Why You Need a School Bus Tracking App

How much oversight do you have over your buses, while they're on the road? If one suddenly came to an unexpected stop or deviated from its route without warning, how long would it take you to know?

For too many districts, the answer would be "a long time." Without being able to directly track buses on their routes, they're left with little way of overseeing bus's progress aside from relying on radio reports. And if the bus driver is unable -or unwilling- to radio in, they're basically in the dark. 

Fortunately, there is an alternative. School bus tracking systems, based on a GPS unit which is constantly reporting the bus's location, are a robust and easily-implemented technology. They are still somewhat expensive to roll out, but they bring major long-term benefits which easily justify the expense.

Why Every District Should Be Considering School Bus Tracking Systems

Instant Information About Every Bus's Status:

Why leave anything about your buses to chance? With GPS tracking systems in place, tied to a map of the area, you'll always know exactly where your buses are - within a few feet! Better yet, you can set up alerts that will let you know if the bus stops unnecessarily, deviates from its route, or otherwise shows worrisome behavior.

Faster Emergency Response:

When you know where your buses are with precision, that means you can also quickly dispatch help when it's needed. Having precise location data, and instant alerts if something is wrong, potentially means lives being saved.

Access From Anywhere:

The data from the GPS unit can be streamed to your home office, or to a smartphone app, or to almost anywhere else you want. You could potentially even give parents the ability to directly check on their child's location for themselves. That cuts down on calls to the office!

Gain Precise Performance Data:

Another major benefit to bus tracking is that your performance data gains extra depth, with extra-precise mileage calculations, braking distance data, and other useful diagnostic information. This makes bus maintenance easier, as well as giving you more options for performance optimizations like reducing fuel use.

Monitor Driver Behavior:

Sure, your drivers are supposed to be stopping for every stop sign and railroad crossing - but are they really? With school bus tracking systems, you will be able to monitor their driving habits and make sure they're always driving legally. 

In short, school bus tracking systems can quickly pay for themselves in terms of their overall benefits, especially in terms of optimization and preventing driver misbehavior.

Has your district tried GPS tracking? Let us know how it went in the comments below!