DRIVER ALERTS
With SMART tag, your transportation team has a new way to communicate fast and efficiently through a text-based messaging platform. We call these Driver Alerts, and they can help routers, dispatch and field trip coordinators convey information to one or more drivers. They also help to reduce radio traffic!
Here's how Driver Alerts work:
STAFF CREATES MESSAGE CONTENT
Dispatch, routers and transportation staff compose a message, select a date to send, and choose which drivers they would like to receive the alert.
ONE-WAY ALERTS
When the alert is created, they can choose to send it "one-way". This just means you as a driver do not need to respond to the alert.
TWO-WAY ALERTS
Transportation staff will send you a two-way alert when they need a response from you. Common uses for this could be:
- To confirm if you can cover a field trip or mid-day route
- If you've found a misplaced item
- To confirm a change in drop-off plans for a certain student
- Changes in traffic patters on your route that affect safe operations
To view your driver alerts, first go to the pre-route screen by logging into your tablet.
LOGIN TO TABLET
Any drivers alerts sent to you will be shown on this screen in red. We currently have 2 drivers alerts waiting to be read. Tap the red button to view each of them.
ALERTS SHOWN IN RED
All of your driver alerts will be listed. You can tap on the alert to view or respond to the message.
TAP ON ALERT TO VIEW
You have 3 ways to respond. Yes, No, and Other. You can also enter additional comments to give a more detailed response when needed.
TYPE YOUR RESPONSE
When you are done typing your response, tap 'SEND'.
FINISH AND TAP SEND
Once you've opened a driver alert, the color will no longer be RED.
COLOR CHANGES FROM RED
If transportation staff sends you a two-way driver alert, they must also set an 'Expire' date and time. The alert will disappear from this screen at that expire time, even if you haven't responded to the alert.
TWO WAY ALERTS CAN EXPIRE
Driver alerts will also show up while you are on route on the Route Toolbar at the top.
ROUTE TOOLBAR
Driver alerts will also show up while you are on route on the Route Toolbar at the top.
QUICK TIP
That's it!
Head back to the tutorials page to learn more about using SMART tag on your bus routes.