Biz Briefs covers the latest supplier and OEM news in the school bus industry. In School Bus Fleet’s latest installment, we take a look at recent news from Blue Bird, Bytecurve, HopSkipDrive, BusPatrol, RTA Fleet Management, Fleetio, First Alt, and Forest River.

Jerome Bettis’ Foundation Inaugurates Electric CyberBus Donated by Blue Bird

The Jerome Bettis Bus Stops Here Foundation and the Boys & Girls Clubs of Western Pennsylvania (BGCWPA) recently announced a new partnership that will bring Jerome Bettis’ CyberBus to youth and families across the region.

Jerome Bettis’ CyberBus is a mobile classroom equipped with computers, Wi-Fi, and interactive technology, designed to teach science, technology, engineering, art, and math (STEAM), artificial intelligence (AI), computer science, digital literacy, and workforce readiness.

This fully electric mobile lab, donated by Blue Bird Corporation, according to a release, brings hands-on learning directly into neighborhoods to “bridge the digital divide and inspire the next generation of innovators.”

“Growing up in inner-city Detroit, I spent countless hours at the Boys & Girls Club. It’s where I learned about discipline, teamwork, and believing in yourself,” said Pro Football Hall of Famer Jerome Bettis. “With this bus, we’re giving kids the same opportunity to dream big and access the tools that will shape the jobs of tomorrow. Our partnership with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Western Pennsylvania allows us to reach even more kids in the communities that need it most.”

Jerome Bettis’ CyberBus will visit BGCWPA Clubhouse sites across Western Pennsylvania, including Carnegie, Northern Area (Millvale), Shadyside, Sto-Rox Upper Elementary School (McKees Rocks and Stowe Township), McKeesport, Scott Primary Elementary School (Shaler Area School District), Aliquippa Junior/Senior High School (Beaver County), Duquesne City School District, and Downtown Pittsburgh for after-school programming, summer camp activations, and special STEAM and AI learning events for youth.

Bytecurve Launches New App to Share School Bus Location With Parents

Bytecurve, a provider of cloud-based payroll and dispatch software solutions for student transportation departments, announced the launch of Notify, a real-time school bus tracking mobile app designed to empower school administrators with enhanced visibility and improved management.

According to a company release, Notify goes beyond basic school bus tracking functionalities typically offered to parents or transportation departments. The app provides school administrators, including teachers, principals, and support staff, with a real-time view of school bus locations and notifications.

The app will allow parents and administrators to:

• Pick multiple bus runs to follow, track on the map, and view status information.

• Receive run-level status notifications sent by the dispatcher from B360 Dispatch.

• Receive messages from the dispatcher on a messaging screen.

“We listened to our customers from across the industry repeatedly share their frustration that school bus tracking information is only available in certain departments at each district, frustrating principals and teachers simply looking to better understand their daily arrivals and departures,” said Bytecurve President and Founder GP Singh.

HopSkipDrive Expands Into Maine

HopSkipDrive recently announced an expansion of its operations into Maine, in partnership with Lewiston Public Schools and other local districts.

According to a company release, as Maine school districts navigate transportation complexities, including a statewide bus driver shortage, HopSkipDrive is launching first in Lewiston to provide a “safe and reliable supplement to traditional busing.”

“Lewiston Public Schools is excited to partner with HopSkipDrive to provide safe, reliable rides to all our students,” said Alisa Roman, director of transportation and nutrition at Lewiston Public Schools. “We are committed to ensuring our students have every opportunity to succeed, starting with a transportation option to and from school that can be arranged in as little as six hours.”

BusPatrol Named to Deloitte Technology Fast 500 and Inc. 5000 Lists

BusPatrol has been named to both the 2025 Deloitte Technology Fast 500 and the Inc. 5000 lists, recognizing its rapid growth and impact on student and community safety nationwide.

According to a company release, this marks BusPatrol’s second consecutive year on the Deloitte Technology Fast 500, which honors the most innovative technology companies in North America. BusPatrol also earned a place on the Inc. 5000, a definitive ranking of America’s most resilient and high-impact private companies.

Communities using BusPatrol’s end-to-end stop-arm enforcement program see meaningful behavior change. More than 90% of first-time violators do not reoffend after receiving a citation. Through partnerships with school districts, municipalities, and law enforcement agencies, BusPatrol modernizes student transportation with cloud-connected, AI-powered stop-arm cameras and interior safety technology that help make roads safer.

“Our growth speaks to our team’s deep commitment to student safety and the mission that drives us,” said Karoon Monfared, CEO of BusPatrol. “Our strong community partnerships, paired with our deep know-how in building programs that communities trust and the technology behind our safety platform, make us a trusted safety partner to the communities we serve.

RTA Fleet360 Wins Award from AutoTech Breakthrough Awards

RTA: The Fleet Success Company recently announced that its software platform, Fleet360, has been named “Fleet Management Software of the Year” by the AutoTech Breakthrough Awards. This global program honors the most innovative tech in the automotive and transportation world.

Fleet360 is a command center for public-sector fleets that manage most of their maintenance in-house. According to a company release, it’s built by former fleet managers and designed for how real fleets work today.

“Public fleet managers face big challenges like tight budgets, aging vehicles, and fears of outsourcing,” said Josh Turley, CEO of RTA. “We built Fleet360 to tackle those problems head-on. This award just confirms what our customers already know: RTA helps fleets succeed and show their value to their communities and internal stakeholders.”

“Fleet360 proves its value with every mile,” said Bryan Vaughn, managing director at AutoTech Breakthrough. “It’s built to match how fleet teams work every day. RTA is helping them improve operations, reduce risk, and deliver results that matter.”

Fleetio Appoints Leslie Henthorn as CMO to Accelerate Growth

Fleetio appointed Leslie Henthorn to the company’s executive leadership team as its first chief marketing officer, marking a strategic inflection point as the company scales its enterprise presence and deepens its impact in heavy equipment and multi-location fleet management.

Henthorn brings more than two decades of high-tech marketing leadership to Fleetio, with a proven track record of building powerful brands and revenue engines at industry-defining companies like Ironclad and Twilio.

The appointment aligns with Fleetio’s nationally recognized growth, ranking 295th on the 2025 Deloitte Technology Fast 500 and 28th on The Software Report's Top 50 Software Companies of 2025.

“Leslie is the ideal leader to take our marketing organization to the next level,” said Jon Meachin, CEO of Fleetio. “Her ability to scale world-class teams and deliver real results speaks for itself. As Fleetio steps into its next chapter of scaling our impact and shaping the future of fleet, we’re excited to have Leslie accelerating that momentum.”

"Fleetio has a powerful product, a passionate customer community, and a team deeply committed to growth,” said Henthorn. “What drew me here was the rare combination of product strength, culture, customer obsession, and market momentum.”

First Alt Hits Three-Year Anniversary

First Student recently celebrated the third anniversary of First Alt, its alternative transportation service offering. Since its launch in 2022, First Alt has expanded into 25 states, focusing on leading the industry by raising the standards and accountability for alternative transportation drivers.

“Whether a student is riding on a traditional yellow bus or an alternative vehicle, they deserve a driver who has been vetted to the same rigorous safety and training standards as the district's yellow bus drivers, including mandatory drug and alcohol testing and background checks, as well as student behavior training programs,” the company said in a release.

"Our commitment to safety and care extends beyond the yellow bus," said John Kenning, CEO and president of First Student. "By combining the power of technology with the highest levels of training and accountability, First Alt is transforming how districts approach alternative transportation and what families can expect from it.”

In 2024, First Student was named the North American winner of the Forrester Technology Strategy Impact Award, recognizing how its HALO Technology Platform is transforming the school transportation experience through data-driven innovation, transparency, and safety.

Forest River Acquires Premier Fiberglass

Premier Fiberglass, now fully owned by Forest River, will continue operating as it has for 34 years, producing fiberglass components for shuttle, transit, school buses, and commercial delivery vehicles.

All facilities, management, and the company’s 57 employees will remain in place. President John Kellogg will stay on as senior general manager to ensure a “smooth transition and guide future growth.”

“For more than three decades, Premier Fiberglass has focused on building dependable products that exceed customer expectations,” Kellogg said. “Joining Forest River provides a tremendous opportunity to build on that foundation. Our employees, our processes, and our core values remain the same — but now we have the backing and resources of one of the country’s strongest manufacturers. We’re excited for what’s ahead.”

With Forest River already representing the majority of Premier Fiberglass’s customer base, bringing the operation in-house will streamline production, increase efficiencies, and broaden engineering and manufacturing capabilities.