increase risk instead of reducing it,” she said. “Imple- menting technology without training is like handing someone’s safety gear without instructions. If you want fewer incidents, better compliance and stronger buy- in, training must be considered part of the technology investment, not an optional add-on.” Training, she noted, builds trust. The district placed
instructors at different transportation centers so drivers can ask questions, get refreshers and receive help with technology adoption.
Easing Drivers In Chris Reeder, transportation supervisor for Accomack
County Public Schools in Virginia, said the district was extremely short-staffed and with zero technology when he joined three years ago. He said his first step was im- plementing routing software, which has since helped the district reduce about 20 or 30 routes to its current 100. The district serves about 5,000 students and transports 3,500 via 65 buses. The software, he said, had essentially paid for itself by creating more efficient routes and reduc- ing the number of routes the district needs to cover. He said driver retention is still a challenge, but the is- sue has shifted. During COVID-19 shortages, the district
hired almost anyone who could get a CDL. Now, Reeder is focused on making sure drivers are the right fit and retraining staff around current expectations. He said some retention challenges are tied to older drivers who are less comfortable with technology, especially as the district moves from paper timesheets to digital tools like tablets, GPS and student ridership. He is intentionally rolling out technology in phases
rather than all at once to create buy-in and so drivers have time to adjust. He first implemented Samsara GPS then routing software and tablets. Next step is adding student ridership. The slower approach, he said, helps reduce stress on drivers. While he noted that technology can help with re-
cruitment and retention because it makes the job less intimidating, training drivers remains a major focus. He acknowledged that some drivers, particularly longtime or older employees, are resistant to the shift from pa- per-based processes to tablets and digital timesheets. “Some [drivers] are not as technology savvy, so I’ve been hitting some hiccups there,” he said, adding that he plans to lean on lead drivers and other employees who are more comfortable with the systems, training them first so they can help their peers in smaller groups. ●
26 School Transportation News • JUNE 2026
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