First Observer security training to come back online

After more than a year on hiatus, the government program is set to come back online soon to resume the training of transportation professionals in security awareness. Bill Arrington and Steve Sprague of the Transportation Security Administration discuss the ongoing efforts to launch First Observer 2.0.

2 webinars to discuss driver safety

The free, Zonar-sponsored events next week will examine the topics of school bus driver distraction and crash risks for commercial fleets. Nikki Hughes, director of school transportation services at California’s San Juan Unified School District, will be the featured speaker in the distraction webinar.

Houston driver trainer honored for excellent performance

Tomeka Criswell-Brooks, a driver trainer at Houston Independent School District, receives a certificate and a trophy for “Best Performance” upon completing the Region 4 Education Service Center’s Driver Trainer Academy.

How do you communicate with your team?

When I have spoken with pupil transportation professionals, they have relayed to me the importance of communicating with their staff on all aspects of the operation that affect their jobs in order to safely transport students to and from school. Michael Shields of Salem-Keizer Public Schools in Salem, Ore., has frequent meetings with his staff ...

NHTSA: 0.35% of fatal crashes were school transportation related

The latest federal data show that of the 348,253 fatal motor vehicle traffic crashes from 2003 to 2012, 1,222 were classified as related to school transportation. A large majority (71%) of those killed in school transportation-related crashes in that 10-year span were occupants of other vehicles.

Kids learn safety lesson from Buster the School Bus

Second-graders at a Houston elementary school get an important lesson on school bus safety, thanks to Houston Independent School District transportation team members and Buster the School Bus. The presentation shows students how to behave before and after getting on the bus.

Former director pleads guilty to records tampering

Douglas Wessling will reportedly receive two years of probation and an order to pay a $1,000 fine for the crime, which is an aggravated misdemeanor. In the fall, he resigned as transportation director from Iowa's Galva-Holstein Community School District after state inspectors found that buses in the fleet that had issues had not been repaired, despite Wessling notifying the state otherwise.

PHOTOS: Love the Bus 2014

NTSB investigating crashes involving tire failure

In one of the crashes, an SUV’s tire tread separated, and the vehicle collided with a school bus carrying a high school baseball team. The National Transportation Safety Board is also investigating a crash of a church van in which the tire that failed was part of a product recall.

Michigan district extends contract with First Student

Under Troy School District’s three-year contract extension with the school bus contractor, 8,000 students in the district will continue to receive school bus service. Doug Meek, First Student area general manager, says First Student looks forward to "working with the district, students, parents and community for many years to come.”