First Student Launches into the New School Year with Enhanced Safety and Technology Initiatives

As the largest student transportation provider in North America, First Student is stepping into the new academic year confident in its robust safety measures, technological advancements, and operational excellence. Millions of students are gearing up to return to school, and First Student has reported significant improvements from the 2025-2026 year, underscoring its mission to deliver a safe and reliable transportation experience that prepares students to learn and reach their fullest potential.

Over the past year, First Student has made considerable investments in its drivers, technology, and operations, strengthening safety across its vast network of over 48,000 vehicles and 530 locations. The ongoing enhancements to its proprietary HALO™ platform and the introduction of AI-driven technology have resulted in notable improvements in driver performance, operational visibility, and overall student transportation experience.

John Kenning, CEO and President of First Student, emphasized the company’s commitment, stating, "Every great school year begins with a ride. Our mission is to provide the safest, most reliable, and efficient ride to school, so every student arrives ready to learn and achieve their full potential. This mission guides every decision we make and is reflected in our core values, particularly our commitment to care for our students and set the highest standards. Every investment we make, from developing our people to advancing our proprietary HALO platform, reflects these commitments."

Central to these investments is First Student’s HALO technology platform. This innovative platform integrates advanced safety features, enterprise applications, fleet health management, driver support, and communication channels, offering an interconnected ecosystem for transportation. By enabling the various systems to communicate and share data, HALO enhances visibility for school districts and improves overall performance, leading to a safer environment for students and families.

In collaboration with Samsara (NYSE: IOT), First Student has effectively harnessed AI technology to deploy safety measures that led to a 49% decrease in rolling stops and a 45% reduction in instances of inattentive driving. This commitment has not only improved safety but also garnered industry recognition, with David Perez, Vice President of Safety at First Student, awarded Technology Leader of the Year at Samsara's 2026 Connected Operations Awards.

"Receiving Samsara's Technology Leader of the Year award is an incredible honor, but it truly reflects the work of our entire First Student team," said Perez. "Our mission is to provide the safest, most reliable ride to school, and technology aids us in delivering that promise every day. By combining innovation with our dedication to safety and care for our students, we are raising the bar for student transportation and ensuring safer experiences for the communities we serve."

First Student also champions student well-being through its First Serves behavioral support program, which connects skilled transportation professionals with educational experts, school leaders, and families. This initiative provides drivers with the necessary skills to manage student behaviors effectively, creating a positive and safe transportation environment.

One driver, Kathy Sands, shared her transformative experience with First Serves: "Before First Serves, I often felt frustrated and overwhelmed trying to manage challenging behaviors. This training equipped me with the tools to understand the reasons behind these behaviors and how to respond with empathy and confidence. The difference has been life-changing for my students and for me. My van is now calmer, my students are happier, and I truly love coming to work each day."

Additionally, First Student leads the way in electric transportation solutions, boasting a fleet of nearly 490 electric school buses with over 550 more on order. To date, the company has logged more than 11.2 million electric miles, exemplifying how large-scale transportation can drive innovation while maintaining effective operational performance for school districts.

As students prepare to head back to school, parents seek assurance that their children’s transportation will be safe and punctual. First Student's First View® parent tracking application connects over 300,000 parents in real time, providing bus and vehicle tracking updates, estimated arrival times, and essential transportation information. With a commendable 4.8-star rating on the iOS platform and multilingual support, First View strengthens communications between families and school districts, fostering a more connected transportation experience.

These efforts have not gone unnoticed, earning accolades from both the transportation and technology industries. First Student was included in the TIME100 Most Influential Companies 2026 list and recognized by TIME Best Inventions, Fast Company Next Big Things in Tech, and the Edison Awards for the groundbreaking impact of its HALO technology platform. These accomplishments reflect the company’s ongoing commitment to empower school districts, families, and students as they embark on each school year with unshakeable confidence.

About First Student

First Student, the North American leader in student transportation, is dedicated to safely transporting millions of students across the United States and Canada every day. With a fleet of over 48,000 vehicles and a highly-qualified workforce of drivers, the company collaborates with school districts and boards to provide reliable and efficient transportation solutions. Recognized in the TIME100 Most Influential Companies 2026 list, First Student offers a variety of transportation services, including special needs transport, fleet management, vehicle electrification, maintenance, and charter services. Its HALO technology platform is reshaping the future of student transportation by integrating safety, operations, maintenance, workforce management, and communication into a singular intelligent ecosystem.

For more information, visit First Student's website.