HopSkipDrive releases AI Dashboard to help schools cut costs and improve transport efficiency
New RouteWise AI feature provides performance benchmarks and optimization tools for district operations
HopSkipDrive has released a new AI-powered dashboard as part of its RouteWise AI software, designed to help school districts analyze transportation data and benchmark operational performance.
The feature delivers insights on metrics such as student ride times, costs per rider, and bus utilization rates.
HopSkipDrive is a U.S.-based transportation technology company focused on school mobility. Its RouteWise AI platform, launched in 2023, is used by districts to manage operations during driver shortages, reduce costs, and improve service reliability. According to the company, RouteWise AI has been adopted by over 10,000 schools across 17 states.
The new dashboard enables districts to compare their performance against national averages and simulate planning changes, including the effects of stop relocations and altered bell schedules. The company says the AI engine runs thousands of scenarios to generate data-driven recommendations.
Districts report cost and efficiency gains
HopSkipDrive says the platform has helped districts reduce costs and increase efficiency. Denver Public Schools reportedly saved more than $500,000 by improving use of smaller vehicles, and Colorado Springs’ District 11 increased high-utilization routes by 46% without adding drivers.
Veronica Schmidt, transportation director at Snohomish School District in Washington, said:
“We've been working with RouteWise AI to assess our operational efficiency and support our district in sustaining operations through a driver shortage. RouteWise AI brings together all of our data – ridership, history traffic, route policies and more – to deliver detailed optimization recommendations that aren't possible with our current tools.”
System designed for compatibility with existing tools
The RouteWise AI platform has been developed to integrate with districts’ existing routing systems. HopSkipDrive works directly with district teams to align recommendations with operational goals. The company is also partnering with EZTransportation to provide integration with broader transportation management tools such as driver coordination, fleet maintenance, and communication.
Corey McMahon, Chief Product and Technology Officer at HopSkipDrive, said:
“School districts often lack the time or resources to quickly analyze transportation data in one place and implement meaningful changes. RouteWise AI bridges that gap, providing schools’ decision makers, board members and other officials actionable insights directly from their existing routing systems to boost efficiency, reduce costs, and ultimately improve student outcomes.”
