News & Insights

In school bus operations, most employees are part-time drivers that do not exceed 40 hours of work in a workweek; however, nearly all contractors have some full-time staff that work 40 hours per week. Occasionally, an employee may be assigned to two jobs with different rates of pay, such as a bus driver and office administrator. Accordingly, contractors may decide to pay these employees two different rates of pay, depending on the job being performed. In such cases, there are special considerati...

The RC Kelly team participated in another successful NSTA Bus In on Capitol Hill earlier this month. As we all reflect on the importance of establishing connections with our representatives in Washington D.C. and advocating for industry issues on a national scale, it is important to not lose sight of the fact that state advocacy is equally critical for advancing industry goals. Continue reading below for a brief discussion on the importance of state advocacy, and how you can help shape policy at...

RC Kelly Law Associates is proud to have joined the National School Transportation Association in its annual Bus-In advocacy visit to legislators in Washington DC this week. Richard Kelly, Matthew Jandrisavitz, and Brian Hill assisted school bus contractors from across the country in advocating for the Driving Forward Act to help school bus driver recruiting and retention by making the Under-the-Hood CDL Testing Exemption permanent, and the Break For Kids Act to have NHTSA move forward with deve...

On March 24, 2026, RC Kelly Law will participate in the Pennsylvania School Bus Association’s (PSBA’s) annual Legislative Day at the Capitol in Harrisburg, PA. Each year, RC Kelly Law and contractors from around the Commonwealth participate in this event to advocate for legislative support on issues that affect the school bus industry. Contractors who have not participated in this event previously should consider attending. Below, we briefly discuss why advocacy is crucial to the school bus in...

As school bus operators know, managing employees is no easy task. When employee disciplinary issues arise, many school bus operators get stumped on what type of discipline is appropriate. In response to more frequent or severe performance issues or misconduct, school bus operators may feel they have no choice but to terminate the employee; however, some employers may recognize that termination is not always risk-free. In these circumstances, a last chance agreement can be used as an alternative ...

When a school bus driver fails a drug or alcohol test, refuses to submit to required testing, or otherwise violates U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) drug testing regulations, a specific regulatory framework governs driver and employer obligations. Federal regulations require such drivers participate in the Substance Abuse Professional (SAP) program before they return to safety-sensitive duties. 49 C.F.R. §40.285(a). For school bus operators, understanding how this process works, and what ...

Snowstorms, extreme cold, and other weather-related events continue to affect school operations across Pennsylvania. In response, school districts often cancel in-person instruction, move instruction to a virtual format, or revise school calendars in ways that result in transportation services being suspended. Since Act 56 became law in 2023, schools have more flexibility to make school calendar changes that reduce transportation contract revenue days. What do your transportation contracts say a...