San Angelo ISD

M. Lee Livingston

As I put the finishing touches on my 34th year in student transportation, with the close of the 2024-2025 school year. I wish to share some of my experience in the industry and some thoughts as we move into the future. Pupil transportation is such a great industry to be or become a part of. What other industry can you be a part of that allows you to be so closely involved with our nation’s future in the present? Building the relationships that last a lifetime.

Have you ever been out in a public place and heard a familiar voice call your name, and then the next thing you know is you have a little person tackling your legs with a big hug? The futures of the passengers we transport are endless. Did you ever think you could have a future CEO of a major company, future television personality or even a future U.S. President in your care? Regardless of your job title, we all play a very important role in the industry. Remember, not all heroes wear a cape.

When I began my career as a school bus driver, the industry was just in the phase of moving from gasoline powered buses to diesel. The commercial driver’s license was in the beginning phases. We were still manually shifting gears and automatic transmissions were just a dream for most school bus drivers. We didn’t have cameras in our buses and when we started getting cameras, they were 8mm camcorders tucked in a plastic box mounted on the front bulkhead of the bus. You hoped that you really didn’t need to see anything on the video tape because of all the shaking caused CXO INSIGHTS by the bus travelling over the bumpy roads. We had no clue what GPS was. To us it was just three letters of the alphabet and 2-way radio communication was just becoming common in the industry. Prior to having a bus equipped with a 2-way radio, our only means of communication with the transportation office was to send a reliable student to a nearby home to call for any needed assistance.

“It’s hands down the safest mode of transportation carrying more passengers daily than planes, trains and subways combined, yet the complexity and success of our industry often go unrecognized”

Isn’t it amazing what the advancements in technology have made for our industry? Diesel exhaust has been determined to be harmful for health and for the environment. Today buses are being powered by rechargeable batteries, and it really isn’t safe to send a student to a stranger’s home to summon for assistance.

Since I have been involved in the pupil transportation industry, first as a bus driver and through the progression of my career to operational leadership, I am still amazed to see the iconic yellow bus is the symbol of our educational system. It remains the safest way to get our children to and from school and school related events. It’s hands down the safest mode of transportation carrying more passengers daily than planes, trains and subways combined. Unfortunately, the complexity and success of our industry tends to go unrecognized within our communities. We see the yellow buses on our highways and they come in the morning and take the children to school. They then return later in the day bringing them safely to their homes. Mostly without a thought to the efforts behind the scenes and the vast advancements in technology to make certain that the task is completed with safety first and efficiency second. For those of us in the industry, it should be a priority to promote our success and encourage others to become involved.

As a Director of Transportation, that is a challenge that I’d like to make to my colleagues in the industry. Make certain that school district administrators, students, parents and the public are aware of the facts. Don’t be afraid to brag a little and provide your employees with a sense of pride so that they can brag as well. Take every opportunity you can to learn more about our industry. Get involved with your state pupil transportation association and the National Association for Pupil Transportation (NAPT). NAPT has great educational opportunities and certification programs. Some state associations do as well. They also provide resources to assist in recognizing your employees and promoting public awareness. Just doing the status quo isn’t enough anymore. We must take the responsibility to bring awareness and attract new talent to our industry.

I remember the days of being a bus driver and how much joy it brought to my life to see the kids every day. Even in my current position, I still find opportunities to get behind the wheel. It gives me a great sense of accomplishment to receive the fist bumps and even some hugs from time to time. As you train your employees, don’t forget that an important part of being successful in this industry isn’t just being a safe driver (although most important) but also building those positive relationships. Those are the things I will remember as I look back over my career. Don’t be afraid to rely on your peers. We all share a common goal and experience most of the same challenges. Take a class, pursue a certification, go for a position with increased responsibility and challenge yourself to grow. Remember, we are the first faces, connected to the school system that the kids see in the morning and the last they see when they return home later in the day. Most of all, take pride in being part of an industry with such an iconic symbol.