As Diesel Prices Hit Record Highs, EverDriven Shows What Route Consolidation Could Save School Districts

A 10% route consolidation could save a 120-route district more than $78,000 a year in diesel alone

DENVER, Oct. 22, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Diesel prices reached a record high this fall, and many school districts that built their budgets around last year's fuel costs are now absorbing the difference. The U.S. average price of on-highway diesel peaked at $6.529 a gallon the week of Sept. 21 and stood at $6.199 the week of Oct. 5, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA). That is about 69% above the 2025 average of $3.66.

EverDriven, a category leader in Modern Student Transportation, is showing how a routine route review can turn fuel volatility into a measurable budget opportunity for districts. Consider an example of a district operating 120 daily bus routes with an average route length of 35 miles per day round trip. This calculation uses the following baseline:

• Bus fuel economy of 6 miles per gallon, typical for a diesel school bus
• Diesel at $6.199 per gallon, the EIA national average for the week of Oct. 5, 2026
• A 10% reduction in routes by right-sizing service to actual daily ridership

Consolidating routes by 10% alone could reduce annual diesel fuel costs by more than $78,000 annually:

• 10% of 120 routes = 12 routes consolidated
• 12 routes x 35 miles = 420 fewer miles driven per day
• 420 miles / 6 mpg = 70 gallons of diesel saved per day
• 70 gallons x $6.199 = $433.93 saved per school day
• $433.93 x 180 school days = $78,107.40 in annual diesel savings

District transportation leaders looking to calculate their own diesel savings from route consolidation can use EverDriven's Diesel Savings Calculator, available at https://www.everdriven.com/resources/blog/diesel-route-savings-calculator

"This scenario counts fuel only. Running fewer routes also reduces tire wear, maintenance, and driver salary and overtime, so the full return for a district would likely be higher," said Greg Jackson, General Manager of Consolidated Routing Services at EverDriven. "Because each mile optimized saves a fixed amount of fuel, the value of a leaner route plan rises with fuel prices. When prices ease, the efficiency carries forward into every future budget cycle."

Route consolidation matches the number of routes a district runs to the number of students riding each day. Enrollment patterns have shifted in many communities, and route plans built for past ridership often go years without a full review. A well-planned consolidation keeps every eligible student on a route.

Districts that have adopted this model have seen route costs decrease by up to 15%, along with measurable improvements in on-time performance and reduced ride times for students with additional needs. Consolidated Routing Services complements EverDriven's Alternative Student Transportation offering, which serves students that fixed routes cannot efficiently reach.

About EverDriven

EverDriven delivers modern student-centered transportation that's safe, consistent, and built for those who need it most. EverDriven specializes in routing and transporting students across all ranges of needs — from everyday support to the most complex circumstances — including students with disabilities, students experiencing housing instability, and other high-need populations. Serving more than 800 districts across 38 states, the company completed more than 2.1 million successful trips in the 2025–26 school year. EverDriven's deeply human, fully compliant, and AI-powered approach helps districts get students on the road in hours, not days, while maintaining consistent, high-trust rides that complement traditional yellow bus fleets. For more information, visit everdriven.com. 

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SOURCE EverDriven