In an effort to get more school buses rolling, the U.S. departments of transportation and education have given states the option to waive the requirement that potential drivers be able to identify parts of a bus engine.
The agencies issued a joint statement Dec. 4 announcing that the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) was giving states the option to waive the part of the skills test for a commercial driver's license (CDL) that requires school bus driver applicants to identify the “under the hood” engine components. All other parts of both the written and road tests are still required to be taken and passed.
“This federal waiver will help communities that are short on school bus drivers,” U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said in the announcement. “By allowing states to focus on the testing requirements that are critical to safety, we will get additional, qualified drivers behind the wheel to get kids to school safely.”
DOT states that school-transportation associations, elected officials and several states have previously complained that the "under the hood" requirement was unnecessary and posed a barrier for people interested in becoming school bus drivers. States are not being made to waive the requirement, only given the option, the DOT states.
U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona said President Joe Biden's administration is working with school communities to help schools remain open for safe in-person learning.
“We’ve heard from educators and parents that labor shortages, particularly of bus drivers, are a roadblock to keeping kids in schools," Cardona said in the announcement. "Today’s announcement will give states the flexibility they need to help increase the pool of drivers, who are a key part of the school community and get kids to school safely each day where students learn best.”
