This new contract is a three-year agreement which includes the operation, maintenance and management of a fleet of 132 vehicles covering 120 daily routes.

All First Student buses will have onboard Zonar GPS to enhance the safety of the student passengers and drivers. The addition of Zonar GPS adds a further element of safety to First Student buses. In the event of an emergency, First Student dispatch can pinpoint the bus’ exact location and provide quick response. In addition, this system helps reduce fuel usage and emissions by monitoring how long buses idle every day.

“We look forward to providing safe, reliable school bus transportation to families and students in the Belvidere school district. At First Student, we are committed to having the best safety principles and practices in the industry. In addition to the local resources at our proposed Belvidere location, the community will benefit from the support from our other 3,500 buses in Northern Illinois,” said David Duke, Senior Vice President of Sales for First Student.

School b us es are the safest way for children to get to and from school. First Student conducts extensive background screening and driver record checks on all its employees. Safe and knowledgeable drivers are a terrific asset. First Student will evaluate existing local employees who presently serve the district. Those who meet the company’s stringent driver and employee requirements are encouraged to apply.

WARRENVILLE, Ill. – National Express Corporation (NEC), a leading provider of student transportation in North America, today announced David Duke will join the organization as Chief Executive Officer in June 2011. Duke most recently served as Senior Vice President of Sales at FirstGroup America.

In the interim, industry veteran John Elliott will assume the role of CEO of National Express Corporation, which operates as Durham School Services in the U.S. and Stock Transportation in Canada. Before he retired in 2008, Elliott served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Durham School Services.

“We are excited to have David and John on board at National Express Corporation,” said Dean Finch, Chief Executive of parent corporation National Express Group. “Both are well-respected leaders in the industry who will further strengthen our successful outlook going forward. They will bring continuity to the organization, with a strong focus on customer service and getting back to the traditional values of what we do best, making sure students are picked up and delivered on time, safely and securely, every time.”

Duke has nearly 25 years’ experience in the transportation industry. Before joining FirstGroup America, he served as Senior Vice President of Durham School Services, where he was responsible for overseeing regional operations and business development. He is a member of the National School Transportation Association (NSTA) Board of Directors.

Elliott has achieved many accomplishments in his nearly 36 years in student transportation. In 2007, he was named “Contractor of the Year” by School Bus Fleet magazine and in 2006 received the NSTA Hall of Fame Award in recognition of his years of dedication and excellence in the industry. He also has been an active member of the NSTA board for more than 20 years.

This is the first information warehouse tool designed with transportation’s Key Performance Indicators (KPI) in mind. “School boards are demanding that transportation departments, operate at higher levels of efficiency,”  stated Ted Thien, vice president of sales and marketing for Tyler's Versatrans Solution. “Transportation professionals now need to monitor their KPIs in order understand the effectiveness of their operation.” Thien explained that the only way to reduce expenses and improve efficiency without sacrificing service is to monitor KPIs like cost per mile, cost per student and cost per vehicle as well as compare live versus deadhead miles. The ability to quickly assess current performance against previous years is valuable when trying to evaluate and explain transportation budgets. “District Pulse enables you to make data-driven decisions that you can support,” said Thien.

District Pulse was developed by PulseMark, LLC of St. Louis, Missouri which was acquired by Tyler Technologies in March of 2009. District Pulse already has an established client base through its student information and assessment models.

“Once installed, the Pulse engine automatically collects data and creates charts and graphs that visually show how your transportation operation is performing,” explained John Lavazzo, vice president of product development for Tyler's Versatrans Solution. “The information produced is very enlightening.”

Based in Dallas, Tyler Technologies is a leading provider of end-to-end information management solutions and services for local governments. Tyler partners with clients to make local government more accessible to the public, more responsive to needs of citizens, and more efficient. Tyler’s client base includes more than 8,000 local government offices throughout all 50 states, Canada, Puerto Rico and the United Kingdom. Tyler has been named one of “America’s 200 Best Small Companies” for two consecutive years by Forbes Magazine. More information about Tyler Technologies can be found at www.tylertech.com.

CHICAGO, Feb. 15, 2010 -- According to statistics from the Illinois Department of Transportation, there were 845 fatal crashes in 2009, resulting in 924 deaths. Illinois experienced 77 fatalities, but how many of these fatal crashes could have been prevented with a better awareness of basic driving safety?

"So often, people are unconcerned with their driving habits or take for granted the safe operation of a vehicle until they experience a collision or crash that most likely could have been avoided," said Jeffrey Kroll of the Law Offices of Jeffrey J. Kroll (http://www.kroll-lawfirm.com/). "March is National Collision Awareness Month, and I'd encourage all drivers to take a step back and explore how to be safer on the road."    

Kroll recommends the following dos and don'ts for safer driving in March and beyond:

Do eliminate distractions. Before pulling out of the driveway, conduct an audit of potential distractions. Are the kids still arguing in the backseat? Do you really need that steaming cup of coffee, without a lid, in the cup holder? Are you trying to put on your seatbelt as you are moving? Get rid of these and other distractions to preserve your focus behind the wheel.

Don't multitask. Texting or emailing while driving is now banned in Illinois, but there are other temptations that can take your focus away from the road. Adjusting the radio, putting on makeup, having a snack from the drive-through, or verifying directions are all activities that "only take a second" - but that one second can create a lifetime of loss.

Do clean your vehicle. All it takes is one water bottle or other piece of clutter to shift under the brake pedal for an unkempt car to be a serious safety hazard. If you store a lot of items in your vehicle for work, use the trunk instead, which also ensures you won't be tempted to rummage around for something in the back seat while driving.

Don't drive impaired. No matter what, this is the easiest safety hazard to control. Calling a friend, taking a taxi, using public transportation, getting picked up or even walking are all tried and true ways to avoid getting behind the wheel while impaired.

Do keep your lights on. Driving with the headlights on during the day makes you more visible to pedestrians as well as other vehicles on the road. Many vehicles come equipped with daytime running lights; otherwise, make it a habit to switch them on and off every time you drive. "Because so many of us have been driving for years, we may let simple safety concerns slip through the cracks, but we can all use a gentle reminder during this month-long holiday to get back on track behind the wheel," said Kroll.

So often, people are unconcerned with their driving habits or take for granted the safe operation of a vehicle until they experience a collision or crash that most likely could have been avoided

March is National Collision Awareness Month, and I'd encourage all drivers to take a step back and explore how to be safer on the road.

Because so many of us have been driving for years, we may let simple safety concerns slip through the cracks, but we can all use a gentle reminder during this month-long holiday to get back on track behind the wheel.

About Jeffrey J. Kroll: With 17 years' experience representing victims and their families, Jeffrey Kroll has seen firsthand the pain experienced by individuals and families in personal injury and wrongful death actions. While the Law Offices of Jeffrey J. Kroll is best known for its success in fighting for victims of auto, truck and bus accidents, it has achieved record verdicts and settlements in a wide range of practice areas. Kroll is AV Peer Review Rated, Martindale-Hubbell's highest peer recognition for ethical standards and legal ability. For more information about Kroll's work with personal injury and wrongful death cases, visit www.kroll-lawfirm.com.