§383.123 Requirements for a school bus endorsement.
(a) An applicant for a school
bus endorsement must satisfy the following three requirements:
(a)(1) Qualify for
passenger vehicle endorsement. Pass the knowledge and skills test for obtaining
a passenger vehicle endorsement.
(a)(2) Knowledge test. Must
have knowledge covering at least the following three topics:
(a)(2)(i)
Loading and unloading children, including the safe operation of stop signal
devices, external mirror systems, flashing lights and other warning and
passenger safety devices required for school buses by State or Federal law or
regulation.
(a)(2)(ii) Emergency
exits and procedures for safely evacuating passengers in an emergency.
(a)(2)(iii) State and
Federal laws and regulations related to safely traversing highway rail grade
crossings.
(a)(3) Skills test. Must take
a driving skills test in a school bus of the same vehicle group (see §383.91(a)) as the
school bus applicant will drive.
(a)(4) Exception. Knowledge and skills tests administered before September 30, 2002 and approved by FMCSA as meeting the requirements of this section, meet the requirements of paragraphs (a)(2) and (a)(3) of this section.
(b) Substitute for driving skills test. (1) At the discretion of a
State, the driving skills test required in paragraph (a)(3) of this section may
be waived for an applicant who is currently licensed, has experience driving a
school bus, has a good driving record, and meets the conditions set forth in
paragraph (b)(2) of this section.
(b)(2) An applicant must
certify and the State must verify that, during the two-year period immediately
prior to applying for the school bus endorsement, the applicant:
(b)(2)(i)
Held a valid CDL with a passenger vehicle endorsement to operate a school bus
representative of the group he or she will be driving;
(b)(2)(ii) Has not had
his or her driver's license or CDL suspended, revoked or canceled or been
disqualified from operating a CMV;
(b)(2)(iii) Has not
been convicted of any of the disqualifying offenses in §383.51(b) while
operating a CMV or of any offense in a non-CMV that would be disqualifying under §383.51(b) if committed
in a CMV;
(b)(2)(iv) Has
not had more than one conviction of any of the serious traffic violations
defined in §383.5, while operating
any type motor vehicle;
(b)(2)(v) Has not had
any conviction for a violation of State or local law relating to motor vehicle
traffic control (other than a parking violation) arising in connection with any
traffic accident;
(b)(2)(vi) Has
not been convicted of any motor vehicle traffic violation that resulted in an
accident; and
(b)(2)(vii) Has been
regularly employed as a school bus driver, has operated a school bus
representative of the group the applicant seeks to drive, and provides evidence
of such employment.
(b)(3) After
[67 FR 49760,