METS, a Michigan-based pupil transportation service provider, recently announced enhancements to its services and company branding. 

The company has operated as Michigan Educational Transportation Services for nearly two decades, and is now transitioning to Midwest Educational Transportation Services to reflect its expansion. 

The company has engaged with schools in Ohio, Pennsylvania, Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, and Wisconsin as it looks to expand throughout the Midwest and beyond, Chad Brown, VP of business development & operations, told School Bus Fleet. However, the company welcomes inquiries from other states based on positive feedback at the NAPT conference.

The company also recently completed a brand update and relaunch of its website, www.metsdrives.com.

"[Our] new website includes our proprietary application, onboarding, and compliance tracking software as well as information regarding our latest service model," President Bernie Pelc said in a press release. "METS Temporary To Permanent staffing solution allows districts to access our team of recruiters and onboarding specialists to fill their school bus driver rosters, including those districts with drivers working under a collective bargaining agreement.” 

The program hires school bus drivers on a temporary substitute basis, allowing the district to become familiar with the new team members. Once a position opens under the collective bargaining agreement, METS substitutes are eligible to transition to district employment on a permanent basis.

METS says this new model aims to break down the barriers created by disharmony between contractor-employed school bus drivers and district-employed transportation staff. It hopes to create more unity in an all-hands-on-deck model.

METS has operated for nearly two decades, currently servicing over 50 school districts in Michigan. Inquiries can be directed to 888-996-8586.