Gilbert Unified receives new Thomas HDX bus and pilot of electronic mirror cameras

Transportation director Trace Tolby told the governing board on Oct. 14 that the district has received one Thomas HDX 84‑passenger general‑education bus and expects four additional buses to arrive soon. The delivered vehicle includes the district’s standard package (luggage compartments, upgraded AC, tinted windows) and features an electronic mirrorless camera system with two driver monitors and multiple exterior cameras.

Tolby said the district obtained state approval to operate a school bus without traditional exterior mirrors using electronic cameras and interior driver monitors, and described the installation as a first for a North American school district in the school‑bus sector. “We are the first district in North America to get approved to run a bus with electronic mirrors,” Tolby said, noting the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has already approved the technology for over‑the‑road trucks and that the school‑bus sector typically adopts new tech later.

Board members asked about reliability, spare parts and what happens if a camera or monitor fails in the field. Tolby said the operational contingency is similar to a broken mirror today — the bus must be taken out of service, students transferred to another vehicle and service performed — and that DPS inspection and aftermarket installations (two‑way radio, GPS/scanning systems) are required before the vehicle is placed in service. Tolby estimated current new‑bus lead times at about nine months.

The district said future orders will include the camera system where cost‑effective and that limited retrofits may be possible for newer buses approaching the end of their useful life. The board and staff praised the transportation team for improving driver amenities and safety features.