Finding a place in today’s fleets for vans and other non-school-bus vehicles
Written by Mark Rowh
A
s transportation leaders strive to meet com- peting needs, a strategy that’s working for some is the use of multipurpose passenger vehicles (MPVs). In some districts, their use
may be restricted by law, policy or simply a matter of choice—many industry professionals continue to ques- tion safety compared to more heavily regulated school bus construction. Others have moved ahead in using these smaller vehicles with positive results. At the same time, many have found it a plus to incorporate Type A buses into their operations. At Prince George’s County Public Schools in Mary- land, 33 white-fleet, non-CDL vans are used primarily to transport McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act students. Typically, 60 to 80 students are served by the eight- and five-passenger vehicles. “MPVs have been transformational for our service
model,” said Keba Baldwin, director of transportation and central garage. Historically, the district used 64-passenger school bus- es to travel into nearby Washington, D.C., Virginia, and other parts of the region to transport one or two students at a time. “It was an inefficient use of staffing and vehicle re-
sources,” noted Baldwin, the 2025 STN Transportation Director of the Year. “MPVs have allowed us to deliver right-sized, cost-effective and flexible transportation, especially when travel extends beyond county borders.” Their use has also helped address the CDL driver shortage. By shifting non-CDL transportation to MPVs,
28 School Transportation News • JANUARY 2026
CDL drivers can be reassigned to cover open in-county yellow bus routes. “What we value most is the rapid response MPVs allow,”
he added. “We can reassign students to alternative trans- portation within 48 hours or less, ensuring instructional continuity for some of our most vulnerable learners.” In addition, MPVs have contributed to increased mem-
bership in the ACE-AFSCME local driver’s union, and non-CDL holders are cross-trained and can serve as bus attendants when needed. In the urban Pennsylvania environment served by
Pittsburgh Public Schools, multi-purpose vehicles have proven indispensable. Currently the district operates over 440 MPVs in a combination of three- to nine-pas- senger minivans and small SUVs. They’re being used for specialized transportation, McKinney-Vento and foster care placements, and out-of-district or non-pub- lic school assignments. They also come into play with locations not accessible by large school buses. “MPVs are highly effective in increasing routing flexi-
bility, reducing the costs associated with large buses, and allowing for quicker responses to mid-year changes and short-term placements,” said Director of Pupil Transpor- tation Megan Patton. Families also appreciate the reliability and reduced ride times these smaller vehicles offer, she added. The 300-plus fleet at Fayette County Public Schools in Lexington, Kentucky includes 11 MPVs, three of which are used in regular route transportation. “We use the other vehicles as a rescue squad for
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