Rules and Details
We are searching for the 2026 Top Transportation Teams in North America so we can give them the recognition they deserve.
The Top Transportation Teams Award Program highlights the best of the best in school transportation in North America based on anonymous surveys taken by transportation team members.
The Top Transportation Teams is now in its fourth year and more districts and contractors are enrolling. What are we looking for? The winners will have amazing, cohesive cultures and demonstrate how they’ve overcome challenges.
The Top Transportation Teams winners also provide a template for how other school districts can improve their cultures as well as their recruitment and retention efforts.
As in past years, the winners will be recognized at the STN Expo in July, written about in School Transportation News, featured on social media platforms, webinars and podcasts. By registering, your team is committing to send a member of your team, preferably the leader, to the STN Expo being held July 10-15 in Reno, Nevada. Yes, you will be rock stars in the industry! (Note: STN is providing one scholarship per winner to the Expo and Transfinder covers airfare and hotel for one winning team member).
Eligibility:
The Top Transportation Teams Award Program is open to any school district or bus contractor serving school districts in North America.
Why Participate:
- Bragging rights, pure and simple. To receive a Top Transportation Teams Award provides you and your transportation team with a very special recognition that sets you apart from your peers.
- Your transportation team benefits simply by being enrolled in the program as your transportation team members encourage participation among their colleagues. Nothing rallies a team like a common mission. Just the act of enrolling will encourage your transportation team to think about how they are as a team or what it takes to join the ranks of the Top Transportation Teams in North America.
- When participating, your transportation team will be answering questions that will get everyone thinking about your operation in a new light and will certainly lead to conversations about how your department or company operates and how your transportation team can get even better.
- All participants will receive an overview summarizing the results. Reviewing these results will give you a conversation-starter to implement changes in your department or company.
Award Program Guide:
What to expect
STEP 1: Enroll your school district or bus contractor by completing the Top Transportation Teams form. All districts or companies must have the form submitted with employee emails by May 29, 2026.
This form will collect information such as the main contact person (survey administrator) in your department or company and is where you will upload your district/company information and your transportation team’s email addresses. Your transportation team’s email addresses are critical in order for them to receive the Top Transportation Teams Employee Survey. All members of your transportation team (bus drivers, routers, dispatchers, and anyone else considered a member of your transportation department) must be invited to take the survey. Note: Each email will contain a survey link which is unique and cannot be forwarded to another person.
STEP 2: Prepare your transportation team to receive the survey. Tell your transportation team that you are now enrolled in the Top Transportation Teams Award Program and to expect a survey in their inbox from topteams@transfinder.com. Please pass this on to your IT team to ensure email deliverability.
STEP 3: Your transportation team members will receive an email with a link to the survey which will ask them to anonymously evaluate their department/employer in a variety of areas. Surveys must be completed by June 5, 2026. The greater the number of employees to complete the surveys, the better your data to review.
STEP 4: Result tabulation. Results will be tabulated to determine the winners. Each participating district and company will receive an overview report.
STEP 5: Awards and publication. In June 2026 the winning transportation teams will be notified and awards will be presented at the STN Expo in July 2026. The winning transportation team(s) will also be featured in STN publication. Top Transportation Teams participating organizations that had employees complete the surveys will receive a report on the survey results for their organization. As a bonus, the top rated departments or organizations will receive full scholarships to the STN Conference in Reno.
Important notes: You must provide one contact person or more, contact phone number and email address (not the district’s or company’s general email address) in order to be entered in the Top Transportation Teams Award Program. It CANNOT be a public relations company representing another company.
Important Dates:
Enrollment ends: May 29, 2026
Surveys Completed by: June 5, 2026
Winners notified: June 2026
Winners awarded: July 2026
Contact Us:
Contact us at: topteams@transfinder.com