Buses with Smart Safety Technology
Thousands of Philadelphia students will ride into a new academic year on an upgraded fleet of school buses. These vehicles feature air conditioning, AI-driven safety tech, and a tracking app for parents. The School District of Philadelphia has partnered with Zūm, a California-based transportation company, to operate 200 new buses. These buses serve over 330 schools across the city with advanced tools to improve student safety and comfort.
Jordan Gordon, Zūm’s vice president of strategic operations, explained that the new tools replace outdated methods. Drivers no longer rely on paper route sheets; instead, they use digital systems for guidance. These tools help drivers stay focused on the road and ensure timely pickups and drop-offs. Gordon emphasized that the entire transportation experience has been modernized, including the buses themselves, which are now fully air conditioned.
Parents benefit from a real-time tracking app that connects to the buses. It allows them to monitor their child’s location from the moment they step aboard until arrival at school. The app also sends updates about delays or route changes. This feature was praised by Zūm drivers for increasing transparency between parents and transportation staff.
Aaliyah Horn, a Zūm driver recently hired in Philadelphia, highlighted the tracking system as a key advantage. She noted that parents can see the bus’s location at any time, including stops and delays. Horn said this helps both families and drivers stay informed and reduces confusion.
Growth and Workforce Expansion
Zūm is expanding its operations in the city by hiring around 200 new drivers. The company has set up a dedicated operations center in Port Richmond and is conducting interviews for qualified applicants with commercial driver’s licenses. This move supports the company’s plan to introduce even more high-tech buses in the coming years.
Zūm provides school transportation services in 18 states, using the same technology being deployed in Philadelphia. The company’s success in other cities has led to optimism about the new fleet in the city. However, specific details about which school routes will receive the buses have not yet been confirmed. The district is monitoring how the rollout progresses this year before deciding on a larger expansion.