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Compliant Student Transportation

Compliance-first fleet leasing and student transportation programs for independent schools.

We deliver end-to-end program support—compliant vehicles (non-CDL MPVs, MFSABs, and minivans), fleet optimization, faculty/coach training, policies, and maintenance programs. This turns student transportation from a hidden risk into a program fully aligned with federal (NHTSA/FMVSS) and state requirements while protecting students, staff, and insurance coverage.

9 Passenger Transit

The Fleet

1/5

Why We’re Different

Our Mission

To help schools build and maintain transportation programs that are fully compliant, risk-aware, and financially sustainable—so every student trip is protected operationally, legally, and ethically.

We Know You

We understand the independent school ecosystem because we live in it.

As current parents and former administrators, we know your reality: coaches and teachers are your drivers, staff time is a luxury, and budgets are finite.

Jeff (30+ years in fleet management) and Butch (former Head of School, CFO/COO, and Insurance Executive), we don’t just lease vehicles—we engineer compliance.

We recognize the unique pressures schools face. We don't just provide vans; we provide peace of mind through a "compliance-first" model that prioritizes insurance eligibility, state and federal safety standards over sales volume.

What We Do.

We Lease Compliant Vehicles for Student Transportation to Independent Schools

How Do We Do It.

Compliance & Risk Management

Interpret the intersection of regulations, insurance, and manufacturer ratings.

Identify noncompliant practices (vehicle ratings, CDL thresholds, misuse of “temporary” vehicles, etc.).

Provide clear, decision-ready guidance for heads, CFOs, ADs, and operations leaders.

Training Built for Schools

Training tailored to faculty and coach drivers, not just professional bus drivers.

Focus on real use: loading and unloading, supervision, trip planning, fatigue, weather, and incident response.

Emphasis on policies, documentation, and protecting students, staff, and the institution.

Predictable Cost Structure

Fixed-price extended service and warranty programs.

Reduced surprise repair costs that destabilize departmental or annual budgets.

Annual program review to align transportation strategy with enrollment, schedule, and financial realities.

Fleet Strategy & Management

Assess current fleet, utilization, and risk exposure.

Design an optimized mix of buses, vans, and minivans based on:

Team sizes and trip profiles
Cost per student
Storage and equipment needs (reducing reliance on trailers)

Fuel efficiency and total cost of ownership

Provide ongoing fleet management: maintenance cycles, replacement planning, and usage oversight.

Who We Are

Current Parent of Prep-School Student

Co-Founder

Automotive Industry Executive

& Car Dealership Owner

Jeffrey Joyce

Jeff has more than 30 years in the car business, including ownership of a successful dealership known for transparency and long-term relationships. He understands:

How vehicles are designed, rated, and titled
How capacity and use are represented by manufacturers and dealers
Where schools often get misled about what is “allowed” versus what is actually compliant

His fleet sourcing, upfitting, and lifecycle management experience allows us to translate the technical and regulatory side of vehicles into practical, school-ready solutions.

Current Parent of Prep-School Student & an Alum

Co-Founder

Former Head of School, CFO/COO

& Insurance Executive

Vincent "Butch" Schuck

Butch has experience as CFO/COO of a New England boarding school, former Head of School for and Independent PK-8 Day School responsible for:

Transportation and fleet management
Safety, risk management, and insurance
Facilities, operations, and budgeting

Before returning full-time to school leadership, Butch also served as an executive at an insurance agency, further deepening his experience in:

Risk assessment and loss control
Coverage structure and exclusions
Claims exposure and real-world consequences of noncompliance

He understands that in most independent schools, drivers are coaches and teachers first, and drivers only by necessity. Traditional school bus certification does not address the day-to-day realities of private school van and bus use.

Butch brings a rare combination:

The inside view of school operations and budgets, and
The insurance-side understanding of risk, liability, and coverage gaps.

How We Got Started

Our Story: Built on a Foundation of Compliance and Safety

The story of Compliant Student Transportation began on the campus of an independent school where Jeff and Butch first met as parents. Their partnership was forged through years of service to the independent school community—Butch as Board Chair, later Head of School, and now CFO/COO, and Jeff as a trusted automotive and fleet expert with 30+ years in dealerships and leasing.

A Costly Lesson in Hidden Risks

While Butch was serving as Board Chair, the school received a generous gift: a 14-passenger shuttle bus. It seemed like the perfect solution for student trips—until they tried to insure it. The vehicle didn't meet Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) for a Multifunction School Activity Bus (MFSAB), making it uninsurable for student transport.

Butch turned to Jeff to source a compliant replacement. Even then, the complexities persisted: The new bus, though sized for 14 passengers, carried a manufacturer rating for up to 27—triggering mandatory Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) requirements under state law due to its GVWR and capacity. Modifications failed, and the school sold it at a loss.

The Industry-Wide "Blind Spot"

Years later, Jeff and Butch's sons went to separate prep schools. Butch became CFO/COO at his son's prep school and inherited a fleet of leased 12- and 15-passenger vans, covered under the schools commercial auto policy. Drawing on his insurance background, Butch knew the trap: Coverage isn't guaranteed. If vehicles violate federal (NHTSA) or state student transport laws—often due to improper ratings or configurations—carriers can deny claims, exposing schools to massive liability.

The wake-up call came during faculty driver training. The trainer said that school entire fleet of leased vans were non-compliant for regular student use, citing federal standards that prohibit such vans for K-12 transport without MFSAB certification. Investigating with Jeff, they saw the same vans everywhere—at athletic events across the region. It wasn't isolated; it was systemic, with schools unknowingly risking endowments and reputations.

The Search for a Better Way

Butch leased replacements from a national provider claiming compliance expertise—a mix of 9-passenger vans and 14-passenger MFSAB buses.

But issues piled up:

Inconsistent configurations, with only some truly student-compliant.
Ignored maintenance and wear, leading to downtime and costs.
No support for school-specific needs like training or budget alignment.

Traditional lessors prioritize sales volume over genuine safety, ignoring the nuances of prep school operations—like limited CDL drivers and variable trip demands.

The Birth of Compliant Student Transportation

Jeff and Butch knew schools deserved better: compliant fleets at costs matching what they already pay for risky vans. They launched Compliant Student Transportation, bundling leases with training, annual fleet optimization, and risk guidance—all in one predictable contract.

Our mission remains personal:

To help independent schools build transportation programs that are fully compliant, risk-aware, and financially sustainable—so every student trip is protected operationally, legally, and ethically.