Sexual violence and abuse occur in all types of educational settings. The confined physical environment and the supervision needs on school buses and school vans can make them a common location…
Benjamin L. Bernhart, CSNT School Bus & Student Transportation Expert
Benjamin Bernhart is an expert in student transportation with experience as a school bus driver and driver trainer, bus depot supervisor, and school district Director of Transportation. He applies his expertise in school bus operations, logistics, and safety to forensic casework involving bus driver actions, hiring and training, student safety, routing fleet management, and transportation for individuals with disabilities.
It only took two years of working as a school bus driver for the Schuylkill Valley School District before Ben moved his way up the ranks to become a PennDot certified School Bus Driver Instructor, training new drivers and preparing them for the CDL road test. Ben went on to become the Depot Supervisor for the Brandywine Heights Area SD, responsible for all day-to-day operations. This role included oversight of driver hiring, training, and certification/re-certification, in addition to student safety protocols.
In later roles as Director of Transportation, Ben held responsibility for administration of the school district’s transportation department and adherence to State and Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) guidelines. He managed a fleet of more than 100 vehicles and 90+ employees. Ben oversaw the district’s upgrade to modern data and communication systems, Electronic Logging Devices, cellular radio and GPS tracking systems, and sourced new video systems for the district’s buses. He implemented safety procedures for student behavioral incidents, students with wheelchairs, special needs, and disabilities, and emergency procedures in partnership with district leadership.
Benjamin earned his B.A. in History from Albright College. He holds a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) with Passenger and School Bus Endorsements and is certified in Special Needs Transportation (CSNT) through the National Association of Pupil Transportation. Additionally, Ben has consulted on and written numerous publications on the history of railroads and transportation infrastructure in partnership with municipalities and historical societies.
Professional Experience
Robson Forensic, Inc.
Associate
2025 to presentProvide technical investigations, analysis, reports, and testimony toward the resolution of claims and litigation involving the transportation of school students, including driver hiring and training; fleet management; route planning; accommodations for special needs students; and facilities management.
Easton Area School District
Director of Transportation
2024 to 2025- Administration of the transportation department day-to-day operations maintaining all safety guidelines established by the State and Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
- Developed departmental budgets, purchasing, and maintained the necessary records for state transportation reporting
- Supervised a diverse population of 90 employees including administrative professionals, mechanics, bus and van drivers
- Updated and modernized the employee handbook
- Created an in-service professional development program for transportation employees Performed employee evaluation on all transportation department employees
- Issued disciplinary actions, as specified in the Teamsters collective bargaining agreement and responded to any union grievances
- Reorganized bus routes to maximize resources, efficiency and safety to transport 9,000 students to 9 district schools, 25 non-public and charter schools and several out-of-district special education schools
- Collaborated with student support services to establish the transportation for foster care students and displaced students that required transportation through the McKinney-Vento Act
- Worked with the special education department to establish transportation for special education students and participated in an Individualized Education Program (IEP) meetings as needed
- Ensured that drivers received, reviewed and understood student 504 plans and IEPs
- Ensured that drivers received training in mandated reporting, harassment, bullying, sexual harassment
- Established a working relationship with school principals with the goal of improving student behavior and management on school buses
- Conducted school site visits to ensure that student drop off and pick up were conducted in a safe manner and worked closely with the school’s principal and district police personnel to mitigate issues
- Participated in the design process of a designated school bus zone for a new high school
- Participated in the negotiation process for any necessary contracted transportation services
- Oversaw a fleet of 107 district owned vehicle fleet
- Re-established the Northampton County School Bus Safety Competition after a lengthy, multi-year hiatus
- Developed and implemented a 360-degree training program to onboard new CDL school bus
Bernhart Transport, LLC, dba All Things Disneyana
CEO
2023 to presentOwner operator of an independent retail business
Eshelman Transportation, Inc.
Supervisor
2023 to 2024- Maintained and adjusted school bus routes for the Schuylkill Valley School District
- Drove school bus routes
- Trained new drivers and prepared them for the CDL road test
- Conducted recertification evaluations on school bus drivers to determine credential maintenance
Exeter Township School District
Director of Transportation
2018 to 2023- Administration of the transportation department day-to-day operations maintaining all safety guidelines established by the State and Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
- Supervised a diverse population of 80 employees including administrative professionals, mechanics, bus and van drivers and vehicle aides
- Established a working relationship with the Special Education Department to ensure that students with disabilities were transported in a safe environment
- Implemented new safety procedures for all vehicles transporting students with disabilities, including a written evacuation plan and additional training
- Initiated a system-wide transition from a manual database routing system to a computerized one that created heightened efficiency, accuracy, productivity and safety
- Initiated a system-wide transition from an analog radio system to a modern and more functional digital system
- Developed and implemented new human resources best practices to secure proper hiring, staffing, training, and recertification of drivers
- Created an in-service professional development program for transportation employees
- Developed, implemented and oversaw the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration Entry Level Driver Training and Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse programs
- Achieved third & fourth place winner of the Berks County School Bus Safety Competition and participated in the Pennsylvania State competition
- Participated in design, equipment selection and construction of modern school bus garage / transportation center
- Created bid specifications for school buses, including buses with a wheelchair lift and track seating
Brandywine Transportation
Driver and Supervisor
2017 to 2018- Responsible for the depot operations for Brandywine Transportation, Brandywine Heights Area SD
- Oversaw the safe school bus transportation of students which included conducting emergency evacuation drills and dismissal procedures to ensure staff and student responsiveness and safety protocols
- Conducted all human resource responsibilities to include, hiring, training, observing, critiquing, and re-certifying drivers consistent with the State code
- Created a monthly operational bill in accordance with the contract with the school district
Eshelman Transportation, Inc.
Bus Driver
2015 to 2017- Drove school bus routes and served as the Schuylkill Valley School District wide school bus substitute driver
- Achieved second place winner of the Berks County School Bus Safety Competition and participated in the Pennsylvania State competition
- Earned PennDot Certification as School Bus Driver Instructor
- Trained new drivers and prepared them for the CDL road test
- Conducted recertification evaluations on school bus drivers to determine credential maintenance
Outer Station Project
CEO
1991 to present- Researched and authored numerous publications and magazine articles covering the history and operations of rail transportation
- Assisted several historical societies with their membership publications
Professional Credentials
- Certified in Special Needs Transportation (CSNT), National Association of Pupil Transportation, 2020
- Pennsylvania Department of Transportation School Bus Driver Instructor, 2017
- Pennsylvania Commercial Driver’s License
- Airbrake Restriction Removed
- Passenger and School Bus Endorsements
Education
B.A., History, Albright College, Reading, Pennsylvania
Continuing Education
- Recognizing and Reporting Child Abuse: Mandated and Permissive Reporting in Pennsylvania, University of Pittsburgh School of Social Work, 2026
- Pennsylvania Certified School Transportation Professional, PASBO, 2022 (expired)
- Certified Enhanced Qualifications Transportation, PASBO, 2021
- Transfinder University: Routing Software Proficiency, 2017
Professional Memberships
National Association of Pupil Transportation
Speaking Engagements
School Buses and Railroad Grade Crossings, School Transportation News (STN) Expo Indy, October 4, 2021
v. 09/10/26
Related Resources
See All of Benjamin's Published ContentSchool Bus Stop Safety
By Benjamin L. Bernhart
Expert ArticleSchool buses require ongoing diligence from drivers and transportation managers to ensure that students remain safe at each stage of the journey. The bus stop itself represents a point of…