From Asheville to the coast, 13 school districts across North Carolina are using new wireless technology to provide key information into their school buses – improving safety and creating real time information for both parents and administrators.

Durham Public Schools, the eighth largest school system in North Carolina, is using the school bus tracking system to manage its fleet of 300 school buses on a daily basis, with advanced monitoring capabilities designed to keep kids safe and on time.

Synovia Solutions developed the technology, which enables school district officials to see detailed information for each bus in their fleet and receive alerts to ensure drivers travel at safe speeds and stop at railroad crossing. Every time the bus stops and opens its doors, information is sent to school officials about the location, time and duration of the stop.

An optional component of the school bus tracker enables students to sign in and off the bus using their student ID card providing parents confirmation their child arrived safely to school in the morning or back home in the afternoon.

The solution also boosts bus driver productivity by giving them the ability to clock in or out right from the driver’s seat. The device helps reduce fuel consumption through a dashboard that highlights issues like excessive idling and reports engine updates before a problem worsens and leaves students stranded. School officials are alerted automatically if a bus is running behind schedule.

North Carolina school districts using the bus tracking technology this school year include Buncombe County, Burke County, Durham, Franklin County, Harnett County, Jones County, Stokes County, Wilson County and Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools.