At San Marcos Unified School District (SMUSD), we believe getting students to and from school safely and efficiently is more than a logistical task—it’s a daily commitment to excellence. With a fleet of more than 90 school buses, including a rapidly expanding group of electric vehicles, our Transportation Department has embraced a tech-forward approach to streamline operations, enhance safety, and improve communication with families. Our mission is to ensure that the wheels on the bus keep going round and round—powered by innovation and driven by care.

Technology at the Heart of Transportation

As the demands on school transportation continue to grow, we recognize that technology must be central to how we operate. From route planning to real-time tracking and vehicle diagnostics, we utilize a suite of modern platforms that help us optimize our service and ensure reliability, transparency, and student safety. Below are the core tools that keep our system running smoothly every single day.

Real-Time GPS & Parent Communication with CalAMP

San Marcos Unified utilizes the CalAMP suite of software to manage GPS tracking, fleet telematics, and parental communication. CalAMP allows our operations team to monitor each bus in real-time—tracking speed, location, idle time, and mechanical status. With this powerful tool, we can respond quickly to delays, support drivers, and stay ahead of potential issues.

Even more impactful is the CalAMP-powered Here Comes the Bus app, which empowers families to track their student’s bus and receive real-time notifications. Parents know exactly when their child’s bus is arriving and when their student gets on or off. It’s a peace-of-mind solution that improves safety and builds trust between the district and our families.

Transfinder: Optimizing Routes for Safety and Efficiency

Routing school buses across our district is no small feat. With thousands of students relying on transportation daily, Transfinder has become our go-to platform for route planning and optimization. This dynamic software analyzes traffic data, school bell times, road conditions, and student demographics to develop safe and efficient routes that minimize travel time and fuel consumption.

Transfinder also helps us adapt to changes in enrollment, new housing developments, or road closures, ensuring our routes remain flexible and responsive. With Transfinder, we are not just getting students to school; we are making the journey smarter and safer.

Gatekeeper On-Board Cameras: Enhancing Student Safety

Ensuring student safety on the bus doesn’t stop at the curb. Every one of our school buses is equipped with Gatekeeper high-definition camera systems. These cameras provide a comprehensive view of the interior of each bus, allowing us to monitor behavior, respond to incidents, and support our drivers with clear video documentation.

Having a secure visual record helps us uphold safety standards and offers an additional layer of protection for students and staff. It also supports training and development, giving our team real-world scenarios to learn from.

In-Charge Energy Vehicle Chargers: Supporting a Greener Fleet

As part of our commitment to sustainability, SMUSD is investing in electric school buses and the infrastructure needed to support them. We use In-Charge Energy vehicle chargers, which are smart, networked systems capable of managing power usage efficiently and ensuring our electric fleet is charged and ready to roll every day.

These chargers also offer data insights into charging cycles, energy costs, and grid load management, allowing us to align our sustainability goals with operational efficiency. With over 30 electric buses in operation and more on the way, this technology is essential to our green transportation strategy.

OnCommand: Proactive Vehicle Maintenance

Keeping buses road-ready requires constant attention and smart planning. OnCommand by Navistar is our vehicle diagnostics and maintenance platform that tracks engine performance, schedules preventative maintenance, and alerts our mechanics to issues before they become problems.

On Command gives us access to detailed data on every bus in our fleet. From fluid levels to brake wear, we can monitor all aspects of a vehicle’s health and ensure repairs are made before breakdowns occur. This proactive maintenance strategy extends the life of our fleet and keeps students safe.

Google Workspace: Streamlining Internal Operations

Efficient internal communication and collaboration are key to our department’s success. We use Google Workspace—including Gmail, Docs, Sheets, and Calendar—to manage schedules, create and share documents, coordinate field trips, and maintain seamless communication between drivers, dispatchers, and administrators.

This centralized platform keeps everyone on the same page and allows us to respond quickly to the daily demands of student transportation. Whether it’s updating a route sheet or scheduling a safety training session, Google Workspace ensures nothing falls through the cracks.

Empowering a Team, Serving a Community

Our transportation program wouldn’t succeed without the dedicated professionals who show up every day to keep it running. The combination of innovative technology and an exceptional team allows us to meet the needs of over 2000 student riders, maintain a high standard of safety, and serve our schools with pride.

We believe that a strong school day starts with a safe, timely, and welcoming ride. By embracing a forward-thinking approach to student transportation, San Marcos Unified School District is keeping the wheels on the bus going round and round—into a smarter, safer future for every student we serve.