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.

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

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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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Let’s sit down with a true trailblazer! In this episode of The Route, BusRight co-founder and CEO Keith Corso shares how the BusRight platform is transforming student transportation with smarter routing, real-time GPS tracking, and seamless communication between drivers, parents, and transportation teams.

But this isn’t just about technology. Corso shares the personal story that inspired BusRight, how a single bus route can change a student’s life, and why “magical hospitality” is at the core of building better solutions for schools and communities.

Learn more at these links:

👉 https://www.schoolbusfleet.com/news/busright-raises-30m-to-enhance-platform-features

👉 https://www.schoolbusfleet.com/articles/2026-trailblazer-keith-corso-of-busright

👉 2027Trailblazer nominations: https://survey.alchemer.com/s3/8645507/2027-SBF-Trailblazers-Award-Nomination-Form-copy

👉 Learn more and apply to attend SBFX: https://www.schoolbusfleetconnex.com

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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Kathy Calkins didn’t plan on becoming a transportation director, but her journey from school bus driver to Administrator of the Year is a powerful example of what can happen when someone leads with heart.

In this episode of The Route, Amanda Huggett sits down with our 2026 district transportation award winner from North Clackamas Schools in Oregon. Calkins shares how positive behavior strategies, strong relationships, and a hands-on leadership style helped her build a culture where drivers feel valued and students thrive.

In this discussion, you’ll learn:

• Kathy Calkins' leadership story
• How PBIS shifted her entire approach
• The power of listening and building fun intotheir culture
• Tips for learning (and remembering) people’snames
• Navigating change and managing relationships
• Advice for aspiring leaders

This episode is sponsored by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠IC Bus.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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

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- Connect with SBF on LinkedIn ➡️ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/school-bus-fleet/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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EverDriven is expanding beyond alternative transportation and into school bus routing. In this interview, Greg Jackson shares how the company’s new Consolidated Routing Services division is designed to support transportation teams facing driver shortages, tighter budgets, and increasingly complex student needs.

What you’ll learn in this interview:

• What prompted EverDriven’s move from alternative transportation to the yellow bus
• Who qualifies to use their consolidated routing services
• What EverDriven’s new service is, and what it isn’t
• The expertise Greg and EverDriven bring to the new division
• What costs are involved and how little it can take to get to a budget surplus
• Examples of route efficiencies EverDriven can help identify and why it matters
• What the process and implementation for customers will look like
• How success for the division will be measured
• Where school bus routing is headed and AI’s place in the puzzle
• How to be a part of the pilot service

This video is sponsored by EverDriven, which provides safe, small-vehicle student transportation that works alongside district bus fleets, supporting students who need specialized routes or more flexible solutions, including special education, foster care, and McKinney-Vento students.

To learn more and get started with EverDriven’s consolidated routing services, visit everdriven.com or contact Jackson at gjackson@everdriven.com or 945-227-8300.

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If you’re a transportation director tired of bidding everything year after year or wondering whether your district is leaving opportunities on the table, we’ve got just the conversation for you.

In this episode of The Route, Amanda Huggett sits down with Andy Campbell and Steph Eckes from Sourcewell to talk about all things cooperative purchasing. We cover how group purchasing power can help school transportation departments save time, reduce administrative burden, and protect limited budgets.

In this discussion, you’ll learn:

• What cooperative purchasing actually means and what product categories it includes

• How it compares to traditional bids and state contracts

• Why “low bid” isn’t always the best value

• How districts can maintain compliance while gaining flexibility

• Common misconceptions about cooperative contracts and how to get started

This episode is sponsored by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠IC Bus.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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

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Just in time for Minnesota’s School Bus Driver Appreciation Day during Love the Bus month, meet one local driver with half a century of experience driving students.

School Bus Fleet editor Amanda Huggett sits down in Princeton, Minnesota, with Connie Duff, a school bus driver who began her career in 1972 and hasn’t looked back since.

From stick-shift buses and no training to today’s rigorous safety standards, Duff shares how the job has changed — and what hasn’t.

Watch to hear:

• How training has evolved over five decades

• The biggest changes in traffic and safety

• Lessons learned from emergency situations

• Advice for new drivers

• Why appreciation matters

• And why the industry still needs more drivers