GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Blue Bird Corporation and Synovia Solutions announced a new option to activate GPS fleet management solutions via a package installed at the factory to help customers reduce total cost of ownership.
“Blue Bird is pleased to offer this exciting school bus innovation that provides customers with the ability to maximize their fleet’s efficiency and deliver significant operational savings,” said Phil Horlock, president and CEO of Blue Bird Corporation. “Innovation and safety are at the forefront of all initiatives at Blue Bird and with this core premise, we partnered with the best GPS fleet management provider in the business, Synovia Solutions. Blue Bird Connect allows districts and contractors to save thousands of dollars each year. It is truly a smart choice for efficiency and savings.”
Blue Bird Connect is an option that can be activateed at no upfront cost, as all pre-wiring is performed at the factory, or added to existing buses, regardless of brand, said Blue Bird. The GPS offers core functionality including comparative analysis, student tracking, a parent portal, safety reporting, engine diagnostics and fuel economy tracking. Blue Bird also said Blue Bird Connect includes “unique features that are not available from the competition,” such as integrated driver time and attendance with plan versus actual comparisons, dashboards of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), the ability to schedule the delivery of reports to management and the all- inclusive monthly fee per vehicle with no upfront costs.
“Synovia Solutions is excited about broadening our reach into the school market with an OEM solution and teaming with Blue Bird,” said Jon King, CEO of Synovia Solutions. “Their vision for providing value-add to their customers with an OEM GPS fleet management solution fits strategically with the Synovia Solutions strategy of reaching into the market directly and with partners who place the same value on quality, service, safety and saving.”
Kevin Kneafie, director of transportation at Tippecanoe School Corporation near Indianapolis, said GPS from Synovia Solutions has saved his district an estimated $10,000 to $15,000 each year, “just with our field and athletic trips alone.”
