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

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School bus drivers aren’t just behind the wheel — they’re often the first line of defense when it comes to keeping students safe. In this episode of The Route, we talk with Jim Levine, CEO of S.T.A.R.T., about how training and preparedness can make all the difference in an active threat or emergency situation.

From scenario-based training to new safety standards, you’ll learn how districts can support drivers with the tools, confidence, and awareness they need to protect the most vulnerable passengers: our kids. S.T.A.R.T. (School Transportation Active-Threat Response Training) has a national effort to equip drivers and transportation teams with the training they need to recognize, prevent, and respond to active threats before police arrive. For more information, visit www.schoolbusstart.com.

Links to reference:

👉 S.T.A.R.T. Launches Back-to-School Active Threat Training

👉  Grant opportunity

This episode is sponsored by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠IC Bus.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

🚌 Stay up to date on all industry news and trends at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.schoolbusfleet.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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What happens when a traditional school bus isn’t the best fit for a student’s needs? In this episode of The Route, SBF editor Amanda Huggett sits down with EverDriven CEO Mitch Bowling to discuss the growing role of alternative student transportation.

From serving students with disabilities and housing challenges to tackling driver shortages and out-of-district trips, Bowling explains how smaller vehicles and tech-enabled solutions are complementing — not replacing — the yellow bus. He also shares insights on safety standards, new legislation like California’s SB 88, and how districts can pilot alternative options with confidence.

Key topics discussed:

- Why Alternative Transportation

- Growth & Demand

- Safety Standards & Regulations

- Challenges in Alternative Transportation

- Technology & Communication

- Turning Skepticism Into Trust

This episode is sponsored by ⁠⁠⁠⁠IC Bus.⁠⁠⁠⁠

🚌 Stay up to date on all industry news and trends at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.schoolbusfleet.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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- Connect with SBF on LinkedIn ➡️ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/school-bus-fleet/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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The school bus may be the safest form of ground transportation, but that doesn’t mean it’s invincible. When the worst does happen, we’re able to learn from what went wrong and take new actions to prevent similar tragedies down the road.

In this episode of The Route, we sit down with NTSB accident investigator Meg Sweeney to unpack how real crash investigations are driving change. We cover how factors like where we load and unload students from the bus, use of advanced technologies, and driver education on stop-arm laws and distracted driving can start to turn the tables on accidents and fatalities involving the school bus.

Key topics discussed:

- What the NTSB Does

- What We’ve Learned from Recent Crashes

- Why NTSB Supports Seat Belts

- Emerging Transportation Safety Issues

- Key Takeaways for Transportation Teams

This episode is sponsored by ⁠⁠⁠IC Bus.⁠⁠⁠

🚌 Stay up to date on all industry news and trends at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.schoolbusfleet.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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Human trafficking may not be the most comfortable subject to talk about, but it’s an important topic to understand. And it can and does happen to students who ride the school bus. Meaning bus drivers who know their riders well may be one of the best people to spot changes and warning signs thatsomeone vulnerable might be in danger.

In this episode of The Route, SBF Executive Editor Amanda chats with two industry individuals highly involved in human trafficking efforts to share what you need to know. Hear from:

· Greg Jackson, director of client success and industry engagement, School Bus Logistics, and a former Colorado district transportation director

· Lexi Higgins, director of industry engagement, TAT (Truckers Against Trafficking

Key topics discussed:

· Stats about human trafficking and the school bus.

· Learn about TAT and its student transportation program.

· Red flags to watch out for.

· How to report a concern and build a policy.

· One real-life story of how a school bus driver’s intuition helped bust a Colorado ring.

· The one key takeaway to know to inspire you to know the warning signs and get involved in helping spot human trafficking.

This episode is sponsored by IC Bus.

🚌 Stay up to date on all industry news and trends at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.schoolbusfleet.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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There’s one event every five years that sets the tone forschool transportation across the country — the National Congress on School Transportation (NCST). From school bus specifications to special-needs matters, activity buses, and alternative transportation, decisions made here matter.

In this episode of The Route, SBF Executive Editor Amanda Huggett brings you firsthand insights from four industry leaders who attended the 17th NCST in Des Moines, Iowa:

-Mike LaRocco – Chair of the NCST & Indiana’s state transportation director-Max Christensen – Sr. Safety Advocate, First Light Safety Products, and former Iowa state director and NCST committee member
-Teena Mitchell – Special Needs Coordinator, Greenville County Schools, and NCST committee member
-Alex Spann – Tennessee’s state transportation director and delegate

Key topics:

-What the NCST is and why it matters

-Behind-the-scenes prep from committee members

-The most debated topics on the floor

-What’s new with alternative transportation

-What these outcomes mean for school districts

This episode is sponsored by ⁠⁠IC Bus.⁠⁠

🚌 Stay up to date on all industry news and trends at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.schoolbusfleet.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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Let’s talk trends in school bus contracting! In this episode of The Route, we reveal a few key takeaways from our recent Contractor Survey. Then, get to know SBF’s 2025 Contractor of the Year, Michael Brown, founder of Michael’s Transportation Service. Learn his fated but unconventional start in the industry, the values of transitioning to an employee-owned business, changes he’s witnessed, experience with electric buses, and what he hopes and predicts for the future of the industry.

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:

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Get to know some of the faces behind student transportation in this special episode of The Route. Today, executive editor Amanda Huggett tells the stories of our 12 Trailblazer Award winners. Then, we interview the 2025 Administrator of the Year, Kimberly Jones of Chicago Public Schools. Jones shares about her leadership journey and a typical day in the life, the Chicago Public School transportation model, fleet, and team, how she handles scrutiny, what she likes most in the job, her leadership philosophy, and what she’s learned along the way. Hear the stories of how each of these 13 individuals found their way to the yellow bus and what lessons they’ve learned since.

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:

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Get caught up on the latest news in student transportation in the March 2025 edition of The Route. Today, executive editor Amanda Huggett shares top headlines and hot topics in pupil transportation. Then, we’re joined by the executive director of the National School Transportation Association (NSTA), Curt Macysyn, to talk about recent events and thoughts on what’s going on in Washington, D.C. Together, we dig into NSTA’s recent and upcoming events, federal policy, appointments and funding, safety measures to tackle the problem of illegal passing, and what could be next for pupil transportation.

🚌 Stay up to date on all industry news and trends at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.schoolbusfleet.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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In the February 2025 edition of The Route, editor Amanda Huggett shares with you top headlines and hot topics in pupil transportation. Then, we’re joined by CALSTART’s Lead Project Manager on the Electric School Bus team, Alise Crippen on Cal Fleet Advisor. Together, we dig into the technology and infrastructure, what to make of the federaladministration’s recent moves, and how school bus fleets can get started on their electrification journey.

🚌 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:

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