- HALO platform rolls out nationwide with 40,000 tablets to boost efficiency, safety, and on-time performance
- New “Rate My Service” feature launches empowering families to help improve service quality
- First Alt expands to meet growing demand for specialized student transportation needs
CINCINNATI (July 30, 2025) – First Student, the company setting the standard for innovation in school transportation, is preparing for its largest school year ever. As the largest, safest and most reliable provider, First Student continues to be the trusted partner nationwide serving more than 20,000 schools across North America with a fleet of 46,000+ buses and 46,100 drivers. Amid growing student populations and rising service demands, the company remains committed to delivering safe, reliable, and technology-enabled transportation. Its integrated technology platform supports everything from routing and navigation to hiring, training, safety, maintenance, and the transition to electric school buses, creating a seamless and connected experience for students, families, and districts.
This year, First Student is taking a major step forward in technology integration, expanding its award-winning HALO technology platform across all buses and school districts for the 2025-26 school year. This includes the deployment of more than 40,000 driver tablets that streamline operation with pre-trip and post-trip inspections, turn-by-turn navigation, and verified child check, and ensuring students get to and from school safely and on time. HALO also helps tackle one of the industry’s most pressing challenges: the driver shortage. The platform supports a more efficient driver recruitment and training pipeline to help identify candidates faster, guide them through training, and increase first time CDL pass rates.
In addition, First Student is rolling out its new Rate My Service feature, giving families and students the ability to provide real-time feedback on their transportation experience directly through the First View app. This new tool helps improve service quality, enhances accountability, and builds stronger trust between drivers, districts, and the families they serve.
“At First Student, we believe the journey to and from school should be the safest and most dependable part of a student’s day,” said John Kenning, CEO of First Student. “The value we provide is rooted in our uncompromising focus on safety and our commitment to setting the highest standards in innovation. We’ve built the most advanced and trusted transportation solution in the industry, one that empowers drivers, brings peace of mind to families, and provides school districts with the reliability and trust they need to support each student’s success.”
The company’s commitment to innovation extends beyond the big yellow bus. First Student’s alternative transportation solution, First Alt is rapidly expanding to meet the growing demand for flexible, high-quality transportation options for students with special needs, those experiencing homelessness, out-of-district students, and hard-to-serve trips. Every First Alt driver must meet rigorous state, local, district, and First Student standards before ever servicing a trip. Drivers are prepared to handle a wide range of student needs, including behavioral challenges and specialized equipment requirements. Through the HALO platform, districts and First Alt management have access to custom dashboards that give users real-time visibility into each trip, alerting them to delays, missed check-ins, or substitute driver needs. By delivering equity and consistency in every ride, First Alt ensures that every student has reliable access to education.
During the 2025-26 school year, First Student expects to:
- Transport 5.5+ million students each school day
- Serve approximately 20,000 schools across North America
- Operate student transportation services in 44 states and 8 Canadian provinces
- Employ 46,100 professional drivers
- Deploy 40,000 tablets as part of its HALO technology rollout
- Reach a record 10 million electric miles driven by the end of the school year
- Hit 700,000 downloads of the First View app
- Launch the new “Rate my Service” feature through First View
- Equip more than 50% of its alternative transportation service with AI-integrated onboard cameras
First Student’s reliability is built on a foundation of proactive maintenance, comprehensive driver training, and a culture of safety that’s second to none. This disciplined approach delivers consistent, high-performance service and has earned First Student the best safety record in the industry. With advanced tools like AI-powered route optimization, predictive maintenance, and real-time GPS tracking, First Student continues to set the standard for safe and transparent student transportation.
About First Student
First Student is reimagining the school bus experience for 5.5+ million students across North America every single day. As the undisputed leader in K-12 transportation, the company is on pace to complete 1 billion student rides during the 2025-26 school year, delivering not just students, but confidence, reliability, and peace of mind to families and school districts alike. Backed by a workforce of highly trained drivers and an industry-leading fleet of 46,000+ vehicles, including electric buses, First Student is a mission-driven partner in education. Recently named one of Fast Company’s 2025 Most Innovative Companies, First Student offers cutting-edge services including special needs transportation, AI route optimization, fleet electrification, vehicle maintenance services, and charter services. First Student’s impact extends beyond logistics: every ride is designed to be a safe and supportive space where students can start their day with a great experience. With innovation at our core, First Student is driving the future of student transportation one ride at a time.
Contact
Brenna Rudisill