Category: For Schools

10 Simple but Important Things About School Bus Tracking

Posted on by TSB Super Admin

School Bus Tracking helps to improve student safety and build a better and secure relationship between parents and schools. This is a most efficient way to keep track of students’ security.

Each school might have proper arrangement for bus service or have bus companies for providing such services. They are responsible for taking entire responsibility of the kid’s safety along with ensuring that they keep updating the parents about any delays or urgent needs.

Let us see the important things about a proper school bus tracking system:

1. The tracking system for school buses can help in improving the safety measures as a result of which parents, teachers and even bus management people can work at ease.  

This tracking helps to monitor the bus services in real and can also help parents to know about their time of arrival. This can reduce a lot of tension between parents and teachers. This effective procedure should be implemented as much as possible.

2. Bus tracking service such as GPS can help parents to keep an eye on the behaviour of the bus management team. At the same time, it also helps in knowing whether their kids are safe in harsh weather conditions or any incidental cause.

Having proper tracking system can help in improving the management system as managers would be informed about any urgent breakdown or be notified of any maintenance need.

This can in turn help in reducing costly breakdowns. When buses need maintenance then managers are responsible for scheduling replacement of buses.

3. Apart from this a bus tracking system can help to keep a close eye on the driver and check if they are following rules and regulations such as speed limits and scheduled routes.

Managers may also take note of the driving patterns such as hard braking or lingering around unnecessarily. This shall not only help in reducing the cost but also assure safety of children travelling in bus.

4. By following the tracking system, parents and teachers can get to know more about the arrival and departure time of the Bus. It shall be easy to generate effective schedule management for students. As per the details, parents and teachers can decide about their timings and proper schedule management.

Moreover, if there is any problem, for instance if the bus arrives late or there is a sudden breakdown then it might really get difficult. Students might have to keep waiting for their bus while at the same time it is also irritating for parents to keep waiting.

However, if there is a proper tracking system then it gets easier to deal with these things. The school bus tracking system can help in dealing with the bus management system and collaborate with your own dealings and schedules.

5. When parents let their children to go by bus, they completely trust the driver and other management officials involved here. Parents are often worried about their children to ensure that their child is protected and in complete safe hands.

Just as an additional precautionary measure by having a tracking system can give great peace of mind to the parents.

6. With the tracking system it will be easier to track the buses live and are notified about any emergency. Even automatic updates can save parents from calling again and again.

This shall help the management team to look after the kids. The live tracking system shall be updated with more reliable timings. So there would be no worries about delays.

7. Most schools face issues regarding their budget. However, a tracking system can help in reducing a lot of wastage of money. It helps in improving the route efficiency which in turn can reduce the fuel costs.

Other than this it becomes easy to monitor vehicle performance and reduce the maintenance cost.

8. School bus tracking offers better safety for drivers as the tracking system is not only helpful for children but also for the drivers. One can easily keep track of the drivers’ accountability, their whereabouts, and behaviour.

It can be easy to monitor reckless speed or improper behaviour of the driver. The perfect implementation of a tracking system can help to reduce the risk of students being exposed to any problem.

9. Tracking system makes the collection of data easy. This helps in proper collection and storage of data. Though tracking a vehicle isn’t that easy as it might seem be. However, with the right arrangement of various factors such as mileage and other things can be taken care of.

Moreover, the data is collected automatically via bus tracking software. There is no longer any need to rely on manual data handling or generating process as now it shall become easy to deal with these. The data recorded can further be used to prepare log books.

Having proper accuracy they can be used at the end of month for generating payments. Their performance can easily be taken care by collecting these data. One needs to simply print the data and go through it properly.

10. Those schools which haven’t come up with any bus tracking system yet should consider all the benefits involved in having a proper tracking system. This shall not only help in improving the school business but also gain a level of trust on the school. This shall be the best way to improve brand awareness and improve safety measures in schools for their own children.

Final Thoughts

In short, School Bus Tracking made easier for you to keep the track records of the security of your kids. Whatever is the case, a school bus tracking system will surely help in enhancing the overall performance of school.

This will help to improve the overall system and can provide safety benefits to school management, parents and children.  As safety is very important for your children so if you are getting any safe opportunity for your child then never miss it.

9 Things to Avoid In School Bus Transportation Services

Posted on by TSB Super Admin

School bus transportation services offer the safest mode of transport for getting kids to and from their schools. They offer about 50 times more safety for kids to and from schools than other mode of transportation.

Additionally, kids have a much safer travel in a school bus than being taken by their parents in the personal vehicles.

As school buses are one among the safest means for kids to and from school, there are many superior reasons that make them a rising option amid parents for the school commute of their children.

However, to make the school bus safe, kids availing the school bus transportation services are supposed to avoid some factors. Here are 9 vital things to avoid while availing such services to ensure the maximum safety of kids boarding the bus.

1. Bus stop rushing

School-going kids should not all rush to their bus stop if they are late. Late kids are inclined to run to their bus stop or chase their school bus if it has already gone past their bus stop.

This can be very hazardous if they run across a highway and overlook to pay their attention to traffic. Kids should always come to their bus stop at least five minutes before the arrival of their school bus. This may greatly aid them to avoid the morning panic.

2. Clothing

Kids should avoid wearing loose straps or hanging drawstrings clothes as it can be a risk on a school bus. Unruly straps and drawstrings can be trapped in the doors and handrails of their school bus.

They can become lodged in or wrapped around a seat, as well. This will stop the kids from exiting their school bus quickly during an emergency.

3. Waiting for bus

It is safe for school-going children by avoiding standing near to the curb while they are waiting for their bus. Usually, kids have a much higher possibility of being wounded in a zone where the loading and unloading of school students is being carried out, than within the bus itself.

School administrators and students should advise their kids to stand at a minimum distance of six feet away from the curb while they are waiting at their bus stop.

4. Bus front

School students should not walk very close to the front part of bus while boarding it. This is because while strolling in front of their school bus, there is a chance for a mishap with the bus if the driver accidentally releases the brake of the bus.

Therefore, kids should be appropriately instructed to stand at a minimum distance of 10 feet ahead of their bus prior to crossing the road every time.

5. Road crossing

Students should not cross the road without checking the traffic on both of their sides. This means that they have to check the traffic on their left as well as on their right side while crossing the street. 

Furthermore, it is the personal responsibility of the school bus driver to stop the bus from where the kids and the driver should be able to see each.  While crossing before the school bus, children should first see the driver.

This will make sure that both the driver as well as the kids can perceive each other.

6. Picking up the dropped things

Kids should avoid picking up things by themselves that they have dropped their items while boarding and unboarding school bus.

Parents should suitably instruct their kids not to attempt and repossess their things that they have dropped near or under their school bus on their own.

This could be unsafe for the reason that they will be out of the sight of driver. Asking the driver to pick up the dropped things will ensure the maximum safety of the kids boarding bus.

7. Boarding the bus

Kids are supposed to avoid boarding their school bus too hastily. Parents should advise their kids to remain patient while they are boarding their school bus. They should make their kids understand that entering the bus is not a competition or a race to grab their seats.

Kids should stand one behind the other in a line away from the road at their bus stop before boarding their school bus. Moreover, they should avoid entering the bus before it stops completely.

Then, they can start boarding the bus after the doors are opened. They can then start entering the bus after getting the green signal from the bus attendant to board the bus.

8. Safe seating in the bus

Traveling kids should not put their body parts outside the window of school bus. Even though it may offer some sort of enjoyment to kids, they should stay away from hanging their body parts out of the window as it can led to serious wounds.

Therefore, children who are school bus commuters should not at all put their arms, heads, or hands out of the bus window.

9. Emergency exit

By no means, kids should play with the emergency exit in their school bus. Grown-up kids will usually sit in the back seats of their bus. Although the emergency exit door may intrigue them, they should not at all touch the door or try to open it.

On no account, they should obstruct the door with their backpacks or bags, as well.  During the time of an emergency, students are supposed to listen to the instructions of the driver carefully about the use of the emergency exit.

8 Common Mistakes Everyone Makes In School Bus Transportation Software

Posted on by TSB Super Admin

The school bus transportation software plays a significant role in allowing school districts to enhance the transportation safety of school students. These software solutions are now the most sought-after option amid many modern-day schools.

Moreover, they aid school administrators considerably in school bus scheduling as well as routing in an effective and convenient way.

Thus, the school transportation management will be capable of scheduling the fastest as well as shortest school bus routes to make their everyday operation quicker and more affordable.

The school bus transportation softwre can assign bus stops, as well, which will help schools in choosing the pick-up stops for the staff and students, consistent with their focus on the areas.

However, some schools are not aware on how to choose the right software for their school transportation department. This makes them choose the app with some common mistakes, thus  have to use the one with less benefits.

Here are the eight common mistakes every school makes while choosing the school bus transportation application.

1. Child Reminder Alarms

One of the most common mistakes everyone does while choosing a school bus transportation software is failing to verify the Child Reminder Alarm.

The main purpose of alarm is to alert both school bus attendants as well as drivers about the kids who are still on the bus even after the trip is completed. Thereby, ensuring better safety to the kids as well as to the schools.

2. Performance Improvements

When comes to safety, school buses are an admired solution for student transportation. Therefore, these buses are supposed to offer better performance and safety to the school students boarding them.

This means that school districts are supposed to upgrade the performance as well as the safety features of their buses to make children feel comfortable and offer the peace of mind to their parents. This can be achieved only by verifying the beneficial features of school bus transportation software while choosing one.

3. GPS

One of the major purposes of using the school bus transportation app is to track the school bus and their occupants in a real time. This can be done only through the GPS or Global Positioning System.

It is vital for schools to verify whether the software comes with the most powerful and latest version of GPS. If not, either parents or schools can come across many problems in tracking the school buses.

4. Notifications

Although all school bus tracking apps come with notifications features, it is important for every school to check that the software should come equipped with as many notification features as possible.

There are several reasons when school buses gets delayed to reach the bus stops  such as traffic jam, closure of roads on a particular route, breakdown of buses, etc.

During these situations if the software does not come with the appropriate notification feature, both the school administrators, as well as the parents could not be notified in time.

Thus, school districts are supposed to know the announcement features before choosing an application.

5. Live Map

While selecting transportation software, some schools would fail to verify whether the school bus tracking software comes with a live map. This feature plays a vital role in helping both the school administrators and parents to track the real-time location of school bus.

Therefore, schools should check whether the software supports the live map to ensure the student safety as well as to make their daily school bus operations a breeze.

6. Route Scheduling

This is one of the features that some schools usually fail to check. This is because their focus will be on the student safety in school bus. Route preparation is one of the vital features of school bus transportation software that and offers time-efficient and safe travel to and from school.

Thus, the software aids school authorities in addressing the entire needs of students as well as handling different traffic conditions to choose the best route. Thus, automating school bus route scheduling will not only offer the shortest route, but also helps the school management in dipping fuel use and maintenance expenditure.

7. Parents Convenience

Most schools fail to consider the convenience of parents of their school kids by thinking only about the students’ comfort. Usually parents prefer school transportation for their children considering the fact that it is the safest mode of transportation.

These school buses are handled by the school management on a daily basis. Very frequently, in news and other media, parents find upsetting and shocking stories about school bus mishaps and accidents.

Therefore, schools are supposed to consider a school bus tracking application notifying parents and authorities about the real-time location of their child. Thus, considering the convenience of parents is very important for schools while choosing the software.

8. Radio-frequency identification Attendance

Schools should not do the mistake of ignoring the RFID student attendance feature while choosing their school bus transportation software.

This is for the reason that this feature will offer strong, safe, as well as automatic attendance management in educational institutions. With RF-Attendance system, student attendance administration turns out to be easier, more accurate, and efficient.

Surrogate attendance can be considerably minimized or eliminated.

Check out this Slideshare presentation on Two-factor Attendance present only in TrackSchoolBus apps

It automates the entire students’ registration and ID card printing, data processing on attendance server, automatic attendance recording, everyday SMS to parents, weekly as well as monthly attendance statements for teachers, reports on attendance management system, etc.

Choosing a perfect school transportation software will be quite useful and helpful to the school management, drivers, as well as to parents. Therefore, schools are not supposed to overlook any of the vital features while choosing their software.

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.

How to Track Students During a School Excursion

Posted on by TSB Super Admin

Few school-related activities generate the kind of enthusiasm and lifelong memories than a school excursion. But well-planned excursions provide new learning to students that they cannot get through textbooks alone. However, the mere thought of a school excursion strikes fears into many teachers’ hearts. It has the potential to create nightmares for them.

If you, as a teacher, have ever taken children on an excursion, you would have experienced it. The most terrifying experience is often one or a couple of students getting lost during the excursion. The aim of this post is to provide you with different options you can consider to keep track of the students during a school excursion.

Having said that here are a few options you can make use of to keep track of your students during the excursion:

#1: Create Chaperone Groups

When creating chaperone groups, it is best to maintain a ratio of 15:1 for upper primary and high school students. The ratio should be lower for primary students. Further, you must plan the groups in a strategic manner. The attention seeking behaviour of a student that causes a lot of trouble in the school would only increase when you take him/her on a trip.

If it is possible, you can ask one of the child’s parents to chaperone. Whenever you take a break, a teacher chaperone is a better option than a parent chaperone when it comes to taking care of challenging students.

However, it is important to prepare the chaperones well. The names of all the students in a group and their mobile phone numbers, if allowed, should be available with each chaperone.

Further, you must ensure that each chaperone has the emergency contact number saved on their mobile phone. The chaperones should be briefed on student behaviour expectations and sensitized to immediately report any violations.

#2: Emergency Bracelets

You can provide each chaperone and student with a wearable silicone bracelet. The emergency contact number can either be printed or written using a permanent marker on the bracelet. There are a number of vendors out there in the market who could provide silicone bracelets for a paltry amount.

If you are taking the help of a professional student excursion organizer, the company will most likely provide a bracelet for each participant with the emergency contact number printed on it.

When working with professional student excursion organizers, calls to the emergency contact number will always be answered by a representative of the company. He or she will then contact you.

If you are organizing the excursion on your own, you should identify a person who could be contacted in the event of an emergency. The emergency contact person should have the names and mobile phone numbers of all the chaperones and students.

#3: T-shirts

It is a good idea to make your students use same colour t-shirts when you go on an excursion. This is very helpful when travelling with large numbers of kids, especially to popular places. It can be visually very helpful at the time of gathering the students. Custom printed and bright coloured t-shirts that are best for the group can be sourced to help simplify your life.

#4: Re-count

Chaperones should be made responsible for counting their group members. Then a leader in the bus should be given the responsibility of re-counting to double check. This is because a student can always sneak into a bathroom near the exit after the final count at the lobby. So, counting again when seated on the bus always helps.

You can actually make counting a fun activity. If you are on a multi-day excursion, you can assign a number to each student from the back of the bust to the front. Students can call out their numbers instead of the leader doing a head count. It is so much fun and the re-counting gets done rather quickly.

#5: Buddy System

Each student should be asked to stick with a buddy throughout the excursion. This should include even waiting outside when one is using the bathroom. It is always better to have two students trying to determine as to how they lost track of the group than one panicky kid doing it alone. If there are odd numbers of student in a group, then it is a good idea to make three-member teams.

#6: Clearly Specify the Meeting Spot and Time

Choose a prominent location at the destination for reconvening after the visit. You should also clearly specify the time when the groups should assemble at the spot.

In order to make sure that the students remember the surroundings and time clearly, you can do the following:

  • You can ask them to look around the meeting spot to help them identify the area quickly. It is always better to meet near an entrance, a sign, or a colourful large object.
  • You can also ask the students to shout back or loudly repeat the name of the place and reconvening time at least thrice so that it gets ingrained in their minds.

#7: Make use of electronic reminders

If the chaperones and students are allowed to carry mobile phones, then you can remind the students by way of a text message.

#8: Set expectations clearly

A week before the excursion, the previous day, and just before getting out of the bus, you must make it a point to review behavioural expectations with your students. In addition to sounding serious, you must explain the consequences of improper behaviour.

Take the effort to ingrain in their minds that they are not only representing their school but also the community and that they put up their best behaviour at all times.

Check Out Excursion Management Software from TrackSchoolBus
In conclusion, taking the school students on an excursion is a responsible job. However, it can be a rewarding experience. Make use of some of the tracking options listed above as applicable in your specific situation. You will be better equipped to track students during a school excursion.

11 Crucial Elements for Managing School Transport Effectively

Posted on by TSB Super Admin

Providing school transportation to students is an added advantage for parents these days as it takes care of the conveyance of children with a pick up and drop off point as well as time. It helps children as well as parents to get into a routine and reach school on time and safely. But on the other hand schools need to exercise caution when providing transportation for students.

Once the school starts to provide the facility of transportation to students, it thinks of responsibility for compliance with several regulations.

It takes responsibility of students’ safety in all conditions. They also become answerable for the condition of transport vehicle and must also have a system for customary inspections and for reporting defects in the vehicle.

Some of the below mentioned elements must be kept in mind and practiced by schools to manage school transport effectively.

1. Manage Bus Routes – The biggest challenge for the school transportation department is to come up with convenient, time-saving routes that cover all the students in a manner that is cost-effective, fuel efficient as well as time effective. The job is much more difficult than it sounds as preparing routes for multiple vehicles and ensuring that the routes don’t overlap or cause any confusion.

6 School Bus Auto Routing Features from TrackSchoolBus

2. Create Bus Stations – Another extremely important element of this procedure is to create convenient as well as accessible bus stations for all students. While creating bus stations, transportation department must keep in mind that they should be convenient  for all students and also located at a place where it is safe for students to wait for the vehicle.

The bus station cannot be decided at a place that has heavy traffic or no waiting place as it will become   inconvenient for students and parents who are supposed to drop them.

3. Manage Bus Timings – Managing bus timings is a vital step in managing school transportation as all the routes have to be decided keeping in mind the availability of vehicles.

The routes are supposed to be allotted to vehicles in a manner that each vehicle gets buffer time owing to technical problems or traffic delays. The buses are also supposed to be timed in a way that takes the least time during the time of its travel.

4. Create Fee slots – For schools to be able to manage the transportation it is necessary for it to be viable and feasible for them. The bus routes and timings must be decided keeping in mind the cost incurred for the same.

Fee slots must be created for different routes depending on the distance from the school and other important factors. Students must be categorized under different fee slots to ensure that the school is not incurring losses while providing transportation.

5. Allocate Routes to Students / Staff – The next step involves allocation of routes to staff members as well as students. Schools have to keep in mind that each vehicle has a similar student-teacher ratio or at least ensure that every vehicle has a minimum of two to three teachers, one of which stays in the vehicle till almost the end of the route. This is necessary to ensure the children safety and also helps make parents feel comfortable sending their children in school bus.

6. Manage Student Attendance – While talking about the student safety; it is also very essential to keep a head count of the student and also take a roll call/attendance before reaching the school and also after leaving the school.

The attendance helps cross-check the number of students boarding the bus. Schools must ensure this practice to ensure the safety of the children as they are responsible for their conveyance safety to and from school.

7. Ensure Student Safety – This point has been reiterated many times in this article as the safety of the children holds immense importance. The school takes full responsibility of children’s safety while providing them school transportation and therefore must keep a check on the condition of  vehicles and  speed of the vehicle  as well. Schools must come out with great techniques to help track down children’s safety.

8. Track Bus Location – It is extremely important for the buses to be tracked down at all times. Schools must adopt techniques to track  the vehicle and its staff at all times especially in emergency or mishaps.

9. Integration with GPS Device – One way schools can track down vehicle location is through GPS tracking device. The GPS tracking device is very efficient in tracking the location of  bus, its speed and other relevant details.

This enables the school to stay informed about  driver’s driving efficiency and  condition of the vehicle. This can help them take a timely decision during the time of concern.

10. Generate Various Reports – Integration with the GPS tracking device can enable schools to take out various reports and compare details such as  wear and tear of the vehicles,  speed at which it is driven, etc. These reports help compare the efficiency of routes, timings and driving styles, enabling schools to come up with cost and time effective services for the students while also ensuring their safety.

11. Easy Record Search – School transportation must enable video surveillance as well. By enabling this feature the staffs responsible for conveyance also becomes alert and puts forth their best behaviour. It also helps control student behaviour and ensuring no unnecessary nuisance or quarrels.

The elements mentioned above hold equal importance when it comes to managing the school transport efficiently. As we all know it is a job that requires a high level of safety for children while incurring a high cost of accomplishment for the school. 

10 Benefits to School Management in Tracking Their Vehicles

Posted on by TSB Super Admin

In the present times, with the advent in technology, the safety threats are also growing. The most vulnerable population, which is perhaps at the greatest risk of being exploited, is children. Most of the parents feel very anxious about their children when they are out of their homes.

Schools therefore must be extra careful, and ensure that their students are safe. Vehicle tracking systems help in the efficient management of the school resources and reduce the financial burden of the school management. The documentation process and the accountability off drivers are also enhanced. Installing tracking systems therefore is a one-time investment, which prevent future costs and yield a number of advantages.

How Vehicle Tracking System Works?

Vehicle tracking systems connect the vehicles with software that map their movement, their condition and the events inside the vehicle. These are normally attached to maps, which give the driver information about the routes and the traffic conditions. They record and monitor every movement of the vehicle, and give feedback. 

This information, once recorded can be downloaded, and if there is an aberration, immediate notification can be sent to the cell phone of the responsible authority. A misconception is that an elaborate setup is needed to install these systems. However, these systems can be installed in any vehicle and information or notifications can be obtained on any cell phone via the internet.

These systems also present the information in such a way so as to enable easy comprehension and effective presentation. It is a very promising system that can be regarded as the modern day boon as far as the security of the child is concerned.

The following are the specific benefits of using this system to school managements.

The Benefits of Using This System to the School Management Body are:

  1. Increased security

Tracking vehicles can help the school management to ensure the safety and security of their students. One of the major reasons that parents prefer school bus is to ensure safety. Installing tracking devices in vehicles will help the management and parents to be more confident in this regard. The whereabouts of the students in the bus can be known, and in case of an accident or any unforeseen circumstance, the school and the parents both will get informed.

  1. Saves time

One of the most obvious benefits of tracking vehicles by the school management is that it helps save time. It would prevent useless loitering by the driver. The parents can be offered the additional benefit of tracking the vehicles and knowing their time of reaching a particular point. This might lead to more parents choosing school bus for their children.

  1. Decreases costs

A derivative of prevention of loitering is that it might decrease the costs of fuel. Another benefit is that, if a GPS system is installed, it can help the driver know the shortest route, and thus save time and fuel.

  1. Monitoring the driver

It helps in monitoring the behavior of driver by tracking sharp turns, over speeding, sudden breaks etc. This increases safety and accountability. Documentation can also help in dealing with false accusations. The driver will also be more vigilant if he/she knows that the vehicle is being tracked, and reckless behavior might be documented and might lead to punishment. It also gives feedback to the driver as to how he/she can improve her/his driving, thus helping in training.

  1. Sending information to parents can be easier

The parents can be informed if any delays in the bus or any changes in the schedule of the bus. If a child, gets down at the wrong station, or does not board the bus the parents can be notified immediately, thus maximizing the safety of every child.

  1. Better management

Vehicle tracking system can help the school in managing its vehicles in a more orderly manner. It can effectively be known when a child has to be picked up from home, and at what time will they reach school. This is because the traffic conditions and road blockages can be known in advance and better routes can be opted for.

  1. Maintenance of buses

Managements that install vehicle tracking systems can get the real estimate of the condition of their vehicles. This means that they can know in advance if the vehicle requires any repair work and can then act accordingly. The nature and extent of damage can also be known. Action can be taken before the condition of the bus worsens, thus preventing greater costs and the risk of accidents.

  1. Monitoring behavior inside the buses

Installation of tracking facilities and cameras inside the bus helps the management to track the activities inside the bus. This prevents bullying, ragging or misbehavior by the driver. This ensures safety of the students and increases accountability.

  1. Locate vehicles

Tracking systems can enable the management to locate the vehicles. Locating vehicles which are free and can help the management in assigning tasks to these vehicles, thus reducing the “idle time” of the vehicles and optimizing utilization.

  1. Reduce documentation

The tracking systems record and save all details like the distance travelled, the fuel consumed the schedules of vehicles etc. These details, therefore, do not have to be mapped manually and labor time and costs can be made more efficient. The presentation of these details can also be improved and made more comprehensible. The management based on this data can make better decisions and improvements as well as downfalls can be charted.

Therefore, to conclude, vehicle tracking system is a very viable mechanism for the school management.

How TrackSchoolBus App Improves Bus Attendant’s Efficiency

Posted on by TSB Super Admin

Like other employees, bus attendants are also subjected to different kinds of training for the work. The preparation is for ensuring their acquaintance is current with the safety and others types of processes. It is the responsibility of the bus attendants to ensure the students reach their school and home safely. They are also accountable for knowing the common area where their school bus stops as well as for getting familiar with the traffic rules.

TrackSchoolBus App Efficiency

When a bus attendant collects the attendance information of the school students manually, there is a chance for the occurrence of errors. These errors can be easily overcome by making use of TrackSchoolBus Attendant app. The app will not only cover the attendance of all students, but it will simplify the process, as well.

This TrackSchoolBus app will also aid bus attendants in taking school bus attendance in a hassle-free way. The app has all the essential features to make the entire work process of  school attendant a breeze.

Features

Usually, a school administrator can come across two major problems. The first one is ensuring the student safety in school bus. The second concern is the capable administration of their school bus fleet.

Therefore, it becomes the personal responsibility of school administrators to deal with these two concerns in an effective manner. Choosing an efficient school bus tracking app having bounty of beneficial features is the only way to address these concerns.

Some of these features include:

1. It is designed to work well with all mobile devices with the latest operating systems.

3. Easy and safe to use.

4. It has several other features, such as attendance, tracking, as well as with many other beneficial features to improve efficiency of the bus attendants.

5. The console of our school bus attendant app will aid attendants significantly in taking the attendance of students in a stress-free way.

Moreover, the app helps attendant to solve daily attendance related issues like unnecessary waiting for students, marking attendance, reach the bus stop on time etc.

Above all, in absences of a school bus attendant, the driver can take the student attendance boarding the school bus. The entire process will become more scheduled and organized to the minute detail.

Some of the other notable features that improve the efficiency of a bus attendant include:

  1. School bus attendants will be capable of running a planned or an immediate trip effortlessly. They have no need to remember the routes, students’ pickup point as well as the drop points. The app will provide the attendant with all the required details.
  2. Attendants can find the next stop immediately, along with the contact details, address, as well as the child’s image.
  3. A school bus attendant will be capable of assigning new pickup and drop stages easily and quickly.
  4. Both pick up and drop points can be easily updated or customized if there is any relocation.
  5. Every trip gets included in the trip history of the app automatically, as soon as the trip is confirmed.
  6. Bus attendants will get directions for the total trip and they can view the location priority of the pickup-point in Google maps.
  7. The TrackSchoolBus app will provide attendants with the navigation facility, together with planned route and it will guide for deviations with audio alerts.
  8. Attendants can easily note the boarded and missed students easily and effectively.
  9. The announcement feature of the bus attendant software allows school bus attendants to receive vital messages. They will also get voice instructions from their authorities.

Another important feature that makes the bus attendants work more efficiently is that the details of both pick up as well as drop of students will appear on the screen. Moreover, the absence of the students will be automatically updated. Bus attendants can know the subsequent pickup points of students, as the next bus stop will be visible on the screen and who are all going to get in or get down of the bus.

Bus attendants can constantly keep an eye on the kids to ensure their safety. Additionally, they will get necessary instructions from their school authorities to work in an efficient way.

Another helpful feature of the app that allows attendants to work efficiently is the chat facility. They can chat with the school authorities or with the parents of students regarding the present situation of kids and school bus.

The school bus attendant will be capable of focusing greatly on the student’s board at every pickup point. If any kid has slept in her or his seat, and if the attendant does not notice it, the app will not allow completing the trip and show ‘students still inside the bus’ message on the screen.  This will allow the attendants to ensure the student boarding accurately.

Above all, TrackSchoolBus school bus attendant app is safe to use because school authorities and transport manager have the control over their entire fleet even though they are moving. It’s not just a tracking solution for schools; it is the complete package to manage the fleet and users, ensure the safety of students and provides a tension free situation for the parents.

20 Ways to Introduce School Bus Safety

Posted on by TSB Super Admin

School buses are the safest mode of transportation for students to travel to and from their schools. The safety of school buses starts with recruiting qualified drivers and offering them the required training on traffic regulations and on handling the buses safely. School districts should make them understand their responsibility in transporting the school students safely to and from their schools.

Drivers also play an important role in ensuring school bus safety. So while choosing school bus driver, you must be very careful and selective. This is the most vital factor that every school district is supposed to consider while focusing on their school bus safety.

Here are the other 20 ways that a school management can focus on improving the safety of their school buses.

1. Speed Restriction

The transportation division of every school should instruct their drivers not to drive their school bus beyond the specified speed limit. This can be monitored easily by installing a GPS tracking system on their school buses.

2. Unoccupied back seats

If possible, the last two seat rows at the back of the bus can be made empty. This will keep kids free of wounds due to back collisions.

3. Three-Bus Rule

This means that the bus attendant should allow three students at a time for boarding their buses. This practice is particularly important at traffic-prone bus stops. This is because kids are more susceptible to be wounded while getting in and getting out of bus in these areas.

5. Signal

School bus drivers are supposed to signal school kids when the time is safe and suitable for them to cross the road while boarding their buses. Parents should also educate their kids on crossing the road safety.

6. Turning Techniques

School administration should educate their drivers on handling their buses safely during the bends to avoid kids falling down from their seats. This will also prevent the bus from knocking down the oncoming vehicles.

7. Clean floor

School districts should emphasize their bus drivers to keep the floor of the bus clean. This will prevent kids from skidding and being wounded.

8. Seating

Both bus attendants and drivers should ensure that the school kids are appropriately seated. This means that they should check that no part of the kids’ body is projecting the seating aisle.

9. Safe bus stops

School bus drivers have to take utmost care in bus stops where no cars or other vehicles are parked. This can be hazardous not only for students but also for drivers.

10. Distraction

The maximum safety of school bus mainly counts on continuing focused and staying away from disruptions. If students come across any problems in the bus, the driver should first resolve those problems to avoid unnecessary distractions while driving the bus.

12. Safety rules

Communicating the school bus regulations with kids, particularly new occupants, is the key to preserve an organized, safe setting on and around the school bus.

13. School bus backing

School bus drivers should take utmost care while backing their buses. If necessary, they should examine the road in front for any condition that might cause them to back. This can avoid accidental clash with the vehicle standing behind their school bus.

14. Escorting kids

School bus students are more susceptible when they are outside the bus, mostly when they have to cross the road. In such cases, school bus attendants or drivers should escort kids across the road to ensure safety.

15. Driver responsibility

Drivers should drive their school buses with the maximum responsibility. They should communicate with their transport manager whenever there are changes in the road or bus stops. 

16. Tipping the drivers

School administrators are supposed to offer useful and helpful tips to their drivers every morning on driving their buses safely. This will remind them about overall school bus safety.

17. Bullying

Bullying is one of the things happens in the school bus. This is because school kids are more vulnerable to bullying when they are in the bus rather than outside. So, to avoid these, school districts should educate bus staff on how to handle these situations in a well manner.

18. Bus check

Both the attendants and drivers should check their school bus whether any kid is still inside the bus after the completion of trip. Therefore, the best way to avoid this problem is marking attendance of kids when they enter and exit their bus.

19. Safety Vests

School management should instruct the school bus drivers and attendants to wear the reflective security vests. This will allow them to perk up protection in school bus lots.

20. Evacuation training

School administration should offer necessary training to their school bus students on the way to evacuate their school buses if any untoward incident happens. This is important for the elementary level students.

GPS Trackers Vs Bluetooth Trackers – Which is More Beneficial

Posted on by TSB Super Admin

As a tracking device, a GPS device is really useful in a vehicle. It could really highlight about position of vehicle, its movements, and location. Immensely fruitful in recording the location, the data gets stored in the tracking unit. It could also get transmitted to a central location database. It is even more helpful through its connection to internet that ultimately could get inserted to mobile devices and used as SMS and GPRS.

Bluetooth tracking came into existence with the evolution of Bluetooth low energy technology. As the technology developed leaps and bounds, Bluetooth tracker was ultimately available as an invention in technology. The tracker is available with a stable connection and little consumption of power.

A Comparative Analysis

Price – When it comes to price, Bluetooth trackers are comparatively cheaper. GPS trackers are costlier and those are available with added subscription fees. The cost of a GPS tracker could vary according to the coverage plan that the user needs. But the Bluetooth trackers do not require any additional fees.

Connection range – GPS tracker always has a constant connection and it could give an updated location at any time. But the Bluetooth trackers could only operate within the maximum range of 200 feet. Such trackers rely most on the strength of the Bluetooth signal between the tracker and the device.

Battery life – Most of the Bluetooth trackers require only small amount of power consumption. Only a few amongst them are available with replaceable batteries. The rest of the Bluetooth trackers have only lifespan of one year and those require replacement after that. But some of the companies give discounted renewal programs after that. In comparison to this, GPS trackers have more power consumption, although those are rechargeable and last maximum up to 3 days.

Sound Alerts – Most of the Bluetooth trackers begin ringing, when the users begin looking for them, using their phones. The users could also put those to use by making their missing phones ring. This gives you the privilege to find the exact location of the device, while making a search in the vicinity. But GPS trackers do not come usually with sound alerts but those having sound alerts included have a higher range of price.

Geofencing – GPS trackers could allow the user to establish more than one area, where he/she could get important notification about the activity of the tracker. Bluetooth trackers are confined to tracking when the user is in the range of the Bluetooth signal. The trackers could send notification when the user is in or out of Bluetooth connection range. As the signal is discontinuous, which could at times take place; even the users keep the tracker and device next to each other.

Community help – All the Bluetooth trackers come with community help. Through this facility, the user could ask other tracker users for help when the Bluetooth gets disconnected. The GPS trackers do not give community help as the user gets the continuous connection to either your device or to an external device.

Dimensions – Bluetooth trackers are available in the shapes of coins and those could even be thinner than a credit card. The basic idea behind manufacturing them is to keep them attached to key rings and wallet without the intention of adding any extra weight to the user’s regular necessities. The integrated technology with them could make them depend on the user’s signal from the Bluetooth and hardware inside the devices.

The intention of the manufacturer is to make it lighter to give it a long life. The GPS trackers are bulkier in their sizes as those have more technology and options for recharging inside and for this, the devices need more spaces to accommodate everything. Although, smaller ones are available, those are also comparatively heavier. Though, the manufacture’s idea is to place more capabilities inside such devices, GPS trackers are a little heavier to get carried inside pockets.

Life of the Battery – Both Bluetooth tracker and GPS are rechargeable devices. Life of battery mainly depends on the use by the users. With careful use, the batteries could have really longer lives.

Which one is better- A GPS or Bluetooth?

A Bluetooth tracker gives its best performance in limited and everyday work spheres.  For example, if the user is not able to find his/her key, wallet, or cell-phone which is really tough to find, the Bluetooth t   racker could really connect to the phone and notify the user about its present location. If the user loses his/her key, the tracking app could help the user to locate it. It would intimate about the last known location. The user could simply go to the location and ring the item to know the exact location.

To add to it, a GPS tracker fits best in bigger and open areas and the user is not exactly familiar with the places.  For example, if the user has lost its costly camera and he/she does not remember the exact place, he/she could track it via app would show the exact location of the camera. The user of the camera could retrieve it at any point of time.

As the data gets transmitted through satellites in space, the device would stop notifying about the exact location as soon as the tracker gets close to the lost item within 10 meters due to bad weather. The same could also happen inside a building where internet or tracking facility simply stops functioning.

As both the devices have their specific uses, it is definitely a wiser decision to make combined use of both of them. While tracking has existed in the last decades, excellence in technology could bring in advanced applications in tracking technology. As it has now multiple uses, both Bluetooth and GPS could give combined benefits in every field of search activity.