As America celebrates its 250th anniversary, what can the history of student transportation tell us about the future?

In this episode of The Route, School Bus Fleet Editor Amanda Huggett sits down with National School Transportation Association (NSTA) Executive Director Curt Macysyn for a wide-ranging conversation on the evolution of the school bus industry, current legislative priorities, and the challenges and opportunities shaping the years ahead.

Topics include:

• Student transportation's place in American history
• The evolution of school bus technology
• NSTA's advocacy efforts on Capitol Hill
• The Driving Forward Act and school bus driver shortages
• Illegal school bus passing and national awareness campaigns
• The Clean School Bus Program
• Artificial intelligence in student transportation
• Why community-minded leadership still matters

The Route is sponsored by ⁠⁠IC Bus⁠⁠, proudly offering vehicles and solutions that are ahead of their class.

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Why are school buses yellow? When did students first start riding buses to school? How did the school bus become one of the most recognizable symbols in America?

As the United States approaches its 250th anniversary, Brad Beauchamp from school bus manufacturer Blue Bird explores the surprising history of the American school bus, from horse drawn wagons to today's connected, technology-driven vehicles, and how it differs from the American transit bus system.

We discuss the rise of the suburbs, school consolidation, safety innovations, National School Bus Yellow, and the role transportation played in expanding educational access across the United States.

Whether you're a transportation professional, history buff, or lifelong school bus enthusiast, this conversation offers a unique perspective on one of America's most recognizable vehicles —and where it’s headed next.

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From trucking to school busing, Craig Beaver is retiring after 43 years in transportation, but not before sharing some hard-earned lessons from one of Oregon’s largest school districts.

In this episode of The Route, the soon-to-be-former Beaverton School District transportation director sits down with School Bus Fleet to reflect on the evolution of student transportation, his experience with alternative fuels and EVs, the rise of AI, and the leadership philosophy that helped shape his department’s culture.

Together, we cover:

• Building a strong transportation team culture
• Driver recruitment and retention strategies
• Electric buses vs. propane and diesel
• How AI could reshape routing and operations
• Leadership lessons from 43 years in the industry
• Managing organizational change successfully andmapping out how not to fail
• Working with unions and resolving grievances
• Preparing the next generation of transportationleaders
• Why kindness and consistency still matter most

The Route is sponsored by ⁠IC Bus⁠, proudly offering vehicles and solutions that are ahead of their class.

🚌 Stay up to date on all industry news and trends at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.schoolbusfleet.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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