Ontario contractor makes switch to biodiesel
BRADFORD, Ontario — Students within several local school districts will soon be riding on buses fueled with biodiesel. This comes after Parkview Tran...
BRADFORD, Ontario — Students within several local school districts will soon be riding on buses fueled with biodiesel. This comes after Parkview Transit, a school and charter bus contractor hired by the districts, announced that it is beginning its initial phase of switching from diesel fuel to a biodiesel blend.
Over the next year, Parkview will begin using a biodiesel blend in one-third of its buses. The primary reason for the switch, said Jon Knowles, president of Parkview Transit, is that this will help reduce the schoolchildren's exposure to fuel emissions. It will also reduce fleet maintenance costs.
Biodiesel fuel has recently become a popular alternative to petroleum-based fuel. Made from sources such as soybean, corn and canola oils, in its purest form biodiesel can produce 60 to 100 percent less emissions than petroleum diesel, according to Natural Resources Canada.
Parkview Transit opened in 1974 and currently operates 375 school buses. The company is based in Bradford.
More Safety
When Every Second Matters, Clarity Keeps Routes Moving
From routine delays to urgent incidents, strong communication practices help drivers, dispatchers, schools, and families respond with confidence.
Read More →
What Happens When a School Bus Catches Fire — and What Can Help
School bus fires are rare but can be devastating. Learn how advances in fire suppression and asset protection help fleets detect fires earlier, reduce damage, and improve safety.
Read More →
Geotab Launches Tool to Help Fleets Investigate Road Incidents
Geotab Investigations combines telematics data, video, documents, and other evidence to help fleets reconstruct incidents, resolve claims, and determine what happened.
Read More →
Texas Sixth Grader Wins 2026 National School Bus Safety Poster Contest
Sai Darshana Yekolu of Moseley Middle School in Prosper, Texas, was named the newest winner for her artwork, bringing the theme of “Safe Rides, Everyday Heroes” to life.
Read More →
Doing More With Less: How Transportation Directors Can Prioritize Safety Amid Budget Uncertainty
With diesel prices soaring and nearly one-third of transportation directors expecting budget cuts, maintaining student safety has never been more challenging. Download this guide to learn how leading districts are prioritizing risk, funding critical safety technology, and building stronger budget cases with data.
Read More →
Walton County Schools Adds Gatekeeper Stop-Arm Enforcement System
The Florida district will deploy Gatekeeper’s updated Student Protector technology, which now incorporates AI to improve video evidence.
Read More →
How To Build a More Secure School Bus Yard During and After Hours
As thefts and overnight security threats continue, school transportation leaders are combining stronger operational practices with AI-enabled surveillance to better protect buses, facilities, and staff.
Read More →
FMCSA Names New Chief Safety Officer: What School Bus Operators Should Know
Steve Dowling is set to lead the federal agency's efforts to advance commercial motor vehicle safety and reduce crashes, fatalities, and injuries on the nation's roadways.
Read More →
New Study Finds School Zone Speed Safety Cameras Cut Speeding Violations 97%
A Florida university's research demonstrates that Verra Mobility's automated enforcement changes driver behavior and significantly improves school zone safety.
Read More →
What Changed in DOT’s New National Roadway Safety Strategy?
The federal agency's new plan shifts its focus to safer people, roads and vehicles, with a new three-pronged approach instead of five. One outlined action even addresses a key industry concern around illegal school bus passing.
Read More →