Snowstorms, extreme cold, and other weather-related events continue to affect school operations across Pennsylvania. In response, school districts often cancel in-person instruction, move instruction to a virtual format, or revise school calendars in ways that result in transportation services being suspended. Since Act 56 became law in 2023, schools have more flexibility to make school calendar changes that reduce transportation contract revenue days. What do your transportation contracts say a...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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In the throes of winter, school bus drivers often idle their buses to keep the bus warm. But, contractors should keep in mind laws and regulations that limit the amount of time that diesel vehicles can idle. In Pennsylvania, the Diesel-Powered Motor Vehicle Idling Act (the “Act”) generally restrict owners of diesel-powered motor vehicles greater than 10,000 pounds from running the diesel engine for more than five (5) minutes within any sixty (60) minute period. 35 P.S. §4603(a). But, there are...
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It’s the start of the new year, and for many contractors this means it is the start of the transportation contract bidding and renewal season. During this period, many contractors often seek clarity on legal requirements regarding school district Request for Proposals (RFPs), and the obligations of contractors responding to such RFPs.
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As a school bus contractor, you’ve built a business that helps the community while supporting your family. But what is your long term future plan? Business owners are not surprised to hear that the income and value generated by a privately held business represents about 80% of the business owner’s wealth. But many business owners focus on generating business income while ignoring business value. Your business is an income generating asset, just like the vehicles in your fleet. Contractors are ...
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