Trust-ed connects vetted educators and trusted community members with students in homeless, foster care, and special needs populations — where standard bus routes fall short.
Education-network drivers only Geo-proximity matched Background checked Operated by local ESA affiliates
Safe, reliable rides with known, trusted educators
Educators
Additional income along their existing daily commute
Districts
Less expensive than traditional vendor solutions
ESA Affiliates
Revenue-generating program for member districts
Affiliate Partners
Arkansas River ESC
Your ESA Here
Your ESA Here
Your ESA Here
Why Trust-ed
Built for the students buses can't reach
Trust-ed fills the transportation gap for homeless, foster care, and special needs students — pairing them with credentialed educators who live nearby and are already making the commute.
Geo-proximity matching
Our AI engine automatically aligns educator home addresses with student locations, ensuring the nearest trusted driver handles each route.
Credentialed drivers only
Teachers, substitutes, parapros, and trusted community members — already vetted by the school system, not strangers from a rideshare pool.
Districts keep the savings
Educators are paid as 1099 contractors during their existing commute. Money stays in your community — not with outside vendors.
“
They weren’t “riders.” They weren’t just part of a contract. They were kids. They were people. And somehow, in the middle of all the chaos, they became my clarity.
Brandon Johnson — Founder & Executive Director
Brandon Johnson — Founder, on the rides that inspired Trust-ed
Trust-ed's AI Trip Builder uses geo-proximity matching to automatically identify available educator drivers, optimize multi-student routes, and suggest the most cost-efficient configurations — all in seconds.
From student enrollment to optimized route — automatically
District admins trigger it once. The AI engine handles matching, routing, and cost optimization — no spreadsheets, no manual pairing.
Student enrolled
District admin adds a student and flags their program — McKinney-Vento, SPED, ESSA, or general need.
AI scans drivers
The geo-proximity engine identifies all available educator drivers whose home address falls within range.
Routes optimized
Multi-student routes are built — grouping students along the same corridor to minimize mileage and cost.
Trip assigned
The most cost-efficient configuration is presented. Admin confirms — the driver is notified instantly.
Core Capabilities
Everything the AI engine does for your district
Six powerful features, all working together inside the District Portal and Affiliate Portal.
Geo-proximity matching
The engine maps every enrolled driver's home address against each student's location. Only drivers whose commute path passes near the student are surfaced.
Core AI feature
Multi-student route optimization
When multiple students live near the same driver's corridor, the AI groups them into a single efficient trip — reducing total vehicle trips and cost per student.
Route efficiency
Cost configuration suggestions
Before confirming, admins see a cost comparison for each proposed route — miles driven, estimated pay, and savings vs. a traditional vendor quote.
Cost intelligence
Available driver identification
The Trip Builder only surfaces drivers who are active, approved, and not already at capacity — no manual cross-referencing required.
Smart filtering
Re-optimization on demand
When a driver becomes unavailable or a new student is enrolled mid-year, the Trip Builder re-runs instantly with the current roster.
Dynamic updates
Available in both portals
District admins access Trip Builder through the District Portal. ESA affiliate staff access it through the Affiliate Portal for regional oversight.
Affiliate Portal · District Portal
Visual Overview
Geo-proximity in action
The AI maps driver home addresses against student locations, builds multi-stop routes along natural commute paths, and calculates daily savings per route.
AI Geo-Proximity Engine
Smarter routes. Lower costs. Safer students.
The Trip Builder automatically groups students who live near the same educator's commute corridor — turning one trip into transport for multiple students with no added effort from the driver.
Geo-proximity
Matches students with the nearest available educator driver
Route grouping
Bundles multiple students along the same corridor
Cost display
Shows daily and monthly savings per configured route
Re-optimize
Re-runs instantly when rosters change mid-year
Trip Builder — Live View
AI Optimizing
J. MartinezSaves $12.40/day
Home›Student 1›Student 2›Maplewood Elem.
S. ChenSaves $8.20/day
Home›Student 3›Maplewood Elem.
District Portal Preview
What administrators see
A clean, data-forward interface that surfaces proposed trips, driver availability, route miles, and cost savings — all in one screen.
portal.trust-ed.com / district / trip-builder
Navigation
Dashboard
Drivers
Students
Trip Builder
Schedule
Reports
Analytics
Payments
Compliance
AI Trip Builder — Maplewood USD
24
Students to assign
18
Available drivers
11
Optimized trips
$1,240
Monthly savings est.
DriverStudentsMilesSavings/moStatus
J. Martinez34.2 mi$186Optimized
S. Chen23.1 mi$124Optimized
R. Thompson15.8 mi$92Pending
See the Trip Builder run a live optimization for your district
Request a demo and we'll show you exactly how the geo-proximity engine works with real data.
Track your child's driver in real time, receive pickup and drop-off notifications, and view driver credentials — giving families complete peace of mind.
Oversee all member districts, access the AI Trip Builder across your region, manage 1099 contractor payments, and run your affiliate program operations.
Education Service Agencies are the backbone of the Trust-ed model. As an affiliate, your ESA operates the program in your state — creating new revenue, solving district transportation challenges, and serving vulnerable students.
Affiliates operate Trust-ed's proven program in their state — backed by our technology, training, and ongoing support.
New revenue stream
Program proceeds flow through the affiliate, creating sustainable new revenue for your ESA organization.
Protected territory
Affiliates operate exclusively in their state — a protected territory with local competitive advantage.
Full platform access
Affiliate Portal access including the AI Trip Builder to manage and optimize routes across all member districts.
Trust-ed support
Onboarding, training, and ongoing support so your ESA can launch and operate the program confidently.
Current Partners
Affiliates making a difference
Trust-ed affiliates are Education Service Agencies committed to solving their region's most challenging student transportation needs.
Arkansas River Education Service Cooperative
Trust-ed's first affiliate partner — pioneering the educator-driver model in Arkansas and demonstrating what's possible when technology meets community trust.
Active Affiliate
Your ESA here
We're actively looking for ESA partners across the United States. If your organization serves school districts facing transportation challenges, let's talk.
Solve your transportation gaps — without breaking the budget
Trust-ed gives school districts a proven, compliant, and cost-effective solution for students who fall outside standard bus routes — including McKinney-Vento, SPED, and ESSA populations.
Trust-ed isn't just a transportation solution — it's a way to redirect budget back into your community while meeting your compliance obligations.
Lower cost than vendors
Districts pay educators as 1099 contractors during their existing commute. No vendor markup, no fleet overhead — the savings stay in the district.
Safer than rideshare
Every driver is a credentialed educator already approved by the school system — not a stranger from an app. Parents and administrators both have full visibility.
Compliance built-in
The platform generates documentation for McKinney-Vento, SPED, and ESSA reporting — reducing administrative burden at the district level.
AI-powered routing
The Trip Builder automatically identifies the nearest available educator driver for each student and optimizes multi-student routes to minimize cost.
Educator income opportunity
Your staff earns additional income on a commute they're already making — increasing educator satisfaction and retention while solving a district challenge.
Full visibility & reporting
District administrators have real-time oversight of every trip, every driver, and every payment — all in the web-based District Portal.
Who We Serve
Specialized services for every student population
Trust-ed was created specifically to serve students who fall outside traditional transportation systems.
Homeless & McKinney-Vento
Students experiencing housing instability are legally entitled to continued access to their school of origin. Trust-ed makes fulfilling that obligation practical and affordable.
Foster care students
Foster care placements often cross district boundaries. Trust-ed's geo-proximity matching ensures these students get consistent, reliable transport regardless of placement.
Special needs & SPED
Students with IEPs who require individualized transportation outside the standard bus schedule get a consistent, trusted driver who knows their specific needs.
Let's solve your district's transportation challenge
Contact your local ESA affiliate or reach out to Trust-ed directly.
Built with purpose — for America's most vulnerable students
Trust-ed was founded by Brandon Johnson with a single purpose: to make a meaningful difference in the lives of disadvantaged children. The name reflects the mission — Trusting Educators.
Our Mission
Serving those the system overlooks
Standard transportation doesn't reach every student. Trust-ed connects children in homeless, foster care, and special needs populations with trusted educators from within their own school community.
Our mission
To provide every student — regardless of housing, family situation, or ability — with safe, reliable, and trusted daily transportation to and from school.
Our vision
A nation where no student misses school because they lack a safe ride — powered by the educators who already believe in them.
Our values
Trust, safety, community, and service. We built Trust-ed because we care about children — and we run it the same way.
The Founder's Story
The taco counter & a pizza party I'll never forget
In Founder Brandon Johnson's own words — how three remarkable kids named Mona, Noah, and McKenzie became the reason Trust-ed exists.
In Brandon's own words: “I didn't set out to create a company like Trust-ed. It wasn't part of some long-term plan or entrepreneurial vision. It all began with a series of rides — actually, many rides — with three remarkable kids.”
During my time at Total Transit, I discovered something troubling: the drivers transporting students with disabilities were often unqualified. Parents trusted this system, yet their kids were being treated as cargo, not as human beings. So I made a surprising decision — I got behind the wheel myself.
Mona was the oldest — nonverbal and autistic, her presence filled the car. When I was having a rough day, she'd reach up from the back seat and place her hand gently on my shoulder. No words needed. Just presence.
Noah was full of energy — swinging between anger and laughter. His behavioral challenges scared many drivers away. But I saw a fighter in him. He'd been labeled too many times and trusted too few people.
McKenzie was the youngest but carried the most. She looked after Mona and Noah like a second mother. Wary at first, she eventually opened up — and one day asked me why I was still the one picking them up.
“You're like… too nice,” she said. I replied: “Maybe. Or maybe you're just worth it.”
Every Monday, they started with ten imaginary tacos. When they misbehaved, I'd deduct tacos. By Friday, I'd tally their total and reward them with real tacos from Del Taco. The Taco Counter turned chaotic rides into peaceful — sometimes even joyful — moments. It was about love, consistency, and respect.
The pizza party
On the last day of school, I surprised them with a celebration at Peter Piper Pizza — paid out of my own pocket. Pizza, games, laughter, and pictures. Every child deserves to be the center of attention, with adults around them celebrating.
When the server brought out the pizza, I was about to take a bite when Noah grabbed my hand. His sisters joined hands across the table. Once we all joined, they said their family prayer, blessing the meal.
“It nearly made me cry. We all knew these were likely our last minutes together, and that prayer held more meaning for me than any I had experienced before.”
— Brandon Johnson, Founder
The birth of Trust-ed
That day was the last time Brandon ever saw them, but it stayed with me. Those rides transformed from mere responsibilities into a calling. Brandon began to wonder: what if all student transportation functioned this way? What if the people behind the wheel were trusted faces from schools or neighborhoods?
They weren't just passengers. They were the reason.
Trust-ed was built by people who have dedicated their lives to serving others — especially America's most vulnerable children.
MJ
Mark Johnson
Chief Executive Officer
A husband, father, grandfather, and foster grandfather whose life has been defined by service to others. Trusted by world-class organizations to lead mission-critical functions domestically and internationally, Mark brings that same dedication and genuine humility to Trust-ed's clients and their communities.
An Ohio State University graduate with deep instincts to protect and serve vulnerable youth, Brandon developed Trust-ed's core program elements — the marriage of technology, sound business principles, and a focused mission to serve America's youth that forms the company's foundation.
Anamim holds a Master's degree in Marketing and Digital Commercialization Strategies and leads the effort to share Trust-ed's story with the world. Growing up in Cuauhtémoc, Chihuahua, Mexico and learning English while studying in England, Anamim witnessed first-hand the depth of children's needs across international communities. Being part of something that gives every child an equal opportunity to succeed — independent of economic or social condition — is deeply personal to her.
A visionary lead developer with a passion for cutting-edge technology and a relentless drive for innovation. Praveen holds a Bachelor's degree in Computer Science and has solidified his reputation as a masterful architect and exceptional problem solver. As Lead Developer of Trust-ed, he directs cross-functional teams and fosters an environment of collaboration, open communication, and continuous learning — consistently delivering results that exceed expectations.
ZA
Zuhair Ahmad
Lead Mobile Application Developer
A seasoned mobile application developer with extensive experience building scalable, user-centric Android, iOS, and cross-platform solutions. Zuhair holds a Master of Computer Applications (MCA) and has played a key role in designing, developing, and optimizing Trust-ed's mobile apps. He actively drives architectural decisions, mentors developers to uphold high engineering standards, and leads the effort to keep the Trust-ed apps at the top of the industry — while making them user-friendly for all drivers and families.
TB
Taylor Bouve
Director of Programs
Taylor has been working with Trust-ed since 2020, developing a one-of-a-kind insurance policy so unique that it required partnering with carriers across the country to find the perfect way to protect the Trust-ed Program and its Affiliates. A graduate of Arizona State University, Taylor began his career with a Silicon Valley company before partnering with Crest Insurance to develop the coverage all Trust-ed Affiliates enjoy today. He now leads efforts across Business Development, Tech Training, Insurance, and much more.
Whether you're an ESA exploring the affiliate model, a school district looking for solutions, or an educator interested in driving — we want to hear from you.
We respond within one business day
Tell us about your district's transportation challenges or your interest in the affiliate program, and our team will reach out with everything you need to know.
