Long Island’s Will Smith Named State School Bus Driver of the Year

Will Smith received his award for School Bus Driver of the Year at the New York Association for Pupil Transportation conference in July. Credit: Newsday By Kevin J. Redding Newsday After guarding inmates for 20 years, retired correction officer Will Smith was just looking for an easier job. And weekends off. But Smith, who started […]

Nuvve’s Largest DC Fast Charger Order To Power New England School Bus Fleet

Beacon Mobility subsidiary NRT Bus will use 25 Nuvve DC Rapid HD Charging Stations for new electric school buses in Lawrence, Mass. SAN DIEGO, July 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — Nuvve Holding Corp., a global leader in vehicle-to-grid technology and deployments, will supply NRT Bus, a member of the Beacon Mobility family of companies, with 25 bi-directional Nuvve DC Rapid HD Charging Stations for Lawrence Public […]

The Human Element: Making things better for employees, customers

On April 26, School Transportation News rolled out a podcast, featuring Beacon Mobility CEO Judith Crawford. During the podcast, the discussion revolved around the importance of training and partnerships, marketplace trends, and how to maximize support for both her team and the school districts that Beacon serves. Listen in on the podcast, to learn how […]

Welcome back to school. Your new driver is wearing fatigues.

National Guard soldier Richard Gibbs transports students to and from middle school at Morris H. Seigal Clark Avenue School in Chelsea, Mass. on Sept. 30.

CHELSEA, Mass. — When Sgt. Phillip Hickman served as the crew chief on a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter, he was responsible for maintaining the aircraft, firing a mounted weapon and overseeing everyone on board. His current mission involves a different kind of cargo: middle-schoolers. On a recent afternoon, Hickman was sitting behind the wheel of […]

Mass. National Guard steps in to aid in school transportation

Massachusetts National Guard begins training for 7D certifications to begin transporting students.

READING – It usually takes longer than one day to become a school bus driver but more than 60 members of the Massachusetts National Guard were able to go through the entire process Tuesday at Camp Curtis Guild and they’ll be ready to hit the streets this week. Sixty-seven members of the National Guard left […]

She’s in the driver’s seat and the kids love it

Ginger Caggiano sits in the driver seat on a school bus.

DRACUT — From the driver’s seat of the school bus she’s driven here for nearly a half a century now, Ginger Caggiano has been a dutiful, gasoline-powered lesson in longevity, dedication, and street-smart diplomacy. She’s the smiling fixture behind the wheel, opening her yellow doors to generations of children who have used crayons and pencils […]

School Bus Companies, And Drivers, Face COVID’s Financial Fallout

Row of yellow school buses lined up in a parking lot

School bus driver Maureen McAlear loves her job, but it’s not what it used to be. Hybrid school schedules and few after school activities mean drivers are working — and earning — less. McAlear, who is a union steward for her fellow drivers, said they rely on full pay and the extra driving to make […]

Haverhill Schools, NRT Outline Safety Steps as School Buses Begin Rolling this Term

Front view of yellow school bus

School buses will soon be rolling through Haverhill. Yesterday, the school administration published the bus routes for this year. School Assistant Superintendent Michael Pfifferling reminded the School Committee last night that because of social distancing and other COVID-19 restrictions, coming up with a schedule was a puzzle and, for the first time, requires students have a […]

On school buses this fall: masks, open windows, and distanced seat assignments

Row of yellow school buses lined up in a parking lot

Students will have to don face coverings to board school buses this fall, but they will each get an entire seat to themselves to maintain social distancing, under new state guidelines that will dramatically reduce ridership and complicate reopening plans for many districts across Massachusetts. The seating restriction — instead of the usual two or […]

Pentucket community members deliver signs to graduates

Small family celebrating high school graduation

Superintendent Justin Bartholomew and Pentucket High School Principal Jonathan Seymour recently shared that administrators, volunteer parents, first responders and community members from Groveland, Merrimac and West Newbury came together to spread some cheer among the senior class. Approximately 180 seniors were greeted by administrators and parents who rode buses decorated with banners that read “Class […]