Chris Darling has been named executive director of the Iowa Pupil Transportation Association (IPTA).
In his new role, Darling succeeds Owen Freese, who recently announced his retirement.
Chris Darling steps into the role, succeeding Owen Freese. Darling previously oversaw transportation at Fort Dodge Community School District for two decades.

Chris Darling, the new director of the Iowa Pupil Transportation Association, previously oversaw transportation at Fort Dodge Community School District for two decades.
Chris Darling has been named executive director of the Iowa Pupil Transportation Association (IPTA).
In his new role, Darling succeeds Owen Freese, who recently announced his retirement.
Darling oversaw transportation at Fort Dodge (Iowa) Community School District for two decades before retiring in 2012. He got his start in pupil transportation in 1984 as a school bus technician at Waverly-Shell Rock Community Schools in Waverly, Iowa.
Darling also has extensive experience with the IPTA. He served as a board member from 2002 to 2009, wrote articles for the association's newsletter and assisted with the planning of Iowa’s annual pupil transportation conference.
Darling has also worked with the Iowa Department of Education to update school bus specifications, and he served on the Iowa Transportation Advisory Committee from 1999 to 2010.

CalAmp’s updated Here Comes The Bus app introduces enhanced safety controls, streamlined parent onboarding, and expanded features to improve visibility and communication around student transportation.
Read More →It’s a celebration and a blast from the past in this special anniversary episode of The Route. Take a walk through major industry moments, milestones, and the people who shaped it with some faces you haven’t seen in a while! The Route is sponsored by IC Bus.
Read More →
From Maine bus safety upgrades to stop-arm camera bills, electric bus funding, and an Alabama workforce solution, here’s the latest in school bus legislation across the U.S.
Read More →Missed any of last month’s industry news? We got you. Reporting from Minneapolis, here’s your quick recap of updates from Waymo's controversy, technology, and safety legislation across the U.S.
Read More →
Ongoing driver shortages nationwide are forcing tough transportation decisions. See how districts are using supplemental transportation to maintain coverage for high-needs students.
Read More →
In school bus tech and vendor updates, check in on news from EverDriven, Gatekeeper, Fleetio, Transfinder, RIDE, and new district partnerships.
Read More →
Check out some of the latest personnel moves from across the school bus industry, including new leadership appointments, various promotions, and major restructuring.
Read More →
School closures are inevitable, but transportation chaos doesn’t have to be. Learn how modern routing technology helps districts model closure scenarios before board votes turn into crises.
Read More →
A cleaner layout, improved organization, and a better reading experience are here. Explore what’s new on schoolbusfleet.com!
Read More →
In honor of Black History Month, a firsthand look at how diverse leadership in school transportation builds trust and drives stronger systems.
Read More →