Lloyd Forbes

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Getting There and Back: Maximizing Bus Route Efficiency and Safety

Posted by Lloyd Forbes on Feb 23, 2017 12:38:29 PM
Whether you’re a school administrator or transportation director, you should be concerned about your school’s bus routing system. While choosing the right bus route can save your students time and ensure safe transportation, failure to consider better transportation routes can cause delays and may even be dangerous. 
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Topics: School Buses, Safety, Student Transportation, Weather

School Bus Conduct: Gentle Discipline for Better Bus Behavior

Posted by Lloyd Forbes on Feb 22, 2017 1:49:33 PM

Most school bus rides go smoothly and remain incident-free. But sometimes students need a little gentle discipline to encourage better bus behavior. What can you do to ensure that all students exhibit proper school bus conduct?

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Topics: Bus Safety, Safety, Bullying, Student Transportation

Want to Save Money and Keep Kids Safe? Put a GPS Tracking Device on Every School Bus

Posted by Lloyd Forbes on Feb 9, 2017 9:47:22 AM

Throughout the United States, school districts are onboarding a GPS tracking device on every school bus in an effort to keep students safe and save money.

These days, a global positioning system (GPS) is seamlessly integrated into smartphones. While paper maps are nice, it is easier to check your phone for directions, estimated time of arrival, and traffic slowdowns along the way. School districts are beginning to take advantage of this technology for similar reasons.

At the start of this school year, Rutherford County schools in Tennessee equipped all 250 of their school buses with a GPS tracking device. The growing school district buses over 25,000 students each day, and that number is rapidly increasing.

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Topics: Bus Safety, School Buses, Safety, Bus Tracking App, Schools, GPS, Weather

Maintaining Your School Bus Shocks

Posted by Lloyd Forbes on Jan 17, 2017 11:36:19 AM

Preparing your school bus fleet for the winter months can save you time by preventing malfunctions and money in potential repairs. One key area of focus that is sometimes overlooked is maintaining and replacing shock absorbers. Failure to inspect and repair damaged or malfunctioning shocks can lead to more than just an uncomfortable ride — it can cause unsafe driving conditions.

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Topics: Bus Safety, School Buses, Safety, Student Transportation, Weather

Winter is Here… Is Your Bus Fleet Ready?

Posted by Lloyd Forbes on Jan 10, 2017 12:17:31 PM

For kids, winter time means hot chocolate, snowmen and, of course, magical snow days. However, for school administrators, frigid days and inclement weather pose many problems. Whether you are a superintendent, school administrator or transportation director, you need to be prepared for hail and snow. This means making sure parking lots, bus lanes, and walkways are clear and salted.

It also means you need to make sure your bus fleet is ready to handle the next few months of slush and black ice. While school buses are statistically safer than other vehicles on the road, they must be kept in proper working condition and able to overcome anything Mother Nature throws their way.

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Topics: Bus Safety, School Buses, Safety, Weather

Are You Interested in School Bus Drivers Education Online?

Posted by Lloyd Forbes on Dec 29, 2016 11:43:22 AM

Have you thought about working as a school bus driver? With convenient training options that include drivers education online, becoming a school bus operator could be the right part-time job for you.

Finding flexible, satisfying employment is often hard to do. If your personality is a good fit for a school bus driver — there may be a big yellow school bus in your future.

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Topics: School Buses

Understanding School Bus Scheduling

Posted by Lloyd Forbes on Dec 20, 2016 9:43:31 AM

School bus scheduling and routing are important transportation features for districts and parents. Fortunately, SafeStop is more than just a bus tracking app. In addition to giving you real-time bus scheduling information, we deliver a bird’s-eye view of the route your child is taking to and from school. Plus – we work with school districts to create efficient and safe bus routing.

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Topics: School Buses, Bus Tracking App

Alternative Fuels = Fewer Trips to the Gasoline Station

Posted by Lloyd Forbes on Dec 6, 2016 8:43:12 AM

Propane, diesel fuel, and electric — fuel options for school district transportation administration have never been better.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), American school buses transport approximately 25 million children more than four billion miles each year. In response to government programs, environmental impacts, costs of operation, and fluctuating gasoline prices, school administrators and transportation officials continue to evaluate alternative bus fuels to eliminate expensive trips to the gas station.

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Topics: School Buses, Student Transportation

Why Do School Buses Have Security Cameras?

Posted by Lloyd Forbes on Oct 11, 2016 11:01:49 AM

Not long ago, the idea of cameras in public places, cars and school buses seemed like science fiction. However, in today’s world, surveillance cameras provide a much-needed service to society. In many cases, the presence of a surveillance camera is enough to deter unruly behavior and prevent bullying or harassment on school buses.

Imagine you have a choice to send your child to school on Bus A or Bus B. Bus A has a surveillance camera that is set to record every morning and afternoon while Bus B has no camera. Which would you choose? Given the fact that 1 out of 4 students is bullied, you would be right to send your son or daughter to school on Bus A.

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Topics: School Buses, Safety

How Long is a School Bus? (Infographic)

Posted by Lloyd Forbes on Oct 6, 2016 10:47:07 AM

Whether you’re a parent concerned about your child’s safety, or a school superintendent looking to cut costs, it is in your best interest to understand what constitutes an appropriate school bus.

While you may know that federal law requires school buses to have certain coloring and markings, you may not realize that school buses can vary in length. Some people believe that larger school buses (regardless of whether they have seat belts) are actually safer in auto accidents than smaller vehicles. The belief is that a larger bus absorbs more force after an impact than a smaller bus.

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Topics: School Buses