I
t should be obvious to everyone: Transporting students is a costly enterprise. But what’s not so apparent? The invest- ment behind the scenes. “One of the biggest hidden costs in pupil transportation
isn’t always the buses themselves,” said Anthony Sims, executive director of transportation at Fort Bend ISD in Sugar Land, Texas. “It’s aging infrastructure, outdated equipment and inefficient systems operating behind the scenes.” He noted that when districts make strategic investments in
areas like maintenance facilities, fuel systems, energy manage- ment, and data analytics, they don’t just modernize operations. They reduce downtime, improve efficiency, extend asset life and create measurable long-term savings. “The right infrastructure isn’t an expense,” Sims said. “It’s an investment that pays dividends year after year.”
Efficient Shop Technology One area where the right investments can make a difference is
shop technology, such as lifts. The team at Fort Bend has evaluat- ed the use of both inground lifts and mobile column lifts and has settled on the latter. “While inground lifts provide a clean workspace and excellent accessibility, mobile column lifts have offered greater flexibility for our operation,” Sims said, notingthe flexibility they provide in servicing multiple vehicle types and adapting shop configura- tions as operational needs change. “From a safety perspective, both inground and mobile lift systems can be highly effective when supported by proper maintenance procedures and technician training,” he continued. “Mobile lifts also offer advantages in space utilization, as they can be relocated when not in use, allowing for greater flexibility within the maintenance facility.” Sims added that the mobile column lifts have contributed to
improved maintenance turnaround times by allowing quicker vehicle positioning and the creation of temporary work bays when needed. While inground lift systems typically require a greater upfront investment for construction and installation, mo- bile column lifts offer a lower initial cost and greater scalability as fleet needs evolve. “One of the most important lessons learned is that facility infrastructure should be planned with future fleet growth and operational demands in mind before making significant invest- ments in any lift technology,” Sims said. Meanwhile, the recent addition of mobile column lifts at
Wireless mobile column lifts at Washoe County School District’s new Getto Transportation Center in Sparks, Nevada has similarly improved efficiency.
Fremont Unified School District near San Francisco, California has added valuable flexibility to existing lift infrastructure that includes both in-ground and fixed column lifts, noted Ernest Ep- ley, director of transportation. The equipment is proving valuable in supporting the district’s diverse fleet, which ranges from golf carts and passenger vehicles to school buses and commercial dump trucks. “Having multiple lift options allows us to perform a greater
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