Foreman Scottie McKinzie of Bus Transportation North is a 2024 Garage Star

Each year School Transportation News (STN) recognizes outstanding bus fleet management professionals across the country and highlights Garage Stars in their magazine. Of the more than 100 nominations submitted by school districts, private bus companies, school bus dealers, and vendors, ten candidates were profiled in the August edition.

Fulton County Schools (FCS) Foreman Scottie McKinzie was nominated by Tom Hopkins and Chelsea Uphaus of ROUSH CleanTech, a clean transportation technology company, for leading a team of 16 FCS employees with care and respect.

The 10-point criteria used by STN editors to determine finalists included a nominee’s community involvement, credentials, industry development, leadership, level of responsibility, life experience, time on the job, training capability, regulatory agency commendations and value to the transportation program.

McKinzie is responsible for almost 700 buses and fleet support vehicles at the Bus Transportation North location. His day begins at 4:45 a.m. with inspections, fueling, diagnostics, inventory, repairs, teaching, and delegating tasks to his team of technicians and office personnel. When vehicles are road ready and drivers are safely on their way, he focuses on maintaining the shop and bus facility.

“At Fulton County Schools, we are always looking to create a safe and dependable fleet,” said McKinzie, who developed a solution to a brake light issue on several of the buses. Outside of day-to-day operations, he promotes school transportation value in the community at events like “Touch a Truck” for school children. He instills confidence in parents about the buses and in students who will be riding. He can relate to concerns because he and his wife are parents of a 9-year-old, who serves as McKinzie’s motivation.

McKinzie started as a district fleet mechanic helper while in high school, and he has worked his way up to foreman, serving FCS for 20 years. This prestigious honor places him among the top ten recipients recognized for their outstanding contributions to the industry on both national and international platforms. From the mechanics to the drivers, Fulton County Schools students are in good hands.