mTransport Info
DSTS Transportation Card for Coming School Year
mTransport On Large 70 Passenger Vehicles
DSTS 70 passenger vehicles are equipped with mTransport technology. DSTS Transportation cards are distributed to eligible students assigned to 70 passenger vehicles. Students will use the DSTS Transportation card when boarding or exiting the bus. Note: For new students or students new to transportation on a 70 passenger vehicle, a DSTS Transportation card will be sent to the school for distribution to students once the student has been added to a bus route. Students previously issued a DSTS Transportation Card will continue to use the same card throughout their school career if they remain eligible for student transportation services.
Missing your card or want to register your email address to use the mTransport mobile App. Please follow this link!
What is mTransport?
mTransport is a transportation technology designed to streamline communications between our buses and stakeholders, namely the school and our student family community. This system replaced the traditional paper-based manifest on board the vehicle with a Tablet that has an electronic version of your students’ bus route. Students are issued a DSTS Transportation card that the tablet software will read to register when and where students board or exit the bus. This will help our drivers better recognize riders and allow them to assist if someone attempts to board at the wrong stop or the wrong bus or get off a bus when they shouldn’t. This system will also provide live and relevant data regarding bus passengers, which is critical information in the event of a bus incident or accident.
What data is available with mTransport?
Information in mTransport replaces the traditional paper manifests used in the past by Bus Operators and their drivers. Student names along with the bus stop location are the main pieces of information held on the tablet. Personal information such as phone numbers, date of birth or home addresses are not stored on the tablet. Data is transferred via a secure connection and all data is held within Canadian servers. Only verified staff who have access to the Bus route information such as school administration staff, transportation route planners, Bus Operators, and information technology staff from DSTS and mTransport who facilitate the software, have access to the data. Data always remains the property of DSTS and can only be used for Transportation Services. Tablets are secured and controlled by a Mobile Device Management (MDM) system which limits functions and allows tablets to be erased remotely.
Can any personal information be scanned from the Transportation Card?
No, the Transportation Card is simply linked to an ID number that is linked to the student within the mTransport software. No personal information can be obtained from the card if scanned by any other source. When a student is no longer riding a bus, the card is deactivated, and therefore serves no other purpose.
What other information is found on the Tablet?
Outside of the Stops and students using those stops these electronic manifests also will have driving directions for our drivers to get from stop to stop. This is very helpful for new drivers or drivers who may be filling in for another route.
What type of notifications can I get as a family?
mTransport also has a Student/Guardian application that will be in use as we reach full deployment. Areas that have been using mTransport for a while will begin to have the application send out notifications once an account has been created but all families of transported students are invited to register an email address here to use with the mTransport application, at this time we are only able to take one email address per student. Users of the application will be able to opt into messages via, Text, email or push notification about when the student boarded the bus and disembarked it, as well as notification when the bus has left the stop previous to your students and is on the way. Notifications will also indicate if the student used their Transportation card to board the vehicle or if they were manually logged in by the driver. App users will also be able to mark their student absent for the day letting the driver know they will not be riding. Finally, notifications are also sent if an issue has occurred with the system, and it is not being used that day or at some point along the route.
What happens if a student forgets their DSTS Transportation card?
Eligible students, whose names are on the bus manifest, will be able to board the bus if they do not have their DSTS Transportation card with them. Drivers can tap the students' name on the manifest to mark them as having boarded the bus. We just ask that if your student does not have their DSTS Transportation card they wait to board the last at the stop to make it easier for the driver to find the students' name, and keep boarding timely. Note: A temporary DSTS Transportation card can be obtained here.
I lost my card, what should I do?
If you lose your card, a new DSTS Transportation card will be produced and sent to the school for distribution to the student. Click here to start the process of receiving a new DSTS Transportation card and to create a temporary printable DSTS Transportation card. The temporary paper DSTS Transportation card will work in place of the plastic card. If a student will be using a mobile device to load the DSTS Transportation card for boarding the bus, they can take a picture of the Temporary DSTS Transportation card to load to the mobile device.
How long should I keep my card?
Students previously issued a DSTS Transportation Card will continue to use the same card throughout their school career if they remain eligible for student transportation services and they remain within the same school board. The same DSTS Transportation card will continue to be used by the student if they change schools and remain within the same school board. Students will not receive a new DSTS Transportation card each school year.
Can I board a different bus with my Card?
It is important to use the transportation assigned to you. Students trying to board a different bus where they are not registered, the mTransport System will signal the driver. This will help avoid situations where students attempt to board the wrong bus by accident and need to be returned to the school at the end of the run. Further information on DSTS transportation policy can be found here.