News SPECIAL REPORT High Anxiety
Amid a continuing school bus driver shortage, many districts wonder what lies around the bend in terms of complying with the new federal entry- level training requirement
WRITTEN BY ART GISSENDANER T
he clock is ticking as school districts nationwide brace for an intimidating set of Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration regulations that will set new training standards for school bus driver applicants and establish
new reporting requirements for transportation directors. Te Final Rule, with a compliance date of Feb. 7, 2020, is a result of the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21) passed by Congress in 2012. MAP-21 focuses on the knowledge and skills that are needed for the safe operation of commercial trucks and buses. It also establishes minimum qualifications for individuals and entities that provide entry-level driver training, or ELDT. Te regulation applies to first-time applicants for Class A and Class B CDLs, and current CDL holders who are looking to upgrade to an additional endorsement that is necessary for operating a motorcoach or school bus. Applicants will be required to demonstrate their driving proficiency
via knowledge and behind-the-wheel training on a driving range and on a public road, as well as obtain instruction from a federally standardized program. STN previously reported that the FMCSA said it anticipates many certified individuals and entities currently providing en- try-level driver training, including school districts, will be eligible to provide training that complies with the additional requirements. Already beset by chronic bus driver shortages attributed in
18 School Transportation News • JUNE 2018
part to testing delays, low pay and too many responsibilities that are unrelated to driving—including mastering ever-advancing technology—school districts are afraid the new requirements will exacerbate the problem of placing qualified drivers behind the wheel in a timely fashion.
FINAL RULE LACKS SPECIFICS A major concern expressed by transportation directors is that the
Final Rule is vague, because it lacks the details they need to ensure their training programs and facilities comply. For example, the Final Rule sets no minimum standards for the number of hours that are re- quired for the knowledge or behind-the-wheel portions of the training. “I don’t think we’ll have a problem getting this done, but
I’m not sure how we are going to do it,” said Cynthia Jurewicz, transportation director for the Bethlehem Central School District in New York. “Te federal government tells us what to do, but not how to do it. Tey say here is the end product we want, but they’re not telling us any specifics. At least, I have not found them. Tey’ve put the cart before the horse.” Jurewicz cited the requirement that trainers and training facil- ities be newly certified by FMCSA, but no criteria for qualifica- tions or certification are provided. “I don’t know the criteria of what the trainer has to do or have, or the square footage required for the training facility,” she said. Te state of New York already
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