School transportation industry veteran Dan Roberts, who is director of professional services at Transfinder, recently added “author” to his list of accomplishments. Transfinder, which specializes in routing and scheduling solutions, announced that his book “Best Practices in Student Transportation” can now be purchased online.
The book already serves as the primary textbook for Transfinder’s six-week online workforce development class on management logistics, which is taught by Roberts and offered in conjunction with Schenectady County Community College.
It also will be distributed to those who attend Roberts’ workshop on best practices at the company’s Annual Client Conference from May 6–8, in Austin. This year, Transfinder, which is headquartered in Schenectady, N.Y., is celebrating its 25th year in business providing student transportation management systems and services.
In the preface, Roberts describes the book as a collection of strategies that have proven successful in school districts across the nation.
“The concepts were developed through years of dealing with issues and seeking better ways to operate transportation departments,” he said. “I hope that once some of these strategies are adopted, they instill confidence in all who are committed to excellence in the industry that they are on the right path to success.”
The former executive director for long-range planning and business systems for Round Rock Independent School District in Austin, Texas, Roberts has been recognized for his efforts in developing computerized routing systems for school districts. He also serves on the National Association for Pupil Transportation KPI (Key Performance Indicators) Committee and assisted in writing the KPI format for the Council of Great City Schools and Texas Association of School Business Officials (TASBO).
Roberts leads the in-house staff at Transfinder while also working with industry experts to provide various services to student transportation operations, from routing and logistics analyses to implementation.
In her review of the book, TASBO Executive Director Gwendolyn Santiago called it a “must-read” for chief finance officers, chief operations officers and HR directors.
“Dan was recognized as one of the best school transportation directors in the nation for a reason. He knows his stuff!” said Santiago. “Fortunately, he is always willing to share his expertise with others, and this book is evidence of that.”
Transfinder President and CEO Antonio Civitella wrote the forward to the 170-page book, which he said encompasses Roberts’ four decades of experience in school transportation.
“It is our hope that as transportation directors study its content and incorporate the best practices recommended in it, their transportation operation will benefit and they will add even greater value to their districts,” added Civitella.
