The Route presented by School Bus Fleet

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

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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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We’re kicking off the first Route video of 2025 with some very special guests! First, get the latest news and trends, including 2024 bus sales and transportation stats, federal funding grants, a telematics merger, and more, from Executive Editor Amanda Huggett. Then meet our Editorial Advisory Board, who each takes a turn at the mic to tell you their 2025 predictions and wishes.

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

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For the last time in 2024, Amanda Huggett takes the mic to tell you about the pupil transportation industry news you need to know. We’re covering the state of Kansas’ recent report on children killed while getting on or off their bus, updates on rulemakings from the FMCSA that will affect CDL holders and vehicle technologies, 10 tips for equity in youth transportation, big news from Micro Bird and record earnings from Blue Bird, and school zone speeding reports.

This episode is sponsored by Thomas Built Buses, a leader in pupil transportation: ⁠⁠https://thomasbuiltbuses.com/⁠⁠

🚌 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 up to speed on the biggest headlines in K-12 student

This episode is sponsored by Thomas Built Buses, a leader in pupil transportation: ⁠https://thomasbuiltbuses.com/⁠

🚌 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/⁠

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This time on School Bus Fleet's The Route, Executive Editor Amanda Huggett takes the mic to tell you all about the latest news, headlines, and hot topics in the school transportation industry. We cover the latest crash-related statistics, new leadership at two of the biggest OEMs, two new services announced by First Student, the latest round of EPA funding for clean school buses, survey data on what fleets are saying about their operations, and introduce you to some new faces around here.

This episode is sponsored by Thomas Built Buses, a leader in pupil transportation: https://thomasbuiltbuses.com/

🚌 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/

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- Follow SBF on X ➡️ https://x.com/SchoolBusFleet

In this special episode of The Route, Wes Platt, contributor for School Bus Fleet, talks with Kendra Eads, Thomas Built Buses’ vice president of engineering and technology. Together, they walk through how the OEM maintains its reputation for upholding safety during accidents, recent innovations to safety and durability, how TBB empowers drivers through design and technology. Thanks for stopping by!

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

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⏱ Timestamps ⏱

0:00 Introduction

0:34 A typical day in the life for Eads

1:55 Recent advancements in TBB’s safety and innovation

5:15 Safety enhancements during accidents

9:30 How TBB supports school bus drivers through design

12:16 Key features to prioritize when spec-ing a new bus

16:30 Closing

Wes Platt, for School Bus Fleet, goes over the recent news headlines in school transportation, including wrongful death lawsuits, the expansion of HopSkipDrive, results from the recent International Safety Competition, digs into EV school bus manufacturing grants, and talks about NHTSA's proposal for stronger seating standards.

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