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...

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...

Insurance requirements for school bus contractors differ from state to state. While some states have specific requirements for school buses, other states only have requirements if some other type of charter transportation is required. These state requirements may also vary depending on the type of vehicle used, such as a school bus or school van. School transportation contractors should be aware that, in certain instances, federal insurance requirements may also apply. Whether or not federal ins...

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...

As we approach the end of the school year, school bus operators are already planning work that must be done over the summer months. For most operators, the summer months are the best time of the year to review and revise employee handbooks, as well as other employer policies and procedures. One component that should not be overlooked during this review period is language regarding the company’s drug and alcohol policy (or policies).

Contractors may recall that FMCSA published an interim final rule regarding non-domiciled CDLs on September 29, 2025. The interim final rule was temporarily paused by the United Sates Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit on November 10, 2025. Three days later, the same court granted an emergency motion for a stay pending appeal. FMCSA subsequently conducted formal notice-and-comment rulemaking. After receiving and reviewing comments, FMCSA published a final rule on non-domiciled...