School bus safety doesn’t stop at the wheelchair lift or the steps. In this episode of The Route, Amanda Huggett sits down with Brianna Paauwe, product application specialist at AMF Bruns of America and a wheelchair user bringing lived experience to an industry that impacts students every day.

Paauwe breaks down what “good” wheelchair securement looks like from a rider’s point of view, why refresher training matters (not just one-and-done onboarding), and how small shifts in communication can protect safety and promote dignity. Plus, get the inside scoop on AMF Bruns’ new podcast, Beyond Mobility, created to broaden conversations around mobility, independence, and access.

Themes and topics in this episode:

• Why securement safety is often an application andtraining issue (not just equipment)
• What drivers, aides, and routers should understand about time, angles, and consistency.
• Simple ways to support rider dignity through communication and autonomy.
• Why “one size fits all” approach doesn’t apply.
• Why there’s hope for the future of transportation mobility and how we can get there together.

This episode is sponsored by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠IC Bus.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

🚌 Stay up to date on all industry news and trends at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.schoolbusfleet.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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This special episode of The Route marks two major milestones: Episode 100 of the show and 70 years of School Bus Fleet serving the student transportation industry.

To celebrate, host Amanda Huggett is joined by three former School Bus Fleet editors — Wes Platt, Nicole Schlosser, and Tom McMahon — for a look back at the moments, people, and issues that shaped the industry, and the publication, over the decades.

From alternative fuels and electric school buses to seat belt debates, safety legislation, and the everyday heroism of drivers and transportation professionals, this episode reflects on how far school transportation has come and where it’s headed next.

Themes and topics in this episode:

• Technology growth: cameras, safety systems, training tools
• The rise in alternative fuels
• Seat belt debates spanning decades
• Stop-arm violations and tragic incidents shaping policy
• School bus drivers as everyday heroes
• Advice for transportation directors

This episode is sponsored by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠IC Bus.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

🚌 Stay up to date on all industry news and trends at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.schoolbusfleet.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Follow and connect with SCHOOL BUS FLEET on social media:

- Connect with SBF on LinkedIn ➡️ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/school-bus-fleet/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

- Like SBF on Facebook ➡️ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/schoolbusfleet⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

- Follow SBF on X ➡️ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://x.com/SchoolBusFleet⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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2025 was a big year for IC Bus, with record production, next-gen tech upgrades, and big moves in electrification. In this new episode of The Route, IC Bus' VP of Sales Ryan Kauffman breaks down what really happened this year… and what’s about to hit the industry in 2026.

Whether you spec buses, manage a fleet, or just want to stay ahead of the curve, this is your insider look at the trends shaping the future of K-12 transportation.

This episode is sponsored by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠IC Bus.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

🚌 Stay up to date on all industry news and trends at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.schoolbusfleet.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Follow and connect with SCHOOL BUS FLEET on social media:

- Connect with SBF on LinkedIn ➡️ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/school-bus-fleet/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

- Like SBF on Facebook ➡️ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/schoolbusfleet⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

- Follow SBF on X ➡️ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://x.com/SchoolBusFleet⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

- Subscribe to our videos on YouTube ➡️⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@Schoolbusfleet⁠⁠⁠

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