Orbital TMS technology to improve fleet management, security
DULLES, Va. — Metropolitan Nashville (Tenn.) Public Schools has selected Orbital Transportation Management Systems (Orbital TMS), a division of Orbit...
DULLES, Va. — Metropolitan Nashville (Tenn.) Public Schools has selected Orbital Transportation Management Systems (Orbital TMS), a division of Orbital Sciences Corp., to install fleet management technology and a security system in the district's buses.
The systems will be installed in the district's 685 buses in three phases, over an estimated 36-month period. In the first phase, Orbital TMS will install an 800 MHz two-way voice communication radio system in the vehicles.
Once the communication system is working, software that uses satellite-delivered positioning information to track vehicles along their routes — OrbCAD — will be installed in the buses and administrative vehicles, as well as in the district's control center.
OrbCAD will, with the support of an information terminal (OrbStar), provide navigational directions for the district's routes. This will enable drivers to have more detailed information on their assigned routes. It will also allow for a more efficient emergency response system.
In the final phase, Orbital TMS will equip the buses with video cameras to enhance on-board safety and security.
More Safety

Pro-Vision Launches AI-Powered 360° Camera System
The new Birdseye camera delivers real-time AI-based pedestrian and vehicle detections, full visibility around the bus, and telematics integrations.
Read More →
N.Y. & N.J. Coalitions Call for Modernized Transportation for Vulnerable Students
New statewide coalitions in New York and New Jersey are urging lawmakers to expand student transportation options for vulnerable students amid ongoing driver shortages.
Read More →
America Has a School Bus Passing Problem — and Distraction Is Making It Worse
Illegal school bus passing remains a major safety threat as distracted driving rises. This op-ed explores why awareness, enforcement, and stop-arm cameras matter more than ever.
Read More →
School Bus Laws to Watch: New York Delays EV Mandate
Plus, federal lawmakers seek new funding for school bus safety as states weigh stop-arm enforcement, disability protections, and education spending.
Read More →
The Essential Handbook for Safe Alternative Student Transportation
Your district's "exception riders" — students with IEPs, those experiencing homelessness, foster care youth — deserve more than a middleman solution. This handbook breaks down exactly what to look for in a supplemental transportation partner: from driver vetting and regulatory compliance to proactive safety technology. Because getting a ride isn't the same as getting a safe one.
Read More →
Operation STEER Brings Emergency Response Training to North Texas
Prosper ISD hosted the third annual training for transportation professionals across 67 districts to learn how to respond to emergencies, such as rollovers and evacuations, and proper use of safety equipment.
Read More →
Florida District Relaunches BusPatrol School Bus Camera Program With New Safeguards
After being suspended over due process concerns, Miami-Dade schools and law enforcement are restarting the AI-powered stop-arm camera program with new oversight.
Read More →
School Bus Laws To Watch: Seat Belt Bills, Funding Fights & EV Changes
From national bills on seat belts and driver oversight to driver awareness campaigns referencing “Finn’s Rule” and ongoing transportation funding debates in Alaska, here’s the latest in school bus legislation across the U.S.
Read More →
9-Year-Old Boy Killed by School Bus at Busy Brooklyn Intersection
A Williamsburg community is mourning after a child was fatally struck by a private yeshiva bus, prompting calls for urgent safety improvements at the high-traffic crossing.
Read More →
Does Reliable School Transportation Boost Attendance? EverDriven’s Data Says Yes
The new data shows 99.99% incident-free trips and strong on-time performance, reinforcing how dependable transportation, especially for vulnerable student populations, can help districts combat chronic absenteeism.
Read More →
