Q&A A Noble Perspective


National Express Leader and NSTA President Carina Noble discusses the state of school bus contracting as it emerges from COVID-19, battles inflationary and supply chain pressures


With Ryan Gray | ryan@stnonline.com M


uch has changed for school bus contract- ing since COVID-19 took over the world two years ago, and much has remained the same. Many companies continue to


dig themselves out from a tremendous hole left by the pandemic and school district customers that stopped payments during resulting shutdowns. Perhaps as a result, a market rife with acquisitions of smaller local and regional contractors by large multinational corporations have continued at a blistering pace. It is Carina Noble’s job as senior vice president of


communications and external affairs at National Express and for the last year as president of the National School Transportation Association to communicate the strategy necessary to turn things around. Noble explains how private operators are respond- ing to losing at least a collective $8 million in revenue over the past two years, and it is her post with NSTA to lead advocacy efforts at state capitol buildings and in Washington, D.C. School Transportation News recently posed questions to the 20-year industry veteran regarding how con- tractors are weathering the resulting storm. She also commented on continued acquisitions across North America, as it has grown increasingly difficult to operate as a smaller company amid skyrocketing costs.


STN: Next month is NSTA’s Annual Meeting & Con-


vention in Niagara Falls, New York. What do you forecast the main discussions among members to be? Noble: I expect the main discussions to center around our current issues such as the driver shortage and our efforts to bring solutions to the table, including the current under-the-hood testing requirement waiver for school bus CDL applicants. We recently sought and were granted an extension of this waiver by FMCSA and are hoping to introduce a more permanent solution in the near future. I also expect a great deal of conversation around the


exciting topic of electrification of school buses. We are hosting an electric school bus event to kick off the AMC, as we know this is an important topic for our members


20 School Transportation News • JUNE 2022


and an opportunity to continue learning. Equal access to government funds for contractors is just one of the critical points for our members on the broad picture of electrification. Finally, as we are keenly focused on delivering value to our members, we will be taking the opportunity, while we are in person, to further discuss our strategic plan and the importance of the yellow bus and ways in which we can make student transportation even safer.


STN: What is NSTA’s perspective on the increase in


consolidation of school bus contractors, especially com- ing out of COVID-19, and the resulting pressures that were felt by smaller businesses? Noble: The pressures on student transportation


operators during the COVID pandemic and even now as we continue with schools fully in session were overwhelming. This is why the CERTS Act relief pro- gram, included in the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2022, was such a huge victory for NSTA and our members. This advocacy effort allowed for direct relief to contractors regardless of size, who experienced significant monetary losses during the pandemic. Consolidation isn’t a new issue but one we continue to monitor and ensure that NSTA adds values to contrac- tors of all sizes.


STN: NSTA has said school bus contractor mem-


bers lost at least $8 billion in revenue during COVID-19 shutdowns of schools. How has contracted service rebounded, and what challenges remain? Noble: CERTS helped recoup part of those losses.


Districts have for the most part returned to in-per- son learning, but the challenge of being fully staffed is greater than ever. Rising fuel costs are also a challenge of recent and, as I shared earlier, the driver shortage continues across the industry.


STN: Meanwhile, the supply chain continues to choke school bus operators. What has been the effect on the abil- ity to respond to school district bids for service, especially when the bus companies are smaller or medium-sized?


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