Darryl Fennell School Bus & Student Transportation Expert

Darryl Fennell, School Bus & Student Transportation Expert

Darryl Fennell is an expert in student transportation with over 20 years of experience in school bus operations, logistics, and safety. He applies his expertise to forensic casework involving personal injury disputes related to the safe transport of public and private school students. The scope of his investigations includes hiring practices, bus driver actions, student safety, and fleet management issues.

Darryl is the Executive Manager of Transportation for Wayne Township Public School District, where he oversees the safe, efficient and on-time transportation for the district's 3,000 students including all special education and non-public students. He manages a staff of over 100 employees and oversees the maintenance of the district bus fleet and equipment. Prior to working for Wayne Township Public School District he worked for Laidlaw Educational Services as a Branch Manager for the Northeast School bus Division. His leadership skills are reflected in his consistent commitment to provide safe, efficient, and cost effective transportation. He is the former Manager of the Department of Public Works for the City of Englewood supervising all aspect of the daily operations.

Darryl is recognized as a Certified Public Works Manager by the Public Works Association of New Jersey. He is a member of several professional organizations, including the School Transportation Supervisors Association. Daryl has completed relevant training in driver development and training, vehicle maintenance, and transportation operations. He also maintains an active Commercial Driver's License.

Professional Experience

Robson Forensic, Inc.

Associate

2017 to present

Provide 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.

Wayne Township Public School

Executive Manager of Transportation

2009 to 2020
  • Administration of the transportation department day to day operations maintaining all safety guidelines established by the Department of Education
  • Manage School Transportation Efficiency and Corrective Action Plan Supervise New Jersey Department of Education mandated District Report of Transported Resident Students
  • Supervision of head dispatchers and two assistant dispatchers
  • Supervision of fleet manager and four maintenance staff members which maintains 86 school buses, 31 district vehicles and 140 pieces of small equipment
  • Manage district’s outside contracts for student transportation Manage a staff of 112 employees at two locations
  • Oversees scheduling and routing for 86 district buses transporting 3,000 students daily
  • Manage the Student Transportation Information System distributing bus passes
  • Supervise non-public transportation managing aide in lieu reimbursement
  • Supervise all other aspects of transportation; 14 district schools, athletics, and field trips
  • Established School Bus Retirement Plan
  • Collaboration with student support services for establishing the transportation for all special education students, in district, out of district, as well as homeless and displaced students
  • Perform employee yearly evaluations, payroll, fingerprints, hiring, union negotiations, grievances disciplinary hearings, background checks
  • Implement, evaluate and update district policies and procedures regarding student transportation Instituted staff development and safety training programs mandated by the Department of Education
  • Development and Implementation of school bus safety curriculum for students K-8
  • Supervised transportation regulations govern by New Jersey Administrative Code Title 6 and 6A
  • Supervised transportation regulations govern by New Jersey Administrative Statues Title 18A
  • Supervise district’s School Bus Safety Program mandated by Department of Education
  • Administer the Department of Motor Vehicle mandated school bus inspections cycle instituted twice yearly Supervise accident investigation and random drug screening
  • Establish and manage transportation Global Positioning System (GPS)
  • Supervise transportation bus video system
  • Created and maintain transportation website Manages the district’s wide emergency communication system in conjunction with the township
  • Oversee waste management, recycling and environmental issues
  • Prepare budget for a $5.4 million operation

City of Englewood

Manager of Operations

2003 to 2009
  • Administration of the entire day to day operations of the public works department.
  • Supervision of five supervisors
  • Supervision of central maintenance operation with 3 maintenance staff members which maintained all department vehicles and equipment
  • Managed a staff of 66 township employees
  • Supervised employees in sanitation collection and solid waste disposal regulated by the Department of Environment Protection Agency
  • Managed the township’s recycling program according to the guidelines of Department of Environment Protection Agency
  • Supervised the township’s solid waste transfer station
  • Oversaw the road maintenance including snow and leaf removal
  • Supervised all township parks and public land within the guidelines of the Green Acres Properties
  • Managed all township building and facility maintenance
  • Supervised township sewer system maintenance program
  • Managed employee evaluations, payroll, hiring, union negotiations, grievances disciplinary hearings
  • Implemented, evaluated and updated departmental policies, procedures and guidelines regulated by the Department of Environment Protection Agency
  • Instituted staff development and safety training programs for departmental employees
  • Conducted accident investigation

Laidlaw Educational Services, Inc.

1992 to 2003

Branch Manager 1994-2003
Head Dispatcher 1992-1994

  • Administration of entire day to day operations of a large transportation corporation
  • Oversaw the scheduling and routing for 150 buses serving the Northern New Jersey area
  • Managed the transportation of over 100 schools and corporations
  • Collaborated with district’s Special Education Departments to establish the transportation for all special education students
  • Supervised 2 dispatchers
  • Supervised charter manager contracting school field trips and athletics
  • Supervised fleet manager and 7 maintenance staff members who maintained 150 school buses
  • Performed employee evaluations, payroll, fingerprints, hiring, union negotiations, grievances disciplinary hearings, background checks
  • Implemented and evaluated company policies and procedures governing student transportation
  • Ensured corporate compliance to internal and external needs
  • Instituted staff development and safety training programs mandated by the Department of Education
  • Administered the Department of Motor Vehicle mandated school bus inspections cycle instituted twice yearly
  • Supervised accident investigation and random drug screening
  • Administered budget planning and monthly financial strategies as well as direct and indirect expenses
  • Developed operation from a 14% IBT to 20% IBT with a $1 million average yearly profit and $6 million total revenue

Ridgefield Park Transport

Head Dispatcher

1987 to 1992
  • Administration of entire day to day operations of a private transportation trucking corporation
  • Supervised the scheduling and routing of 66 over the road refrigerated trucks
  • Supervised 3 dispatchers with direct control of 70 company drivers operating in the Northeast, Southeast and Mid-West
  • Supervised 3 terminals assuring the delivery of customer freight in a timely fashion
  • Performed employee evaluations, payroll, driver’s log, back hauls trip leasing and brokerage agreements
  • Implemented and evaluated company policies and procedures governing transportation
  • Initiated and phased in owner-operator division with operations management
  • Ensured corporate compliance to internal and external needs
  • Instituted staff development and safety training programs
  • Administered budget planning and monthly financial strategies as well as direct and indirect expenses
  • Managed all aspects of vehicle breakdowns and driver problems
  • Performed accident investigations

Professional Credentials

  • Certified in the Standard of Care for Transporting Student – Legal Overview
  • Certified DOT Training Signs and Symptoms of Drug and Alcohol Use
  • Certified Public Works Manager by the Public Works Association of
  • New Jersey New Jersey Certified Recycle Professional
  • Commercial Driver’s License (CDL)

Education

NJ State Recycle Coordinator Certification, Rutgers University, East Brunswick, NJ, 2007-2009

Management Leadership Training Program, Laidlaw University, Atlantic/Southeast Region, 1992-1994

Professional Memberships

  • National Association for Pupil Transportation
  • School Transportation Supervisors Association
  • Solid Waste National Association
  • Public Works Association of NJ
  • Association of New Jersey Recyclers

v. 01/27/21