scrutinized. And fleets often see measurable improve- ments in safety outcomes and morale as a result.
Retention Through Respect The transportation industry has a retention problem.
Nationally, school bus operators report chronic shortag- es, with turnover rates frequently exceeding 50 percent. Recruitment incentives and signing bonuses help, but they rarely address the deeper issue: How drivers feel on the job.
This is where AI can
play a powerful role, if used thoughtfully. In- tegrated platforms that offer real-time route data, reliable communication and automated scheduling aren’t just operational tools. They’re stress reducers. When a school bus driver
need to focus on their core responsibilities. Respect for their mental bandwidth. It’s tempting to think of automation as impersonal. But
when deployed with the employee experience in mind, it can be one of the most empathetic forms of technology.
Start With the End User Too often, transportation tech is built from the top
down and optimized for operations managers, IT leaders, or compliance teams. But the most successful implementations flip that script. They ask, what do drivers actually need? What do dispatchers struggle with? Where do mechanics waste the most time? Empathy, in this sense,
knows their route will be ac- curate, when help is one tap away, and that their feed- back is acknowledged and acted upon, it builds trust. And trust builds tenure. In some operations, these changes have reduced driver turnover by double digits. Not because of gim- micks or grand gestures but because the technology made drivers feel valued and protected.
If AI is to truly move this industry forward, it must be rooted in empathy—not just algorithms.
becomes a design principle. And when it is, adoption sky- rockets. Engagement rises. Feedback loops get shorter. And frontline staff begin to see technology not as a bur- den—but as a partner.
The Bigger Opportunity We’re at a crossroads. AI
and automation are poised to reshape school transpor- tation over the next decade. But the question isn’t
whether we’ll adopt these tools. It’s how we’ll use them. Will we chase efficiency at the cost of human connec-
The Quiet Power of Automation AI’s most human impact may come behind the scenes. The administrative burdens on drivers and staff, from payroll questions to incident reporting, can erode time, focus and job satisfaction. Enter virtual assistants, workflow automations and smart self-service tools. When designed well, they give employees 24/7 access to the information they need, cut response times and free up staff to focus on meaningful, person-to-person support. This isn’t just about operational efficiency, it’s about respect. Respect for employees’ time. Respect for their
tion? Or will we use technology to elevate the people who make the system work? The path forward requires us to recognize a simple
truth: Buses don’t move students—people do. And when we center those people in our digital transformation efforts, everyone wins: the organization, the employees and most importantly, the children we’re entrusted to transport safely every day. ●
Gaurav Sharda is the chief technology officer for Beacon Mobility companies and in July won the School Transportation News Innovator of the Year Award for his direction of new human-focused AI solutions.
Read more about Gaurav Sharda and his people-centric approach to AI technology at
stnonline.com/go/july25.
www.stnonline.com 57
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