Category: For School Districts

How to Secure Wheelchair-Bound Students in a School Bus

Posted on by TSB Super Admin

When it comes to transporting disabled students, school bus driver has an important role to play. As some students are wheelchair bound, they need proper secure to and from schools. 

But there is always a question on how to handle these students in a proper way without causing any kind to harm to them.

School employees are equally responsible for the safety of wheelchair-bound students from entering their school to reaching their home.

Driver

Usually, school bus drivers have the responsibility of transporting students with special needs to and from school via school bus. Some schools employ a bus attendant or a monitor to help students with disability to board and de-board the school buses.

Both these people should ensure that they know precisely how to do this securely and in a well manner.

Parent

While waiting for the school bus, parents of the wheelchair-bound students are supposed to ensure that their disabled kids are at the curb punctually with the suitable equipment.

They have to oversee the student until the arrival of their school bus. And also parents should be present at the pickup points earlier to the arrival of school bus.

Parents may need to help the kid with boarding them onto the school bus, fasten the wheelchair or seat belt.

It is still the liability of the driver of the school bus to verify and ensure the student, as well as the wheelchair, is secured well prior to moving the bus.

Teacher

The responsibilities of teachers in securing the wheelchair-bound students are same as those of the parents.

They are responsible to meet the students upon arrival at their school and to get them at the pick-up place promptly and oversee the students until the departure of the school bus.

Bus attendant

Bus attendants are also equally responsible for the safest transportation of wheelchair-bound students. 

In the bus, the attendant is allotted to help all students. While on the school bus, the attendant is generally under the control of school bus driver.

Loading and Unloading of Wheelchair-Bound Students

General guidelines

When the student is in the wheelchair, he or she should face away from the bus at all times. The brakes, as well as the roll stops of wheelchair should be in locked condition.

Loading process

First, the lift door should be opened and secured. The wheelchair can be unfolded by using a hand-held control. Now the platform should be lowered pending it rests completely on the ground.

Now the student can be gently positioned on the wheelchair by unfolding the outboard roll stop and fastening the seat belt of wheelchair around the student. Ensure that the student faces away from the bus.

Securing in the bus

Once the student is safely secured in the school bus, check once again if the brakes and the roll stops of the device are in locked position. Now, turn off the power of device and if possible, have the wheelchair student cling to the handrails.

Help the student to keep his or her legs and arms within the lift quarter and ahead of the moving parts.

Now, activate the lift controls and stand beside the platform at the corner in the front. Continue to keep one hand on the device while it is lifting and then activate the controls of wheelchair through other hand.

Once the platform attains the floor level, hang up or set down the controls. Now, release the brakes of the wheelchair and gently push it into the school bus. Now, by setting brakes of device, fold the lift into journey position.

Position the wheelchair student consistent with the Individualized Education Program (IEP). Move the student to a usual forward facing the bus seat by using appropriate lifting methods and make student as well as wheelchair safe.

Unloading of the wheelchair student

While unloading a wheelchair student with a power-driven wheelchair, it should be ensured that the student is not supposed to drive onto the platform, except cleared to perform so by the whole IEP team. Now, switch off the motor and push the wheelchair manually onto the platform.

During the loading and unloading process, do not forget to inform the wheelchair student about what you are going to do, prior to doing it.

Securing the wheelchair-bound students

It is always safe for the wheelchair bound students to use a three-point system while boarding school bus. While the wheelchair-bound students are boarding the school bus, it is always safe by using a three-point system.

The restraint system of the occupants is separate from the secure system of the wheelchair. The three-point system protects the torso as well as the pelvis of the disabled students.

While attaching the restraint system, it can be joined to the anchorage points of the school bus. The system can also be attached to the securement system of  device, device itself, or by following the instructions of the of wheelchair manufacturers.

Above all, the school bus driver is supposed to consider the appropriate place to stop the bus to load and unload the wheelchair-bound students easily and safely.

Two Factor Attendence is a feature in TrackSchoolBus app provides confirmation to parents and schools whether students arrived to / from school on time. 

Finally

Wheelchair students are needed to be transported in a school bus only in the forward-facing direction. They should be appropriately secured with the three-point pelvic and shoulder as well as with the four-point dock restraint system. 

Several school buses come attached with a frame, as well, for attaching the tie-down straps. School management should make sure that their buses are properly prepared to transport wheelchair-bound kids to and from school in a safe and comfortable way.

The school management should also pay attention to consider adding extra safety measures into their school buses to transport these disabled students.

Secured School Bus Seating – Future of School Bus Safety

Posted on by TSB Super Admin

If you have wondered about your child’s safety when travelling on the school bus, it is true that school buses are designed to be the safest vehicles to ply on the roads. They are designed with a view to provide secure seating for the children that they are supposed to carry. This article discusses the safety aspects of school bus seats and improved design considerations for the future.

Bus Seats – Compartmentalization Design

School buses are designed in accordance with a unique design aspect called ‘compartmentalization’. It is intended to protect the passive occupants of the bus. The seats of the bus are constructed with impact-absorbing steel and have high and padded seats (on the front and back). These are firmly secured to the floor of the bus.

Must Read

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In case a collision does occur, this compartmental design absorbs the impact and disperses throughout the occupant’s body instead of head and neck alone.  You would have seen eggs placed in a carton and this is much like it.

Use of CSRS (Child Safety Restraint Systems)

The safety restraint is brought into effect with the use of lap belts, harness straps and chest clips. Whereas lap belts are more suited for older children that do not fit into the CSRS category, it is important for you to remember the fact that these belts do not provide any protection to the upper body parts such as the head, neck and spine.

For CSRS to be properly used on school bus seats, the size and spacing of  seats  are important considerations. Commonly, a seat with a width of 39 inches or greater can accommodate either two CSRSs or one CSRS together with an older child that does not need CSRS. Any seat with a less width can safely accommodate  a single CSRS.

Another point in consideration is the seat spacing. The potential for injury on collision is reduced when the seat spacing is a maximum. When seats are narrowly spaced, you may not be able to secure the CSRSs appropriately. This factor, however, affects the seating capacity of the vehicle.

CSRSs are compulsory under the following conditions:

•    Students younger than five years old (Rear-facing CSRS for children less than 2 years old)

•    Students weighing less than 50 pounds

•    Students that have special needs

General Considerations

Every aspect of the school bus design is towards protecting the passengers on board from the impact of a collision. Some seat design considerations that support this requirement are as follows:

•    Bus seats are placed on the floor at a level above the impact zone where any automobile would hit the school bus.

•    There are no sharp edges in the bus interiors close to the seats; they are all rounded and smooth

Future of Secured School Bus Seating

With increased traffic and incidences of bus crashes, you may often wonder if school bus seating can get any safer. A lot of research is taking place in this area and it is believed that the new technologies can actually alleviate this worry.

Airbags: Placing airbags both in the front and on the sides of seats so that the interior can inflate itself is a good idea. This will prevent the occupants from slamming into the sides or front seats of the bus in case of a collision. Researchers are finding out ways to make them more affordable for school buses.

Smart Seats: These seats, in addition to reducing head and neck trauma, will have built-in indicators that tell the observer that they are too old to be reliable in a collision. Only such seats need to be replaced from time to time.

Wider Aisles: For the future, schools may consider seats with two different widths: one side can be sized big enough to accommodate 2 child-safe seats, and the other side with 30-inch wide seats to accommodate 1 child-safe seat. This also will make way for a wider aisle.

Conclusion

With school bus owners of today striving to make seating in school buses more secure, there always seems to be a trade-off when the costs loom large. Newer technologies in the form of airbags and smart seats seem to tilt the debate in favour of safety with every attempt being made to manufacture them with less cost.

How to Tackle Irresponsible School Bus Drivers

Posted on by TSB Super Admin

Schools are places where numerous kids come from different places and different cultures to learn. A lot of these kids use school buses as a mode of transport to travel to and from school.

It is important to have a safe environment for them to travel so that their parents feel at peace too. For this to take place the school bus must be handled by someone who is responsible and experienced. 

School bus drivers usually enjoy working with youngsters and are skilled and competent. But in certain cases, there are those who engage in unsafe means like driving recklessly, overtaking where it is unnecessary, skipping stop signs, using cell phone while driving and over speeding.

There are also instances where bus drivers lose their temper with kids who misbehave. Some others arrive late or forget to pick up a child. This makes them unreliable.

In this blog, we will discuss about how irresponsible school bus drivers can be tackled. The various steps that can be undertaken to tackle an irresponsible school bus driver are:

  • Call Up the School 

The first and foremost thing you can do is to call up and inform the school about an incident you want to report. Speak to the principal or the administrator regarding your issue.

After all, the driver is employed by the school, so it is your responsibility to let them know about their employee’s behaviour. Keep your calm and state the reason why you are having a complaint against the bus driver.

Give them details about where, when and what happened. You can give the physical description of the bus driver in case you couldn't catch his name.

  • Refrain from Losing Temper

Yes, it is the matter of the safety of children, but try to refrain from being angry and shouting and cursing the bus driver. Inappropriate language doesn’t solve the issue.

Your complaint will be taken more seriously if you stay calm and relate things with facts. Though the driver’s actions might have put your child’s safety at risk, it is important to deal with the issue in a professional manner so that your concerns will be heard and addressed.

  •  Ask the Solution 

Once you have communicated what your concern is, ask them how they can help to resolve the issue. Once you ask how the problem will be solved see if they volunteer the information.

You can expect that they will say that the school management will need to talk to the driver before taking any action. If so, ask them when you can call again to follow up the same. You can also ask for the name of the driver if you don’t know it yet.

  • Contact the Bus Company

In case the bus driver is an employee of the bus company you need to inform the representative regarding the irresponsibility of their driver.

They are the right people to address your problem regarding the infraction made by the driver. You can start by stating the route, the time at which your child was picked up or dropped off, name of the driver or the name of the school.

Give them all the required details so they can take appropriate action. You can enquire what they are going to do about the same.

  • Follow Up 

Once you have informed the school and the bus company, follow up with calls and letters regarding your issue with the driver’s behaviour.

Make sure that you clearly state all the facts pertaining to the incident. If a solution has not yet been suggested, propose one. For example, if the driver had forgotten to pick up your child from point, ask for an apology.

  • Involve Others

Talk to other parents with children in the same school bus. There are chances that they might have witnessed the same too. For instance, your child might tell you that his driver is texting while he is driving.

Other children in the same bus might have noticed this behaviour. In case the driver denies this statement you’re more likely to be believed if there are others who support your statement. Ask the bus company to check the footages if there is a camera in the bus.

  • Disciplinary Action 

It must be realized that the driver may not be dismissed immediately. He is entitled to due process as he is an employee of the bus company. Disciplinary action will be based on the seriousness of the infringement. He might be given a suspension or his pay may be docked.

To Wrap It Up

School bus management is a tender issue and must be handled only by experienced and mature people. Any kind of irresponsibility cannot be tolerated.

Even though schools and bus companies give bus drivers ample training, there are chances that they commit some kind of infringement. It might come to the notice of parents or students that drivers sometimes commit follies while they are driving the school bus.

But the lives of students are saddled in the hands of school bus drivers. So it is the full responsibility of the drivers to act responsibly.

10 Emergency Response Tips for School Bus Drivers

Posted on by TSB Super Admin

Majority of the students in a school depends on school buses for their transportation to and from school. Along with student safety within the school premises, the schools are highly responsible for the safety of students in bus too.

Drivers are an integral part of the school bus transportation system and that is why schools should pay close attention to driver trustworthy and efficiency.

Proper training programs and assessments should be performed before assigning the role of school bus driver to a person. Even when all precautions are made, there are high chances for emergencies at times.

So it is important to train the drivers to handle the emergencies well and save the situation. As children are involved in the scenarios, keeping them calm without being panic is the key.

Here let us have a look at what all emergency situations can come up while driving a school bus and the emergency response tips for drivers.

1) First aid and CPR training

Getting relevant training and awareness of first aid to be given when some emergencies occur during bus strip is important. With this training, a driver should know how to handle medical and trauma emergencies such as shock, bleeding control, seizures, and cardiac arrest.

2) Roadway positioning

Sometimes the accident can occur at a dangerous curve or a busy road. In such cases, drivers should take initiatives to evacuate students from the bus in a well organized manner in the modest speed to avoid any further mishaps.

A driver should be aware of the places in his bus route so that the students can be held safe in some place until they get some external help. 

3) Evacuate a school bus

A driver should be aware of the situations in which the bus has to be evacuated. If a fire is seen, sudden evacuation is recommended as hazardous gases, smoke and fire can get spread in less than 2 minutes.

If fuel spill occurs with the bus or the vehicle that is involved in the crash, evacuation should be immediate as a spark can stimulate fire.

If in case, power lines got curled across the bus, the best option is to stay inside until emergency responders gives the green signal or the power is switched off.

4) Passenger injury

If the students are already injured but not at the risk of losing lives, the best option is to stay calm inside the bus and give necessary first aid until emergency responders reach the spot. Evacuating the injured students can result in further troubles.

5) Passenger accounting

First of all, drivers should know the number of students travelling in the bus on the particular day. It would be good if he can identify the students with their name and other features.

This can be a good help by him to identify the students and convey the message at the right place if in case any mishap occurs. In worst cases, drivers can check their bags for any ID card or name slips on their books to identify them.

It is good to carry the emergency contact numbers of every student travelling in the bus. Some schools advise to keep a book containing list of students and their relevant data near to the driver seat.

This helps the emergency responders to do the necessary if the driver is unconscious.

6) Know the route

Bus drivers should keep the authorities informed about the routes they are handling. This helps authorities to respond fast with necessary help in case of a mishap.

Similarly, drivers should be aware of the emergency centres and hospitals in their bus route. This helps them to save the lives of students in case of an emergency.

7) Know the student locations

A driver should be aware of the locations of every student before they move the bus. A general recommendation is to avoid moving the bus if any students are within 10 feet of the bus as kids can go careless at times.

Similarly, make sure that bus is under control and not moving in case a student is stepping in or stepping down from the bus. It is the role of the driver and the assistant staff to see that children are not stepping down from a moving bus.

8) Signalling students

The emergencies may not always happen with collision to other vehicles. There are many incidents reported where the students got injured with the bus they were travelling due to costly carelessness.

So driver should see that all doors of the bus are properly closed before they start their drive and no students are standing beside door during the drive.

It is good to advise small children to remain seated and not walking when the bus is moving as emergency braking can cause falls.

When you drop off a small kid in the drop off point, see that someone responsible has arrived to pick them. If children have to cross the road in the pick up or drop off point, make sure that they do it safe with the help of your assistant.

9) GPS tracker

A GPS tracking system in the bus can be a good help in case anything goes wrong. And the system has to be accessible to the school authorities as well as the parents or guardians. A GPS tracking app can be a handy solution for both schools and parents.

10) Role of school

Schools should understand that driver training is an ongoing process and their performance should be reviewed on a regular basis.

Prevention is better than cure and so taking some measures before hand can minimize the possibilities of accidents and in worst case to manage the situation well.

Here are a few things school authorities need to take care of to handle the emergency situations well.

  • When a new driver is interviewed, see that the necessary protocols and guidelines are met.
  • Educate drivers on the driving safety and perform emergency handling drills on a regular basis.
  • Set up a GPS tracking system in the bus in order to locate the bus position in case of an emergency.
  • A regular assessment and inspection of the security and safety of the bus should be made
  • A database of the students travelling by school bus should be kept ready to handle an emergency.
  • Every school bus should be having a first aid kit and drivers should be trained in using it.
  • It would be good if schools can set up an emergency call facility in every bus.
  • A school should be having all proper emergency response supplies.
  • The safety and security policies of school bus have to be reviewed regularly.
  • Students should also be given proper guidance and tips to overcome emergency situations

Final Thoughts

Being a school bus driver is not easy as the role involves many complexities. Sometimes he should take the role of a friend, sometimes a guiding parent and sometimes a life saver.

He should obey all traffic rules and follow safe riding as he has an extra responsibility of handling a bunch of young kids.

The emergency situations may not be always familiar ones and drivers may come across many new problems during their drive. It is his role to stay calm and customize his response according to the present situation.  

Hiring School Bus Driver – Important Guidelines to Follow

Posted on by TSB Super Admin

Parents and school authorities unanimously agree to the fact that a background check of the school bus drivers is essential before they are allowed to drive a school bus. Per year an average of 22,000 school bus accidents happen in a year.

This amounts to almost 60 school bus accidents that happen each day in the United States. The requirements to take charge as a school bus driver changes from state to state.

Although, it is necessary to have a school diploma and a commercial driving license to apply for the post of a school bus driver. Schools rely upon school buses to transport students for after school programs.

These are not necessarily the fleet of schools but also private transportation companies who run after school activity programs.

Present Scenario

Outside companies are given contracts for bus services by a majority of district schools across the country. It is still unclear as to who is responsible for conducting a thorough background check of the drivers who are assigned to drive a school bus.

There is no hard and fast rule to determine the authenticity of a driver and his previous records.

There is the Safety of Our School Children Act that makes it mandatory for school and educational institutions to obtain a background check by FBI on drivers before employing them or offering them a job as a school bus driver.

The bill prohibits district schools and other educational authorities to hire bus drivers or other employees if they have convicted of a felony like a crime of violence or drunken driving.

But FBI fingerprint check is not sufficient and chances are rare that the bill in enacted. There are chances that applicants put wrong information on their resumes and exaggerate their qualifications while appearing for an interview.

The Concern

Parents worry about their children when they leave for school and from school. It is quite natural for them to be concerned about their kids.

When you wave goodbye to your children while they leave for school your concerns are whether your kid has reached school safely, has your child had eaten lunch, are they being bullied at school, have they boarded the bus back home, etc.

One of the biggest issues parents come across is if the bus driver is driving the vehicle safely. It must be ensured that the driver mustn’t have any criminal records and is not driving the vehicle under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

There is a difference between commercial truck drivers and school bus drivers. Commercial truck drivers who operate across states are required to follow many federal safety rules as they take routes across state lines which a very few school buses travel interstate.

School bus drivers are to take up a commercial driver's license. Because of this drivers who don't qualify for a job working for large commercial transportation companies are still eligible to drive a school bus.

Truck drivers are often regulated and monitored not just for driving related of criminal offenses but also for medical conditions that may inhibit their ability to drive a commercial vehicle.

So it is important to check the background of a driver to make sure that he is driving the school bus safely.

How to Ensure an Effective Screening Program

So as we know that a real good screening program is essential to find a driver with whom we can entrust our children the question arises how we can do that. Let us find out how we can make sure that the screening program is effective.

The driver's security must be checked in the first phase where he must possess the motor vehicles reports. If he is a truck driver his work history database must be checked.

Along with this the Commercial Driver's License Information System (CDLIS) is a system which records all the reports of the driver.

There is the Social Security number Trace which can help to trace the reports names and addresses associated with a particular Social Security Number.

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) is an agency in the United States Department of Transportation that regulates the trucking industry. Truck driver's history can be obtained from the agency's database.

Once the first phase of screening is complete organizations may want to conduct further research on the candidates. The criminal record search may be conducted in compliance with the state or country which can reveal any criminal records of the driver.

Drug or alcohol history verifications from the past employers can be done to verify any discrepancies.

The final phase will include the physical examination of the candidate so as to ensure the health condition. To add up to this pre-employment drug test can also be engaged to find out if the driver has been intoxicated in the recent past.

Electric School Buses – Another Big Leap for the World to Go Green

Posted on by TSB Super Admin

Is it the dawn of electric vehicles? Can the New York Department of Education enhance environmental sustainability and reduce income unfairness? Yes, it is possible, especially with the coordination of electric school bus workers and the citizens residing in the city.

Nevertheless, it will be brilliant, if the school bus workers operate and own a school bus company with a goal to green the city. For this reason, the city has already organized an electric school bus worker cooperative, which combines elected officials, transportation and environmental advocates.

However, the ownership of the cooperative belongs to the New York City Bus Drivers and obtained funds by creating a contract for the Education Department’s existing school bus routes.

As a matter of fact, a union entitled “Transportation Workers Union Local 100” that represents city bus and train operators, is planning to endow ownership of the school bus company to the workers, with a motive to green the city and reduce the hazardous fuel emission into the atmosphere.

Working of the Cooperative

How the cooperative operates?

The worker cooperative will be operated by a board, which is elected by bus operators. Also, the board has special reservations for parents.

In spite of earning profits for the corporation, the cooperative will also assist to increase the wages by the unified efforts of employees and boost the dignity of the workplace. This will enable the cooperative to render an effortless service and augment the quality of rides for students.

Moreover, the current New York Mayor Bill de Blasio and the City Council have already expressed their desire to create worker co-operatives.

Meanwhile, the Department of Small Business Services has already established the Worker Cooperative Business Development Initiative by receiving 3 million dollars from the City Council for enlightening, supporting, and developing worker cooperative businesses. Hence, it is the right time for committing this initiative.

Objective – Apart from enhancing the labor relations, the electric school bus worker cooperative also enables you to sustain the environment and safeguard the health of New York citizens.

Dominant Reason for Pollution

Diesel buses adversely affect the environment. There is no requirement of scientific journals for recognizing its terrible consequences of running diesel buses, since the fact is apparent in its tailpipe, which emit pernicious and brown soot over the roadways and into our lungs.

The black carbon and nitrogen oxide transmitted from diesel school buses are hazardous for the environment and perturb children, whose lungs are still at a developing stage.

In fact, the New York city is ranked among the top 25 polluted cities for ozone and year-round particle pollution, as per the American Lung Association’s State of the Air report. This indicates there is increased chance for dreadful air days and asthma for New York residents. 

Furthermore, it was estimated that 2 million people in the New York area are having asthma, which includes half a million children.

How to Secure Students from Pollution?

Students are transported on outmoded and fume-emitting school buses right from the age of 3 or 4 years. Now, you can imagine how distressing the situation is. Henceforth, this ghastly circumstance will not repeat in the year 2018.

What will be the reason? Today’s hygienic technologies have the capability to reduce pollution and safeguard the health.

Unluckily, New York’s electricity comes from coal and while charging the electric school buses, it will result in pollution, especially due to greenhouse gas emissions from power plants, which induce global warming.

However, the city and state government is planning to modify the energy portfolio by means of wind and solar power, which ultimately reduces the carbon footprint and air pollution emitted to the atmosphere. 

Future Programs

Today, the city has an immense opportunity to transform the energy portfolio into a reality. Exclaiming how?

Recently, the Education Department has divulged a request for 1600 bus routes to be operated by transportation companies with a five-year contract. As a result, companies can present their proposals until Feb 22, 2018.

Of course, it is wise to grant these bids to those school bus providers, who declared to operate zero-emission electric vehicles and have a goal of worker empowerment.

As a consequence, a multitude of democrats approached Transport Workers Union (TWU) and environmental advocates for allocating 25 bus routes to electric bus operators. Although 25 is a minor part of 1,600, but it can eventually pave the way to an admirable future.

Final Thoughts

In conclusion, by unnecessarily burning oils,  you are ruining the environment. Therefore, it is wise to invest in vehicles that is environment-friendly and thus prioritize the safety of citizens above everything.

In the meantime, the aforementioned pilot program will certainly provide an immense assistance to accomplish the commitment of the Bill de Blasio administration to defend climate change and empowering employees.

How School Administrators Can Support School Bus Drivers

Posted on by TSB Super Admin

School bus drivers have a dominant role in ensuring a safe transportation for school kids. Nevertheless, you can witness a remarkable driver shortage among schools.

Hence, it is the responsibility of transportation managers and administration to formulate procedures that enable them to retain drivers on the payroll.

At times, you are required to implement drastic actions as it is a challenging task to replace a driver.

Here follows 15 ways by which school administrators can support school bus drivers:

1. Providing healthy salaries

Salary is an enormous issue for school bus drivers. No doubt, a majority of schools fails to provide the salary they deserve. As a consequence, it is wise to be aware of the salaries distributed by other schools and alter the pay scale accordingly.

If you are not competitive and is concerned regarding your budget, certainly you will lose a multitude of drivers.

2. Offer other employment opportunities

Of course, offering other employment opportunities is an efficient way to reinforce driver and commit their duty effectively. When you support them and provide assistance to pay off their bills, they will prefer to stay in the duty.

3. Remain flexible to their simple requests

Never attempt to ignore the interests and requests of drivers. On the other hand, when their simple request is neglected, they will not respect the school administration, which negatively affects the school’s morale and principles.

4. Rewarding facility

Offering reward is a positive reinforcement for every employee and it works for school bus drivers. However, when you reward drivers for outstanding performance, you are motivating them to continue the practice of safe and legal driving.

5. Concentrate on the school bus rules and student safety

When you manage students on the school bus, you are augmenting the credibility and reputation of the school. Moreover, you can organize presentations and awareness programs for reducing the disciplinary issues.

6. Conduct community outreach

By conducting community research, you will be able to inform the public regarding the exceptional performance of school bus drivers. It can serve as a motivation to drivers.

7. Planning celebrations and dinners

Entertainment is also essential along with the duty. People will be interested in their work, when you organize celebrations, parties, and dinners, once in a while. Such celebrations can serve as morale boosters.

8. Don’t underestimate their work

As a matter of fact, every job is unique and relevant. Never attempt to underestimate them and categorize them as second-tier employees.

For instance, you can consider their opinions and encourage their participation in every school activities.

9. Sponsor continuous learning for drivers

By sponsoring learning and training, you will be able to provide adequate guidance to school bus drivers. Furthermore, you can also partner with a local community college or refund college classes.

10. Display a sense of personal interest

Displaying a personal interest can be an effective solution to please them, you can send birthday or anniversary cards. While you consider them and include them in the family, they will be delighted and will never quit the job.

11. Clean the driver’s common room

When you spruce up the driver’s common room, a positive energy will be filled in the driver’s minds. A new coat of paint or placing new chairs will create a genuinely positive effect on the drivers.

12. Create a rapport

Meanwhile, when you prioritize the drivers, they will be elated and offer their valuable opinions on the dominant issues. By involving them in the issues, you are inculcating positive vibes in them, thereby increasing their morale.

13. Value the driver’s time

Time is having a crucial role in school bus driving as it is intensely a time focused job. A negative image will be created among school bus drivers when the school administrator itself become late in the meetings.

14. Remain with the driver’s side

Staying with the driver’s side is essential, especially, when the driver is having sufficient evidence against disciplinary issues. It is not desirable to unnecessarily side with the parents, who is not physically present in the scene of the violation.

15. Willingness to install modern technologies

Technology can provide an immense assistance to drivers, henceforth it is advisable to install the GPS trackers, CCTV cameras, and RFID trackers. This will not only enhance the school bus safety, but also offers a relaxation to drivers.

In conclusion, school administrators can reduce the job related challenges of school bus drivers. The above technologies will lower the rate of driver retention and enhance the safety of school transportation.

12 Different Technologies that Help School Bus Drivers in Driving

Posted on by TSB Super Admin

Technology is considered as an influential component of modern day lives. Nevertheless, while penetrating into every aspect of human life, you now have the luxury of obtaining real-time information on the whereabouts of your school-going kid.

Alongside supporting parents to be informed about the whereabouts of the school bus, a host of technological tools aid school bus drivers commit their jobs to the best of their abilities.

Here is the list of a dozen technological innovations that assist the professionals at the wheel in a multitude of ways.

  1. School Bus Tracking Apps

A school bus tracking app renders real time data regarding the exact location of the bus and the duration of arriving at your stop.

As a consequence, when such an app is in place, schools can steer clear by eliminating a number of distressed calls from parents checking about the pickup and dropping times of their wards.

In the meantime, tracking apps insist the school bus driver to drive cautiously with a conviction that parents are informed about the timing of pickup and drop.

  1. Tracking Systems

The School bus tracker utilizes RFID (Radio Frequency Identification Device) and GPS tracking, which intends to bring in transparency and convenience to both the parties concerned; the currently appointed school bus drivers and the parents.

As a matter of fact, such tracking systems not only notify the parents about the journey of the school bus, but also work as tabs on speeding drivers.

Parents who are waiting for their kids to be either picked up from home or dropped back can approach these tracking systems to monitor on the speed of the bus along with certain unscheduled bus stops that the driver is taking.

Moreover, this information can apparently become invaluable data points to parents to assess the performance of school bus drivers.

 

  1. Cameras – Tools to Peep Into What’s Happening Inside the Bus

Installing cameras inside the school bus is another technological move that establishes safe driving. Consequently, these cameras are activated when the bus stops for capturing the number plate of the vehicle that passes by in the territory of School Bus Danger Zones.

All in an attempt to evade the instance of accident, school bus drivers through the implementation of cameras can save the lives of students from being hit by other vehicles on the road.

  1. Digital Cameras

Another propitious technology that assists school bus drivers keep a watchful eye on the road is through the installation of digital cameras.

Meanwhile, modern digital cameras installed in the school buses help the driver to constantly monitor and realize what is happening inside the bus when he is at the wheel.

In addition, these cameras also capture the audio and video of the school bus happenings, sparing the driver to turn around and control a group of mischievous students.

It is through such devices that school bus drivers can better engage and handle behavioral issues of misbehaving students.

  1. The Prominence of Mirror Grid Systems

School buses fitted with mirror grid systems will help drivers relish a superior vision of the surroundings of the school bus.

On the other hand, through the usage of electric grids, which are fitted behind the mirrors, school bus drivers will be able to tackle extreme cold weather conditions while at the wheel.

Once the grid is heated, the frozen particles on the mirror get evaporated clearing the vision for drivers to appreciate an enhanced vision impending from clear mirror views.

  1. Spouts in Front of Tires – Another Climate Control Mechanism In Favor of School Bus Drivers

Unfavorable weather conditions should in no way induce a concern for drivers at the wheel. In an attempt to counter all such circumstances, school bus tires come with spouts, which are located in front of them.

This is a technological innovation that helps bus drivers drive on icy roads. You might perplex how this is possible.

Spouts come into the picture of safety driving practice when they drop sand on the slippery and icy road. This sand constitutes friction to the tires allowing the driver to drive safe.

Another facility that comes through these sprouts is to chain up the tires if the bus is progressing on a route that is not safe for driving.

  1. The Benefits of Computerized Diagnostics

Preparation is the key to effective decision-making. This preparation comes in the form of being informed about the need for vehicle repairs and maintenance.

Be it the vehicle engine which should be fine-tuned in accord of the Revolution per Minute (RPM) or the replacement of a damaged indicator light, drivers attach a lot of importance to computerized diagnostics.

Paying attention to the faulty functioning of oil tanks, issues concerning transmission and all the alarms concerning exhaust systems, school bus drivers can drive with a sense of preparedness.

  1. Sensors Help Conduct Pre-Service Checks to School Buses

Technology also aids in improving the safety level of school bus drivers. The state of Connecticut takes pride in the installation of a wireless device that helps drivers to conduct pre-service checks, including emergency door inspections and brake checks.

It is through sensors that the school bus supervisor is informed about any malfunction that can lead to a driving disaster. 

  1. The Promise of Automatic Door Entry System

School bus drivers can invest in modern technology offering push buttons to better manage the opening and closing of bus doors.

Automatic door systems fitted with push buttons bestow a great deal of comfort to bus drivers, avoiding shoulder pains and fatigue that comes with manual operation.

  1. Driving Made Comfortable With Air-Cushioned Seats

Air-cushioned seats are a boon to school bus drivers who can now drive comfortably. These seats, which come with a strong lumbar support ensure the correct posture while the driver is at the wheel.

This way, the school bus driver can enjoy every journey through a better driving position that will help him focus on the road ahead.

  1. The Effectiveness of Smaller Engines

 The diesel-powered school buses come as the safest and reliable modes of transportation for millions of school children. However, the size of a school bus engine has a bearing on the performance of a driver.

What to perceive the connection between these two parameters? Here it comes! A smaller bus engine means a shorter front part.

At the same time, with smaller engines, bus drivers will recognize as comfortable to maneuver when they enjoy a wide view of their surroundings.

In fact, it is because of this wide angle vision that school bus drivers will be able to manage the bus efficiently so as to avoid the issue of accidents caused due to inaccurate judgment of spacing.

Of course, smaller engines, thus come as another technological change that favors bus drivers to do their job in the best possible manner.

  1. Wi-Fi Connectivity in the Bus

At times, kids on board can become a distraction to a school bus driver who not only has to concentrate on the road but also ensure the decorum of travel.

Furthermore, ruckus in school buses created by bullying and mischievous students can mar the performance of a driver. All for the sake of assisting the driver to better concentrate on the traffic, schools are looking at offering in-house Wi-Fi connectivity to school buses.

Identified as a trick to occupy students, Wi-Fi in school buses can work both ways. While the Internet connectivity helps students to complete their homework or play games during travel, school bus drivers are the benefactors as well.

As a result, drivers who drive Wi-Fi connected school buses cannot be affected by futile chatter from students on board and drive cautiously.  

Closing Thoughts

After learning about the numerous ways in which technology can convince bus drivers to drive safe, it makes sense to go with the flow and institute these innovations on every school bus.

This way, you as a school administrator or a transportation manager will not only simplify your job, but will also become a truce to both parents and students.

With the safety of children on-board being your paramount responsibility, you can bank on the above mentioned technological advancements as your daily guide to safe and uneventful school bus journeys.

101 Reasons to Choose TrackSchoolBus

Posted on by TSB Super Admin

Trackschoolbus is one of the leading ventures by Edsys and provider of school educational system. Consequently, with this venture, you will be able to address school bus safety issues related to parents and school authorities. Moreover, by using the Trackschoolbus apps, you can manage various safety issues in regard to school transportation and ensure a safe school bus journey to and from school.

Here follows the reasons why Trackschoolbus is the best choice for you. Lets' check it out:

1. Provide real-time data regarding the school bus location by using RFID and GPS technology

2. Obtain instant alerts through SMS, Android push notifications, iOS notifications, etc.

3. Analyze the school bus driver performance using trackers

4. Parents are notified regarding the school bus delays, unscheduled bus stops, over speeding, emergencies, etc.

5. Attain reports on travel speed, distance, travel history, etc.

6. Save energy and time by efficient utilization of the route management feature, and bus stop scheduling

7. Effective management of school bus fleets

8. Recognise better and efficient routes via driver console

9. Reduce fuel consumption of the school bus by avoiding unnecessary trips

10. Sort issues such as bus breakdowns, student issues inside the school bus, respond to emergencies, etc. quickly

11. Create a superior, economical, and safer school bus trip for the students

12. Manage students, parents, and school transportation authorities together

13. Handle safety concerns easily via school bus tracking software

14. Perceive travel history of the school bus via the tracking apps

15. Enable parents as well as school authorities to ensure whether a school bus child reached home safely or not

16. Monitor the school bus speed

17. Check out the time duration at each bus stops

18. Track issues such as traffic jams, natural mishaps, school bus breakdowns, etc.

19. Avoid unnecessary fuel wastage due to excessive vehicle idling, inappropriate routes, etc.

20. Easy route planning

21. Locate your child via GPS trackers and RFID tags

22. Re-routing and Rescheduling facility

23. School authorities can monitor school bus even though it is on the road

24. Supervise the activities of each school bus and estimate the working hours of a school bus driver

25. Highly accurate and error-free records

26. No issue of being lost in the school bus trip

27. Reduced expense as GPS is cost-effective

28. Take school bus attendance accurately

29. Provide real-time notifications whenever the child boards or descend from the bus

30. Powerful and durable due to the utilization of industry standard materials in casing the components and PCBs

31. Devoid of quality issues as we do not use China made devices

32. Easy installation (as it is a single piece of hardware) and maintenance (high quality hardware that requires minimum maintenance)

33. Compatible with different vehicle types

34. Portable design as its compact dimension of devices make sure that devices occupy minimal space only

35. Unique tracking device as both RFID reader and GPS technology is combined into a single device

36. Provide expert assistance anytime from anywhere

37. Know the repair status by login to the web portal

38. Restrict the movement of a school bus via Geo-fencing feature

39. Video surveillance with special hardware

40. Online payment system (available in Android and iOS platforms) for bus fares and cashless sales

41. No need of separate hardware for tracking

42. Drivers are able to get directions throughout the school bus trip

43. Drivers can view the image and contact details of students in the next destination

44. Obtain important announcements and messages via apps

45. While confirming the school bus route, it will be moved to the trip history

46. View the trip details whenever one desires

47. Provide peace of mind to parents and school transportation authorities

48. Parents can view the route via map feature

49. Ability to download report in the formats such as doc, PDF, or whatever format as per the user's preference

50. Assign roles for users such as transport managers, parents, point of sales personnel, teachers, etc.

51. School bus attendance marked via facial recognition of students

52. Route optimization feature enables the driver and school transportation authorities to choose the most efficient route for the trip

53. Gather information for preparing reports and with the import feature, data entry process becomes easy

54. On a single screen, transport managers can view the vehicle details, trip details, and tracking details

55. Historical vehicle movement can be tracked via advanced playback system

56. Control the movement speed and can be moved forward or backwards

57. Create routes and trip based on seating capacity, pick up point density, etc.

58. Based on the unplanned trip auto routing feature, the system will eventually collect the trip details, route details, etc. once the vehicle gets started. Thereby, convert unplanned trip to scheduled trip

59. With the trip merger feature, school authorities can merge multiple shifts to a single one

60. Students can use ID for the purpose of purchase. Parents can recharge the payment cards online (Cashless system)

61. Parents get instant notification once the children purchase from the canteen or stores

62. Ability to choose the best hardware as per the customers' requirements

63. Separate apps for school bus attendant, transport managers, parents, and drivers

64. No need to install a separate app for siblings

65. Less complication in updating the new pick up point

66. Students can apply leave via the app without contacting school management or school bus driver

67. Drivers as well as school authorities can have a good rapport with each other

68. Instant trip management

69. Provide birthday announcements instantly

70. Usage of cloud messaging service for apps

71. Generate various MIS reports

72. Application accessed via the web as well as smart phone

73. Know the real-time status of a school bus (parked, moving, etc.)

74. Scheduled route can be viewed by parents and they realise whenever there is a change in the usual routes

75. Recentre facility enables the user to update the exact pick up point and drop location of students

76. Using the manifest feature, pick up details, route diagram showing pickup location, the students who are present on the school bus, etc. can be recognized

77. Stay vigilant and take appropriate decision for improving student safety

78. Obtain live-cam feed of students inside the school bus

79. User-friendly apps, and easy customization

80. Adaptation of the latest technology

81. Efficient billing and invoice management

82. New users can be created by administrators

83. Speed limits can be updated beforehand

84. Able to establish a long term relationship with the clients

85. Have skilled and experienced developers

86. Constant implementation of quality control techniques

87. Drivers are able to possess multi-tasking capability

88. Recognise unsafe driving instantly

89. Play important announcement via bus audio system

90. Sort the driver shortage by efficiently managing them via apps

91. Historical data feature have the list of completed trips, resigned drivers, instant trips, completed scheduled trips

92. Details from the system can be utilized for safe driver ranking

93. Facility to choose the type of notifications that is to be received and the language for notification

94. Import data either via direct entry or through API integration

95. Store SIM card details and retrieve it whenever necessary

96. Modify logo and has full freedom to manage their own accounts

97. The trip will be marked complete only when all the students get off the school bus

98. Students who are on leave will be notified via the application

99. Less distraction and drivers can monitor students without even leaving their cabin

100. Able to choose the shortest trip from the app

101. Time-saving, convenient and safe transportation

How to Identify the Best Route Planning Software for Your School Bus Fleet

Posted on by TSB Super Admin

One of the key challenges confronted by the school transportation services is the rising fuel expenses. By optimizing routes for the school bus trip, you will be able to handle the issue. In fact, the implementation of route planning software enables you to resolve the routing concerns of school bus fleets.

Nevertheless, scheduling and coordinating routes manually is an expensive, tedious and complicated task. With the utilization of school bus routing software, school transportation will be able to accomplish the goals dexterously.

How to select the appropriate route planning software?

Of course there is a multitude of options on the market, especially for purchasing the transportation software. However, the selection process involves prodigious procedures. Have a glimpse of the common considerations that should be scrutinized while choosing the route planning software:

Is the software compatible with other kinds of software?

Ordinarily, the efficient operation of a routing software depends on its compatibility with other software programs, which comprise  the GPS vehicle tracking programs, student tracking programs, and student information systems. Moreover, it assists you to save money and time along with the student safety.

At times, route management software is a  game changer for school transportation. But, it is essential to be aware of current trends, and thus incorporating up-to-date technology can be beneficial for you. And, updating the software can lower the expenses, save time, and reduce hassle.

Essential features of route planning software

Routing software will be designed on the basis of number of users, the size of your district, and the complication of your school bus routes. Presumably, the modern routing software encompasses detailed area maps that enables you to add new roads, pick up points, and travel limits. And, if the routing software you are utilizing can not compare the multiple routes based on your requirement, then it's time to upgrade it. Other crucial features include:

  • Allocating pick up points for school bus students based on user specification (walk-to-stop distances)
  • Considering right sided pickups
  • Options for setting pick-up and drop location
  • Bus pass creation
  • Calendar settings
  • Store bus routing details for generating reports
  • Identify sex offender areas and avoid those areas in routing
  • Customization options

Training and support

The routing software will be futile, if you don't have an awareness on how to operate or utilize it. While choosing the provider, examine the type of training provided, and how it satisfies the needs of your staff. Two types of training are exclusively available for you- web based training and in-person training. And, ensure that the software provider gives constant support for maintenance.

Reports

Based on the data obtained from the software, you will be able to generate accurate and comprehensive reports. Certain software can also generate reports with the historical data. And, school transportation officials will be able to carefully analyse it and enhance the school bus routing.

As a matter of fact, by choosing the suitable route planning software, the overall school transport service will be improved as it solve all the discrepancies involved in the school bus routing.