SPECIAL REPORT
Setting the Bar
HIGH
When contracting with third-party transportation carriers, high expectations and clear communication are just part of a good relationship
Written by ERIC WOOLSON
F
leet managers looking forward to a much- anticipated, post-pandemic “return to normal” are likely to encounter some situations that will be anything but business as usual when
outsourcing services, alternative transportation experts cautioned. For many districts that are holding most or all of their classes online, the pandemic may be the calm before the storm. “Districts need to be preparing for that now. We’re
already having those conversations just to be ready,” said Megan Carey, chief development officer at ALC Schools. “We’re preparing for it with many of our partners.” Though ALC traces its origins back to routing taxis, the
company quickly evolved 20 years ago to utilize drivers of passenger vehicles to transport select students with dis- abilities or students who are experiencing homelessness, populations that prove to be especially challenging and costly for school districts to manage. The company now boasts over 400 school district customers across 22 states. Carey said she anticipates some districts will expe-
rience their worst-ever driver shortages, particularly because many drivers have been unable to renew their commercial driver’s licenses, and numerous drivers have retired during the pandemic. That’s where ALC’s drivers,
26 School Transportation News • MARCH 2021
which are company employees, factor in. “I think the driver shortage is going to be a really big
issue,” said Carey. “A lot of districts have needed a part- ner during this time. We’ve done a lot of meal transport and other things. Getting a partner on board and ready for whatever is coming is going to be important.” She underscored the importance of recognizing
the “difference between transporting students and transporting children,” especially when selecting a third- party carrier to transport children with disabilities. “There are two parts to the question. The first is know-
ing what to do to track quality of service, and the second is compliance and regulations,” she said. “Do your research to make sure [the carrier] is in line with all of the state’s regulations, but don’t stop there. For example, if your district requires specialized training for your bus drivers with a specific student population, that won’t be exactly the same [for a third-party carrier] because the driver is in a smaller vehicle and not behind the wheel of a bus. But your regulations and training should run parallel. The same goes for vehicle inspections.” Carey emphasized that intelligent risk mitigation en-
compasses issues that were around before COVID-19 and will involve more challenges in the pandemic’s wake.
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