First Student's Transformational Technology Raises the Bar for Student Transportation, Earns Four National Honors

Recognition from T-Mobile, TIME, AutoTech Breakthrough and Info-Tech highlights how First Student is using technology to improve safety and deliver a better transportation experience for students and families.

CINCINNATI, Oct. 29, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- First Student, North America's largest student transportation provider, announced it has received four national recognitions for technology and innovation, highlighting the company's continued investment in transformational technology that is redefining safety, reliability and the student transportation experience. The honors include a first-place T-Mobile Innovate Award, an AutoTech Breakthrough Award, an Info-Tech Award and recognition from TIME for First Student Chief Information and AI Officer Sean McCormack.

At the center of First Student's technology transformation is HALO™, the company's proprietary connected transportation platform. By integrating safety, routing, dispatch, maintenance, workforce management and communications into one system, HALO gives employees the tools and real-time information they need to make better decisions, improve operational performance and deliver a safer, more reliable transportation experience for students and families. Powered by T-Mobile connectivity and incorporating Samsara's AI-powered cameras and telematics, HALO demonstrates how First Student is bringing together people, processes and technology to continuously improve student transportation.

The T-Mobile Innovate Award recognized First Student's development of HALO for its innovative use of technology to help teams make smarter decisions, improve driver performance and optimize fleets. TIME also recognized the leadership behind HALO's development and deployment, highlighting the platform's ability to connect critical transportation operations across First Student's fleet of more than 48,000 vehicles.

HALO is demonstrating measurable safety improvements through its initial pilot programs. During a four-week pilot across six locations, the company recorded a 63% reduction in forward collision risk and a 54% reduction in rolling stops. These results demonstrate how connected technology and operational insights can help transportation teams identify risks earlier, support driver coaching and continuously improve the safety of the transportation experience for students.

"These awards reflect the tremendous innovation our teams are driving to transform student transportation through safer, smarter and more connected technology," said John Kenning, CEO of First Student. "By bringing together our people, processes and technology, we're giving our employees better tools, improving reliability and, most importantly, making every journey safer. That's how we're fulfilling our mission to provide the best transportation experience, so students arrive ready to achieve their full potential, while living our core values of Focus on Safety and Set the Highest Standards."

First Student's technology innovation also earned recognition from AutoTech Breakthrough and Info-Tech. HALO was named Overall Transportation Tech of the Year by AutoTech Breakthrough for its ability to connect critical transportation systems and improve operational performance. The company also received an Innovator of the Year honor through the Info-Tech Awards, recognizing its use of AI to improve daily transportation operations.

These recognitions reinforce First Student's leadership in transforming student transportation through innovation, training and operational excellence. By bringing together its people, processes and technology, the company is helping make every student journey safer while delivering a more reliable, connected transportation experience for students and families.

To learn more about First Student's commitment to student safety and how people, processes and technology are helping make every journey safer, visit SafeRidesMatter.com.

About First Student

First Student is North America's largest student transportation provider, safely transporting millions of students across the U.S. and Canada each day. With a fleet of more than 48,000 vehicles and a workforce of highly trained drivers, the company partners with school districts, divisions and boards to deliver safe, reliable and efficient transportation solutions that families can depend on. Recognized as a CIO 100 Award winner and named to the TIME100 Most Influential Companies 2026 list, First Student provides a range of transportation services, including special-needs transportation, routing and fleet management, vehicle electrification, maintenance services and charter transportation. Through its proprietary HALO™ connected transportation platform, First Student is bringing together people, processes and technology to improve safety, operational performance and the transportation experience for students and families. First Student's mission is to provide the best transportation experience so students arrive ready to achieve their full potential. Learn more at firststudentinc.com.

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Brenna Rudisill
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SOURCE First Student, Inc.