Insights and Highlights from STN EXPO Reno 2024
SBL attended this year's STN EXPO in Reno, Nevada. The conference was packed with insightful conversations, festive events, and new connections from start to finish. We're recapping our top takeaways from our sessions and panel discussions.
From the transportation directors summit to speaker sessions on today's most pressing challenges, STN EXPO was a fantastic week. We had the opportunity to share our expertise and deepen our connections within the transportation industry.
The week-long conference kicked off with a welcome night co-hosted by SBL and Transfinder. Attendees came dressed in their brightest colors for the themed party "Light Up the Night." The evening featured creative performances and a DJ who got the dance floor moving. It was a lively start to a week full of highlights.
Effective Routing Around Today’s Challenges
SBL was proud to join the conversation starting with Monday’s breakout session: Effective Routing Around Today’s Challenges. The panel discussed the significant challenges facing districts. The rising number of students experiencing homelessness, those with disabilities, bell time changes, and driver shortages can create logistical challenges for finding and consolidating efficient routes. The panel discussed proactive strategies and the mindset shifts necessary for successful routing.
Moderator
Greg Jackson, Director of Business Development, School Bus Logistics, CO
Panel Members
Robert Leach, DOT Fountain Fort Carson School District 8, CO
Meghan McAndrews, Transportation Coordinator, El Dorado County Office of Education, CA
Anthony Shields, Director of Transportation, San Marcos Consolidated Independent School District, TX
Robert Jacobus, Founder and CEO, School Bus Logistics, CO
HERE ARE OUR TOP TAKEAWAYS FROM THE CONVERSATION:
Creative solutions to driver shortage: Keep things efficient by utilizing good data to focus on actual ridership instead of eligible ridership. Not all eligible riders need to be routed; opt-in programs can help districts determine these numbers. Audits, load counts, and technology like GPS can identify empty stops, leading to consolidated runs. Have school leaders and staff conduct consistent audits throughout the school year to determine load counts and find out what's actually going on on the routes.
Steps to be a successful router: When former drivers become routers, they often struggle with the responsibility and may revert to familiar methods. Panel members recommended that the best routers are those looking to move up, get out of their comfort zone, and try new things. Effective software training can help these routers move into a more analytical way of thinking, leading to creative solutions rather than “we always do it this way.” Work with vendor partners to train routers to recognize when something is off, including how to go into the software and use tools to find solutions. Panel members recommended having a checklist to track routers’ progress months into the job.
Packaging and presenting routing ideas: Engaging stakeholders involves educating them on the importance of changes and building relationships to gain their buy-in. The panel agreed that moving ideas from paper to practice requires demonstrating effectiveness to stakeholders through trial periods and data analysis. Setting clear expectations and focusing on student needs over driver convenience ensures that routing decisions benefit the whole school community.
Lunch & Learn: Real-Time Intelligence: Navigating the Data Maze
During this lunchtime session, SBL’s Greg Jackson shared his expertise in solving data discrepancies across routing, vehicle, and driver management systems. He delved into the importance of accurate, up-to-the-minute analytics for making informed decisions and the importance of communication for keeping departments in sync. This panel showed the importance and power of technology platforms like SBL's RouteHub. Read the full recap from STN here.
Moderator
Tammy Cook, Senior Transportation Advisor, TransAct Communications
Panel Members
Frank Kacej, TransAct Communications
Greg Jackson, Director of Business Development, School Bus Logistics
HERE ARE THE TOP TAKEAWAYS FROM THE SESSION:
The importance of real-time technology for efficiency, convenience, and internal communication: Up-to-the-minute technology ensures that different systems, such as routing software and parent apps, interact seamlessly. This integration is crucial for creating an efficient and convenient process within the transportation department. This type of data prevents disruptions in internal communication. For example, bus drivers need immediate updates on maintenance issues to avoid confusion and delays.
Integration vs. real-time intelligence: Districts that rely on integration must get all their different vendor products to work together. This often requires extra synchronization time, which can delay the flow of information. Real-time intelligence focuses on having a single vendor platform where the information flows together without the extra sync time.
Handle disruptions with live updates: Real-time data ensures that parents receive information on actual route changes, not just planned routes. This is essential when adjustments need to be made quickly. This data also allows for immediate handling of maintenance problems, such as safety door issues and vehicle maintenance.
Breakout Session: The Media is on Line 1
The primary responsibility of school transportation departments is to ensure the safe transport of children to and from school and other trips. However, handling media communications, both positive and negative, is also a crucial aspect of the job. How the media portrays a school or transportation department can sway how the community perceives the department/school. Image can affect enrollment, ridership, and the school's overall reputation. This session aimed to equip transportation directors and other transportation personnel with strategies to proactively engage with the media, ensuring the best possible coverage of their operations, even without dedicated communication teams.
Moderator
Ryan Gray, School Transportation News
Panelists
Greg Jackson, Director of Business Development, School Bus Logistics, CO
Robert Leach, DOT Fountain Fort Carson School District 8, CO
HERE ARE THE TOP INSIGHTS WE TOOK AWAY FROM THE SESSION:
Proactive media engagement: The media should be seen as an ally. Engaging with the media early and preparing for potential issues can help manage the narrative. Regular discussions with communication directors are essential to align strategies and needs.
Unified communication training: All departments should be trained to respond to the media consistently. This ensures that everyone, from dispatch to administrative assistants, is on the same page and can handle media inquiries effectively.
Effective internal communication: It is crucial to keep the superintendent and other key stakeholders informed about upcoming media stories. Maintaining open lines of communication with parents can prevent negative issues from escalating and being fed to the media.
Avoid “no comment": "No comment" is never a suitable response to media inquiries. Instead, asking questions about the reporter's intentions and researching them before responding can help provide a more informed and constructive answer.
Those are our highlights from our three sessions at STN EXPO and the conference itself. We enjoyed attending other events and panels to deepen our understanding of the transportation industry further.
Facing any of these common challenges? Learn how our routing and operational consulting expertise can help your district.