BONITA SPRINGS, Fla. — Two school bus contractors will receive up to $50,000 each for fleet technology hardware as recipients of the Don Carnahan Memorial Grant.

Technology provider Zonar and the National School Transportation Association (NSTA) announced the grant winners on Monday during NSTA’s Midwinter Meeting in Bonita Springs.

The recipients are NSTA members Sunrise Transportation and Minnesota Coaches. Zonar will provide the two contractors with fleet management solutions that offer real-time tracking, maintenance and inspection verification, and idling and speed monitoring.

"We are excited to continue to partner with Zonar on this grant opportunity," NSTA President Todd Monteferrario said. "The grant better affords our member contractors access to valuable tools to improve operations and keep them at the forefront of the industry's best practices."

The grant recipients will be awarded Zonar’s 2010 handheld or 2020 tablet, which includes Electronic Verified Inspection Reporting (EVIR); GPS V3; real-time engine diagnostic reporting; student tracking (Z Pass); and Ground Traffic Control web-based software.

"We are thrilled to provide Sunrise Transportation and Minnesota Coaches with technology solutions to help increase the safety of their vehicles and provide real-time information fleet management, driver operating behavior and student ridership," said H. Kevin Mest, senior vice president of business development for Zonar. "I look forward to working with them and sharing their success stories."

The award, previously known as the Zonar/NSTA Grant, has been renamed the Don Carnahan Memorial Grant in recognition of Carnahan’s contributions to the student transportation industry.

For more information on the grant, go here.