School Bus Fleet

2 weeks ago | schoolbusfleet.com | Steve Mitchell

When Marc Galbreth, owner of Leading Source Transportation (which runs school buses in the New Orleans area), launched his fleet operation, he faced a familiar dilemma — expanding a bus fleet without stretching his budget too thin. His solution? Buying quality used buses instead of costly new ones. Galbreth discovered he could save as much as 60% on initial costs, proving that used buses aren’t merely a compromise but a financially strategic choice.

1 month ago | schoolbusfleet.com | Maggie Clancy

The federal funding outlook for electric school buses (ESB) is at best uncertain, and school bus fleet managers are looking for alternatives. The good news is that there are numerous pathways open to help them switch to electric bus fleets and deliver clean rides for students. These include state and regional funding opportunities as well as innovative private financing solutions.

2 months ago | schoolbusfleet.com | Sam Kraft

Every school day, thousands of buses hit the road, carrying students to and from school. Behind every trip is a transportation team working to keep students safe, vehicles reliable, and operations running smoothly. But managing a school fleet comes with significant challenges. For years, school districts have relied on manual record-keeping, periodic inspections, and reactive maintenance to manage their fleets.

Nov 12, 2024 | schoolbusfleet.com | Steve Saltzgiver |Sara Burnam

A top priority for school bus fleets is keeping buses on the road to maintain route efficiency, despite limited funding and an aging fleet. Maximizing asset availability and implementing effective fleet management metrics, preventive and predictive maintenance programs, process mapping, workflow optimization, and a robust replacement strategy can significantly improve operational efficiency.

Oct 24, 2024 | schoolbusfleet.com | Wes Platt

As parts prices rise, so do tech wages. This and more in the results from School Bus Fleet's 2024 Maintenance Survey. Survey HighlightsThe average starting wage for school bus technicians among this year’s respondents rose $1.85 per hour compared to last year’s survey. Respondents who reported annual salaries rather than hourly wages were paid an average of $50,650. Tech pay sees another increase, with an average hourly wage of $23.81 in 2024 -- up about $2 from last year.