First Student's Innovative Technology Transforms Student Transportation with National Recognition

First Student's Transformational Technology for Student Transportation

First Student, the largest student transportation provider in North America, has recently celebrated a remarkable achievement by securing four prestigious national awards for its innovative technology. These honors emphasize the company's unwavering dedication to improving safety and delivering an exceptional transportation experience for students and their families.

Among the accolades received are the first-place T-Mobile Innovate Award, an AutoTech Breakthrough Award, an Info-Tech Award, and a recognition from TIME for Chief Information and AI Officer Sean McCormack's leadership. Each award underscores First Student's commitment to integrating advanced technology into its operations to enhance the reliability and safety of student transportation.

At the heart of this technological advancement is HALO™, First Student's proprietary connected transportation platform. HALO integrates various operational aspects, including safety, routing, dispatching, maintenance, workforce management, and communications, into a single, cohesive system. This integration enables staff to access real-time information and make informed decisions, resulting in improved operational efficiency and a safer transportation experience for students.

HALO-powered by T-Mobile connectivity and equipped with Samsara's AI-driven cameras and telematics—exemplifies how First Student is transforming the student transportation landscape through technology. By utilizing this advanced platform, the company can continuously monitor and enhance safety protocols, ensuring students are transported in a secure environment.

The significance of these technological advancements is evident in the measurable safety improvements reported during initial pilot programs. In one notable four-week pilot conducted across six locations, First Student observed a 63% reduction in forward collision risks and a 54% decrease in rolling stops. Such statistics highlight how connected technology can help transportation teams proactively identify risks, support driver coaching, and ultimately provide a safer transportation experience for students.

John Kenning, CEO of First Student, expressed pride in the recognition received for their teams' innovative work. He stated, "These awards reflect the tremendous innovation our teams are driving to transform student transportation through safer, smarter, and more connected technology. By harmonizing our people, processes, and technology, we empower our employees with better tools, enhance reliability, and most importantly, ensure each journey is as safe as possible. This is how we fulfill our mission—to provide the best transportation experience, enabling students to reach their full potential while living our core values of Safety First and High Standards."

In addition to the above awards, HALO received the title of Overall Transportation Tech of the Year from AutoTech Breakthrough, recognizing its effectiveness in connecting key operational systems to boost overall performance. Moreover, the Info-Tech Awards honored HALO with the Innovator of the Year award for its innovative application of AI to improve daily transportation operations.

These recognitions highlight First Student's leadership in enhancing student transportation through continuous innovation, rigorous training, and operational excellence. The company remains committed to ensuring that every student journey is safer while providing a seamless, connected transportation experience for students and their families.

To learn more about First Student's dedication to student safety and the integration of technology to make every journey safer, visit SafeRidesMatter.com.

About First Student

First Student is North America's largest student transportation provider, entrusted with the safe transport of millions of students across the United States and Canada daily. With a fleet exceeding 48,000 vehicles and a workforce of highly skilled drivers, First Student partners with educational districts to deliver dependable transportation solutions that families can rely on. The company offers a broad range of services, including special-needs transportation, routing and fleet management, vehicle electrification, and charter transportation.

Highlights of its technological innovation can be seen through the HALO™ platform, which enhances safety and operational performance, ultimately enriching the overall experience for students and their families. First Student's mission is to provide optimal transportation services that ensure students arrive ready to achieve their full potential. For more information, visit firststudentinc.com.