The yellow school bus has kept its distinctive color for decades.

In 1939, transportation officials from all 48 states chose the shade for its visibility.

It became one of the first safety standards.

At its peak in the 1980s, the bus carried more than 60% of U.S. students.

The bus began in rural America.

Georgia car dealer Albert Luce designed it for cement workers.

He then sold it to schools when his company declined.

This timing matched a shift as districts replaced small local schools with larger, distant ones.

Matt Anderson, curator at the Henry Ford Museum, says the two developments depended on each other.

Later, buses played a role in desegregation, moving Black and white children across racial lines.

That practice has mostly ended, and schools have grown more segregated.

Carl Fisher drove a school bus for 66 years, retiring in 2012 as the longest-working driver.

His first vehicle was a converted Dodge truck that carried 20 children.

Safety upgrades have included padded seats and a flip-out stop sign.

Brad Beauchamp of Blue Bird, the bus maker, calls it the safest road transport per passenger without seat belts.

Driver shortages now mean many students lack bus service.

Jim Oppegard, who retired at 94 as the oldest driver, called the work rewarding and important for society.