business portraits.

News•by Elora Haynes•January 12, 2026

Changing Lanes: International Financial, Blue Bird, Bytecurve, Kajeet, & JohnDow

Check out some of the latest personnel moves from across the school bus industry, including new leadership roles, a general manager spanning multiple companies, and one retirement.

An orange and red graphic with text reading "New Iowa Law Updates Bus Driver Training Rules."

News•by Elora Haynes•January 9, 2026

New Iowa Law Updates Requirements for Prospective School Bus Drivers

The new law shifts school bus driver training decisions to local districts while outlining new state standards for approved instruction.

Image of two people in high visibility vest walking in front of parked school buses with text reading "Biz Briefs."

News•by Staff•January 8, 2026

School Bus Business Briefs: Modernization Trends, Community Innovation & Supplier Expansions

From 2026 outlooks to fleet technology expansions, major contracts, and community-focused initiatives, here’s the latest supplier and OEM news.

Two people standing in front of a white charter bus parked at a transportation facility.

News•by News/Media Release•January 8, 2026

Charter Bus Company Helps California District with School Transportation

Busloop is helping Oakland Unified School District with field trip and other travel needs to aid in combatting effects of budget cuts and support underserved communities.

a man boards a school bus, with text next to him that reads "Five Questions with Tim Wertner, Summuit School Services"

Articles•by Amanda Huggett•January 7, 2026

5 Questions: Inside the New Summit School Services

National Express is now fully operating under a new name with new ownership. Let’s dig into the details of the new company structure in this Q&A with its CEO.

Articles•by Alex Roman•January 5, 2026

Forest River Working to Redefine Reliability, Responsibility in the Bus Industry

As the transportation landscape continues to evolve in the wake of the pandemic, few manufacturers have faced, or embraced, change as decisively as Forest River Bus.

Graphic showing students boarding a school bus with the text “Union momentum builds in Maryland, Missouri, Connecticut & Vermont,” used to illustrate labor developments in school transportation.

News•by Staff and News Reports•January 5, 2026

Union Momentum Builds Across the Country

School bus drivers and monitors in Illinois, Missouri, Rhode Island, and Connecticut joined Teamsters, while others in Vermont and Maryland ratified contracts to avoid strikes.

A graphic with multiple versions of school buses and text reading "How We Got Gere: An inside look at school transportation history from industry veterans."

Digital Cover Features•by Elora Haynes•January 1, 2026

How a Century of Change Shaped the School Bus Industry We Know Today

As we celebrate seven decades of industry coverage, let’s revisit historic milestones, timeless content, and examine the industry's progression from those who lived it.

Statistics•January 1, 2026

U.S. State-by-State School Transportation Statistics 2024-25

School Bus Fleet's School Transportation Statistics annual report provides a snapshot of K-12 school bus operations in the United States and the market health for new school bus sales in North America.

Woman lies on the ground holding a calculator with school buses blurred in the background, alongside text reading “Rising Costs, Increased Demand” and “2026 Trends to Watch.”

Articles•by Amanda Huggett•December 30, 2025

Where is the Money Going in 2026? Rising Costs, Flat Funding

What happens if and when funding falls short in 2026? Find out how districts are coping with budget gaps, policy shifts, and new pupil transportation demands.