The Route presented by School Bus Fleet

School Bus Fleet
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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.

  1. 6d ago

    How the School Bus Helped Build America & New Industry Legislation

    As America celebrates its 250th anniversary, what can the history of student transportation tell us about the future? In this episode of The Route, School Bus Fleet Editor Amanda Huggett sits down with National School Transportation Association (NSTA) Executive Director Curt Macysyn for a wide-ranging conversation on the evolution of the school bus industry, current legislative priorities, and the challenges and opportunities shaping the years ahead. Topics include: Student transportation's place in American historyThe evolution of school bus technologyNSTA's advocacy efforts on Capitol HillThe Driving Forward Act and school bus driver shortagesIllegal school bus passing and national awareness campaignsThe Clean School Bus ProgramArtificial intelligence in student transportationWhy community-minded leadership still matters The Route is sponsored by ⁠⁠IC Bus⁠⁠, proudly offering vehicles and solutions that are ahead of their class. 🚌 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/

  2. Jun 26

    The Fascinating History of the American School Bus

    Why are school buses yellow? When did students first start riding buses to school? How did the school bus become one of the most recognizable symbols in America? As the United States approaches its 250th anniversary, Brad Beauchamp from school bus manufacturer Blue Bird explores the surprising history of the American school bus, from horse drawn wagons to today's connected, technology-driven vehicles, and how it differs from the American transit bus system. We discuss the rise of the suburbs, school consolidation, safety innovations, National School Bus Yellow, and the role transportation played in expanding educational access across the United States. Whether you're a transportation professional, history buff, or lifelong school bus enthusiast, this conversation offers a unique perspective on one of America's most recognizable vehicles —and where it’s headed next. 🚌 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 - Subscribe to our videos on YouTube ➡️⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@Schoolbusfleet⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ -Follow us on Instagram ➡️ ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/schoolbusfleet/

  3. Jun 15

    What 43 Years in Transportation Taught Craig Beaver About Leadership

    From trucking to school busing, Craig Beaver is retiring after 43 years in transportation, but not before sharing some hard-earned lessons from one of Oregon’s largest school districts. In this episode of The Route, the soon-to-be-former Beaverton School District transportation director sits down with School Bus Fleet to reflect on the evolution of student transportation, his experience with alternative fuels and EVs, the rise of AI, and the leadership philosophy that helped shape his department’s culture. Together, we cover: Building a strong transportation team culture Driver recruitment and retention strategies Electric buses vs. propane and diesel How AI could reshape routing and operations Leadership lessons from 43 years in the industryManaging organizational change successfully andmapping out how not to failWorking with unions and resolving grievancesPreparing the next generation of transportationleaders Why kindness and consistency still matter mostThe Route is sponsored by ⁠IC Bus⁠, proudly offering vehicles and solutions that are ahead of their class. 🚌 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/

  4. May 14

    He Built School Bus Tech After His Driver Changed His Life

    Let’s sit down with a true trailblazer! In this episode of The Route, BusRight co-founder and CEO Keith Corso shares how the BusRight platform is transforming student transportation with smarter routing, real-time GPS tracking, and seamless communication between drivers, parents, and transportation teams. But this isn’t just about technology. Corso shares the personal story that inspired BusRight, how a single bus route can change a student’s life, and why “magical hospitality” is at the core of building better solutions for schools and communities. Learn more at these links: 👉 https://www.schoolbusfleet.com/news/busright-raises-30m-to-enhance-platform-features 👉  https://www.schoolbusfleet.com/articles/2026-trailblazer-keith-corso-of-busright 👉  2027Trailblazer nominations: https://survey.alchemer.com/s3/8645507/2027-SBF-Trailblazers-Award-Nomination-Form-copy 👉 Learn more and apply to attend SBFX: https://www.schoolbusfleetconnex.com The Route is sponsored by IC Bus, proudly offering vehicles and solutions that are ahead of their class. 🚌 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/

  5. Apr 10

    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/

  6. 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/

  7. 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/

  8. 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

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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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