Buses rolling out for the first day of classes at the Chicago Public Schools had extra assurance they would run efficiently, thanks to vehicle tracking technology.

The school system added remote vehicle tracking devices to each of their 1,600 buses this summer. The significant cash outlay for the vehicle tracking system will be covered in part through a $1 million grant. School officials say they hope the vehicle tracking costs will be recouped in a short period of time through less fuel and maintenance costs. Vehicle tracking allows supervisors back at the main depot to keep tabs on each and every vehicle tracking them by remote computer over the Internet. With proper management, the vehicle tracking system will help decrease or eliminate breakdowns, late routes, exceeding the speed limit and excessive idling.

The vehicle tracking project raised a few eyebrows among the general public, with the knowledge that many school systems are cutting budgets back, especially in the area of transportation, due to the tight economy. Chicago Public Schools is the third largest school system in the nation. Could it afford vehicle tracking?

It’s estimated only about one quarter of school districts in the U.S. use vehicle tracking, although the American School Bus Council endorses vehicle tracking technology. A spokesman for the agency said it was because of the Chicago School District’s large size that it would experience a quick and effective return on investment. GPS tracking makes routing more efficient, he said, and that alone should cut down on mileage and therefore fuel consumption immediately.

Parents are also pleased at the increased level of safety that vehicle tracking promises. When parents ask about the whereabouts of child, or the progress of a bus route, vehicle tracking will reveal exactly when any bus arrived at a certain stop and where it is at the current time.

This type of tracking is called real-time vehicle tracking. A small GPS tracking receiver is placed in each bus. Vehicle tracking involves readings, or “hits,” marking the device’s location based on satellites orbiting in space. Speed, latitude, longitude, and heading are monitored by vehicle tracking. Position updates are every few seconds. That vehicle tracking data is transmitted through a cell network, and it’s all assembled on a map on the Internet. The dispatcher, manager or other supervisor – usually with special vehicle tracking software – can watch a full fleet of buses as they progress on their routes, moment to moment, or zoom in and concentrate on just one. Vehicle tracking also keeps records of past routes, so any day or segment of a day can be recalled, for reports or perhaps to look for persistent inefficiencies.