What Can the BusBoss Navigation App Do for Your School Bus Drivers?
published on January 28, 2025 by Sonia Mastros
Transportation Management Software, bus scheduling software, school bus scheduling software, school bus management software

Bus drivers have so much to manage during a route: wrangling kids, following the route, remembering which stops to make on which day, not to mention having to drive safely the whole time. Anything which improves their experience, or makes driving easier, will directly improve student safety.
That's why investing in a navigation app for your bus drivers is worthwhile. A tablet-based app can take a lot of burdens off their shoulders, allowing for better bus-driving. In addition, a good navigation app will have data-collection and reporting features that can improve your transportation management overall.
How can BusBoss make your buses safer? Here's what our ROUTEpatrol tablet app can do.
ROUTEpatrol: Your Drivers' Virtual Copilot
1 - Navigation features
At its most basic, ROUTEpatrol performs like a standard GPS system - it displays maps of routes, and offers spoken-language instructions in either English or Spanish.
However, it goes well beyond a typical mapping app! For example, routes can be updated remotely at any time, even mid-route. If your office learns of a major traffic jam which will impact a route, you can send an approved detour to the driver before they even see the problem.
2 - Another method of contacting drivers
ROUTEpatrol also allows you to send notifications to drivers on-route. This can be beneficial, since they're already looking at and utilizing the tablet during their drive. They don't have to pull out a cellphone or twiddle with a radio, on top of the other things they're operating. Everything they need is in one place, on one app.
3 - Student tracking
Our app is capable of tracking students as they board the bus, regardless of whether they use scannable ID cards. This data is then collected and sent back to your central database, making it easy to collate state reports on student ridership. Proper data tracking can improve your state funding requests!
If you are collecting student ridership, there's even more you can do. The tablet app and BusBoss tie together, so the bus driver will instantly get an alert if something unexpected happens. If, for example, a student tries to get off at the wrong bus stop, the driver will immediately know and be able to stop the student if they're making a mistake. Or, if it's deliberate, you'll have a record of where that student departed if there's ever any doubt where they went.
4 - Protecting special needs students
If multiple students have special needs or requirements, it can be tough for drivers to keep track of their IEPs by memory. The ROUTEpatrol app will recognize these students when they get marked boarding the bus, providing both pictures for identification as well as a summary of their accommodations.
This makes it far less likely special needs students will be neglected, and keep them safe on routes.
5 - Easier driver reporting
ROUTEpatrol even helps drivers keep up with their paperwork. The system keeps detailed stats on their own time and attendance, as well as providing pre- and post-trip vehicle inspection forms that can be filled out within the app.
Bus drivers already work odd hours. This can help cut time off their reporting requirements, allowing them to get a bit more sleep every day.
BusBoss Makes Your Bus Routing Better!
BusBoss is one of the premiere transportation management softwares on the market, designed to make life easier for you and your drivers, while always keeping student safety as the top priority.
To learn more about how the BusBoss suite of applications work, or request a demo, just contact us!