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To: Student Transportation Providers

Date: April 18, 2008

Soon everyone will be training for the start of the new school year again
and certain issues continue to come up.  I wanted to take this opportunity
to remind everyone of a few things.

Physical Performance Test - Instructors are NOT exempt from having to take
the physical performance test.  An instructor must take the test from
another state qualified individual.

Pretrips and Post Trips - Another issue that continues to come up is
regarding pretrip and post trip inspections.  School bus drivers absolutely
have to perform their own inspections.  It is certainly all right for the
mechanic or supervisor to do a pretrip or post trip of the school bus, but
the school bus driver is still required to pretrip and post trip his/her
own bus.  There are no exceptions!  The driver's School Bus Driver
Certification may be canceled for failure to perform this function.

Check for Students - The driver is responsible for checking the bus for
students and articles remaining on the school bus.  If there is also an
attendant on the bus, that person may also check for students, however, the
ultimate responsibility is that of the driver.  A student left unattended
not only may result in a canceled School Bus Driver Certification, but
possibly criminal charges as well.

Cell Phones - Cell phones shall not be used while the school bus is in
operation.  This includes ipods, blue tooth and similar electronic devices.
The blue tooth shall not even be worn at all while driving the school bus.
The only time the cell phone may be used is when the driver pulls to the
side of the road and comes to a complete stop.  This does not mean,
however, while loading and/or unloading at student stops or while
performing any other school bus driver duties.

Please ensure that all transportation personnel are well informed so that
these issues may be avoided.   If you have any questions, please contact
Student Transportation at 602-223-2646.   Your cooperation is greatly
appreciated.

Thank you,


Vicki Barnett
Student Transportation
Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Bureau
Highway Patrol Division
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To: Student Transportation Providers

Date: April 4, 2008

It has come to my attention that not all transportation providers may be aware of a FMCSA proposed rulemaking regarding driver training.The proposed rulemaking may be found at this website:  < http://www.regulations.gov> Docket #FMCSA-2007-27748. This proposed rulemaking relates to training requirements for interstate CDL drivers including school bus drivers who regularly or occasionally cross state lines. It defines and significantly increases training requirements for new school bus drivers.  State Directors have responded to a survey from the  National Association of State Directors of Pupil Transportation Services (NASDPTS) regarding the training that school bus drivers in our states receive.  Once all info is received, the NASDPTS will respond to the FMCSA proposed rulemaking.

Of course, any of you may respond to the proposed rulemaking since it could greatly impact school bus driver training.


Vicki Barnett
Student Transportation
Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Bureau
Highway Patrol Division

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To: Student Transportation Providers

Date: January 4, 2008

I learned yesterday from the Manager of the DPS Fingerprint Identification
Bureau that the new law that went into effect on January 1, 2008, requiring
noncertificated school personnel to obtain a Clearance Card does exempt
school bus drivers -- including new bus driver applicants.  In other words,
nothing has changed since 2007 for school bus drivers.  The same
fingerprinting process as required in the past continues.   An application,
a fingerprint card and a  $24 fee must be submitted to this office in order
for DPS Student Transportation to perform a background check.  A Clearance
Card is NOT required of either the currently employed school bus drivers or
the new school bus driver applicants.  And, by the way, a Clearance Card
does not mean that any additional databases are checked or a more thorough
background is performed.  Both processes are identical.

For Clearance Card questions regarding any other noncertificated personnel,
please call the APP Team at 602-223-2279.


Vicki Barnett
Student Transportation
Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Bureau
Highway Patrol Division

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