During the National School Bus Safety Week, First Student stated that its HALO™ connected transportation platform is helping to improve safety outcomes and supporting drivers across North America.

Cincinnati, October 19th / PRNewswire / -- First Student is the largest student transportation service provider in North America. The company is commemorating National School Bus Safety Week (October 19th to 23rd), with this year's theme being “Safe Rides, Everyday Heroes”. The company stated that it is paying tribute to the drivers and transportation teams who ensure students' safety every day, while also highlighting how its HALO™ connected transportation platform, comprehensive driver training, and student-centered safety programs help provide a safer, smarter, and more closely connected transportation experience for the students they serve.

First Student operates over 48,000 vehicles, safely transporting millions of students daily, with an average daily passenger volume that is nearly twice that of all American airlines combined. To support such a large-scale operation, the company combines technology, training, and operational insights to enhance safety and provide support for the personnel responsible for picking up and dropping off students. At the core of this approach is HALO, which is First Student's proprietary connected transportation platform. This platform connects technology, data, and people, helping teams identify risks, make informed decisions, and continuously improve performance.

HALO supports a more proactive approach to safety management by connecting real-time vehicle information, safety data, and operational insights. These capabilities help transportation teams identify potential dangers, support driver coaching, and discover opportunities for performance improvement. Combined with preventive maintenance, comprehensive driver training, and ongoing coaching, this approach strengthens First Student's commitment to setting the highest standards for student transportation.

First Student CEO and President John Kenning stated: "Safety is not just a priority for First Student. It is our core value, permeating everything we do, and it is also something that our employees practice every day. Families entrust their children to us, and we take this responsibility very seriously. Our commitment to 'focusing on safety and setting the highest standards' drives us to continuously invest in three areas that have the greatest impact: our employees, our processes, and our technology. National School Bus Safety Week is an opportunity for us to pay tribute to the dedicated drivers and transportation teams who make this commitment a reality every day."

First Student indicates that through investment in connectivity technology and driver support, the company has seen measurable improvements in safety. In a four-week pilot covering six locations, the company recorded a 63% reduction in forward collision risk and a 54% decrease in rolling stops. These results demonstrate that technological and operational insights can help transportation teams identify risks earlier, support driver coaching, and continuously improve the safety experience for students.

Although technology provides important tools and insights, First Student also recognizes that employees are the foundation for the safe transportation of students. Through continuous training, coaching, and student-centered safety programs, the company provides drivers and transportation teams with the skills, knowledge, and support necessary to make safe decisions.

During the National School Bus Safety Week, First Student will honor those employees who have demonstrated outstanding safety performance, emphasize the role of training and technology in supporting safer operations, and reiterate safety practices to students, families, and other road users.

The company also reminds other drivers that ensuring the safety of students is a shared responsibility. Drivers should stop their vehicles when the school bus extends its parking arm, remain alert in school areas, and avoid distractions. Families and students should also pay attention to their surroundings at bus stops and follow the driver's instructions when boarding, alighting, and during the ride.

Kenning represents: "Our mission is to provide the best transportation experience, enabling students to be well-prepared for learning and to fully realize their potential. It all begins with safety, as well as with dedicated employees who make this possible. By providing our team with the necessary training, technology, and support, we continue to raise the standards of student transportation and live up to the trust that families place in us every day."

For more information on First Student's commitments to safety, and how the company strives to make every ride in its services safer, please visit SafeRidesMatter.com.

About First Student

First Student is a leading student transportation service provider in North America, safely transporting millions of students in the United States and Canada every day. The company owns over 48,000 vehicles and a team of well-trained drivers, and collaborates with school districts, jurisdictions, and education boards to provide safe, reliable, and efficient transportation solutions that families can trust. First Student has won the CIO 100 award and has been selected for the TIME100 Most Influential Companies 2026 list. The company offers a variety of transportation services, including transportation for students with special needs, route planning and fleet management, vehicle electrification, maintenance services, and charter transportation. Through its proprietary HALO ™, First Student is shaping the future of student transportation by integrating safety, operations, maintenance, employee management, and customer communication into one interconnected ecosystem, thereby enhancing safety, improving operational performance, and creating a better transportation experience for students and families.

Media Contact

Brenna Rudisill