News & Insights

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 ...

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...

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 ...

On December 18, 2025, President Trump signed Executive Order 14370 on expanding medical marijuana and cannabidiol (CBD) research. The Executive Order notes that in 2023, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) completed a review of medical marijuana use and found scientific support for its use in treatment of pain and other symptoms from certain medical conditions. To date, forty (40) states have approved the use of medical marijuana. Despite the adoption of medical marijuana programs by states, ...

Often, transportation contracts specify that school districts have the responsibility to establish bus stops. This is typically done in consultation with the school transportation provider; however, the school district usually has the final say on the bus stop location. As contractors know, it is not uncommon for the transportation contractor or the school district to receive complaints about the location of bus stops from parents or students.

As a school bus contractor, ensuring that your drivers meet all federal and state safety regulations is one of the most critical parts of your operation. In recent years, much attention has been given to the FMCSA Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse, an online system that tracks drug and alcohol violations for commercial drivers. However, many school bus contractors may not know that they are still required to run manual inquiries on certain CDL drivers. If your new driver has experience under anothe...

On May 2, 2023, the Department of Transportation (“DOT”) published a final rule permitting the use of oral fluid drug testing in certain regulated drug testing programs. The final rule affects agencies under the DOT, including the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (“FMCSA”). Continue reading to learn more about what the rule requires, as well as some additional considerations regarding oral fluid drug testing.