Action
Notice of final disposition; granting of application for exemption.
Summary
FMCSA announces its decision to grant an exemption to the Hawaii Department of Transportation (HDOT) to allow commercial driver's license (CDL) holders with a passenger (P) endorsement to operate a school bus without holding a school bus (S) endorsement, provided an adult chaperone is present on the bus who is responsible for ensuring the safe loading and unloading of children. This exemption applies to drivers operating traditional school buses, i.e., buses designed to be school buses, and to motorcoaches and vans not designed to be school buses. Drivers operating a traditional school bus must have an S endorsement commercial learner's permit (CLP) and obtain their full S endorsement within 90 days of the date they obtained the S endorsement CLP. Drivers operating motorcoaches or vans not designed to be a school bus must operate between designated central locations, such as parks or parking lots, and school or school-sponsored events.