school bus tracker Archives

9 Ways To Reduce School Bus Transportation Costs

Posted on April 24, 2019 by TSB Super Admin

Schools and school districts are constantly on the look-out to reduce operational costs wherever possible. The reduced budgets given to schools prompt them to cut costs in areas that do not directly affect classroom studies. School Bus transportation costs thus become a target when school administrations seek to curtail their expenses.

Bus transportation costs depend on the age of the fleet, wages, maintenance expenditure,fuel-consumption, insurance charges. This comprises of 80% of the total cost.Capital costs include purchase cost of new vehicles and cost of fleet replacement. Operating a school bus fleet at optimal efficiency has a direct impact on the costs saved.

Methods to reduce school bus transportation costs

1. Reducing the number of buses

Operating a fleet of school buses is expensive. The best method to reduce costs is to reduce the number of buses in operation. Trimming the fleet automatically decreases driver wages, fuel consumption, wear and tear of vehicles etc. These factors contribute enormously in saving costs.

School-Transport-Software--Ensure-enhanced-student-safety

Efficient route management is the most practical way to lower costs without hampering the quality of service provided.The best model in cost-cutting serves to get students to school efficiently while optimizing transport times.

2. Route management

Transporting pupils to schools is a complex matter. Technological advances have helped school administrators tackle the issue with considerable ease. Software systems are used to develop bus routes. Some schools still do the route mapping manually.

Schools have to periodically review their bus routes in terms of the actual number of students using the bus and the total time utilized. Simple adjustments to the previous year’s routes will not help in lowering operational costs.

School administrators cut backs on stops and routes to stay within the budget. Minor changes in operations like minimizing trips and routes, often result in great advantages.

3. Trip planning

The number of students at each bus-stop, stop locations and bus capacities has a direct impact on the charting of bus routes. Minimizing the number of trips minimizes the number of buses required.

Trips can be linked together on a single bus route if school start and finish timings are altered slightly. The elementary, middle and high school start and dismissal times are fixed to fall within a certain time slot.

Then it becomes possible to link more trips together on a single bus. This decreases the number of buses required in total. The optimal combination of alternate bell timings and trips results in saving costs and increasing efficiency.

4. Route planning

A method used to increase operational efficiency is route planning. A single route is designed for children of different schools in a school district. Trips of different schools are combined to form one route.

A single bus is assigned to this specific route. This reduces the time the buses run without students on board as well as the number of buses on each route. Each route becomes longer but serves more trips on one single route.

This minimizes the number of routes resulting in lower operational costs. Pollution caused by diesel exhaust fumes is reduced to a large extent. This model is viable where schools fall under the purview of one governing authority and the services of a centralized bus company is utilized. Private schools which own their own buses might not be open to this model.

5. Walking School Bus

‘Walking School Bus’ is a new concept which has been adopted by neighborhoods in the US. When rerouting to optimize costs, some of the routes closer to the schools get eliminated. In such cases, students along those routes group together and walk to school under the supervision of an adult.

The parents and children like the idea of walking as it is healthy. Students feel energetic and fresher. Most often students get to school quicker as school buses normally take more time picking up children on their routes.

These students can either walk or bike to school. This enables students staying further away, disabled or otherwise-able students to avail bus services .Student safe zones have to be ensured.

6. Alternative fuel vehicles

States and cities in the US spend roughly $15 million annually transporting children to school. Diesel, that powers most of the buses, is now very expensive.

Governmental regulations on cutting down the pollution, forces one to adopt alternative fuel sources for running vehicles. Propane, CNG and Electric vehicles are available options. Hybrid diesel-electric vehicles, though expensive, are used by some schools.

Cost of vehicles running on alternative fuel is high as compared to the cost of diesel engine vehicles. There is a significant reduction in fuel costs. Air pollution due to diesel exhaust fumes is drastically reduced leaving lesser carbon footprint. Better utilization of the buses can make it viable in the long run.

The buses in the existing fleet can be retrofitted with alternative fuel engines. This can help reduce the initial capital expenditure. When deciding to retrofit, the age of the vehicle has to be taken into account,to gain maximum benefit.

7. Maintenance cost

Regular maintenance is needed to keep the buses safe on the road. Less number of school buses on the road means lesser maintenance of vehicles. Savings on parts, supplies and labor is considerable when the number of buses is minimal.

A maintenance program that can extend the life of buses is essential.Periodical regular maintenance and scheduled preventive maintenance will reduce the incidence of unexpected breakdowns and the costs associated.

Schools and transport companies need to have policies on disposal of buses that cannot serve efficiently.

8. Staff expenses

A reduction in the number of buses will require less number of staff to man them. The reduced number of drivers brings about a huge saving in wages. Efficient routing and time management will reduce overtime costs.

Fleet management software provides real-time feedback and comprehensive reporting enabling safe and efficient pupil transportation.

Using digital software systems for routing, GPS systems for locations, RFID readers for bus attendance; CCTV to monitor bus discipline reduces the need for administrators handling these functions manually.

The one-time capital expenditure to install the technology and equipment required will considerably save on otherwise recurring expenses.

9. Down-side of cost reduction

Re-routing and elimination of routes will leave a good number of students without transport. Cutting bus routes without proper plans regarding student safety will cause adverse effects.

When bus stops or routes are eliminated parents react with anger. They are concerned about the dangers involved when their wards walk or cycle to school. Parents then opt to drop them to school in their cars.

About36 cars are needed to transport an equivalent bus-load of students. This proportionately increases traffic congestion and corresponding air pollution on the roads.

The incidence of accidents is higher among cars increasing the risk of safety. School buses meet with fewer accidents. Their big sizes allow them to withstand damage better on an impact. School buses are considered to be 13 times safer than cars.

School buses in the US alone transport 25 million students, travelling distances of approximately 4 billion miles each year. Decreasing school budgets and rising fuel prices necessitates minimizing school bus operational costs.

It is worth the effort to stream-line the operations to ensure safer transportation of students at minimal costs to the school.

5 Top School Bus Tracking Software Providers Every Parent Must Know

Posted on November 23, 2018 by TSB Super Admin

Child safety and security is a major cause of anxiety for parents in these times.

Parents start worrying as soon as the child leaves home for school.

Whether the bus was on time, did their ward board the bus, did the child reach the school safely, and when the student was dropped back are matters of daily concern. This can be solved with school bus tracking software.

The school authorities are responsible for the child safety to and from schools.

It is definitely a daunting task with increasing numbers of students, buses and routes.

Read also

10 Ways that Helps to Keep Students Safe on the School Bus

The degree of alertness and follow up by personnel at different levels vary, often leading to lapses in the process.

Now technology is helping out in this matter to a great extent.

There are many software applications designed to ease daily activities in almost all spheres of life.

In the school scenario, the most relevant and important one seems to be a specialized tracking system for school buses.

Most software packages have a web-based app for the school authorities and a mobile app for parents, drivers and students.

Now here we are showcasing 5 top school bus tracking software providers

1: TrackSchoolBus

This is an excellent software platform designed for all associated with the child – parents, school administration, drivers and transport managers.

With this, concerned people can track attendance of the location of bus, and pick up and drop off timings.

Parents have the option to change the pick-up and drop off points for their ward(s) with intimations to the driver and school.

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The parent can also apply for leave if the child is sick through this app.

Both the driver and administration are informed. The route can be changed if necessary for drivers to reduce running time.

The school authorities have access to details regarding the driver, route, time spent on the road, list of students present on the bus thus enabling them to put their fleet to optimal use.

Transport managers can plan routes and trips, track every bus and communicate with drivers.

Accidents and traffic congestions along the routes can be viewed and conveyed to both parents and drivers.

With this, transport managers do not have to perform school bus routing, optimization and allocation manually because the system does it automatically as our system is AI in-built.

2: BusWhere

Considered very easy to use and a reliable for parents, the app tells us ‘where’ the bus is located currently.

The bus routes can be viewed on an interactive map.

Parents are notified when the bus is going to reach the stop. They get a minute by minute update on expected arrival time.

It tracks the location of the different buses on the specified routes, the time of arrival and departure from each stop, deviation in route due to traffic delays, expected arrival time at each of the designated stops.

This is of immense help to school administrators.

They have an easy access to information of the buses in their fleet mainly the routes, present location, speed and fuel levels.

With this, if any delay in school bus timing, parents can be notified via messages.

An additional feature of this is that the previous history of the bus can be obtained.

Details thus logged can be downloaded for further analysis too.

3: School Bus Tracker

School bus tracker offers real-time location of buses to both parents and school authorities.

Location of the buses, time of arrival and departure and route changes are monitored.

If any delay, direct messages are sent to parents and the information is also relayed to school authorities.

With this, parents can request for route change.

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The driver can also be notified directly by the parent if the child is sick.

This enables him to change the route accordingly.

Though widely used, this does not monitor the child’s attendance on and off the bus as it does not have RFID.

4: Here comes the bus

Being a bus location sharing platform, it provides the parents and school administration with the exact location of the bus.

The parents can view the scheduled and actual time of student arrival at both home and school.

In case where the bus is delayed, email alerts are sent to parents.

This is a device to track whether the student got on and off the bus.

It will indicate the bus-stop too. ID cards are scanned by students while boarding and exiting the bus. This will provide details of student attendance.

In conjunction with the GPS device, the location is pinpointed and the school as well as the parents is notified if students have alighted at the wrong stop.

5: Applane Real-Time Bus Tracking System

This system is a powerful software for parents to track their child’s bus route, location and timings of departure and arrival.

It offers an option wherein the child can be dropped to the next bus stop in case they fail to drop the child off at the usual one.

Parents are notified of route changes due to delays. They are also informed of any emergency situations or breakdowns.

RFID integration helps in monitoring attendance. An additional feature is the CCTV installed which keeps an eye on both students and drivers.

Unlike others, this can be accessed on mobile devices by the school authorities making it possible to manage their entire fleet anywhere anytime.

Conclusion

These software applications make the school bus fleet management an easy task.

Managed well within the parameters of privacy and security terms, this can be a boon to all.

Both the parents and school authorities can stay updated about the whereabouts of their wards. These providers help to enhance child safety.

11 Awesome Technologies Used in Modern School Buses

Posted on August 29, 2017 by TSB Super Admin

School bus safety is an important topic and there have been debates and discussions over the topic so as to make the school bus journey a safe affair for students. Most schools seek the aid of technology to ensure that their students are safe throughout the journey from home to school and back to home.

With advancement in school bus tracker technologies technology, more and more ideas have come up to handle various aspects of school bus safety.

Here is a list of 11 such school bus tracker technologies used in school buses, at present:

RFID Trackers

This technology has been implemented in most schools in the past few years for ensuring student safety. Radio Frequency Identification Device (RFID) trackers help in student tracking. They provide real-time information regarding the students to parents and school authorities. Students can have the RFID tags attached to their student ID cards. They have to swipe the RFID cards in the card reader attached to the school bus, once they board the bus and when they get down. Every time the students swipe the cards, notifications will be sent via phone to the parents and school authorities. Many parents think that RFID tags invade privacy of students. But, it is a myth. Tracking happens only until the students swipe their cards before they get down the bus, just to ensure that they had a safe journey.

School bus tracker

They utilize RFID and GPS tracking to provide real time information regarding school bus locations. Parents are notified 10 minutes prior to the school bus reaches the scheduled bus stop. Once the student boards the bus, the parents and school authorities are further notified about the journey of the bus. Apart from student safety, reports on speed of the bus, unscheduled bus stops, fuel consumption etc. can also be generated using school bus tracker. All these information can help in judging the performance of the school bus drivers and also in cutting costs in terms of labour and fuel.

Cameras

This technology is meant to keep school bus violators at bay. Sometimes, when a school bus is stopped at a particular bus stop, other vehicles have a tendency to enter the school bus danger zones, thus creating accidents. The latest victim to one such accident is Michael Burgess, an 11 year old from USA. He was boarding onto his school bus in the morning when an over speeding car hit him. The technology involving cameras were introduced to put an end to the issue. Little cameras that are installed into school buses get activated when the bus stops. In case any vehicle passes by, the cameras capture the number plate numbers.

Student Behaviour Tracking System

Bullying in schools is not just confined to classrooms. It can occur in school buses as well. Therefore, it is necessary to keep track of student behaviour in school buses. A student behaviour tracking system can help you with that. This is usually a web communication tool that can help in identifying, analysing, responding to and resolving all sorts of incidents related to student misconduct. The student behaviour tracking system can help drivers and administrators to communicate with parents and students so that they can work together to keep control of the students and ensure that they are safe.

Wi-Fi

Usually, it is students who are teenagers, are usually into bullying and creating all kinds of ruckus in a school. As a solution to the problem, many schools have come up with the idea of allotting Wi-Fi in school buses to keep the students occupied. Now, since most schools are integrating technology to schools, students may have a tablet or a laptop with them. Students can utilize the Wi-Fi in the bus productively to complete their homework or for leisure like playing games. Since student stay involved, they will not have a chance to create unwanted problems in the school bus.

Spouts in Front of Tires

This technology comes handy in places that experience harsh winters. The spouts located in front of the school bus tires can drop sand onto the icy roads. Also, if the roads are really not worth travelling, the buses automatically put chains on the tires.

Digital Cameras

By using the modern digital cameras, you will be able to capture audio as well as video, know exactly the happenings inside a school bus, and keep drivers' attention on the road. Consequently, students' mischief, bullying, disciplinary issues of students, and safety issues can be handled properly with useful evidences.

Computerised Diagnostics

Computerised diagnostics is a useful technology available today. It helps you identify the issues in a vehicle easily and determine the need for vehicle repairs. The problems related to RPM (Revolution Per Minute) levels of the vehicle engine, damages of indicator lights, fuel injectors, improper functioning of oil tanks, transmission issues, gas tank issues, repair of exhaust systems, etc.

Automatic Door Entry System

Most of the modern buses are having automatic doors with push buttons, which is used by drivers to open and close the school bus doors. With the automatic door system, drivers are able to avoid fatigue, shoulder pains, etc.

Air-Cushioned Seats

With the introduction of air-cushioned seats, students and drivers are able to have a safe and comfortable journey. Such seats are useful, especially for drivers as they are able to have finer driving position and lumbar support than earlier.

Mirror Grid Systems

This is a valuable technology as drivers are able to have better vision of the area around the school bus. With the electric grids feature behind the mirrors, the school bus drivers can overcome cold weather conditions. As the grid gets heated, any frozen precipitate or objects will be removed from the mirror, providing a better mirror view for drivers.

Smaller Engines

Just like computer chips, engines are also undergoing massive transformation. When the engines become smaller, its front part becomes shorter. And hence, drivers can see the surroundings well and manage the bus efficiently.

Keeping updated with technology is the best measure a school can take to provide safety to its students. However, it is not necessary that technology can only be utilized in schools to deal with student safety. Technology can also help schools in other aspects of the education field, thus cutting down unwanted costs and maintaining their reputation.

Keep Track of School Bus Drivers with School Bus Tracker

Posted on July 8, 2017 by TSB Super Admin

School bus tracker software can be said to be effective only when your child’s safety is assured to the fullest. So, it is mandatory that school bus drivers are also tracked using the system as they play a major role in the safety of school children. Wouldn’t it be helpful if you get a chance to assess the performance of school bus drivers as well, apart from tracking the location of the school bus and the whereabouts of the school students?

Track School Bus Tracker software can be of great help to school fleet managers in this regard. It offers features that help these managers to keep tab on drivers in the following ways:

Collect Performance Data

Monitoring school bus driver performance is a challenging task for most fleet managers. There are usually no reliable source to know their actual performance other than from the bus travelling students and parents. With school bus tracker systems, these drivers are provided with a driver console, which prompts them to login when they enter duty and log off when they leave.

As GPS data is transmitted by the system to the fleet manager, he will be able to know the speed at which a driver drives, how punctual he is, if he is making unwanted stops or idling too much or braking harshly. All this data is conveniently stored away for future access, probably during performance evaluation.

The system also has parent app, with the provision for parents to rate and comment on each individual driver.

School Bus Travelling Student Safety

The single biggest concern of school bus travel is student safety, and the driver is the best person to ensure it. School bus tracking system has smart route optimization features that can help drivers to quickly reorganize their route in case of difficulty in maintaining their regular routes.

The fleet manager would also be able to provide assistance to him by constant communication through the various options available through driver console.

Restrict Unwanted Usage

As school bus tracker software provides real time location data, it can also be used to spot side trips and other aberrations. Once the drivers are aware of this facility, it would naturally curb such tendencies in them. Even if they do, it can be used as solid evidence of school vehicle misuse.

Monitor Behavior to Students & Parents

It is common for parents and students to complain about School bus drivers. The bus surveillance cameras can come to the aid of school transport fleet managers under such circumstances. In general as well, fleet managers can monitor driver behavior towards students and vice versa.

Vehicle Health and Fuel Economy

A vehicle’s maintenance frequency and fuel consumption largely depends on driving style. Too much acceleration, harsh braking, idling and rash driving can shorten the maintenance period and reduce fuel economy. For large school bus fleets, it can make a significant difference in the short term itself, while it would be unwanted expense for smaller fleets in the long term.

Analyzing the performance of the drivers can be of real benefit to the school management as it will help improve safety, streamline expenditure and enhance performance. Employ our GPS school bus tracker and have a great time managing your drivers and providing safety to your students.

6 Simple Ways to Reduce Fleet Costs

Posted on May 29, 2015 by TSB Super Admin

School bus fleet management isn’t an easy task. To make it fully efficient and less expensive requires tactful strategies. It may be difficult, but it is not impossible. Here are 6 simple ways to a cost-effective and efficient fleet management:

Cut down fleet size

Most schools have more than one school bus riding in the same route unnecessarily. You can cut down the extra school buses and reduce the fleet size. This can save you money in terms of fuel, labour and maintenance.

Cut down distance

Being a fleet manager, your manual efforts can do little about the distance covered by a school bus. Also, improper routing and planning can cause the school buses to travel extra miles. You can take advantage of technology here. Vehicle tracking software such as School Bus Tracker can aid in proper planning of school bus routes. You can also use this software to monitor the use of school buses for unnecessary driving.

Cut down fuel costs

A school spends most of its expenses to buy fuel for its school bus fleet. Sometimes, fuel theft and over fuel consumption can cause the school to spend more than what is required. You can use School Bus Tracker software to find that out. With the help of the software, you can generate reports of fuel consumption.

Using these reports, you can easily figure out if any fuel theft has happened. Also, you can look for areas where fuel costs can be reduced.

Cut down maintenance costs

An unexpected break down can cost large amounts of money. Opt for preventive maintenance to eliminate such circumstances. A maintenance schedule can remind of the next maintenance date in case you keep forgetting the dates. You can use fleet management software to do that.

A vehicle that undergoes preventive maintenance will be fuel efficient and has longer life. Have your school bus fleet inspected at regular intervals to detect parts that need repair. Also, buy and store vehicle parts in advance. This may come handy at times of unexpected repair.

Cut down lifecycle costs

Some schools have the habit of replacing their school bus fleet frequently. This is due to the belief that vehicles when used longer, can lead to increased fuel and maintenance costs. Preventive maintenance can add to the life of vehicles. It can also help in maintaining the fuel efficiency.

Sometimes, early replacement of vehicles happens because older vehicles have lesser resale value. To deal with that, you can consider long term replacement plans. In that way, you can sell the vehicles at a better rate. Also, you can cut down unnecessary costs.

Better driving practices

An accident involving a school bus can cost the school a huge amount. The school will have to pay for vehicle damage, fatalities and also for worker’s compensation if the driver is injured.

Most accidents involving school buses happen due to careless driving by school bus drivers. You may not know about it until someone complains or such accidents happen.

Use School Bus Tracker software to track the performance of school bus drivers. You will get details of over speeding, unscheduled bus stops etc. using the software. Proper measures can then be taken to eliminate such situations.

Hold sessions for drivers to make them aware of the benefits of adopting safe driving practices. This can reduce the risk of accidents.

By integrating technology into fleet management, you can save lots of money. This money can be invested in the betterment of other aspects of a school.

How will Reports Help You in Fleet Management?

Posted on May 26, 2015 by TSB Super Admin

School bus tracking is an important element in school bus fleet management. You can use School Bus Tracker software to do that. But, if you thought school bus tracking is just about tracking the location of a school bus, you are wrong.

By tracking your school bus fleet, you mean to monitor every aspect of a school bus. You look into areas where costs can be cut down, benefitting the school. Also, you can look into the performance of your school bus drivers and do much more. To do that effectively, you need the help of reports that can be generated using the software. The reports give a clear idea of where fuel consumption is high or where the school bus driver has taken a different route.

The reports generated, can be of great benefit to your school bus fleet as well as to you.

Lessen manual efforts

Imagine having to note down each and every aspect of school bus fleet management. Your calculations can go wrong. Also, you will have to maintain lots of records like fuel receipts, service logs, odometer reading etc. Generating reports using School Bus Tracker software can lessen manual efforts. You get all the information from a single source. Also, you don’t have to panic to find information at time of need. You can access the information whenever you want.

Improve productivity

The School Bus Tracker software can be used to continuously monitor the performance of drivers. Reports on over speeding, unscheduled bus stops etc. can be generated using the software. These reports can be used to analyse the performance of school bus drivers. You can look into their low performance areas and take measures to improve the productivity of drivers. Also, when the drivers are aware that they are being watched, they will try to perform better.

Better preventive maintenance

With School Bus Tracker software, you can get reports on fuel consumption, which includes mileage updates. This can give you an idea of the preventive maintenance that has to be done to prevent costly breakdowns later. A vehicle that doesn’t miss preventive maintenance has better fuel efficiency and runs more efficiently.

Reduce fuel theft

You don’t have to put in any manual efforts to track down fuel theft. The reports generated using the software show details of fuel transactions. If a vehicle filled a tank beyond its capacity, it will be notified in the reports. Also, when the employees are aware that the fuel consumption is being tracked, fuel theft can be eliminated.

Cut down costs

Using the reports, you can find out the areas where there you can reduce costs. By effective routing and planning, you can cut down labour costs and fuel consumption. . This is going to benefit the schools budget.

Reports that are generated must be understood by everyone. For that, you must use good software such as the School Bus Tracker. You can get ample and clear information regarding your school bus fleet using the software. This is going to help you in effective fleet management.

Ways to Improve Fleet Driver Performance

Posted on May 22, 2015 by TSB Super Admin

A school bus driver is an important asset for a school. However, some of the practices they follow can cost the school a huge amount. Therefore, it is necessary to enhance the performance of school bus drivers. This can help in cutting down costs, in terms of labour, fuel and maintenance. It can also help in ensuring school bus safety.

Initially, they may refuse to change. But, you can try these tips to improve your school bus drivers’ performance:

Motivate

Being appreciated can boost anyone’s confidence. Also, it will encourage them to strive harder. Appreciate the school bus drivers for their good performances, in terms of driving style, safety measures they take etc. Also, criticize in a positive tone whenever required.

Give feedback

It should be mutual. You can provide feedback to the drivers about their performances. You can engage all drivers while providing feedback and compare their performances in a positive manner. This can instil healthy competition among the drivers. Also, lend an ear to what they have to say. Listen and take necessary actions if they complain about student behaviour problems or any other issues.

Track their performance

Use School Bus Tracker software to track the performance of school bus drivers. You will get all information about their performance, good or bad, using the software. When the drivers are aware that they are being watched, they are less likely to be careless.

Reward them

Acknowledge the school bus drivers for their good performance. Provide them occasional incentives for anything good they do. It includes taking safety measures, reducing fuel consumption etc. You can use School Bus Tracker software to track the performance of the drivers. Reports on fuel consumption, distance travelled, unscheduled stops etc. can be generated using the software. Also, provide them with free lunch on days when they have to stay in schools on days of school trips or the sort.

Seminars

Hold seminars or classes occasionally for the school bus drivers to let them know how a good gesture from their side can be beneficiary. Talk to them about how that can alter their performance to improve fuel efficiency and lessen maintenance costs. Inform them about the policy changes happening in the school, if any, and how it can positively benefit them. Also, give them the opportunity to clarify their doubts and to clear misunderstandings.

School bus driving is one of those jobs where their efforts are not recognized. Rewarding the school bus drivers occasionally with few bonuses or incentives is going to improve their performance. You will get a safe driver rather than huge bills of damages and fatalities due to careless driving. Also, your school transportation services will be improved in the process.

10 Quick Tips to Manage Your Fleet More Efficiently

Posted on May 19, 2015 by TSB Super Admin

Fleet management is not at all an easy task. However, a few right steps by the fleet managers can give big results. While managing a school bus fleet, you have to look into all aspects of it like school bus safety, cost management, driver accountability, etc.

School bus tracking software can help you out in this. It takes just a few smart strategies to manage your school bus fleet efficiently.

Here are certain quick tips for you to manage your fleet efficiently:

1. Technology

You can make use of technology to lessen your efforts. School Bus Tracking software can help in managing fleets efficiently by analysing fuel consumption, reducing costs in terms of fuel and labour, and in ensuring school bus safety.

2. Enhance Productivity

Inefficient planning of school bus routes and poor performance by drivers can increase fuel consumption and can be a threat to school bus safety. If buses do not reach destinations in time, the school’s reputation will suffer. School bus fleet tracking allows fleet managers to track school bus fleet and improve routing and planning.

This can help them to keep track of the school bus drivers’ performance and help improve the drivers’ productivity. It allows drivers to manage their time and reach places without delay.

3. Remind Drivers of their Responsibility

School bus drivers are an important part of a school. However, at times, they can cause problems that can affect the reputation of their school. Therefore, it is necessary to make the drivers aware of their responsibilities.

Using a School Bus Tracking Software can help you track the performance of the school bus drivers. When they know that they are being watched, there are chances that the drivers would be ready to take up responsibilities.

You can thus eliminate problems like unnecessary fuel consumption, inappropriate vehicle use etc. Better driving habits will result in lesser accidents, moving violations and vehicle wear and tear. Also, you can guarantee enhanced school bus safety.

4. Maintain School Bus Fleet on Time

When a school bus breaks down, it takes days to repair it. It can cost the school lots of money and time. Also, you have to substitute another bus on the same route. This can cause delay in the school bus reaching the destined stops in time.

Here, you can use School Bus Tracking Software to monitor the school bus fleet and to schedule the maintenance. Maintenance at the right time can help you avoid unwanted costly breakdowns.

Also, buy and store vehicle parts in advance. It will be helpful during times of unplanned repair.

5. Meet Expectations

It is not easy for a school to maintain its reputation. Every aspect of the school has to be taken care of, to meet people’s expectation. You can integrate technology into school bus fleet management to make things easier and accurate.

For example, you can use a School Bus Tracking Software to track the location of the school bus and performance of the drivers. Thus, you can avoid any kind of anomalies and ensure the safety of students. Also, you can cut-down costs of school in terms of fuel and labour.

6. Fuel Card

You can negotiate in terms of money by directly contacting with a fuel card provider. This will reduce the fuel consumption cost to a larger extent. This also plays a major role in better fleet management.

7. Go Paperless

Reports, permission slips, route maps, student detail were once used to do manually. But luckily, now all these can be stored in the cloud. By doing this, you can easily find the details if needed in the future. This will help you in managing your fleets efficiently as having easy and quick access to details saves time always.

8. Parent’s Satisfaction

Usually parents want the school transport to be safe, comfortable and punctual. But unpredicted traffic in the route can cause delay to reach the assigned bus stops on scheduled time.

This issue can come to an end with school bus tracking system as this system is integrated with parent app with which parents can track real-time location of their kid’s school bus.

9. Lessen Idle Time

Unnecessary idling can waste fuel and increases fleet maintenance costs. There are many things which help to reduce idle time such as turning off the engines when the vehicles are not in motion, obeying anti-idling rules, etc. Reduce the idle time can help you in maintaining the fleet efficiently.

10. Secure your Fleet Drivers

Positive driving habits can improve safety of the fleet driver. Now you can monitor driver behaviour including issues such as hard braking, over speeding etc with the fleet manager app integrated with school bus tracking system.

With this you can reduce fuel costs and can also reduce the risk of accidents resulting in a better fleet management.

Effective fleet management can help you cut down the extra costs. Lower costs can help in improving the revenue which you can invest in other areas of the school.

Things You Should Know Before Buying a School Bus

Posted on March 30, 2015 by TSB Super Admin

Is your school planning to buy a new school bus this year? If yes, here is some information which will help you to make a good choice.

Types of School Buses

a. Conventional buses

These are the bus models that school bus drivers are more comfortable with. Also, mechanics find it easy to work on. The front wheels of conventional buses are in front of the driver, and the engine compartment and hood are in front of the windshield.

b. Transit style buses

These bus models are becoming popular these days. They have a wheelbase of the same length as conventional buses with a larger seating capacity. Transit style school buses can also be made on shorter wheelbases.

There are 2 types of transit style school transportation:

(i) Rear engine buses

(ii) Front engine buses

Rear engine buses are more expensive but can clear any entrance way, without any obstructions. Drivers find the bus comfortable as they do not have to experience engine heat and noise. But, unlike other buses, the emergency door is not on the rear of the bus but on its sides. This will affect the seating capacity.

Ensure the following:

1. Relevant Laws: Check for laws to buy a new school bus or a used one in your country before purchasing it to avoid risks in future. It is necessary to ensure that you have cleared all formalities as a part of the final step to buying your school transportation.

2. Engine Condition: In case you are planning to buy a used school bus, the most important part you have to give attention to is the engine. You have to make sure that the engine is in working condition before deciding on buying your school bus transport. Finding about the usage of the bus in the past is a laborious task. But, it is always best to have details of actual mileage and the service history.

Generally old buses may not have had their engines replaced before they are put for sale. In case the bus you are looking for has had its engine replaced, ask the owner for the documentation.

Also, choose the engine according to the terrain you are expecting the bus to ride on. Generally, all buses may have been built to meet the standard needs. But, sometimes, you may need a more powerful engine. A larger engine does not have to work hard and therefore, lasts longer compared to a smaller engine, which works at its maximum capacity. With increase in engine size, there is a chance of increase in design capacity in transmission. You can ask the manufacture to match the design capacity in transmission.

3. Proper Documentation: This can help you determine the time frame when the engine was replaced, thereby helping you to calculate its future life. You must ask for all necessary documentation before inheriting the vehicle to reduce the risk related to the purchase.

4. Quality Body Parts: School bus safety is important and therefore, you must check every part of the school bus thoroughly before purchasing it. The body of the school bus is to what you have to have to observe closely. Ensure that the school bus is devoid of any rust or corrosion and that the steps are secure and that it has a solid floor. This can also help to determine the longetivity of the bus.

4. Safety Equipments: Another important fact you have to keep in mind is the installation of safety equipments in your school bus transportation to ensure school bus safety. Ensure that it comes with working air bags and anti-lock brakes. Since the passengers are students, it is important to give extra care to them and. Therefore, you can have a school bus tracker installed so that the location of the school bus can be traced and communication with the driver is possible. Also, it can help you to monitor the performance of the driver and fuel usage. This can help you save lots of money as well.

5. Seek the Help of an Expert: Finally, have the vehicle checked with an experienced mechanic to see whether it is in working condition before finalizing the purchase. The mechanic can reveal if there is any problem with the engine, brakes or any other parts.

The Risks

Buying used school buses can be lot cheaper but it is an equally risky affair. Things may go wrong; for example, the warranty might have expired and finding the parts will not be easy as manufacturers may have stopped manufacturing them. But, checking the vehicle history and condition and performing a proper maintenance can control the risks to some extent.