We are only a few months into President Trump’s new term, and the Administration has already begun implementing sweeping changes likely to have ripple effects on industries across the board. If you have recently spent anytime at all watching the news, you may know that a major goal of the Trump Administration is to level the playing field on foreign tariffs on American goods by introducing reciprocal tariffs on foreign goods, with hope that this will aid nationwide reindustrialization.
On April 2, 2025, the Trump Administration announced these reciprocal tariffs. As of April 10, 2025 most tariffs have been temporarily paused for 90 days, though some tariffs remain in effect, such as those on certain countries who have implemented retaliatory tariffs against the United States. In the short term, it is very possible that tariffs will have an adverse effect on the prices of certain goods, which could affect school bus operators. As we are at the height of the contract renewal season, school bus contractors should keep this fact in mind. Continue reading for a discussion on certain contract terms you may consider implementing to protect your business in a tariff-heavy environment.