School Bus Fleet Magazine

Sept. 21-23, 2026 | Scottsdale, AZ

Special Needs Transportation

Explore best practices for safely and effectively transporting students with disabilities and special transportation needs. We cover accessibility, wheelchair securement, equipment, training, student behavior, regulations, and specialized transportation services.

Kelli Goterba, the 2026 Special-Needs Driver of the Year, stands with her arms crossed in front of a Trumbull County Board of Developmental Disabilities school bus.

News

Kelli Goterba Named 2026 Special-Needs School Bus Driver of the Year

Through building trust with students and strengthening her transportation team, Goterba exemplifies the impact special-needs drivers can make.

Digital Cover Features

The Most Common Wheelchair Securement Mistakes on School Buses (and How to Fix Them)

A wheelchair user operates a school bus wheelchair lift equipped with BraunAbility’s LiftSentinel barrier system as another person stands nearby with a handheld control.

News

BraunAbility Introduces New Safety Barrier for Wheelchair Lifts

A close up image of a hand holding a phone with HopSkipDrive's platform and CareDriver information on the screen.

News

HopSkipDrive Launches New Safety, Driver Consistency Features for 2026-27 School Year

News•by Staff•July 7, 2014

First Student monitor awarded for work with children with disabilities

The Union County Board of Developmental Disabilities in Ohio presents Sharon Parker with a Community Starfish Award. Alan Mustard, First Student location manager, says Parker is “dedicated to the children she helps transport, and is committed to making riding the bus a positive experience by showing them care, compassion and respect.”

News•by Staff•July 7, 2014

Q'Straint, Sure-Lok offer free training seminar

The two-day event in November will provide hands-on education in how to properly use and operate Q'Straint and Sure-Lok products for school transportation. The company covers hotel, ground transportation and meals during training.

News•by Thomas McMahon•June 26, 2014

Top pupil transporters, bus techs honored in Colorado

The Colorado State Pupil Transportation Association holds school bus roadeo and technician contests at its annual conference. Also awarded, posthumously, is a Colorado school bus driver who was fatally struck by a pickup truck last winter.

Articles•June 10, 2014

Committed to lifelong learning

Peter Lawrence estimated that he put in about 1,000 hours in just the last year as he worked on his dissertation. That was in addition to continuing his full-time job as director of transportation.

News•by Thomas McMahon•June 10, 2014

Bill targets training, immunity for bus drivers who use EpiPen

The Pennsylvania bill would provide civil immunity to school bus drivers who administer epinephrine autoinjectors, or EpiPens, on students who experience allergic reactions on the bus. Drivers would have to first complete a training program to be qualified to use the EpiPen.

Articles•June 5, 2014

The impact of bus washing

A consistent wash system can have a positive impact on image, driver satisfaction, extended equipment life and environmental considerations.

News•by Thomas McMahon•June 4, 2014

Updates unveiled for 2015 National Congress on School Transportation

Preparations are ramping up for the event, which is held every five years in Warrensburg, Mo. Congress officials provide updates on the new location of the organization's website, when registration will open and a new committee called "Telling the School Bus Story."

Products•June 2, 2014

Azuga G2 GPS Fleet Tracking System

Azuga G2 reads the vehicle’s engine data every second and delivers emissions idling reports 60 times more often than traditional GPS systems, officials for Azuga said.

Products•June 2, 2014

Fleetio Import Feature

Fleetio’s new import feature allows customers to upload unlimited vehicle details, fuel records, service history, employee profiles and more to their accounts with just a few clicks, company officials said.

Articles•by Thomas McMahon•May 30, 2014

Blue Bird rallies in Fort Valley, ramps up business

Four years after consolidating large bus assembly at its central Georgia headquarters, Blue Bird has boosted efficiency and production capacity, and business is on the upswing. The company’s total sales have increased about 40% from 2012 to 2014, and its propane school bus sales have multiplied.

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