Depending on whom you talk to, the language used to reference their operation and maintenance has evolved to include GTC (Ground Traffic Control), TCU (Telematics Control Unit) and MRM (Mobile Resource Management), among other things. They can indicate the requested status of any part of their operation, and in some cases, they can even give voice to their responses. These solutions tell us who their occupants are, where they’ve been, where they’re going and how quickly they’re getting there. They can even tell us where it hurts.
These heightened abilities and the capability to process the information prompted Frank Gazeley, vice president of client relations at Transfinder, to comment that the transportation departments that process the information “resemble NASA control centers.”
The I.Q. of the “Big Yellow” has increased exponentially over the years in response to growing demands for more safety, durability and cost-effective operations. Its evolution has been nothing less than remarkable when the technology driving its Renaissance is analyzed.
“Today’s buses are equipped with a wide variety of technologies that enables transportation departments to determine the health of the bus,” said Gazeley, “It’s not just about horsepower anymore— it’s computing power. The yellow buses may not look all that different over the years, but what’s inside these vehicles is a different story.”
Gazeley is referring to telematics, the fleet management technology that allows technicians to perform engine diagnostics, determine speed and monitor fuel consumption as well as measure idling time, location, braking patterns, fast starts, open-door alerts, stop-arm deployments and camera failures. Some school districts are beta testing rearview back-up cameras so bus drivers can see what’s behind the bus, while others are pondering the use of voice recordings to give students safety instructions and other directions. Besides increased safety, durability and efficiency, the technology also seeks to lower the total cost of ownership during the life of the bus.
Much of the technology is interchangeable. According to Navistar, the open architecture feature of its OnCommand™ Connection will work with nearly any current telematics solution.
THE BRAINS OF THE OPERATION
The “brain” that monitors how the on-board technology is performing and relays the information to computers in the operations center via a software program is the GPS unit, the nerve center of the bus. Most of the GPS/fleet management systems operate in a similar fashion depending on the specific information the school district wants to collect.
Erin Lake, marketing communications manager for Blue Bird, noted school buses have evolved with technology that increases efficiency and provides savings. “We provide technology options that can, in real time, capture a bus’ every move, track student ridership, ensure a bus receives timely and necessary maintenance, report a bus driver’s actual time worked and track a bus’ daily route – all from one consolidated system,” Lake said.
“At Blue Bird we strive to add innovation that makes a difference,” added Phil Horlock, the company’s president and CEO. “Blue Bird Connect offers so many compelling features that make a difference, such as informing a parent that their child will be home in five minutes, or a mechanic that the bus’ diesel engine requires servicing tomorrow, or that a driver just went off their route. It is all about making every day easier and more efficient — that’s what we care about at Blue Bird.”
Bill Westerman is the vice president for sales and marketing for Synovia Solutions, which produces the software for the Blue Bird Connect fleet management system. Westerman said not only can GPS tracking devices be connected to sensors that monitor features such as flashing lights, cameras and doors, but it also does it in real time. “A tracking device puts out information from the sensors so we can tell when the engine is on or off,” Westerman said. “The
vehicle’s location is broadcast every 30 seconds, and it’s all in real time, so it’s sort of a breadcrumbs effect.”
Ron Cimo, principal transportation consultant for AT&T, took it a step further, saying that using GPS to track buses can improve logistics and minimize costs by accurately reporting bus locations and providing real-time
data that allow fast response to breakdowns, accidents and other emergencies. “Real-time visibility into vehicle location can help transportation managers better plan routes, comply with district policies and save money on fuel by reducing unnecessary mileage,” Cimo said. “MRM solutions let districts monitor bus speed, improving passenger safety and driver accountability, and even stay on top of vehicle maintenance.”
THINKING SCHOOL BUSES?
Manufacturers and educators are impressed with the intuitive technology of today’s school buses, but they stopped short of saying the bus have the ability to actually think. Instead they agreed that the bus provides more insightful
information for transportation officials to utilize in their thinking. Zonar produces a Web-based fleet management system it calls Ground Traffic Control.
“The technology enables us to make better and faster decisions because it provides information student transporters did not have before,” observed Andrew Johnson, Zonar’s vice president of marketing and sales. “Part of the evolution is that now we can make sense of all the data and we can use it to actually make better decisions.”
Zonar also partnered with Thomas Built Buses to provide from-factory telematics solution in Thomas’ Saf-T-Liner C2 school bus.
Synovia’s Westerman described the relationship between technology and humans as symbiotic because as technicians analyze the information provided by technology, they can make more intelligent decisions on what additional information to program the bus to monitor. “The system requests information necessary to make changes to operate more efficiently,” he said. “Without GPS, you wouldn’t have the opportunity to learn this information and make improvements such as eliminating routes and boundary changes.”
Nick Grandy, vice president of Quantum XXI, said buses cannot think all on their own and that the human factor should not be minimized. “When you add the technology, everything comes alive,” he added. “At the end of the day,
school buses can be very intelligent, but you still need that valued driver to make it the best it can be.”
A PARENT FRIENDLY BUS
Tracking student ridership is important to parents and to school districts that get reimbursed with state and federal funds based on the average number of students transported each day. Dave Meeuwsen, transportation director for Zeeland Public Schools in Grand Rapids, Mich., uses an RFID system called Z-Pass Plus produced by Zonar to track student ridership. Each student is issued an ID card that is read by a scanner whenever they enter or exit the school bus.
“Our website is on the back of the pass we give to students so parents can log in and sign up to receive a notification,” Meeuwsen said. “The scanner reads the pass, and a message is sent to the parent by email or text message, telling the parent their child is on the bus and when they get off.”
Katy Pennington is happy the district system is available. Pennington has an 8-year-old son and a 7-year-old daughter enrolled in the Zeeland district. She is also a high school principal in a neighboring district, and her husband is a teacher and a football coach. Both leave for work while their children are still asleep.
“The nature of my job is that I don’t have even have time to talk to my mom who gets them ready for school,” Pennington said.
Now, Pennington is automatically sent a text message when her children enter or leave the bus. She also has the ability to log in to the transportation department’s website to track her children. “I love it,” she said. “It’s become my
new normal. Other parents are very envious of my ability to this. They are amazed at the technology, and I remember how amazed I was when I first learned about it.”
Scott Bennett, national strategic opportunity manager for Sprint, said very few districts are actually providing parents with real-time location information for either the bus or their student.
“This is mainly due to the additional costs required to track students but also due to security concerns around the implementation of such programs,” Bennett said. “For instance, schools have to start verifying that the parent receiving student information is entitled to that information. Think custody battles gone awry. Schools are very wary of this type of legal exposure.”
WHAT’S NEXT?
Evolution is a constant process, so school buses will only get smarter as the technology that runs them continues to develop. Transfinder’s Gazeley said the constant pursuit of better addressing client needs makes it imperative that no one sits on their laurels.
“Companies like Transfinder cannot rest on successful products from the past being enough to service school districts’ needs in the future,” he said. “We have an R&D department that is constantly focused on anticipating what the needs of school districts will be. Things don’t stand still.”
Quantum XXI’s Grandy added that he thinks buses will start coming with the hardware installed and the end user can simply add the software vendor they want. “I think it is our job never to be stuck on one type of equipment, but to be open to using anything that a customer wants,” he said.
Synovia’s Westerman said he envisions heads-up displays so the driver can see information displayed on the windshield. “New technology is being developed every day that could migrate to the school bus,” Westerman said. “And
we’re always looking for opportunities to enhance safety and efficiency.”
