The Route presented by School Bus Fleet

School Bus Fleet

The Route podcast from School Bus Fleet magazine covers news and explores issues related to pupil transportation, including new technology, safety features, driver staffing, and industry trends.

  1. 6D AGO

    Why Culture Matters: Lessons from an Award-Winning Transportation Leader

    Kathy Calkins didn’t plan on becoming a transportation director, but her journey from school bus driver to Administrator of the Year is a powerful example of what can happen when someone leads with heart. In this episode of The Route, Amanda Huggett sits down with our 2026 district transportation award winner from North Clackamas Schools in Oregon. Calkins shares how positive behavior strategies, strong relationships, and a hands-on leadership style helped her build a culture where drivers feel valued and students thrive. In this discussion, you’ll learn: Kathy Calkins' leadership storyHow PBIS shifted her entire approachThe power of listening and building fun intotheir cultureTips for learning (and remembering) people’snamesNavigating change and managing relationshipsAdvice for aspiring leaders This episode is sponsored by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠IC Bus.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 🚌 Stay up to date on all industry news and trends at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.schoolbusfleet.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow and connect with SCHOOL BUS FLEET on social media: - Connect with SBF on LinkedIn ➡️ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/school-bus-fleet/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - Like SBF on Facebook ➡️ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/schoolbusfleet⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - Follow SBF on X ➡️ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://x.com/SchoolBusFleet⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - Subscribe to our videos on YouTube ➡️⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@Schoolbusfleet⁠⁠⁠⁠ -Follow us on Instagram ➡️ ⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/schoolbusfleet/

    35 min

  2. MAR 31

    Alternative Turns Yellow: EverDriven’s Move Into School Bus Routing

    EverDriven is expanding beyond alternative transportation and into school bus routing. In this interview, Greg Jackson shares how the company’s new Consolidated Routing Services division is designed to support transportation teams facing driver shortages, tighter budgets, and increasingly complex student needs. What you’ll learn in this interview: What prompted EverDriven’s move from alternative transportation to the yellow busWho qualifies to use their consolidated routing servicesWhat EverDriven’s new service is, and what it isn’tThe expertise Greg and EverDriven bring to the new divisionWhat costs are involved and how little it can take to get to a budget surplusExamples of route efficiencies EverDriven can help identify and why it mattersWhat the process and implementation for customers will look likeHow success for the division will be measuredWhere school bus routing is headed and AI’s place in the puzzleHow to be a part of the pilot serviceThis video is sponsored by EverDriven, which provides safe, small-vehicle student transportation that works alongside district bus fleets, supporting students who need specialized routes or more flexible solutions, including special education, foster care, and McKinney-Vento students. To learn more and get started with EverDriven’s consolidated routing services, visit everdriven.com or contact Jackson at gjackson@everdriven.com or 945-227-8300. 🚌 Stay up to date on all industry news and trends at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.schoolbusfleet.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow and connect with SCHOOL BUS FLEET on social media: - Connect with SBF on LinkedIn ➡️ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/school-bus-fleet/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - Like SBF on Facebook ➡️ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/schoolbusfleet⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - Follow SBF on X ➡️ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://x.com/SchoolBusFleet⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - Subscribe to our videos on YouTube ➡️⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@Schoolbusfleet⁠⁠⁠⁠ -Follow us on Instagram ➡️ ⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/schoolbusfleet/

    36 min

  3. MAR 14

    Stop Bidding Everything: A Smarter Way to Buy for School Transportation

    If you’re a transportation director tired of bidding everything year after year or wondering whether your district is leaving opportunities on the table, we’ve got just the conversation for you. In this episode of The Route, Amanda Huggett sits down with Andy Campbell and Steph Eckes from Sourcewell to talk about all things cooperative purchasing. We cover how group purchasing power can help school transportation departments save time, reduce administrative burden, and protect limited budgets. In this discussion, you’ll learn: • What cooperative purchasing actually means and what product categories it includes • How it compares to traditional bids and state contracts • Why “low bid” isn’t always the best value • How districts can maintain compliance while gaining flexibility • Common misconceptions about cooperative contracts and how to get started This episode is sponsored by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠IC Bus.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 🚌 Stay up to date on all industry news and trends at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.schoolbusfleet.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow and connect with SCHOOL BUS FLEET on social media: - Connect with SBF on LinkedIn ➡️ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/school-bus-fleet/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - Like SBF on Facebook ➡️ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/schoolbusfleet⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - Follow SBF on X ➡️ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://x.com/SchoolBusFleet⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - Subscribe to our videos on YouTube ➡️⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@Schoolbusfleet⁠⁠⁠⁠ -Follow us on Instagram ➡️ ⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/schoolbusfleet/

    42 min

  4. FEB 18

    Stories from 53 Years Behind the Wheel of the School Bus

    Just in time for Minnesota’s School Bus Driver Appreciation Day during Love the Bus month, meet one local driver with half a century of experience driving students. School Bus Fleet editor Amanda Huggett sits down in Princeton, Minnesota, with Connie Duff, a school bus driver who began her career in 1972 and hasn’t looked back since. From stick-shift buses and no training to today’s rigorous safety standards, Duff shares how the job has changed — and what hasn’t. Watch to hear: • How training has evolved over five decades • The biggest changes in traffic and safety • Lessons learned from emergency situations • Advice for new drivers • Why appreciation matters • And why the industry still needs more drivers

    21 min

  5. FEB 11

    What Transportation Gets Wrong About Wheelchair Securement (And How to Fix It)

    School bus safety doesn’t stop at the wheelchair lift or the steps. In this episode of The Route, Amanda Huggett sits down with Brianna Paauwe, product application specialist at AMF Bruns of America and a wheelchair user bringing lived experience to an industry that impacts students every day. Paauwe breaks down what “good” wheelchair securement looks like from a rider’s point of view, why refresher training matters (not just one-and-done onboarding), and how small shifts in communication can protect safety and promote dignity. Plus, get the inside scoop on AMF Bruns’ new podcast, Beyond Mobility, created to broaden conversations around mobility, independence, and access. Themes and topics in this episode: Why securement safety is often an application andtraining issue (not just equipment)What drivers, aides, and routers should understand about time, angles, and consistency.Simple ways to support rider dignity through communication and autonomy.Why “one size fits all” approach doesn’t apply.Why there’s hope for the future of transportation mobility and how we can get there together.This episode is sponsored by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠IC Bus.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 🚌 Stay up to date on all industry news and trends at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.schoolbusfleet.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow and connect with SCHOOL BUS FLEET on social media: - Connect with SBF on LinkedIn ➡️ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/school-bus-fleet/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - Like SBF on Facebook ➡️ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/schoolbusfleet⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - Follow SBF on X ➡️ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://x.com/SchoolBusFleet⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - Subscribe to our videos on YouTube ➡️⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@Schoolbusfleet⁠⁠⁠⁠ -Follow us on Instagram ➡️ ⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/schoolbusfleet/

    38 min

  6. JAN 15

    70 Years, 100 Episodes: The People, Progress & Purpose Behind Decades of School Busing

    This special episode of The Route marks two major milestones: Episode 100 of the show and 70 years of School Bus Fleet serving the student transportation industry. To celebrate, host Amanda Huggett is joined by three former School Bus Fleet editors — Wes Platt, Nicole Schlosser, and Tom McMahon — for a look back at the moments, people, and issues that shaped the industry, and the publication, over the decades. From alternative fuels and electric school buses to seat belt debates, safety legislation, and the everyday heroism of drivers and transportation professionals, this episode reflects on how far school transportation has come and where it’s headed next. Themes and topics in this episode: Technology growth: cameras, safety systems, training toolsThe rise in alternative fuelsSeat belt debates spanning decadesStop-arm violations and tragic incidents shaping policySchool bus drivers as everyday heroesAdvice for transportation directorsThis episode is sponsored by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠IC Bus.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 🚌 Stay up to date on all industry news and trends at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.schoolbusfleet.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow and connect with SCHOOL BUS FLEET on social media: - Connect with SBF on LinkedIn ➡️ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/school-bus-fleet/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - Like SBF on Facebook ➡️ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/schoolbusfleet⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - Follow SBF on X ➡️ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://x.com/SchoolBusFleet⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - Subscribe to our videos on YouTube ➡️⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@Schoolbusfleet⁠⁠⁠⁠ -Follow us on Instagram ➡️ ⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/schoolbusfleet/

    55 min

  7. 12/12/2025

    Inside IC Bus: Electrification, Technology & What Lies Ahead

    2025 was a big year for IC Bus, with record production, next-gen tech upgrades, and big moves in electrification. In this new episode of The Route, IC Bus' VP of Sales Ryan Kauffman breaks down what really happened this year… and what’s about to hit the industry in 2026. Whether you spec buses, manage a fleet, or just want to stay ahead of the curve, this is your insider look at the trends shaping the future of K-12 transportation. This episode is sponsored by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠IC Bus.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 🚌 Stay up to date on all industry news and trends at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.schoolbusfleet.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow and connect with SCHOOL BUS FLEET on social media: - Connect with SBF on LinkedIn ➡️ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/school-bus-fleet/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - Like SBF on Facebook ➡️ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/schoolbusfleet⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - Follow SBF on X ➡️ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://x.com/SchoolBusFleet⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - Subscribe to our videos on YouTube ➡️⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@Schoolbusfleet⁠⁠⁠ -Follow us on Instagram ➡️ ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/schoolbusfleet/

    29 min

  8. 11/11/2025

    Protecting Students with Smarter Tech Aboard the School Bus

    Illegal school bus passing remains one of the most persistent and dangerous threats to student safety — but technology is helping to turn the tide. In this interview, School Bus Fleet sits down with Mike Hagan, president of Safe Fleet, to explore how innovative solutions are transforming the way we protect students on and around the bus. From predictive stop arms and driver alert systems to AI-powered dashcams and partnerships with law enforcement, Hagan offers insights into emerging trends, what’s working today, and what’s next for fleets ready to embrace smarter, data-driven safety tools. Links to reference: 👉 The Illegal Passing Problem: Reducing School Bus Stop-Arm Violations👉 Safe Fleet’s Illegal Passing SuiteThis episode is sponsored by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠IC Bus.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 🚌 Stay up to date on all industry news and trends at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.schoolbusfleet.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow and connect with SCHOOL BUS FLEET on social media: - Connect with SBF on LinkedIn ➡️ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/school-bus-fleet/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - Like SBF on Facebook ➡️ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/schoolbusfleet⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - Follow SBF on X ➡️ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://x.com/SchoolBusFleet⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - Subscribe to our videos on YouTube ➡️⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@Schoolbusfleet⁠⁠ -Follow us on Instagram ➡️ ⁠https://www.instagram.com/schoolbusfleet/

    35 min
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The Route podcast from School Bus Fleet magazine covers news and explores issues related to pupil transportation, including new technology, safety features, driver staffing, and industry trends.

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