STS Highlights: June 2026
School transportation professionals continue to face evolving workforce challenges, training requirements, and operational demands. In this month’s STS Highlights, we’re sharing resources designed to support drivers, transportation teams, and ongoing workforce readiness. From flexible online ELDT theory training to professional development opportunities and operational support, these topics reflect the everyday responsibilities transportation departments manage throughout the year.
We’re also highlighting several topics connected to overall wellness and performance, including National Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Awareness Month and recent research surrounding sleep and cognitive performance. Together, these resources serve as a reminder that supporting transportation operations also means supporting the people behind them.
Stay safe this summer,
Patrick
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June Is National PTSD Awareness Month
National PTSD Awareness Month highlights the importance of understanding how stress and traumatic experiences can affect mental well-being. Although PTSD is commonly associated with military service and first responders, it can affect people across many professions and walks of life. Recognizing the importance of mental wellness, support systems, and healthy coping strategies can help create stronger, more supportive workplaces and communities.
Learn More About PTSD Awareness
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Supporting Drivers and Operations
Keeping school bus drivers trained and ready isn’t just about meeting requirements. It’s about maintaining safe, reliable transportation for your students every day. Our theory options offer flexible, online training built specifically for school bus drivers and transportation teams. Whether you’re onboarding new drivers or supporting experienced staff, our programs are designed to fit your schedule without disrupting operations.
Explore School Training Solutions
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School Bus (S) Endorsement with Online ELDT Theory Training
Ready to add a School Bus (S) Endorsement to your CDL? Our Smart Horizons ELDT Theory Course streamlines the process. As an FMCSA-approved Training Provider, we meet federal ELDT requirements. Once you complete the theory course, your record is automatically submitted to the Training Provider Registry (TPR), keeping you compliant and ready for the next step.
Start ELDT Theory Training
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Build Meaningful Skills
Whether you’re starting fresh, changing paths, or building on experience, the right training should fit into your life. With Smart Horizons, you can gain practical skills that support your current role or help you move into new opportunities, on your time and at your pace. No rigid schedules. No unnecessary barriers. We offer a smarter way to keep moving forward.
Browse Courses & Get Started
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Interesting: The Importance of Sleep on Cognitive Performance
Even one night of poor sleep can affect focus, emotional responses, and decision-making. Recent research highlights how sleep loss may influence reaction time, judgment, and risk assessment in everyday situations. It’s an interesting reminder of how important rest can be for workplace performance and daily responsibilities.
See the Official Findings
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Challenges Facing Today’s School Bus Driver Workforce
School transportation departments across the country continue to face growing workforce challenges. As experienced drivers retire and recruitment becomes increasingly competitive, many districts are working to find ways to strengthen driver readiness, improve retention, and support long-term transportation operations.
School Training Solutions offers flexible online theory training designed to support school bus drivers and today’s evolving transportation workforce.
Strengthen Driver Readiness
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Posted in
Blog on June 16th, 2026.
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STS Highlights: May 2026
Every route starts the same way: with a driver who’s prepared, focused, and ready for the responsibility ahead. As the school year begins to wind down and summer break gets closer, that preparation becomes even more important during schedule changes, end-of-year activities, and shifting routines. For school bus drivers, readiness doesn’t come from experience alone. It’s built through ongoing training and the right support behind the scenes. This month, we’re highlighting resources that strengthen those foundations without adding complexity to your schedule.
Inside, you’ll find training options built for real-world demands, insights that connect to everyday experiences, and opportunities to continue building meaningful skills. Whether you’re behind the wheel or supporting operations, it all works toward the same goal: safe, reliable transportation for every student, every day.
Summer’s close,
Patrick
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Supporting Drivers and Operations
Keeping school bus drivers trained and ready isn’t just about meeting requirements. It’s about maintaining safe, reliable transportation for your students every day. Our theory options offer flexible, online training built specifically for school bus drivers and transportation teams. Whether you’re onboarding new drivers or supporting experienced staff, our programs are designed to fit your schedule without disrupting operations.
Explore School Training Solutions
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That Starting Point for Every Commercial Driver
Not every commercial driver starts with experience, but every driver starts in the same first place: theory training. Entry Level Driver Training (ELDT) theory isn’t just a requirement. It’s where drivers learn how to think instead of react, understand real-world safety, and build confidence. Getting a CDL starts with theory training.
Start ELDT Theory Training
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Interesting: Jealousy is Not Exclusive to Humans
If you have siblings, you may remember fighting for your parents’ attention when you were younger. It turns out sibling rivalry isn’t just something that affects humans. A new study has found that young baboons try to steal their mothers away from their brothers or sisters. Smithsonian Magazine breaks down the results and presents some implications to this scientific observation.
Read the Full Article
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Build Meaningful Skills
Whether you’re starting fresh, changing paths, or building on experience, the right training should fit into your life. With Smart Horizons, you can gain practical skills that support your current role or help you move into new opportunities, on your time and at your pace. No rigid schedules. No unnecessary barriers. We offer a smarter way to keep moving forward.
Browse Courses & Get Started
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Driver Wellness: Performance Starts with Prevention
Alertness, stress management, and overall wellness directly impact transportation safety. As schedules shift and daylight hours increase, reinforcing fatigue awareness and driver health best practices can reduce risk and improve performance. Smart Horizons School Training Solutions provides flexible training that supports both compliance and driver well-being.
Discover Wellness & Safety Training
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Save the Date: OKAPT ACTS 2026!
Get ready for a milestone year! The OKAPT 50th Annual Conference & Trade Show is coming June 7–11, 2026, in Durant, Oklahoma.
Join transportation professionals from across the state for five days of inspiration, hands-on learning, and industry innovation while celebrating the organization’s golden anniversary!
Discover the OKAPT Annual Conference
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Posted in
Blog on May 14th, 2026.
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