The July Route Report: School-Start Planning Shifts Into High Gear

Welcome to the July Edition of the Route Report, SBL’s monthly recommendations to help transportation teams stay ahead. July is where the rubber meets the road, when school-start prep shifts from planning to execution.

With summer well underway, now is when districts need to shift from big-picture planning to hands-on execution. July is about tightening the details, resolving hiccups, and getting every route, stop, and student accounted for. These tips will help make the difference between a rocky start and a seamless one. 

Here’s what to focus on this month: 

1. Build the Roadmap to Day One 

By now, your calendar should be more than penciled in. The more clarity you build in now, the fewer surprises for your team (and parents) in the fall. 

• Establish a timeline with key days for the rest of summer leading to school start

• Share key dates with district leadership, schools, and parents 

2. Import and Clean Student Data 

Accurate data is the foundation of every reliable route. Cleaning up now will prevent delays and confusion later. 

• Import updated enrollments lists and verify student eligibility 

• Flag and update duplicate records or missing/outdated details

• Sync changes in school calendars and bell times 

3. Review Alternate Pickup and Drop–Off Requests 

Make sure every student gets where they need to go. Being proactive about this step reduces day-one calls and routing headaches 

• Implement and confirm alternate site requests, such as daycare dropoffs

• Verify all requests are accurately reflected in the routing system

4. Validate Every Stop 

Make sure each stop is safe, efficient, and compliant. 

• Ensure no student is walking farther than policy allows or crossing unsafe roads

• Monitor ride times to stay within district thresholds 

• Ensure all eligible students are accommodated 

5. Confirm Special Needs Routing and Equipment 

Here, every detail matters. 

• Validate student assignments, aides, and ride requirements 

• Confirm vehicle equipment: lifts, securements, and any necessary modifications 

• Double check capacity and travel times 

6. Build Out Fall Routes 

July is when routes start to take shape — and planning and accuracy matter. 

• Develop and adjust routes based on updated enrollment and program changes 

• Incorporate any new housing developments or school site shifts 

• Run bell time simulations to ensure schedules are realistic and routes are efficient 

• Get ready for August: begin assembling driver packets and prepping for dry runs 

Need Backup? We’re Ready.
If your team is stretched, your routing still feels behind, or that new software you purchased isn’t quite properly implemented, now’s the time to bring in extra support. SBL partners with districts nationwide to streamline operations and ensure readiness. RouteHub, our cloud-based platform, helps districts stay on top of route requests and changes in real time. It’s just one more way we help transportation teams stay organized and in control.

Stay Tuned for August’s Route Report

We’ll be back next month with the route prep edition and more tips for successful routing!