School Bus Ontario (SBO) is a not-for-profit association providing advocacy, education and legislative consultation services to its members which are school bus fleets, school boards/transportation consortia and supplier/manufacturer members across Ontario for over 60 years.
SBO fosters unique partnerships with provincial and federal governments, school boards and transportation consortia, manufacturers, distributors and other transportation sectors, resolving issues important to members and ensuring students are transported to school safely, securely, on-time and ready to learn!
Responsible for safely transporting in excess of 833,000+ Ontario children to and from school every day, the school bus industry maintains an incredible safety record attested by Transport Canada.
SBO is a provincial association with government influence, valuable resources, one-of-a-kind networking, training and education programs, and business growth/improvement opportunities that result in real cost savings. If you’re looking to be successful in the school bus industry, we invite you to learn more about what SBO provides to members.
Background
School Bus Ontario (SBO) has been an intricate part of the school bus industry for more than 60 years. In the 1950’s there was an increased need for student transportation. True to the rural communities today, the distance to school was too far to walk and public transit was not an option. Many parents used the family car to deliver local children to school on time.
Today, in excess of 833,000+ children are transported to and from school every day using safe and reliable yellow school buses. SBO has diligently worked with the Ontario Ministry of Transportation (MTO), Transport Canada and the Canadian Standards Association to develop the safest design, construction and operational standards with the purpose of school bus passenger and other road user safety in mind. To learn more about safety features of school buses click here.
According to Transport Canada, transporting children to and from school in school buses is 16 times safer than the family car. We draw this parallel: the safest vehicles are driven by the safest drivers. These dedicated professionals are rigorously trained and are fundamental partners in student success. They receive specialized training in student behaviour management, loading and unloading, emergency evacuation and first aid as well as frequent driving record and criminal background checks.
SBO continues to foster partnerships and advocate on behalf of all SBO members who help ensure the safety of students riding the school bus.
Vision, Mission & Values
Every one of the 830,000+ children aboard an Ontario school bus deserves to arrive at school safe, secure, on time and ready to learn.
Vision:
An economically healthy and sustainable industry, safely and reliably serving the growing needs of student transportation in Ontario.
Mission:
To support and enhance the success of our members in the competitive world of school busing.
Values:
- Contribute to student success
- Focus on cost effective and efficient operations
- Commit to continuous improvement
- Embrace diversity in our workplaces
- Make a significant contribution to a greener Ontario
- Anticipate and influence the future state of the school bus industry