There have been multiple advancements in technology over the last few decades, and it’s evident that we’re in the midst of the AI revolution now. It’s hard to think of an industry that hasn’t benefited due to technological innovation, and student transportation is no different.
Student transportation platforms have been around for a while, with some leading providers having 40+ years of experience!
What Is a Student Transportation Platform?
A student transportation platform is a software that helps you handle all transportation operations. This solution allows school transportation teams to streamline communications with internal and external stakeholders, while driving efficiencies across the board.
In this article, we look at how a student transportation platform can help drive efficiencies at your school district.
Optimized Routes
Using school bus routing software can result in cutting down the number of buses and eliminate redundant routes. After all, with the budgetary challenges in student transportation, it’s important to be as efficient as possible.
Modern student transportation tools can analyze your routes and leverage AI to find optimal routes that save time, fuel, and shorten the distance for each run.
No More Cluttered Desks
Do you sometimes struggle to find documents because they’re o’t where you thought they were? With technology, you don’t need to keep a million handwritten documents in your file cabinet.
With a few easy clicks, you can find information on which driver is absent, all route information, and a trail of all communications.
More Time on the Road
If your buses aren’t on the road, odds are they’re in the shop getting some work done. Every transportation team wants their buses on the roads, with a driver and having the maximum possible ridership.
With the ongoing school bus driver shortages, it’s more important than ever to utilize your resources effectively. School bus fleet management software allows you to do just that:
- Maintenance Reminders: Know when each bus is due for service, with detailed records of its service history.
- Reduce Lead Time: Order parts ahead of time so you don’t have to wait to service and repair your fleet.
- Track Costs: Monitor costs for each bus and easily conduct cost analyses for every job based on various parameters.
Improved Communication
Student transportation teams need to talk to a lot of people in a day; both within the department and parents. Student transportation software can streamline communications with both stakeholders:
Internal Teams
Platforms that offer mobile apps and online portals are the best ways to coordinate with your team. It allows everyone to be on the same page when they start the day and makes it easy to relay important information across the department.
Dispatch can update drivers of any route changes or delays. Similarly, transportation staff can relay information about new routes that drivers may have to cover due to unexpected circumstances, such as a driver not showing up or a bus breaking down.
Parents
One of the biggest challenges with transportation departments is dealing with parent phone calls.
Having a parent app for school buses that enables live location tracking can help reduce incoming parent phone calls. Parents can receive live updates on where the bus is and get information about delays without calling the transportation department.
More Control of Your Finances
It’s important to keep a close eye on finances in student transportation. Even if a single bus operating inefficiently can significantly impact the overall budget you have to keep things running smoothly.
Financial planning tools for student transportation can help you stay within budget by providing insights for every route. With that information, you can run
“what-if” analyses to make the right decisions.
Final Thoughts
Running a transportation department is challenging. That’s why BusPlanner offers a comprehensive student transportation platform with all the tools designed to meet your district’s needs. Learn more about how we’ve driven operational efficiencies for school districts across North America!
