Is School Bus Tracking Responsible?

With any capital expenditure, you have to weigh the costs and benefits.  School bus tracking is no different.  School bus tracking, using a GPS tracking system, requires an initial investment in hardware and a monthly tracking cost (at least in most cases - the exceptions aren't usually practical).  

To properly start a GPS tracking program for tracking school buses, a district needs to make a legitimate commitment of capital.  So, the key question is whether this is worth it or not.  

Certainly, given what I do, I believe school bus tracking is well worth the investment.  But, don't assume that my arguments are wholly based on my desire to gain income from the sale of GPS tracking.  Rather, consider the arguments for school bus tracking on their own merit.

The first thing to consider is the safety of students riding school buses.  School buses are now equipped with cameras to see the inside of the school bus and a system to ensure that a driver walks to the rear of the school bus after turning off the engine to be certain that no students remain on the school bus at the end of the day.  But, these devices do nothing to ensure that a school bus is being driven responsibly.  GPS tracking of school buses accomplishes this.  School bus tracking, using a GPS tracking solution, allows administrators and dispatchers to know when a driver is speeding and when a driver has left route for some reason.

In addition to tracking the school bus using GPS, it is possible to track the students.  For instance, SchoolBusRoster.com offers a simple solution that can tell school administrators when students have entered and exited a school bus.  And, by using the GPS tracking in tandem, school bus locations can be matched with the entry and exit locations of the students being tracked.  All of this is done with the highest regard for the privacy of the students.

Another thing to consider in relation to school bus tracking is cost savings.  School bus tracking with a GPS tracking system can alert school district officials to excessive idling, speeding, taking longer routes, and unauthorized use of school buses.  Fuel savings alone could pay for the cost of the GPS tracking units and service.

In the end, the number 1 issue is the safety of the students riding school buses.  That alone makes school bus tracking a thing to seriously consider.  The number 1 killer of teens in America is automobile accidents.  I hope we can avoid as many as possible on school buses.

Take care,

Steven Van Ooyen

CEO-Track What Matters

www.SchoolBusRoster.com