Advantages of using a Contractor

Safety:

• Private contractors meet or exceed state and federal school bus licensing, safety and training standards
• Private bus companies maintain new fleets, adhere to strict maintenance standards and make sure their buses are equipped with the latest safety features
• School districts can upgrade or completely replace aged fleets by hiring a contractor with no capital investment
• Private contractors are leaders in safety and training programs and serve as the primary source of the latest education and training initiatives for school districts and contractors
• Drivers are the key to bus safety – during transitions from school district to contractor-provided fleets contractors will hire many of the district drivers

Savings:

• School districts all across the country save billions of dollars every year by utilizing school bus contractors for their busing needs
• NYS contractors help save New York schools and taxpayers millions of dollars every year – these savings allow schools to reinvest in their programs, employees and schools
• In difficult economic times, the savings realized by school districts can help avoid teacher layoffs and cancellation of important programs
• It is easier for school districts to plan and budget because the contractor is responsible for managing economic fluctuations, such as spikes in gas prices
• Hiring a contractor allows school districts to benefit financially from the contractor’s economies of scale that come with providing nothing but bus transportation services
• Unlike school districts, contractors can easily shift resources to accommodate demand, such as a new charter school
• In many cases contractor-provided school transportation services cost upwards of 20 percent less than district-run operations
• In addition to savings, some districts actually witness and increase in revenue because contractors will often rent the existing facility or pay property taxes on new facilities
• A study of the 66 largest urban school districts found that the median annual cost of an urban district-operated bus is nearly $69,000 where contracted buses come in at $55,000 per bus – a savings of $14,000 per bus or over 20 percent
• The cost of district-operated buses tends to be underreported due to the difficulty in capturing capital costs — click here for a copy of our cost savings analysis tool

Satisfaction:

• Districts maintain control of the busing services through a detailed RFP and contract process which demands transparency, accountability, and the highest standards
• Hiring a contractor can eliminate labor management issues – with over 35,000 union and non-union employees statewide – the industry prides itself on ensuring the workforce is professional and treated fairly
• Districts are freed from management headaches like absenteeism, drug testing and insubordination
• Contractors work closely with school districts, parents and unions to ensure the transition from school district-provided to contractor-provided busing services is seamless
• The Council of Great City Schools released a multiyear study that highlighted best practices in school operations — contractors scored very well by providing quality bus services for less money
• School districts all across the state are extremely satisfied with contractor-provided school transportation services
• Contracting student transportation services frees school districts from budget constraints and lengthy bus replacement schedules
• Contractors support school initiatives through scholarships, educational and safety programs