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SALT LAKE CITY — The Jordan School District is taking big steps to make sure its school busses run more efficiently.
Starting in the fall, busses in the district will have a GPS tracking system attached.
District Director of Transportation Herb Jensen said, "If a parent is wondering where the bus is, they can call us, and we will know exactly where the bus is."
But Jensen says these systems do a lot more than just track where the bus may be. They're attached to the bus' main computer, so they can tell what happened if the bus breaks down.
"If a bus breaks down someplace and the driver doesn't know where they are, which happens occasionally, we'll know exactly where the bus is," he said. "We'll be able to respond more efficiently and more promptly."
Also, Jensen says these devices can help them spot potential problems before they happen. In the winter, they frequently have cold busses or late drivers because the busses don't start.
"For example, when the amperage of the batteries drops below a certain level, it will send us an indicator or a warning that has occurred and it will allow our mechanics to get out there," he said.
Jensen says these systems are similar to what trucking companies have for their fleets.
"We have 210 busses, and we will install that on all 210 busses," he said.
