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
What Happens to a School Bus After Retirement? First Student Has a New Answer
Through a new partnership with Advanced Remarketing Services, proceeds from retired vehicle sales will support Special Olympics and other community-focused organizations while advancing sustainability goals.
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School Bus Logistics Adds 3 Data Analysts, Expands Routing Capabilities
Three new data analysts and a BusRight certification bring an added layer of support to the routing services districts already use.
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Sponsored•June 18, 2026
Outsourcing Student Transportation Services Toolkit
Did you know nearly 40% of school districts utilize a private contractor to serve their transportation needs? Explore why more school leaders are turning to contracted transportation services, and how outsourcing can create meaningful value without sacrificing control. Discover the practical benefits of a transportation services platform that provides flexibility with coordination.
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EverDriven Debuts TripCentral as New District Transportation Portal
The new transportation management hub takes over the district portal to power trip planning, operations, visibility, and intelligence for school district transportation needs.
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Lessons Learned from 4 Decades in Transportation: 5 Questions with Craig Beaver
Sit down with longtime transportation leader Craig Beaver moments before he retires, as he reflects on his career leading up to his role at Beaverton School District in Oregon and the secrets to leading great teams.
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BusRight Honors Texas Driver With Inaugural Behind The Wheel Award
Selected from more than 300 nominations, Lawson Crook earned BusRight’s inaugural award for his dedication to students and safety.
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Craig Beaver’s Final Stop: Lessons from 43 Years in Transportation
After more than four decades in transportation, retiring Beaverton School District director Craig Beaver reflects on leadership, alternative fuels, AI, staffing, and what’s coming next. The Route is sponsored by IC Bus.
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What 43 Years in Transportation Taught Craig Beaver About Leadership
After more than four decades in transportation, retiring Beaverton School District admin Craig Beaver reflects on leadership, alternative fuels, AI, staffing, and what’s coming next.
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ASTP's Tod Eskra Named an Entrepreneur of the Year
The award from Ernst & Young honors visionary leadership behind one of America's fastest-growing student transportation contracting companies.
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Drivers and Technicians: Help Benchmark Today's School Bus Manufacturers
If you've spent time behind the wheel or under the hood, we want to hear your perspective on the buses you know best.
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