When it comes to student transportation, safety isn’t optional—it’s the law. Yet many small and midsize transportation providers don't realize that operating vehicles without Electronic Logging Devices (ELDs) could put them out of compliance—and expose schools to major legal and financial risks. At Shuttlebee, we’re committed to helping schools and transportation providers navigate regulations, stay compliant, and ultimately keep students safer. Here’s what you need to know about ELDs and why they matter. What is an Electronic Logging Device (ELD)? An Electronic Logging Device (or ELD) is hardware that connects to a vehicle’s engine to automatically record driving time, vehicle movement, engine hours, miles driven, and driver duty status. The goal: to increase accountability for anyone operating commercial vehicles, provide transportation providers insights into the quality of their driver's service and to prevent driver fatigue. ELDs Are Required Under Federal Law The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) mandates that most commercial motor vehicles must be equipped with ELDs to track Hours of Service (HOS). This requirement applies broadly—including student transportation providers operating certain types of vehicles. If your transportation providers are operating vehicles: Weighing over 10,001 pounds, or Designed to transport more than 8 passengers for compensation, then they must comply with ELD rules unless they qualify for specific exemptions (which are rare). Operating without ELDs can result in serious penalties: citations, fines, disqualification from service, and potential legal liability if an accident occurs. Why Schools Should Care When a school contracts with a transportation provider that ignores ELD compliance, it isn’t just the provider at risk—it’s the school’s reputation, liability exposure, and duty of care that are also on the line. Without ELD data: You can’t verify driver hours or detect fatigue risks. You can't defend your decision-making if incidents occur. You could face lawsuits for negligence if the provider is found noncompliant. At Shuttlebee, we require the transportation providers in our network to use safety-compliant technology, including ELDs paired with vehicle telematics. It’s not just about checking a regulatory box—it’s about ensuring every student’s ride is as safe as possible. How Shuttlebee Helps Schools Stay Protected ✅ Vetted Providers: We verify that every transportation provider we work with meets FMCSA standards, including ELD compliance. ✅ Real-Time Monitoring: Our Dispatch Program uses integrated telematics to monitor driving behavior, incidents, and compliance—so you have a complete safety profile for every provider. ✅ Insurance Alignment: We connect safe providers to affordable commercial auto insurance, further reinforcing incentives for strong operational practices.  Final Thought Safety and compliance aren't optional—they're essential. At Shuttlebee, we help schools navigate these complexities with vetted partners, smart oversight, and compliance-first solutions. If you're evaluating transportation options for the next school year, make sure ELD compliance is at the top of your checklist—and know that with Shuttlebee, it already is. 📩 Want to learn more? Contact us today and we’ll show you how to simplify transportation, stay compliant, and protect your students and your school.

Finding a transportation provider is one thing. Onboarding them safely, quickly, and compliantly is another challenge altogether. For many independent schools, transportation needs evolve—whether due to enrollment growth, new program offerings, or last-minute vendor cancellations. But bringing in a new provider isn’t just about availability; it’s about safety, trust, and compliance. And the reality is: most schools aren’t equipped to handle that process efficiently. At Shuttlebee, we’ve designed our platform to solve this exact problem. 🚧 The Hidden Challenges of Onboarding New Providers Whether you're placing a long-term vendor or looking for emergency coverage, onboarding a new provider can take 30–60 days—if you’re lucky. Here’s why: 1. Credentialing Takes Time Verifying driver licenses, background checks, vehicle inspections, insurance policies, and training documentation is a labor-intensive process. Missing one detail can result in compliance violations or safety risk. 2. Insurance Is a Barrier Many small, capable providers can’t afford Commercial Auto Insurance or are priced out due to their fleet size—even if their safety record is strong. This limits your pool of available vendors. 3. Lack of Oversight Infrastructure Even if you onboard someone quickly, real-time oversight—like vehicle tracking, incident alerts, or safety scorecards—is rarely in place. That means more manual coordination and higher risk. 4. Contracts and Safeguards Are Often Missing Without the right legal terms—like liquidated damages for missed routes or telematics requirements—your school has little recourse if things go wrong. 5. It’s a Heavy Lift for Your Admin Team Every new vendor means starting from scratch—again. From routing logistics to parent communication, each onboarding requires hours of manual effort and coordination. There’s no shared playbook, no automation—and the burden falls squarely on your staff. For independent schools with lean teams, that time adds up quickly. 🚀 How Shuttlebee Makes It Easy Shuttlebee is a marketplace and compliance platform built for independent schools. We streamline onboarding and oversight so you can place vendors confidently and quickly. Here’s how we help: ✅ We manage credentialing for you Our platform verifies licenses, insurance, background checks, and safety equipment—so you don’t have to. ✅ We recommend and coordinate compliant contracts Shuttlebee helps schools include the right legal language—like liquidated damages, telematics use, and non-circumvention—to protect your operations. ✅ We embed Commercial Auto Insurance We bring affordable coverage to qualified providers, unlocking access to safe vendors who were previously priced out of the market. ✅ We enable real-time oversight Our Dispatch Safety Program provides tracking, performance alerts, and safety scores—bringing visibility and accountability to every trip. ✅ We can support your existing providers Already working with vendors you trust? Shuttlebee can plug in our compliance, training, and tracking tools to strengthen those relationships and keep your team focused on students. 💡 Final Takeaway Onboarding new transportation providers shouldn’t be this hard—but without the right tools and protections in place, schools are left exposed. With Shuttlebee, you get the infrastructure, insight, and insurance you need to run a safer, smarter, and more resilient transportation program—even when vendors change. 👉 Want to see how Shuttlebee can help onboard your next provider? Book a quick consultation with our team. Shuttlebee: Compliance, coverage, and coordination—built for student transportation.