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GPS and Its Impact on Your District’s Budget
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GPS and Its Impact on Your District’s Budget

April 17, 2017

At least 23 states in the U.S. will provide less general funding to school districts in 2017 than when the Great Recession started in 2008 (2016 Study from Center on Budget and Policy Priorities). And with technological innovation booming across the globe, school districts are asked to provide more cutting-edge education solutions with money stretched thin already. Even if your district does not suffer from funding stagnation, finding every efficiency is key to providing blue-chip educational opportunities.

So what do school buses have to do with saving money?

Plenty.

GPS-equipped school buses give you control of two major cost-savings components: payroll and fuel/engine performance.

Payroll Efficiencies

Knowing when buses leave the yard and when they return supplies you information to easily cross-reference employee timestamps. Not only does it allow you a back-up reference, but GPS start/arrive data records trends to schedule staff accordingly. A fully-staffed and accurate schedule improves employee morale and can keep your transportation operation running efficiently.

Fuel/Engine Performance

‘Lead foot’ behavior can damage brake elements (pads and other metal components) which makes them less effective and leads to higher maintenance costs if you’re replacing brakes more often. When a school bus stops suddenly, it reduces the life of brake pads, suspension, clutch and the exhaust system.

Did you know that in city driving, nearly 50% of the energy needed to power your car goes to acceleration?

hard stops.starts 40%Using continuously captured GPS satellite information, we can discover “lead foot driving,” hard stops, and excessive idling behaviors by drivers. All of these behaviors increase fuel consumption and increase emissions. Whether your own people analyze the GPS data or you hire someone to do it for you, GPS units allow a kind of freedom and transparency for school districts, but it also improves service.

If you have questions about GPS on buses or are interested in how First Student can help you find these efficiencies, please contact us.