Minimum Qualifications For School Bus
Drivers.
The school bus driver is the most important element in the
safe transportation of students. To ensure the safety of students transported
on school buses, bus drivers must meet certain minimum qualifications.
To qualify as a school bus driver a person must:
1. Be at least 18 years of age.
2. Possess a valid Class A, B, or C CDL with
a "P" and "S" endorsement.
3. Have
at least 20/40 corrected or uncorrected visual acuity in each eye.
4. Demonstrate sufficient strength, agility,
hearing and visual acuity to exercise safe control over the school bus and
passengers at all times. All bus drivers must pass a pre-employment agility
test administered as part of the SDE bus driver certification process.
The agility test requirements are as follows:
a. The student driver did climb and descend
the front steps of a passenger bus without pausing.
b. The student driver did open and close a
manually operated full size bus entrance door without difficulty while seated
in the driver's seat.
c. The
student driver did activate the brake pedal with the right foot in 3/4 of or
less after removing the right foot from the throttle a second or less after
removing the right foot from the throttle pedal.
d. The student driver did move from a seated
position in the driver's seat of a full size bus to the rear of the bus, open
the emergency door and exit the bus all within 20 seconds.
e. The student driver did operate the driving
controls using both arms simultaneously and quickly. For example, activate
master panel switches or shift gears while keeping one hand on the steering
wheel of a full size bus traveling twenty-five (25) miles per hour.
f. The student driver demonstrates ability to
perform steering, shifting, maneuvering, braking, use of mirrors and negotiate
each of the following:
i. Ninety degree
(90°) left hand turns
ii.
Ninety degree (90°) right hand turns
iii. Straight ahead
iv. Irregular surface maneuverability at
appropriate speeds
v. Backing
ability using mirrors only
vi.
Spatial awareness
NOTE: Full size bus for ability testing purposes means a 59,
65 or 71 passenger school bus. Activities e. and f. are completed only after
a-d. are successfully completed.
5. Have an acceptable driving record with no
convictions deemed disqualifying under the MS Commercial Drivers License Law.
Sections
63-1-73
through 63-1-90, MS Code as amended.
6. Receive SDE bus driver certification
during a one-day training course which includes classroom instruction, agility
testing and behind-the-wheel driving.
7. Not currently use illegal controlled
substances or engage in the illegal use of prescription drugs.
8. The local school board may require
additional qualifications, such as drug testing or a physical examination
following an offer of employment.
