How Vontas OnSite Revolutionizes Bus Yard Management

Managing a bus yard efficiently is critical for ensuring smooth transit operations. Yet, many agencies still rely on outdated manual processes that slow down maintenance, increase errors, and compromise safety. Enter Vontas OnSite – a mobile-ready, web-based solution designed to automate yard operations and deliver real-time visibility of your fleet.

The Challenges in Your Yard

Your buses run on advanced systems, but yard management often lags behind. Manual yard walks, pen-and-paper tracking, and scrambling to locate vehicles waste time and create inefficiencies. These outdated methods can lead to:

• Lost buses and delayed pull-outs
• Parking errors and re-parking headaches
• Increased safety risks for staff

The Solution You Need

Vontas OnSite leverages Ultra-Wideband (UWB) technology to provide real-time situational awareness of every vehicle in your yard. With <1m accuracy, you can track buses indoors and outdoors, streamline operations, and integrate seamlessly with third-party tools.

How OnSite Helps Agencies:

• Boosting Productivity: Eliminate yard walks and reduce parking errors.
• Improving Dispatch: Avoid wrong bus assignments and support remote dispatching.
• Optimizing Maintenance: Balance mileage, prevent dispatch of vehicles with open work orders, and manage EV charging.
• Enhancing Safety: Reduce pedestrian strikes and vehicle-to-vehicle accidents.

Success in Real-Time: Nashville WeGo Public Transit Innovates Beyond the Yard

Serving a fast-growing city with 180 fixed-route buses, 90 paratransit vehicles, and nearly 30,000 daily passengers, Nashville’s WeGo Public Transit needed a way to keep pace with increasing demand while maintaining service reliability.

Since 2014, WeGo has partnered with Vontas to streamline operations using CAD/AVL and yard management systems. But in 2022, they faced a new challenge: major congestion and GPS signal loss at their downtown transit center, caused by frequent construction and the facility’s heavy concrete and steel design.

“We were looking at other ways that we could still deliver customers a reliable service that doesn’t necessarily rely so heavily on a strict schedule,” said Dan Freudberg, Deputy Chief Operating Officer of Operations Systems at WeGo.

To solve this, Vontas and WeGo expanded the OnSite yard management system beyond the traditional yard and into the transit center itself. Using Ultra-Wideband (UWB) technology, antennas and tags were installed throughout the multi-level facility, providing real-time vehicle tracking even where GPS failed.

“What interested us about the new solution was that it was a true vehicle tracking solution where we could see where vehicles were at all times on a map as well as see whether they were occupying a particular parking spot or a particular bus bay,” Freudberg explained.

The rollout was phased, with hands-on training for key staff and continuous collaboration between Vontas and WeGo. Today, the system delivers accurate departure and arrival data, enabling better dispatch decisions and improving passenger experience with more reliable service.

“They are so innovative and so committed to their ridership, and they come up with really great challenges that give us the opportunity to experiment with our software,” said Andrea Costa, Product Manager at Vontas.

This project set a new standard for urban transit operations, proving that innovation and collaboration can overcome even the toughest challenges.

Empowering the Rider Experience

Efficient yard management doesn’t just help your team—it improves the rider experience:

• Shorter Wait Times: Get buses on the road faster.
• Safer, Well-Maintained Vehicles: Seamless integration with maintenance ensures passenger safety.
• Greater Reliability: Build trust and loyalty with punctual service.

Powerful Features for the Users

• Real-Time Location Service: Track buses with <1m accuracy using UWB technology.
• Customizable Yard Map: Visualize your yard with color-coded, real-time updates.
• Automated Parking Assist: Assign parking based on rules like vehicle type or size.
• Reporting & Dashboards: Access KPIs, playback accident causes, and monitor maintenance activity.
• API Integration: Connect with Vontas OnRoute and third-party systems for optimized workflows.

Take Your Yard Management to the Next Level

With mobile access, business intelligence tools, and professional support, Vontas OnSite empowers agencies to save time, reduce errors, and deliver exceptional service.

Want to see it in action?
Request a demo today at Vontas.com or contact us.