experienced manager might say, ‘I’ll fix two things today and the rest later,’ but every time you bring that bus back in, you’re wasting 30 to 45 minutes just getting set up again,” he said. Despite the success of predictive analytics, the chal- lenge of misdiagnosed predictions remains. When a predicted issue can’t be confirmed, a technician will of- ten cancel a service alert. Such instances may later lead to a parts failure or vehicle breakdown. AI is poised to resolve this issue by analyzing patterns in canceled predictions and subsequent failures. Predictive data can identify and provide additional training to techni- cians who are prematurely dismissing alerts. “That has made all the difference in the world. Now it is


deadly accurate. It saves us a ton of money,” Hawkins said. Beyond efficiency, Hawkins said predictive analysis


data is a boost for technicians, who thrive on pride and competition. Achieving the company’s bronze, silver and gold ranks for preventive maintenance compliance are already strong motivators. “These are people who grew up racing cars, restoring


classics. They love their craft. When they take pride in their work, the entire company benefits,” he added. Ensuring vehicles are maintained at the right time,


preventing misdiagnoses and costly trial-and-error repairs, and reducing overhead with meticulous inven- tory control through predictive analysis has delivered tangible results, Hawkins said. First Student’s main- tenance costs, measured as a percentage of revenue, have decreased to 7.3 percent from 9.5 percent in 2016. Meanwhile, customer satisfaction has improved as school districts have rated the fleet’s maintenance quali- ty higher than ever, Hawkins shared. Jackson addressed potential concerns that fleet managers might have about information security and privacy even as it’s used in the big picture to create ben- eficial benchmarks. “When you’re dealing with data in general, especially


if you’re looking to use AI to work through patterns and for that benchmarking purpose, you have to consider specific jurisdictional privacy laws, by state, by country,


by region,” he said. “We’re a global company, so we defi- nitely have to be very much aware of that. You’ve got to actually anonymize and aggregate data.” Jackson, Sawyer, Craven and Hawkins agreed that


ease of use is a priority with data analytics. “That’s really our focus, to make it as simple as pos-


sible,” Jackson continued. “Some districts have been using this technology [for] 10 or 15 years. Others have just started or are just looking at it. That’s the band of experience we work with. But we generally look at it in different categories like fuel efficiency, especially when you’re an initial user of the technology, reduced costs, enhanced safety, productivity, and compliance.” Kathy Hillman, director of transportation for Bellevue


City Schools in Ohio, said she relies on the predictive data analysis of Transfinder’s Servicefinder software to track fuel imports, vehicle mileage and usage, tires, and repairs. Easily and accurately compiling that information is integral to receiving all appropriate state funding. She described Servicefinder as “200 percent better and


easier to use” than systems she’s used in the past. Noting 19 years of experience using transportation software, she added, “I know the difference.” The data-analyzing software provides a layer of security. “It makes me comfortable because I know fuel is going to the right bus, and my buses are being maintained properly. I can see the gas mileage and if it’s normal or it’s not panning out as it should. It could be the driver’s idling excessively, or I can alert the mechanic that it could be a leaky gas tank,” Hillman said. “The software empowers that. I don’t know how you survive without some type of program. I don’t ever want to go backward.” Predictive analysis represents a quantum leap in fleet


maintenance. First, technicians lacked data and the ability to gather it. Then, early software platforms gathered infor- mation but couldn’t necessarily figure out what it meant. Today, a mountain of data can be instantaneously sifted, sorted, analyzed, and put to its most-effective use. “Fleet managers are trying to manage their fleets and


operations better. AI is here and it’s ready for them when they’re ready to start using it,” Jackson said. ●


Fleet managers are trying to manage their fleets and operations better. AI is here and it’s ready for them when


they’re ready to start using it. - Chris Jackson, Geotab


34 School Transportation News • APRIL 2025


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