Upper Dublin transportation director reports full staffing, new training program and $380,000 outsourcing reduction
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Summary
Transportation director Jeff Tyler told the Finance Committee the department reached full staffing in February 2026, launched "Cardinal U" training, improved routing (eliminating key double runs) and reduced outsourced transportation expenses by an estimated $380,000 annually.
Jeff Tyler, who the board introduced to present a transportation update, told the Feb. 18 Finance Committee the department has moved from crisis-mode staffing to operational stability and measurable improvements.
"Excellence is our route," Tyler said, describing a set of five strategic focus areas the department adopted this year: staffing, training and development (Cardinal U), communications, routing improvements and fiscal responsibility. He reported the department achieved full staffing as of February 2026 "months ahead of that target," removed double runs at Sandy Run, and launched an internal training pipeline it calls Cardinal U.
Tyler said the department has reduced reliance on outsourced transportation providers far more than planned. "As of today, we have surpassed our initial benchmark and reduced current and projected outsourced expenses by 68%. It's the equivalent of $380,000 annually," he said. District leaders clarified that figure reflects reduced projected outsourced spending versus an earlier, higher projection and that the full bottom-line effect will appear in next year's budget.
Tyler and board members discussed remaining operational refinements: four candidates in the Cardinal U training pipeline are expected to graduate in mid-March, additional route auditing and technology audits to improve GPS and parent communication, and plans to restore sports trip capacity. Board members asked about student behavior on buses (Tyler credited bus-patrol camera technology), morning pickup time variability and whether double runs persist because of last-minute absences.
Tyler identified retention drivers such as benefits and a permanent transportation facility that the department has requested; he said district support for two vans earlier this year significantly helped reduce outsourced special-needs costs. "Cardinal U moves from the launch phase to the expansion phase," he said, listing planned audits, leadership playbooks and a fleet investment strategy as next steps.
The committee reacted positively and asked staff to continue reporting operational metrics; Tyler said he will focus on data collection improvements so performance reports can be run quickly rather than reacting to parent calls.