Anti-idling contest saves about $15,000 in fuel
Douglas County (Colo.) School District’s transportation department sponsored a competition between its west, east and north terminals to see which group could turn in the lowest amount of school bus engine idling time. The winning terminal cut its idling time by 50% — and won a catered lunch.
Douglas County (Colo.) School District sponsored a competition between its bus terminals to see which group could turn in the lowest amount of idling time.
CASTLE ROCK, Colo. — “Turn it off,” said the note posted on the comment board in Douglas County School District’s bus driver lounge.
No, it wasn’t someone complaining anonymously about the music, the TV or the radio. It was a reminder to the drivers to cut back on idling time.
Douglas County School District’s transportation department was sponsoring a contest between its west, east and north terminals to see which group could turn in the lowest amount of engine idling time. The slogan was “Low Idle — Wins Title.”
The contest lasted four weeks, from mid-April to mid-May. During that time, it was cold and snowy — not unusual for Colorado. In fact, Douglas County received 8 to 12 inches of snow on Mother’s Day.
The terminal with the lowest time (tracked by Zonar technology) would win a catered lunch for all of its personnel from the district’s food services department.
The result: The east terminal won. But the district won even more. Scott Benefield, the interim director of transportation, said that during the contest, the east terminal cut its idling time by 50%, saving the district $6,000 in fuel costs.
The other two terminals came close, so the estimated department-wide savings, for a fleet of about 300 buses, was around $15,000 to $16,000.
Final note: Yes, the food was delicious. Roasted chicken with jalapeño sauce, barbecued pulled pork, corn on the cob, rolls, coleslaw salad, spinach beet salad, apple crisp dessert and lemonade.
John Horton is a veteran school bus driver for Douglas County School District and an occasional contributor to SBF.
More Alternative Fuels
Bipartisan Bill Seeks to Extend Clean School Bus Program Through 2031
The proposed legislation would renew federal support for cleaner school buses as districts navigate funding uncertainty, rising fuel and infrastructure costs, and fleet replacement needs.
Read More →
Alt-Fuel Moves: Electric Bus Rollouts, Bidirectional Charging & Propane Growth
See which fleets are adding electric and propane school buses as districts and operators invest in charging infrastructure, bidirectional technology, and alternative-fuel expansion.
Read More →
Nobody Told Diesel Prices They Were Supposed to Come Down
With diesel prices surging, school bus fleets have new reason to stress-test fuel costs, consider diversification, and calculate what each route really costs to operate.
Read More →
Why Gasoline School Buses Are Making a Comeback
Gasoline is gaining ground in full-size school buses. See how today’s options stack up against diesel on cost, maintenance, emissions, performance, and more.
Read More →
EPA Opens $180M DERA Funding Round for Diesel Upgrades
The 2026 Diesel Emissions Reduction Act program seeks applications from eligible organizations to accelerate the retirement of legacy diesel vehicles.
Read More →
The Secret Life of an Electric School Bus Battery
Batteries change throughout years of daily routes, but degradation doesn’t necessarily mean the end. Here’s what operators should know about performance, safety, and second life.
Read More →
CALSTART and Forth Combine to Form Catalyst Mobility
The new name represents a renewed vision for the nonprofit focused on advancing clean, equitable, and affordable transportation solutions that move people and goods.
Read More →
Alt-Fuel Moves: New Buses, Charging Hubs & Real-World EV Testing
Propane and electric school bus deployments continue to grow as districts add new vehicles, expand charging infrastructure, and gather more real-world operating data.
Read More →
Fewer Electric School Bus Models Reshape the U.S. Market
WRI’s latest buyer’s guide points to a consolidating electric school bus market, but fewer options may reflect a maturing industry rather than fewer meaningful choices for school bus operators.
Read More →
The Fuel Budget You Can Actually Predict: How Propane Autogas Keeps Money in the Classroom
Learn how propane autogas helps school districts manage fuel costs with predictable pricing, lower maintenance, and reduced emissions from former transportation director Joel Stutheit.
Read More →