Berks County Pupil Transportation Association

10/22/2025

In Pennsylvania, school bus drivers are the unsung heroes of every school day—rain, shine, or snow. They navigate winding back roads, foggy mornings, and busy intersections to safely carry the state’s most precious cargo: our kids. Their dedication goes far beyond just “driving a bus”—they’re protectors, mentors, and the first friendly face many students see each morning. From the rolling hills of central PA to the crowded suburbs of Philly and Pittsburgh, we deeply appreciate their patience, skill, and heart. Without them, the whole rhythm of Pennsylvania’s school days simply wouldn’t run.

10/17/2025

2025 National School Bus Safety Week is quickly approaching & is scheduled for October 20 – 25, 2025! Transportation Security Administration - TSA encourages:

Safety Awareness Campaigns: Develop and share educational materials, such as flyers, posters, and social media posts, to raise awareness about school bus safety rules and practices.

Training and Workshops: Organize refresher training sessions for bus drivers and transportation staff to reinforce best practices for safe driving and student management.

Community Engagement: Partner with local organizations, law enforcement, and schools to host events that emphasize the importance of school bus safety.

Student Involvement: Encourage schools to involve students in activities such as safety poster contests or classroom discussions about safe behavior on and around school buses.

Learn more about their FREE Program & get involved with this Annual event! 🚌🌟

05/02/2025

The marvelous 2025 top ten!!!
Congratulations!!

Wilma Herrera - 1st - BCIU Antietam SD
Connie Lash - 2nd - Zum Services Reading School District
Chuck Orr - 3rd - Eshelman Transportation Schuylkill Valley SD
Pamela Little - 4th - Krise Transportation Daniel Boone SD
Cheri Royer Garcia - 5th - Zum Services Reading School District
Sharon Kissinger - 6th - BCIU Muhlenberg
Yolanda M-Whyte - 7th - BCIU Exeter
Alicia Kachel - 8th - BCIU Muhlenberg
Roberta McFadden - 9th - Wilson SD
Max Devlin - 10th - BCIU Muhlenberg

(Also pictured:
Randy Williams - BCPTA President - Wilson SD
John Coakley - BCPTA Vice President - BCIU
Linda Kerstetter - PennDot School Bus Manager)

05/01/2025

04/28/2025

04/23/2025

BCIU to Host 51st Annual School Bus Safety Competition in Berks County

READING, PA – On Saturday, April 26, 2025, the Berks County Intermediate Unit (BCIU) will host the 51st Annual Berks County School Bus Drivers’ Safety Competition on behalf of the Berks County Pupil Transportation Association (BCPTA). The event will take place at the BCIU Main Office, located at 1111 Commons Boulevard, Reading, PA 19605. Activities begin at 8:00 a.m. and conclude following the 1:00 p.m. Awards Ceremony.

Now in its 51st year, the event brings together school bus drivers from all 18 Berks County school districts and their transportation partners to showcase their skills and commitment to student safety. Drivers will demonstrate their expertise through a series of practical and written challenges, highlighting best practices in school bus safety and reinforcing a shared dedication to protecting students on their daily commutes to and from school.

Top performers from the competition will earn the opportunity to represent Berks County at the Pennsylvania State School Bus Competition in State College in June 2025.

A tentative agenda for the event is below:
7:30 a.m. – Registration
8:00 a.m. – Welcome, Introductions, and Remarks
8:15 a.m. – Course Walkthrough, Vehicle Inspection Overview, and Judge Orientation
8:30 a.m. – Competition Begins
• Group 1 – Driving Skills / Events
• Group 2 – Vehicle Inspection / Bugged Buses
• Group 3 – Written Test in the Cafeteria
12:00 p.m. – Lunch & Score Tabulation
1:00 p.m. – Awards Ceremony

While the event is not open to the public, members of the media are invited to attend and capture the spirit of collaboration, professionalism, and pride that defines Berks County’s school transportation community. If you have questions regarding the competition, please contact John Coakley, Program Administrator, Transportation, BCIU, at 610-987-8621 or [email protected].

04/22/2025

10/26/2024

The best way to avoid an accident is to use proactive measures to prevent one in the first place.

Here are 21 Tips for Preventing School Bus Accidents! https://conta.cc/48gSrN0

10/22/2024

Slow on yellow, stop on red. If the stop arm is out, kids are crossing ahead!

Hat tip to our friends NHTSA for this excellent rhyme in honor of National School Bus Safety Week.

07/17/2024

Congratulations to the 50th ANNIVERSARY BCPTA School Bus Safety Competition being featured on BCTV Berks on the show VICTORY! Thanks to Berks County Intermediate Unit for hosting and for to the Berks County Pupil Transportation Association for their organization!

WE LOVE OUR BERKS COUNTY SCHOOL BUS DRIVERS THAT KEEP OUR KIDS SAFE EVERYDAY!!

Click the link below!!

https://youtu.be/_sQWoOcAKPY?si=XJ8bZZB2r-0tS_Z7

Berks County Intermediate Unit Eshelman Transportation Pennsylvania School Bus Association - PSBA Durham School Services First Student School Bus Driver Life

This episode spotlights the Berks County Pupil Transportation Association (BCPTA), their 2024 school bus rodeo, and school bus safety in general. With host T...