News & Insights

If you’ve ever talked to a banker, investor, or potential buyer, chances are you’ve heard the term EBITDA thrown around. It sounds technical, but the idea behind it is actually pretty simple—and very useful for business owners. EBITDA stands for Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation, and Amortization. In plain English, it’s a way of measuring how much money your business generates from its core operations, before certain financial and accounting factors are taken into account. Think ...

In recent history, the school bus industry nationwide has made a significant push to educate the general public of the requirements to stop for the yellow bus. While there does appear to have been some progress in decreasing illegal passing, a recent study from the National Association of State Directors of Pupil Transportation (NASDPTS) shows that there was a total of 39.3 million illegal passing violations in the US during the 2024-2025 school year.

When a school bus driver fails a drug or alcohol test, refuses to submit to required testing, or otherwise violates U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) drug testing regulations, a specific regulatory framework governs driver and employer obligations. Federal regulations require such drivers participate in the Substance Abuse Professional (SAP) program before they return to safety-sensitive duties. 49 C.F.R. §40.285(a). For school bus operators, understanding how this process works, and what ...

The 2025-2026 school year is already half-way over, and for many contractors this means peak sports and activities season is only right around the corner. As contractors know, there is plenty of extra work to go around during this time of year, and many drivers jump at the opportunity to pick up extra trips. Although it is great to have employees eager to take on additional work, transportation contractors should be mindful of federal hours of service requirements, and ensure that their drivers ...

Today our team presented Legal Update Session - "Covering Your Bases: Safeguarding Special Needs Transportation for Contractors" at the National School Transportation Association 2026 Midwinter Meeting. We love attending school transportation conferences and events where meaningful conversations, shared expertise, and continued education help strengthen the entire industry.

Once again, marijuana is in the spotlight. On December 18, 2025, President Trump signed Executive Order 14370 on expanding medical marijuana and cannabidiol (CBD) research, with the goal of rescheduling marijuana from a Schedule I drug to a Schedule III drug. Some may recall that the Biden Administration began taking similar steps in 2024. Continue reading for a brief discussion on the recent history of marijuana reclassification, what Executive Order 14370 accomplishes, and what considerations ...

When business owners begin thinking about selling their company, one of the first questions they ask is, “What is my business worth?” While there are several methods used to value a business, one of the most common—particularly for small and owner-operated companies—is Seller’s Discretionary Earnings (SDE). Seller’s Discretionary Earnings represents the true economic benefit a single owner receives from operating the business. It is different from the net income figure at the bottom of you...