The federal government says it is relaxing some requirements for school bus drivers to help ease a continuing shortage of drivers.
The U.S. departments of Transportation and Education say the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is giving states the option of waiving a portion of the commercial driver's license (CDL) skills test for school bus drivers that requires applicants to identify "under the hood" engine components.
However, drivers will still need take all other components of the written and road tests, the U.S. Department of Education says in a news release.
“We’ve heard from educators and parents that labor shortages, particularly of bus drivers, are a roadblock to keeping kids in schools," says U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona. "Today’s announcement will give states the flexibility they need to help increase the pool of drivers...and get kids to school safely."
Cardona added that schools can use federal Covid relief funds to hire drivers and offer them increased compensation or other incentives.
Drivers receiving a CDL under the temporary waiver are permitted to operate intrastate school buses only; they are not authorized to operate trucks, motorcoaches, or any other type of commercial motor vehicle requiring a CDL.
The waiver will be in effect until March 31, 2022.
