MPS Transportation Department is on a Roll! | News

MONTGOMERY, Ala. – The 325 employees of the Montgomery Public Schools Transportation Department that make sure the wheels on the bus go round and round received another outstanding report from the Alabama Department of Education annual bus inspection. Each year state inspectors check every bus from bumper to bumper making sure each system from brakes to blinkers are in perfect working order.

Superintendent Barbara W. Thompson is pleased with this year’s results.

“The state does a complete inspection and requires that school systems have a less than 10 percent deficiency in buses,” said Superintendent Thompson. “Our bus shop had less than five percent. Our parents can be sure that our buses are safe.”

About 16,000 students ride Montgomery Public School buses each school year. The buses travel over four million miles annually – that is equivalent to 160 trips around the earth or eight round trips to the moon each year.

Superintendent Thompson credited Transportation Director Michael Cox and his team for the outstanding report.

“This is the seventh year our buses have had a deficiency rating of less than five percent,” said Transportation Director Cox. “I am very proud of Mr. Willie James Thomas, Mr. Larry Humphries and the shop staff for their work to ensure our students are safe.”

There were only 12 deficiencies discovered across 260 buses.  

Each summer transportation personnel undergo a series of trainings including safety and regulations, and customer service. Each driver must also be recertified each year and now must pass a biannual physical exam to maintain their license. 

Beginning Monday, August 6 through August 31, parents may call the Transportation Hot Line at 334-223-6900 to get questions answered about buses, routes and pickup times. Due to the high volume of calls, if parents get voicemail they should leave a message with their name, address, school and phone number and someone will return their call as soon as possible. The most efficient way to get information is through email. Questions may be sent to transportationinfo@mps.k12.al.us.  Bus information is also available at each student’s zoned school.

Information Source: MPS