HOUSTON – The Houston Independent School District (HISD) has signed a contract for AT&T fleet management services, enabling the school district to wirelessly monitor its fleet of more than 1,100 school buses and vehicles.

The AT&T solution enables HISD to remotely track, in real time, the location and speed of its vehicles and confirm its buses are traveling along scheduled routes and stops. Additionally, the school district can monitor when a vehicle's ignition is turned on or off and whether safety lights and exit doors are working properly.

"The insight delivered from this solution is invaluable -- providing control, insight, and accountability for managing our buses and other vehicles," said Aric Taylor, manager of routing and scheduling for HISD. "Remotely tracking our vehicles and drivers enhances our ability to deliver Houston ISD students to school on time and keep them safe, which is our top priority."

AT&T's fleet management solution enables HISD to more efficiently complete tasks such as moving school bus stops to safer, more accessible locations. Real-time communication with safety officers, whose vehicles are equipped with GPS technology, lets HISD complete bus stop evaluations in less than a day, a task that normally took a week or more, AT&T said.

AT&T said its account team worked closely with HISD to provide a solution that would meet key district needs such as monitoring fleet movement and responding quickly in emergencies.