Dallas ISD’s buses are getting an upgrade for the 2023-2034 school year to enhance the safety of all students and drivers. Over 900 buses are now equipped with a tablet using an app known as “Edulog.” Through this app, bus drivers will be able to input their security check information and receive updates and messages from their service center.
“One of our safety features is that drivers have to do a pre-trip inspection. Most CDL drivers do this, whether they’re a truck or bus driver. They have to inspect their vehicle before they go out on the road,” said Jaime Sandoval, executive director of Student Transportation Services. “The tablet allows the driver to take pictures of each section and checkmark as they’re going through. If the service center needs to send a message, they can send a message to the tablet. If it’s a new driver or a substitute driver, they have the ability to receive turn-by-turn directions. They’ll be able to see it, just like if they had Google Maps.”
Edulog incorporates a telematics system known as Samsara, which can track mileage, speed, fuel efficiency, and more. It’s also a real-time GPS navigator with routing abilities such as smart map overlays that monitor traffic and weather, aerial views, and geofencing. “I think the best part of this is overall analytics,” Sandoval said. “We’re going to have more data than we’ve ever really had the ability to analyze. Fuel consumption is one of the data points. We want to see how much fuel we’re using. This is also telling us how efficient our buses are as far as miles per gallon.”
Parents and guardians will be able to see their students’ bus route and live location when they download Edulog. Other features include the ability to receive push notifications with information about delays, route changes, and arrival times.
“If parents use the app, they can see in real time exactly where the bus is, and the principals can, too. The cool thing is that I can look it up on the system, text the live location, and immediately it will pop up and show exactly where the bus is. That’s really cool,” Sandoval said.
By January, Transportation Services will be rolling out scanner cards for students so that boarding and disembarking records are kept digitally rather than by hand, which is the current system. Click here to download the Edulog Parent Portal app and learn how to register your student as well as set alert notifications. Flyers will also be handed to students beginning on the first day of school.
