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Activity Trips

Close up of the top front of a school bus

Reliable Transportation for School Events

Each year, the Fort Smith Schools Transportation Department coordinates and manages over 2,000 activity trips, providing safe and reliable travel to school-sponsored events. Our fleet of buses, suburbans, and equipment trucks is available to serve athletic teams, music groups, academic clubs, and other student groups. Whether it's a local event or an out-of-town competition, our department is dedicated to safely transporting students and staff wherever they need to go throughout the school year.

Back of school bus as it drives down the road

Scheduling Your Activity Trip

  1. Check Availability:  Call the Transportation Department to confirm availability before submitting a request.
  2.  Submit Your Request: Log in to the Travel Tracker System to submit all activity trip requests. Need an Account? Register here

Requests are subject to approval by the Transportation Office, with initial approval from the school principal. Trips are assigned based on driver and bus availability, and late requests may be denied. 

For more information about trip scheduling and costs, click here. 

Activity Trip Requirements and Policies

All Fort Smith Public Schools vehicles must have an employee on board to supervise and ensure student safety. For out-of-district trips, sponsors are required to carry a roster that includes each student’s name, date of birth, and contact number. This roster is not needed for in-district trips to locations such as Van Buren, Alma, Greenwood, and Fort Chaffee.

School Suburbans

Suburbans are available for both employee and student events, with no minimum passenger requirement for student events. There is a four passenger minimum for employee events. The driver must be an FSPS employee. Suburban use is free of charge, although fuel and toll expenses are the responsibility of the requesting department or organization.

14-Passenger Buses

These "Class A" buses, can accommodate trips with up to 14 passengers and may be driven by an FSPS employee without a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL). The designated driver must complete a brief instructional session at the Transportation Office before departure to ensure proper operation of the vehicle.

Activity Trip Prioritization

While we strive to meet all transportation requests, adjustments may be necessary depending on driver and bus availability. Trip scheduling is prioritized as follows:

  1. Bus Routes- Regular student bus routes take precedence over all other trips.
  2. Athletic & Activity Competitions- Arkansas Activities Association (AAA) sanctioned events.
  3. FSPS Sponsored Events: Includes trips classified under the District Expense category.
  4. Field Trips: Includes both educational and recreational trips not required by the district.

Have Questions?

For any additional questions, our team is here to help!

Call us!