licenses to meet basic entry-level bus driver training and undergo theory training to obtain a passenger or school bus endorsement, starting this month. The issue is that it takes a driver longer to earn the qualifications necessary to drive a school bus. But they get better training and more classroom time. While most student transportation operations have
been offering much of this training for decades, several school bus driver trainers say that the new requirements are standardizing offerings that had been under the complete control of state governments. This will ensure that all school bus drivers in the U.S. are receiving the same training and meeting the same licensure require- ments. The goal is to have all drivers “on the same page.” Trainers also said that the new requirements should not
be overly difficult to meet, although there may be more academic training, which may or may not correlate to real-world situations. They say that creating a culture of safety is extremely important and this means avoiding risky situations. For example, drivers must be very aware of what is taking place when students leave or enter a bus. They also must be very good defensive drivers. “We meet all the driver training requirements, but we
have not been teaching everything that is necessary for all Group B vehicles,” said Fred Doelker, director of training programs for Dean Transpor- tation, which provides special needs school busing throughout Michigan. “Most school districts are teaching drivers what they need to earn a CDL, but they are only teaching what people need to drive a school bus. We now have training to be prepared for any Group B vehicle and we provide information relative to a wider variety of vehicles. So, we prepare people to drive vehicles more than 26,000 pounds like a dump truck, not always a school bus.” Those who participate in the school learn the basics of
With behind the wheel training, drivers will learn more
about road hazards and other realities of driving a bus. “These are things [we] do all the time. This training will affect people who are upgrading their licenses or getting a new license,” said Doelker. Because there are so many more commercial driving
opportunities now and some higher paying over-the -road truck driving opportunities, the question might be are people going to school districts to get free training so they can drive trucks? Doelker said he has not seen this happen so far amid implementing ELDT. “They could have done that all along, but I just haven’t seen much of it. We will train them behind the wheel in a school bus for a job picking up children in a school bus, and they will test in a school bus,” he explained. “Now, they will receive a few more classroom topics regarding inspection stations, bridge weights, whistler-blower rules, hours and service and other items germane to oth- er CMVs in Group B. But they will only receive any road training in a school bus.” Prospective drivers learn about winter driving and
mountain driving. “They learn to drive through the snow. There is no time requirement for behind the wheel driving or theory training, and people who have received training are considered safe drivers,” he said. Doelker shared he believes these new
45% of readers stated they have
implemented the new
federal entry-level driver training requirements, aka MAP-21.
(Out of 66 responses, as of Jan. 7.)
drivers will be more qualified now for other Group B vehicles after Feb. 7. “My experience shows me that a person seek- ing a job transporting children to school is looking for that specific job,” he said. “I’ll bet there are plenty of drivers on the East Coast and southern states today that wish they’d had a bit more theory preparation for driving that CMV in snow and ice.” Jeff Cassell, president of the School Bus Safety Company, creates training cours-
driving a school bus. Dean Transportation will continue teaching what it always has. “We have always taught drivers how to work with children in our care and that is required. Starting in February there will be new regulations, but it will not have as much impact on us,” added Doelker. Learning to work with children is also very important.
“We teach crisis prevention. We go beyond what is re- quired. We spend time showing our drivers how to work effectively with children. We also [offer] customized training for our school bus drivers,” said Doelker. The requirements for more theory training mean that
drivers will spend more time in the classroom. They will have to read more or watch videos about storing luggage and federal regulations about school bus driving. People will have to learn more about backing up a bus, driving in bad weather and roadside inspections.
36 School Transportation News • FEBRUARY 2022
es to train school bus drivers and leaders in school bus safety. The company offers 26 video training programs in various subjects involving defensive driving. “Most people really don’t know what safety means,”
Cassell said. “For us, safety means freedom from risk. The possibility of risk is the enemy. We want to eliminate the unsafe behaviors that lead to accidents.” For example, he suggested, many drivers follow other
vehicles too closely. Some drivers can also become complacent, and this can get people killed or injured. One of the greatest risks is outside the bus when kids are leaving or approaching the bus during loading and unloading. Many incidents also happen in intersections. “We also teach student management, and we work
to prevent bullying and to deal with fights. We want to show drivers how to get students to think. Ask a student to think about the consequences of fighting. You can behave properly or be sent to the office,” said Cassell.
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