How Fresno Unified parents can keep track of their student’s school bus in real time

Soon, parents and kids won’t have to wonder where the school bus is – the district, in partnership with Zum, is launching a new app with real-time bus tracking.

The technology company is also working with district leaders to take over special education bus routes from First Student next year.

A new transportation company has taken over Fresno Unified’s bus transportation with some big changes, including an app that allows parents and students to track school buses in real time. 

Zūm, a student transportation company based in Redwood City that provides services for school districts nationwide, was awarded a five-year contract by Fresno Unified to provide bus transportation and technology services for the district.

For the 2025-2026 school year, the district has begun using Zūm’s technology platform, which lets them oversee and manage general education bus routes. Starting next year, Zūm will also begin to provide transportation on special education bus routes.

“We are excited by this new partnership and share Zūm’s mission to ensure safe, reliable rides for every student in our district,” said Superintendent Misty Her in a news release by Zūm and Fresno Unified.

On top of this, parents will be able to register their children and monitor their buses in real time using the Zūm parent app. 

While registration to the app is not required to ride FUSD buses, the app allows parents to receive notifications about when their child embarks and exits a bus, when a bus is close to arriving and view or cancel upcoming or same-day rides.

According to the district’s Zūm page, parents will be notified via text or email to register students and choose their route and bus stop. Once district staff confirm the student’s bus route, parents will then receive an email with instructions on how to download and access the parent Zūm app.

Students who are registered to Zūm will also be able to track their buses and routes through a student app. They are also set to receive plastic bus cards in September that will begin to track the student entering and exiting buses, functioning like a transit pass.

According to Paul Rosencrans, the district’s director of transportation, the district is currently working to create rosters of riders by bus route. No completion date has been set, but Rosencrans says “families can be assured that students do not need a bus pass to ride the bus this semester.

Rosencrans also said the contract will cost Fresno Unified $16,721,083 annually.

Currently, special education bus routes are operated by First Student, a student transportation company. Their contract with the district is set to expire next year, but Zūm is offering First Student drivers in good standing a position in their fleet.

“Zūm has engaged with Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 521, and agreed to recognize the union selected by drivers,” a board communication from April states.

“All First Student drivers in good standing will be offered employment, retain their seniority, and receive competitive wages along with a five-hour daily work guarantee.”

The company also encourages existing and new drivers to apply for a position in the 2026-2027 school year when they take over transportation for special education routes. General education bus routes will continue to be serviced by Fresno Unified’s own fleet of 118 buses and drivers.

The switch to another company is not exclusive to Fresno Unified. Clovis Unified ended its partnership with First Student and took on the responsibility in 2011, with Central Unified doing the same in 2009.

At that time, then Superintendent for Central Unified, Michael Berg, stated that the switch saved the district $200,000 annually. Fresno Unified also considered a switch around that time, but according to then spokesperson Susan Bedi, the district found it too costly.

First Student has also had issues over the years getting children to school on time.

In 2018, driver shortages caused students to be nearly an hour late to class. Similarly, continued staff shortages and issues adapting to new state mandates over school start times in 2023 caused some students to arrive up to two hours late.

Last year, drivers from First Student represented by SEIU Local 521 also sounded the alarm over alleged wage theft, sexual harassment and retaliatory behavior in their workplace.