News & Insights

Many Pennsylvania school bus contractors invest significant time and resources into training new drivers, including providing federally required Entry-Driver Level Training (“ELDT”) at their facilities. Recently, questions have been raised about requirements under the Pennsylvania Private Licensed Schools Act (the “PLSA”). More specifically, some school transportation contractors that provide training have questioned whether licensing is required to train certain types of individuals, and wh...

On October 5, 2026, President Trump issued Executive Order 14435, titled “Emergency Tax Relief on Diesel Fuel”, which directs the United States Treasury Department (the “Treasury”) to consider a temporary postponement of certain federal diesel excise taxes, and which also directs the Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”) to suspend penalties associated with the sale and use of red-dyed diesel fuel. The IRS has since announced nationwide penalty relief beginning on October 1, 2026 through De...

On October 20, 2026, the Pennsylvania House passed Senate Bill 65, which was subsequently signed into law by Governor Shapiro on October 22, 2026. Pennsylvania school bus contractors may recall that this bill was introduced in January 2025, in a continued effort to disincentive illegal passing and unsafe driving near school buses and school bus stops. While Senate Bill 65 will not directly affect school bus operations, school bus contractors should be aware of the changes this new law puts into ...

Occasionally, school transportation contractors may encounter a situation where either a student or driver requires supplemental oxygen therapy, requiring the driver or student to use a portable oxygen tank. As portable oxygen tanks store oxygen under pressure, transportation contractors that encounter this issue may question the legality and safety of allowing this on the vehicle. Interestingly, no federal or state law explicitly addresses oxygen tanks on school buses; however, regulations on t...

Federal enforcement of English language proficiency (“ELP”) requirements for commercial drivers has changed significantly over the past year. Although the requirement for commercial drivers to be proficient in English is longstanding under applicable Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (“FMCSA”) driver qualification regulations, recent FMCSA enforcement guidance provides that drivers who fail ELP can be placed out-of-service during a covered roadside inspection. Now, FMCSA is proposi...

The beginning of the school year is an appropriate time for School Bus Contractors to review post-trip inspection procedures with drivers and aides. Pennsylvania law does not expressly prescribe a specific post-trip walkthrough or child-check procedure on the bus; however, federal law imposes requirements for post-trip inspections of a school bus. In any case, the Contractor’s written policy, training, documentation, and actual practice are especially important.

As we approach the end of the 2025-2026 school year, school bus contractors are already making plans for work that must be completed over the summer months in preparation for the start of the 2026-2027 school year. Often included in these preparations over the summer months is a review of the employee handbook and supplemental company policies and procedures. As school bus contractors take the time this summer to review and update their handbook, it is recommended not to overlook language regard...