Samsara-Fueled HALO Lands First Student on TIME100 2026

First Student’s samsara-enhanced HALO platform put the company on the TIME100 Most Influential Companies 2026 list in Transportation. The platform uses real-time data, AI technology and predictive analytics across student transportation. For districts and families, that means one system now ties together dispatching, routing, vehicle tracking, safety and communication.

First Student and TIME100 2026

The recognition follows First Student’s announcement that it was named to the TIME100 Most Influential Companies 2026 in the Industry Leaders: Transportation category. John Kenning, the company’s CEO and President, tied the honor to daily service for students and families. “Being named to the TIME100 Companies list is a meaningful recognition for First Student and reflects the impact we’re making for millions of students and families every day,” he said.

Kenning also said, “At First Student, caring for students is at the heart of everything we do.” The company says HALO was developed in-house to address fragmented systems and a lack of real-time visibility in K–12 transportation. That puts the focus on operations, not branding.

HALO Across 48,000 Vehicles

HALO unifies First Student’s fleet of over 48,000 vehicles and supports approximately 4.8 million student journeys each day for approximately 1,400 customers. The platform connects dispatching and routing intelligence, vehicle tracking, safety insights, preventive maintenance and communication. For parents and caregivers, First Student says the system provides real-time visibility through its First View app.

The company says pilot programs across six locations produced an 81% reduction in inattentive driving events, a 63% reduction in forward collision rates and a 54% reduction in rolling stops. Those numbers matter because they move the pitch from a broad promise to measurable operational change.

Samsara and Predictive Safety

First Student says the HALO platform is enhanced through a strategic partnership with Samsara. The system also uses AI-powered cameras, advanced analytics and predictive safety insights. Sean McCormack, First Student’s CIO, said, “HALO represents a fundamental shift from reactive to predictive operations in student transportation.”

McCormack added, “We’ve taken an industry that has long been siloed and reimagined it through AI-powered innovation at scale.” The most concrete payoff so far is inside hiring and training. HALO produced a 115% increase in driver interview completion rates and a 38% reduction in training time.

The open question is whether First Student will publish any broader rollout schedule or additional performance data beyond the pilot results and the TIME100 recognition.