Thirteen school districts statewide are using wireless tracking technology on their buses to provide information on vehicle diagnostics and location, improve student safety and deliver real-time information to administrators and parents.
The technology by Synovia Solutions varies depending upon each district’s, said officials at Verizon, whose network is being used for the tracking solutions.
Those solutions include Synovia’s Core GPS technology, which gives detailed information for each bus in a district’s fleet, and sends alerts to transportation staff to ensure, for example, that drivers travel at safe speeds and stop at railroad crossings. It also sends information to school officials about each bus’ location and the time and duration of each stop a bus makes during a route. Live engine diagnostics reports engine updates before a problem worsens and could result in more costly repairs and vehicle downtime or even stranding students while on route.
Some districts also are using Synovia’s Time and Attendance tracking solution. It gives drivers the ability to clock in or out from their driver’s seat, and it also aims to reduce fuel consumption through a dashboard control that highlights issues such as excessive idling.
“Parents entrust us each day with the safety of their children, and this solution aids in our ability to manage a fleet of 300 school buses on a daily basis with advanced monitoring capabilities,” said Scott Denton, transportation director for Durham Public Schools. “I now feel as if I’m riding alongside each of our drivers — morning and afternoon.”
According to Verizon, districts in the state using Synovia technology include Buncombe, Burke, Durham, Franklin, Harnett, Jones, Stokes, Wilson and Forsyth counties.
