DISPATCHpatrol Frequently Asked Questions

🚍 DISPATCHpatrol – Frequently Asked Questions

GENERAL OVERVIEW

What is DISPATCHpatrol?
DISPATCHpatrol is a powerful, cloud-based dispatching platform designed for school transportation departments. It streamlines daily operations by providing real-time visibility into bus locations, managing driver schedules, handling route changes on the fly, and enabling fast communication between dispatchers and drivers.

Who is DISPATCHpatrol designed for?
DISPATCHpatrol is tailored for K–12 school districts, private transportation contractors, and educational transportation cooperatives. It's ideal for dispatchers, transportation directors, fleet managers, and administrators who need efficient, real-time oversight of school bus operations.

How does DISPATCHpatrol differ from routing software?
Routing software builds and optimizes routes; DISPATCHpatrol manages the execution of those routes day-to-day. It handles real-time changes, monitors performance, supports communication, and gives dispatchers tools to resolve issues instantly.

What distinguishes DISPATCHpatrol software from competitors?  

FEATURES & FUNCTIONALITY

What are the key features of DISPATCHpatrol?

• Live GPS bus tracking

• Real-time route status and ETAs

• Automated driver assignments and schedule tracking

• Two-way dispatcher-driver communication

• Instant push notifications to tablets

• Incident reporting and resolution tools

• Parent notifications and alerts

• Route change approval workflows

Can I push last-minute changes to a driver?
Yes. DISPATCHpatrol enables dispatchers to instantly send route updates, stop changes, or messages directly to the driver's tablet or mobile device in the bus.

Does DISPATCHpatrol integrate with driver tablets?
Absolutely. It syncs with BusBoss ROUTEpatrol™ tablets (or other compatible devices) so that drivers receive updated turn-by-turn directions, student manifests, and live changes from dispatch.

Can I view a live map of all buses on their routes?
Yes. The Live Map Dashboard shows every vehicle’s real-time location, speed, status (on time, late, stopped), and ETA updates.

Is there a communication system between dispatch and drivers?
Yes. Built-in communication tools allow for secure, logged messaging between dispatchers and drivers—no radios required.

IMPLEMENTATION & INTEGRATION

How long does it take to implement DISPATCHpatrol?
Most districts are fully operational within 2–4 weeks, depending on fleet size and data readiness. We provide full onboarding support.

Does DISPATCHpatrol integrate with our Student Information System (SIS)?
Yes. We offer seamless integrations with major SIS platforms including PowerSchool, Infinite Campus, Tyler SIS, and more.

Can we integrate with GPS providers we already use?
Yes. DISPATCHpatrol supports integration with leading GPS vendors like Zonar, Synovia, Samsara, Geotab, and others.

Is DISPATCHpatrol part of BusBoss?
DISPATCHpatrol is a companion product to BusBoss routing software. It enhances BusBoss route plans with real-time operational tools but can also operate as a standalone dispatch system with API connectivity to third-party routing solutions.

PARENT & SCHOOL COMMUNICATION

Does DISPATCHpatrol notify parents about late buses?
Yes. If integrated with the BusBoss PARENTpatrol™ app, parents receive real-time alerts about delays, estimated arrival times, and last-seen location updates for their child’s bus.

Can school offices access DISPATCHpatrol updates?
Yes. We offer a limited-access portal for principals, secretaries, and front office staff to view route delays, ETAs, and student bus assignments.

SECURITY & DATA

Is student data secure in DISPATCHpatrol?
Yes. DISPATCHpatrol follows FERPA and industry best practices for data security, including encryption, role-based access, and secure hosting.

Is DISPATCHpatrol cloud-based or on-premise?
DISPATCHpatrol is a secure, cloud-based platform accessible from any browser. No on-premise infrastructure is required.

What user roles and permissions can be set?
Custom roles can be configured for dispatchers, admins, drivers, office staff, and IT users—each with different access levels and capabilities.

SUPPORT & TRAINING

What support is available?
DISPATCHpatrol customers receive:

• 24/7 emergency technical support

• Weekday live chat and phone assistance

• Onboarding training and user guides

• Dedicated customer success manager

Is training included with DISPATCHpatrol?
Yes. Onboarding includes remote or onsite training sessions, documentation, and videos for dispatchers, drivers, and admins.

COST & PRICING

How much does DISPATCHpatrol cost?
Pricing is based on the number of students, vehicles and locations. It typically starts at $1,000 per year per site with unlimited users. For a custom quote, contact our sales team.

Are there any additional fees?
No hidden fees. Optional services like tablet provisioning, onsite training, or data conversion will incur one-time charges.

Is there a live demo available?
Yes. Schedule a live demo to experience DISPATCHpatrol in action with your team.

TECHNICAL & DEVICE COMPATIBILITY

What devices can run DISPATCHpatrol?
DISPATCHpatrol is browser-based for dispatchers and compatible with Android or iOS tablets used by drivers. BusBoss ROUTEpatrol™ tablets are fully supported.

Is there a mobile app for drivers?
Yes. DISPATCHpatrol connects to the ROUTEpatrol™ mobile driver app for navigation, student info, and communication.

Does DISPATCHpatrol work with older hardware?
Minimum device requirements include Android 9+ or iOS 13+. Older tablets may experience limited functionality.

🛠️ Troubleshooting – DISPATCHpatrol

Why can't I log in to DISPATCHpatrol?
Check the following:

• Ensure you’re using the correct login URL for your district.

• Verify your username and password (case-sensitive).

• If using single sign-on (SSO), ensure your school account credentials are active.

• Clear your browser cache or try logging in from an incognito window.

• Contact your district’s DISPATCHpatrol administrator to reset your credentials if needed.

Why is the Live Map not showing vehicle locations?
This can occur due to:

• GPS devices not transmitting (dead battery, poor signal).

• Bus ignition is off or GPS installation is faulty.

• DISPATCHpatrol not receiving data due to integration errors.
  ✅ Try:

  • Refreshing the map.

  • Confirming the GPS unit is powered and connected.

  • Contacting your GPS provider or DISPATCHpatrol support for sync verification.

Drivers are not receiving route updates on their tablets. What should I check?

• Ensure the tablet is connected to cellular or Wi-Fi.

• Confirm the driver is logged into the correct app account.

• Verify that the route change was saved and pushed in DISPATCHpatrol .

• Check if the tablet app is up to date.
  📞 If all else fails, restart the device and re-sync the app.

ETAs may be skewed due to:

• Poor GPS signal or stale location updates.

• Incorrect route or speed data.

• High traffic conditions not reflected in the system.
  ✅ Solutions:

  • Confirm the vehicle is following the assigned route.

  • Recalibrate route timing using recent historical trip data.

  • Enable traffic-aware routing if available in your GPS provider integration.

The system is slow or unresponsive. What should I do?
Try the following:

• Close unnecessary browser tabs and refresh the platform.

• Check your internet connection speed.

• Clear browser cache and cookies.

• Use Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge for best compatibility.
  🛑 If the issue persists, contact DISPATCHpatrol support for backend diagnostics.

How do I report a software bug or request a feature?

• Use the built-in “Feedback” or “Help” button in the DISPATCHpatrol dashboard.

• Or, email support@busboss.com with detailed steps to reproduce the issue and a screenshot or screen recording if possible.

Why isn’t my student manifest updating in the driver’s app?
Check for:

• Missed nightly sync between DISPATCHpatrol and your SIS.

• Manual student overrides not saved properly.

• Driver tablet not connected to the internet.
  ✅ Re-sync student data manually from the admin panel if urgent.

I accidentally deleted a driver or route. Can it be recovered?
Yes. Deleted records are soft-archived for 30 days.

• Go to Admin Settings → Recovery Archive.

• Search by name or ID and restore the record.

• Contact support for recovery if the archive period has passed.

Driver tablet is stuck loading or crashing. What now?

• Force close the app and reopen it.

• Ensure the tablet OS is updated.

• Check available storage—clear old route data or media files.

• Reinstall the app if needed.
  📲 For persistent issues, provide device make/model to support.

What if GPS data isn’t updating?
Check device connectivity and GPS provider integration status. Our support team can assist with diagnostics and resolution in real-time.

How do I recover a driver’s forgotten login?
Admins can reset passwords from the DISPATCHpatrol  user management panel instantly.

What happens if the internet goes down at dispatch?
Data is cached locally and syncs once connectivity is restored. Driver tablets continue operating with the last received routes.