The yellow school bus has kept its color for many years.

Officials from all 48 states chose it in 1939.

They picked the color because people can see it well.

It was one of the first safety rules.

In the 1980s, the bus was at its best.

It carried more than 60% of U.S. students.

The bus started in rural America.

A car dealer made it.

His name was Albert Luce.

He made it for cement workers.

Then he sold it to schools.

His company got smaller.

At the same time, schools changed.

Small local schools closed.

Bigger schools were far away.

Matt Anderson works at the Henry Ford Museum.

He says the two changes needed each other.

Later, buses helped with desegregation.

They moved Black and white children to different schools.

That practice has mostly ended.

Now schools are more separate.

Carl Fisher drove a school bus for 66 years.

He retired in 2012.

He was the longest-working driver.

His first bus was a changed Dodge truck.

It carried 20 children.

Safety got better over time.

Seats are padded now.

There is a stop sign that flips out.

Brad Beauchamp works at Blue Bird.

That is the bus maker.

He says it is the safest road transport per passenger.

It has no seat belts.

Now there are not enough drivers.

Many students do not get bus service.

Jim Oppegard retired at 94.

He was the oldest driver.

He said the work was good.

He said it was important for society.