I
t’s that time of the year, when it’s critical to set up routing against the backdrop of changes in bell times and new students—including increasing numbers of students with disabilities—noted Kerry Somerville, CEO of Transportation Planning Solutions. “The beginning of the school year brings on
news reports of late buses, buses not showing up. There’s a driver shortage,” added Somver- ville, who is also the transportation supervisor for Show Low Unified School District in Arizona and used to create routing systems for several vendors. To that end, routing must focus on operation-
al efficiencies, he explained. Somerville spoke on the topic at STN EXPO West in July and in a recent School Transportation Nation podcast. Districts are poising themselves to take his advice.
The School District of Philadelphia will be issuing a Request for Proposal (RFP) for a trans- portation management system, noted Chanice Savage, the district’s director for external and community affairs. The district was previously using Safe Fleet, but the company is now out of the routing business after being acquired by Clarience Technologies last year. “We’re looking for a comprehensive solution
that includes routing, GPS and student verifica- tion,” Savage added. The district serves students across Phila-
delphia County and within a 10-mile radius beyond the city limits. About half of the 200,000 students enrolled are eligible for transporta- tion services. There are more than 2,000 daily routes, including 186 operating out of district depots, 730 from yellow bus vendors, and 1,250 from alternative vehicle vendors. Savage said the district has learned “the value
of having an integrated system where routing, GPS and student verification work together smoothly. This helps reduce errors, saves time and enables a more effective response when issues arise. “It’s also essential to choose a vendor that
provides strong customer service and offers hands-on training to support your team,” Savage continued. “Districts should also plan for growth and changes throughout the year, ensuring the system can handle high volumes and adjust quickly when needed.” A Los Angeles Unified School District spokes-
person said the transportation department has $264.6 million in operating funds budgeted for
32 School Transportation News • SEPTEMBER 2025
6 major routing challenges
According to Greg Jackson, director of client success and industry engagement for consultant School Bus Logistics, six main routing issues are vexing student transporters at school start-up and throughout the school year.
Driver shortages: Route optimization reduces the number of drivers needed, helping districts cope with staffing short- ages.
Decreased budgets: Shifting student populations require regular route evaluation to ensure efficiency and cost- effectiveness.
Route inefficiencies: “Eliciting input from drivers is one of the most valuable tools,” said Jackson. “We have some drivers who don’t want to change their route, but they understand it’s for the good of the department, the district, and students.” For drivers resistant to change, trust and communication are key. “You have to work with them, so they understand we’re here to help and make their job easier,” he said.
Out-of-date maps and boundaries: Maps may only be updated once or twice a year. School Bus Logistics works with whatever map base the district uses, collaborating with transportation teams to verify ac- curacy—especially important when new subdivisions aren’t yet reflected in map- ping software.
Lack of software knowledge: As districts adopt new routing software, staff often struggles post-training. Some people are visual learners, others are more analytical, Jackson explained. School Bus Logistics provides personalized training—either team or individual—to help staff under- stand and apply the software effectively.
Bell times: Conduct bell-time studies to assess stop impact and load counts.
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