Check Out: June 2025 SBF Digital Edition!
Now Online: School Bus Fleet's June/July 2025 Contractor Issue
From our Contractor of the Year interview to 2025 survey results on the state of contracting, natural disasters, alternative transportation, and electric buses, don't miss these articles.
June 12, 2025
Check out the Contractor of the Year profile in the June 2025 issue of SBF!
Photo: School Bus Fleet
2 min to read
The latest issue of School Bus Fleet is now available, and it's our annual contractor edition! Plus, this edition is a dual issue on disaster preparedness! After you're done reading SBF on the front, flip it over to learn tips to navigate natural disasters.
In this issue, you'll find:
How a Life Change Changed Lives: Michael Brown, 2025 Contractor of the Year: How one unexpected "yes" turned Michael Brown, a former insurance agent, into a transportation trailblazer with a family-run, employee-owned bus empire from a single form and a whole lot of heart.
Fleets in Flux: Adapting to Changing Student Transportation Needs: School transportation is no longer just yellow buses. Explore how rising demand, shrinking driver pools, and more innovative tech are reshaping school bus fleets into multi-modal, student-first systems.
The State of School Bus Contracting [2025 Survey Results]: Why are school bus contractors facing a perfect storm of higher costs, uncertain funding, and shifting tech? Get the 2025 trends shaking up the yellow bus world here.
What To Do When Natural Disaster Strikes: Tips & Stories from School Transportation Teams: Do you know what to do when disaster strikes? Learn how real districts faced floods, fires, and hurricanes head-on, and the lifesaving lessons they learned to prepare for the next time.
Rethinking the Route: A Deep Dive into Alternative Transportation for School Districts: As school buses face limits, see how a growing network of alternative transportation providers is stepping in to meet the needs of students who fall outside the norm.
Key Outcomes from the 17th Annual NCST: Although the 2025 National Congress on School Transportation returned after a 10-year pause due to COVID, delegates brought passionate debate, major updates on alt transportation, and ground-breaking safety standards that will shape the future of student transportation nationwide.
5 Questions: Blue Bird's John Wyskiel on Safety, Innovation, EVs, Partnerships & Plans: Join us for a conversation with Blue Bird's president and CEO as we talk all things EV leadership, fresh safety tech, and a long-term vision that honors the company's 100-year legacy.
Editor's Note: Helping Others through Natural Disaster
NSTA Advocacy in Action: Annual NSTA Bus-In Produces Two Bill Introductions
More Management
How to Build a Better Driver Training Program
Ready to boost up your school bus instructor training? Here’s how to pick the right talent and improve recruitment, retention, and safety.
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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.
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What Makes a Great School Bus Driver Trainer?
Choosing the right school bus driver trainer takes more than experience. Learn six keys to selecting and developing trainers and evaluating program effectiveness.
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School Bus Contractors Expand Through New Deals, Acquisitions & Partnerships
STA's Canadian division acquires Ontario-based G&L Stevenson Transport while Durham School Services adds a new district contract in California, First Student adds a New Jersey contract, and Minnesota Coaches acquires Halo Transportation.
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Logan Bus Company Rolls Out AI Phone System for NYC School Bus Families
A summer pilot found that AI agents could handle most routine calls, freeing up time for customer service staff to focus on emergencies and complex family concerns.
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From Intent to Impact: What I Learned About Leadership from TAPT
A Texas transportation supervisor shares lessons on self-awareness, accountability, managing stress and building trust — and why investing in leadership development matters at every stage of your career.
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NAPT Names 2026 Award Recipients, Hall of Fame Inductee
Who earned national recognition for their work in student transportation? This year, NAPT named five recipients of its 2026 awards for service, safety, and leadership, plus its newest Hall of Famer.
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Sponsored•September 2, 2026
2026 State of Student Transportation Report
Driver shortages. Rising costs. Growing safety expectations. More data, but not enough time to act on it. The 2026 State of Student Transportation Report reveals what transportation leaders say is putting the most pressure on their operations—and where they’re investing next. See how your priorities compare.
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How to De-Escalate an Angry Person: 5 Steps for Handling Workplace Conflict
What makes emotions run high, and how should you handle an angry colleague or parent? Follow these steps for staying calm, listening, showing empathy, and resolving conflict.
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Sponsored•September 1, 2026
What Readiness Looks Like This School Year
Learn about the challenges shaping the 2026–2027 school year, from persistent driver shortages and budget pressure to technology and readiness gaps. See how school districts are responding and adapting in Zonar’s 2026 Back-to-School Readiness Report.
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