Schools and school districts are constantly looking to reduce operating costs where possible. Tight budgets for schools lead them to cut costs in areas that do not directly affect classroom study. Thus, school transport transportation costs become an objective when administrators look to diminish their costs.
Bus transportation costs depend on the age of the fleet, wages, maintenance costs, fuel consumption and insurance costs. This represents 80% of the total cost. Capital costs include the cost of purchasing new vehicles and the cost of replacing the fleet. Operating a fleet of school buses with optimum efficiency has a direct impact on the costs saved.
Methods to Reduce School Bus Transportation Costs
- Reduce the Number of Buses
Operating a fleet of school buses is expensive in Dubai. Schools believe that the best method to reduce costs is to reduce the number of buses in service. Downsizing automatically reduces driver wages, fuel consumption, vehicle wear, and more. These factors greatly contribute to cost savings. Second, most of Dubai schools try their best to hire a professional driver who can save your time and money as a safe driver Dubai with their best route terminology.
Efficient route management is the most practical way to reduce costs without compromising the quality of service provided. The best cost saving model helps students get to school efficiently while optimizing commuting times.
- Route Management
Transportation of students to schools is a complex issue. Advances in technology have helped school administrators tackle the problem with considerable ease. Software systems are used to develop bus routes. Some schools still draw the route manually.
Schools should periodically review their bus routes based on the actual number of students using the bus and the total time used. Simple adjustments to last year's routes won't help reduce operating costs.
School administrators cut stops and routes to stay on budget. Small changes in operations, such as reduced trips and routes, often pay off big.
- Trip Planning
The number of students at each bus stop, the locations of the stops and the capacity of the buses have a direct impact on the mapping of bus routes. Minimizing the number of trips minimizes the number of buses needed.
The trips can be connected on a single bus line if the start and end times of the lessons change slightly. The start and end times of elementary, middle and secondary schools are set within a certain time frame.
It is therefore possible to chain several journeys on the same bus. This reduces the total number of buses needed. The ideal combination of hoods and alternative routes translates into cost savings and increased efficiency.
- Route Planning
One method used to increase operational efficiency is route planning. A single route is designed for children from different schools in a school district. Trips from different schools are combined to form an itinerary.
Only one bus is assigned to this specific route. This reduces the travel time of buses without students on board, as well as the number of buses on each route. Each route grows longer, but offers more trips on a single route.
This minimizes the number of routes, resulting in lower operating costs. The pollution caused by diesel exhaust gases is greatly reduced. This model is viable when schools are under the authority of a government authority and the services of a centralized bus company are used. Private schools that have their own buses may not be open to this model.
- Mobile School Bus
The "Walking School Bus" is a new concept that has been adopted by the neighborhoods of Dubai. By redirecting to optimize costs, some of the closest routes to schools are eliminated. In such cases, students along these routes regroup and walk to school under the supervision of an adult.
Parents and children love the idea of walking because it is healthy. Students feel more energetic and renewed. Most of the time, students get to school faster, as school buses often take longer to pick up children on their trips.
These students can walk or bike to school. This allows students who are further away, students with disabilities or with disabilities to benefit from bus services. Safe areas must be guaranteed for students.
- Alternative Fuel Vehicles
Government regulations for pollution reduction mandate the adoption of alternative fuel sources to operate vehicles. Propane, CNG, and electric vehicles are available options. Some schools use diesel-electric hybrid vehicles, albeit expensive.
The cost of alternative fuel vehicles is high compared to the cost of diesel vehicles. There is a significant reduction in fuel costs. Air pollution from diesel exhaust is drastically reduced, leaving a smaller carbon footprint. Better use of buses can make this feasible in the long term.
The buses in the existing fleet can be equipped with alternative fuel engines. This can help reduce initial capital expenses. When deciding on modernization, you must take into account the age of the vehicle to get the most out of it.
- Maintenance Cost
Regular maintenance is required to keep buses safe on the road. Fewer school buses on the road mean less vehicle maintenance. The savings in parts, supplies, and labor are significant when the number of buses is minimal.
A maintenance program that can extend the life of the buses is essential. Regular periodic maintenance and scheduled preventive maintenance will reduce the incidence of unplanned outages and associated costs.
Schools and transportation companies must have policies regarding the removal of buses that cannot serve efficiently.
- Personnel Expenses
A reduction in the number of buses will require fewer employees to fill them. The reduced number of drivers translates into great salary savings. With the help of a safe driver, efficient route planning and time management will reduce overtime costs.
Fleet management software provides real-time feedback and comprehensive reports for safe and efficient student transportation.
- Disadvantage of Cost Reduction
Redirecting and removing routes will leave a good number of students without transportation. Cutting bus routes without proper plans for student safety will have negative effects.
When bus stops or routes are removed, parents react angrily. They worry about the dangers of their students walking or biking to school. Parents then choose to drop them off at school in their cars.
About 36 cars are needed to transport an equivalent student bus. This proportionally increases congestion and the corresponding air pollution on the roads.The incidence of accidents is higher among automobiles, which increases the safety risk. School buses have fewer accidents. Their large sizes allow them to resist better
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