Fayette County Public Schools (FCPS) serves over 40,000 students across 80 different schools in the Lexington, KY metropolitan area. As such, FCPS manages hundreds of school buses and support vehicles in its fleet. In March 2023, Fayette County Public Schools signed with iWorQ Systems to streamline their school bus fleet management operations. We caught up with Edith Callahan, vehicle operations control analyst, to learn how Fayette County Public Schools is using iWorQ’s Fleet Management Software to maintain its fleet and comply with state regulations.
Preventive Maintenance Made Simple
Edith Callahan has worked for Fayette County Public Schools for 27 years. As the vehicle operations control analyst, Callahan tracks the district’s preventive maintenance program, handles the purchasing and selling of buses, and assists drivers with pre-trips and freight. All of the work orders associated with these tasks funnel into the iWorQ Fleet Management system.
"We have all of our assets on here, so we track those and provide that information to the district as it's needed," Callahan said. "And then [we] use the system to help us coordinate repairs that need to be done, upcoming maintenance schedules, things like that."
Callahan also emphasized the value of iWorQ’s vehicle replacement rating feature, which her department uses for budgeting and cost control.
“We do this rotation cycle of about 14 years,” she said. “But when you see that you’ve got a bus that is using a bit more money and repairs and things like that, it helped us to push it a little bit to the front of the line because it obviously was costing us money to fix it.”
iWorQ's software takes key factors into account, such as vehicle year, mileage, maintenance and equipment expenses, and fuel usage.
"When it’s taking all of those factors and combining it and then giving you that ratio, that is extremely huge when you’re looking at purchasing new vehicles for the next year,” she said. “We have used this in doing our projections for our next fiscal year, so for our budget. It’s really given us a very good overview of how to utilize the equipment that we have.”
World-Class Customer Service
iWorQ Systems is committed to providing the best customer service possible. Callahan made a software suggestion at last year’s User Conference and recalled how iWorQ’s client relations team followed up to discuss her idea further and pass it on to the developers.
“They truly do take what you have to say into consideration,” she said. “The folks we were with before, you were talking to a wall. Unless 98% of their clientele wanted the same thing, they wouldn’t even talk to you about it. So it was nice that they reached out and said, ‘Hey, you had an idea, let’s see if it’s feasible or not.’ Just that in itself shows the level of customer service and how much more above par it is compared to what else is on the market right now.”
iWorQ's Fleet Management Software is a 5-Star Solution
Callahan rated iWorQ’s Fleet Management Software a 5 out of 5, thanks to its user-friendliness, customizability, and regular data backups.
In her field, Callahan works with experienced mechanics who aren’t always accustomed to using computers. She said introducing new school bus fleet management software can be challenging, as some may struggle with it or hesitate due to unfamiliarity with the system. However, incorporating iWorQ’s software into her department has been seamless, thanks to its user-friendly interface.
Callahan also highlighted iWorQ’s ability to be customized to individual preferences, making the software even more accessible. Additionally, users can view online training videos and schedule sessions with the technical support team to learn how to customize their application to fit their needs.
“They will take your call personally and help you figure it out," she said. "I can't say enough good things about it."
With the school year approaching, it’s time for school districts to invest in fleet management software to simplify their processes.
Ready to make the transition? Schedule a demo with us today!
