The June Route Report: Preparing for the Summer Push
Welcome to the June edition of the Route Report, SBL’s monthly recommendations to help keep your routing department running smoothly.
By June, most transportation teams are balancing two realities at once: summer programs are already underway, while preparations for the next school year are ramping up behind the scenes. This is the time to clean up last year’s data, prepare your system for July imports, and make sure your team and fleet are ready for the busy months ahead.
Close Out the Prior Year: Clean Up the Data
Before routing for the next school year begins, it’s important to close out last year’s records and clean up your database.
Here’s our recommended checklist:
Close Out Operational Data
Finalize and archive routing records from the previous school year, including route sheets, mileage data, and operational notes.Remove Temporary Routing Adjustments
Delete outdated notes, alternate addresses, daycare stops, and other temporary adjustments that were added during the school year.
Clean Up Special Education Routes
Review and close out prior-year Sped routes so the system is ready for new IEP transportation requests.
Update Contact Lists
Confirm district contact lists are current. Remove retirees, update job changes, and add new administrators or staff as needed.
Pre-Routing Tasks: Prepare for the Post–July 4 Rollover
For many districts, the real routing surge begins after Independence Day, when new student data imports and enrollment updates begin.
Here are the key tasks for transportation departments:
Confirm routing request forms and intake processes are ready
Verify bell times, school locations, and program assignments
Call and verify transportation needs for special education students and their routes
Now when new data arrives in July, your routing system will already be ready to handle it.
Staffing and Training: Set Your Team Up for Success
Summer is a great time for transportation departments to strengthen their teams and prepare for the upcoming year. Here are our recommendations for setting your team up for success:
Assess Your Bandwidth
Confirm that your routing team is fully staffed and ready for summer planning work. If your department is short-staffed, bringing in outside support, like SBL, can help keep projects moving.
Schedule Time for Training and Professional Development
June is a great time for training sessions, conferences, and networking opportunities that allow supervisors and routing staff to bring new ideas back to their teams.
Supervisor and Driver Training Prep
Begin planning onboarding and training programs for new supervisors and drivers.
Compliance and Credentials
Verify that driver credentials are current and that your department is compliant with FMCSA Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse requirements.
Fleet Readiness: Start Summer Maintenance Early
The end of the school year is the best time to make sure your fleet is safe, up-to-date, and ready to handle the demands of the next school year. Here’s the to-do list:
Deep-clean and inspect buses after the school year ends
Coordinate preventative maintenance and repairs with the shop
Review fleet replacement plans or equipment sales
Ensure Sped equipment is ready for fall service
We see successful districts bring in additional seasonal staff during this period to complete these projects efficiently.
How SBL Can Help
School Bus Logistics supports districts during the most demanding moments of the transportation year. From database cleanup and route preparation to staffing support and operational reviews, our team helps transportation departments move through the summer planning season with clarity and confidence.
If your district needs support preparing for the busy weeks ahead, we’re here to help.