on fault codes that are integrated into maintenance records for buses, Clem noted. Much more detailed data on vehicle usage is then available for the mechanics to make decisions, especially with older buses in the fleet. “Having API working for you is a huge benefit,” added Zonar’s Ben
Hohmann. “Your maintenance software can only do so much. With the data that Zonar provides, you can take a proactive approach. Then that extends to other solutions, like video. They all need to communicate with one another.” Seon traditionally was known for its video camera systems, but it is now
one of a growing number of technology providers that are working on turn- by-turn navigation for school bus drivers, among other advances. “A navigation system in a car is just thinking about an efficient path to
get from one place to another. When you’re doing navigation for a school bus, safety is the most important factor,” said Justin Malcolm, director of product development. “Directions should follow the rules of the district it is being used in, which isn’t what most in-cab solutions are programmed for. If there is an accident or construction and rerouting is necessary, the navigation follows district-specific rules, such as avoiding certain roads.” Seon representatives said the company understands that its custom-
ers work with other solution providers. If a district has GPS from another provider, Seon will work with those GPS systems and even maintain data so that each vehicle has a full data history. “That way, a district could migrate to us over time or choose the best solutions from various providers and still have the benefit of an all-in-one system. This protects their existing invest- ments,” added Malcolm. A challenge many school districts encounter is adopting new technology
in newer school buses, while continuing to run legacy vehicles that don’t have the same bells and whistles. Operating multiple generations of buses is a complex requirement, Malcolm said. “With engine computer integration or driver performance data, older vehicles can be a challenge,” he noted. “Newer buses are definitely easier to work with, so that can be a factor in deciding whether to update older buses. There may be a problem with different gen- erations of products.” Malcolm added that there may be no way to avoid having two or three
different data plans when older vehicles need one particular plan and new- er vehicles require another. “The OEMs are working on developing a more connected vehicle,” he confirmed. “But in the meantime, you definitely want a provider who either works across all the niches in transportation software or who offers an integration strategy.” Meanwhile, Southwest Allen County Schools in Indiana is switching to
Transfinder, for one total solution for routing, said Transportation Director Steve Lake. The district is planning to implement the Stopfinder bus location as well as other solutions from Transfinder on tablets. “The driver will have a photo of the student at each stop. On field trips,
the driver can punch in the job number and have turn-by-turn directions to get to the football game,” Lake explained. “Also, we are going to use the tablet for pre- and post-trip and payroll functions. We are switching from paying by the route to paying hourly, so the tablets will be used for the drivers to punch in and out, and then we’ll add the time for the pre- and post-trip inspections.” Once again, integration and ease of use is key. “What makes Routefinder Plus unique is that it can run on any browser,” said Antonio Civitella, Trans-
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www.stnonline.com 25
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