In the News

Even the safest school bus driver could be cited by police or a DOT enforcement officer at some point. Sometimes a minor indiscretion, on personal time, leads to the driver think that a quick and quiet disposition is best. But, pleading guilty and paying a fine can lead to serious and unexpected consequences. Many drivers are unaware that many offenses require an automatic CDL license suspension that could put your driver out of action. Continue reading for more information

As we approach the end of another school year, many school transportation contractors will once again ramp up their summer recruitment and hiring practices. While some transportation contractors have found temporary relief from the weight of the ongoing driver shortage, such as those who are in states that have adopted the FMCSA Under the Hood Waiver, most contractors will continue to battle the shortage heading into the coming school year. As contractors are casting a wider net for school bus d...

School bus contractors frequently have questions about the use of tax free “red dyed” diesel fuel for student transportation. Contractors want to be sure they are compliant with all laws, and often have to answer questions from schools, and sometimes from fuel suppliers who are not familiar with school bus operations. Continue reading to learn more about applicable laws on tax free red dyed diesel fuel.

In 2022, school districts operated mostly uninterrupted from the coronavirus, and federal and state governments tackled more issues unrelated to the pandemic. For school transportation contractors, this meant keeping up with new or amended laws and regulations, and other significant events. Continue reading for a discussion on some of the biggest legal topics affecting the school transportation industry in 2022.

In January 2022 the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) granted a ninety day waiver of the “Under-the-Hood” portion of CDL skills test for school bus drivers to help address the driver shortage. Seven states implemented modified CDL testing for school bus drivers, and FMCSA extended the ninety day waiver two more times. But, some states still declined to modify their CDL testing for school bus drivers due to the short duration of the waiver. In September 2022, FMCSA sought comm...

In recent years, public awareness of illegal passing of school buses has increased and Pennsylvania legislators, with the help of PSBA initiatives, have taken notice and made an effort to curb illegal passing. However, often when new laws are passed enforcement is not always as seamless as hoped when the law is written, Pennsylvania School Bus Stopping Laws are no exception. Law enforcement and Pennsylvania courts sometimes have difficulty enforcing the new laws and, as a result, may leave schoo...

Many school transportation contractors continue to look for creative ways to retain drivers. Some contractors may decide to pay their drivers on a per run basis, rather than by the hour. This can be an attractive payment model for drivers, and award efficiency with more pay in less time. However, contractors that pay their drivers on a per run basis should be mindful of their obligations of continued compliance with applicable minimum wage and overtime laws. Continue reading to learn how federal...