MENU
SEARCHZPass+ from Zonar Systems provides the instant notifications via text message or e-mail, and parents can also access specific student rider information through a password-protected website. Officials say the new technology is especially useful for children walking to and from a bus stop, and for special-needs children.
SEATTLE — Zonar's new ZPass+ provides parents with instant notifications when their child boards and exits a school bus.
ZPass+ is designed to coincide with Zonar's ZPass solution. With ZPass, students are issued a unique RFID identification card. As the student passes the ZPass reader upon boarding and exiting the bus, the time, date and location are transmitted to a secure database.
ZPass integrates with Zonar's HD-GPS technology that captures data in four dimensions, including latitude, longitude, time and speed at every data collection point. This provides administrators with a clear view of the bus' path, each stop and start, as well as the time, date and location at which the door was opened.
School districts access the vehicle and ridership data via a secure web browser connection to ensure the safety of bus-riding students.
ZPass+ now provides specific student rider information to parents through a password-protected website. After setting up an account, parents can create notification preferences by cell phone text message and e-mail.
Parents can access ZPass+ only if the school district offers the program.
Freeport (Ill.) School District #145 was part of a pilot program for ZPass+ and is offering the service to parents.
"ZPass+ is an excellent tool for parents," said Dallas Rackow, director of transportation for the district. "Calls to the transportation department are no longer necessary, because parents have that information on their cell phones. Student ridership tracking with ZPass provides us with a level of security and confidence we didn't know was possible. It has eliminated the anxiety associated with locating a child that didn't get off the bus."
Officials said the new technology is especially useful for children walking to and from a bus stop, and for special-needs children. Parents can now better coordinate pickup and drop-off knowing precisely when the bus has arrived.
Additionally, earlier in 2011, ZPass was recognized with the Edison Best New Product Award in the Innovative Services for Health, Wellness and Safety category.
The alternative transportation provider’s 2025 Safety Report highlights 99.7% incident-free rides, 130 million safe miles, and more.
Read More →
Searching for the right equipment, technology, or services for your school transportation program? This industry guide brings together manufacturers and suppliers across the entire school bus market, all in one place. Download it to find the partners who can help move your operation forward.
Read More →
Child Safety Network appointed psychology researcher Michael C. Hout, Ph.D., to lead a study examining why drivers illegally pass stopped school buses.
Read More →
Investigators reported a remote assistance error allowed a Waymo driverless vehicle to illegally pass a stopped school bus in Austin.
Read More →
See how a new 50-state roadmap outlines 69 strategies for districts, law enforcement, and policymakers to reduce the 39 million illegal school bus passings reported each year.
Read More →
Recently, an Iowa student died after falling under a school bus, while 14 Oklahoma students were injured days later when a semi-truck rear-ended their bus.
Read More →
Selecting a fleet technology partner can be complex, especially with evolving operational demands and limited resources. This white paper outlines seven key criteria to help school transportation leaders evaluate options and align technology with their needs. It offers a practical framework to support more informed decision-making.
Read More →
When school bus communication systems fail, the consequences extend far beyond equipment repairs. Downtime can increase safety risks, strain dispatch operations, and erode driver confidence. Explore how proactive radio lifecycle management and managed services are reducing disruptions, supporting driver retention, and delivering predictable budgeting for school transportation fleets.
Read More →
EverDriven has launched a new safety council aimed at standardizing and strengthening student transportation practices across all states it operates in.
Read More →
The OEM's three-week campaign during National School Bus Safety Week has awarded nearly $6,000 to Bryan County Schools to support increasing student safety around the bus.
Read More →
