Zum Opens Philadelphia Base for School Transport

Zum has leased two adjacent Northeast Philadelphia properties to create a school bus operations and maintenance center before it begins serving School District of Philadelphia families in the 2026-27 school year. The sites at 3740 E. Thompson Street and 2715 E. Butler Street will be redeveloped as the company’s local base for home-to-school transportation. Zum is also hiring school bus drivers and attendants as part of an investment it says will create hundreds of local jobs. The company’s Connected Mobility Experience platform combines routing, dispatch, communications, safety, workforce management, and real-time operations.

New Operations Center

The two properties will include employee facilities, maintenance capabilities, and driver amenities. Zum said the location is intended to reduce employee travel time while providing infrastructure for daily operations and future growth.

The new yard will support the company’s Philadelphia workforce and its transport service for students across the district.

“Philadelphia is more than a new market for Zum—it is a long-term partnership and a community where we plan to invest for decades to come. We are creating local jobs, investing in modern infrastructure, and building an operation designed to serve students and families with the reliability, transparency, and accountability they deserve. This facility reflects our commitment to Philadelphia and our belief that student mobility is critical infrastructure that directly supports access to education.”

Driver Hiring Plans

Zum is seeking experienced school bus drivers as well as people looking to begin a career in student transportation. The company has already held several hiring events and is inviting applicants to join its Philadelphia team.

“There is no more important job than safely getting students to and from school every weekday. Our investment in Philadelphia goes beyond buses—it's an investment in the people who make student mobility possible. We want our drivers to have a modern, welcoming facility where they feel comfortable, respected, and supported every day. That's the kind of workplace we're building at Zum, and we invite drivers across Philadelphia to come experience the difference for themselves.”

Long Term Philadelphia Presence

Triten Real Estate Partners is supporting Zum’s move into the two Philadelphia locations. Zum said its wider local investment will cover facilities, workforce development, fleet operations, and technology.

“We are excited to welcome Zum to 3740 Thompson Street, Philadelphia, PA 19137 and 2715 East Butler Street, Philadelphia, PA 19137 and to support their growth in the Philadelphia market. This is exactly the kind of long-term partnership we like to be a part of - helping a growing company find the space it needs to serve the local community.”

Technology For Student Transport

Zum serves more than 6,500 schools in 18 states through its Connected Mobility Experience system. The company said districts using Zum in the 2025-2026 school year recorded an average 98% on-time performance, alongside improved family satisfaction and reliability.