Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 1340-03-03-.07 - SCHOOL BUS DRIVERS AND TRAINING

(1) Driver Training Programs

(a) All drivers having a Commercial Driver's License (CDL) with the school bus endorsement for the privileges to operate a school bus will be required on an annual basis to attend and satisfactorily complete all state sponsored training programs pursuant to T.C.A. § 49-6-2102 to keep the endorsement class license. Training exemptions may be granted upon determination that a school bus driver already meets or exceeds minimum safety training requirements as established by the Department.

(b) State offered training shall be delivered through a medium to be determined by the pupil transportation division within the Department.

(c) Any downgrade licensing action against a school bus operator for failing to meet minimum training requirements to maintain a school bus endorsement on their CDL shall be preceded by notification as established in T.C.A. § 55-50-502, permitting request for a hearing before adverse licensing action is initiated.

(d) The school bus endorsement downgrading action:

1. Will occur on the first day of the following month of the S endorsement holder's training month.

2. Drivers not meeting the minimum training requirements stated in this rule will be downgraded.

3. All other adverse actions against school bus endorsement privileges shall be governed by provisions of T.C.A. § 55-50-502 or other state law.

4. Drivers that have their school bus endorsement removed may reapply for the endorsement and have operating privileges restored upon satisfactorily completing the required safety training as mandated for all other Tennessee school bus drivers and complying with the laws and regulations for reinstatement of the endorsement through required testing by the driver's license issuance division within the Department.

(e) School Activity

1. Drivers of school buses utilized for "school activity purposes" shall possess a Commercial Driver's License (CDL) with the passenger and school bus endorsements.

2. "School activity purposes": includes, but is not limited to: field trips, ball trips, band camps and other non-regular route use that is sanctioned by the board of education on either board-owned, contractor-owned, or school-owned equipment.

Notes

Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 1340-03-03-.07

Original rule filed July 20, 1989; effective October 29, 1989. Repeal and new rule filed December 3, 2007; effective April 29, 2008. Amendments filed February 13, 2023; effective 5/14/2023.

Authority: T.C.A. §§ 4-3-2009, 4-4-102, 49-6-2102, and 49-6-2109.