Pupil Transportation

Requirements to Become Qualified to Drive - Effective 07/01/2019; Revised 11/8/19

Requirements for Current Drivers and Employers - Effective 07/01/2019; Revised 11/8/19

Rule 91
Driver Qualifications and Operational Procedures for Pupil Transportation Vehicles
Summary of Rule 91 Revisions - Effective 07/01/2019

Rule 92

Regulations Governing the Minimum Equipment Standards and Safety Inspection Criteria for Pupil Transportation Vehicles Basic Information needed to develop the skills, attitudes, amd knowledge for safe and effective driving.
Summary of Rule 92 Revisions - Effective 07/01/2019

Pupil Transportation Guide

COMMERCIAL DRIVER LICENSING REQUIREMENTS

More information is available on the DMV website or you may call (402) 471-3861.

Level I | 11 Hour Course

The Level I 11 hour course is designed for driver who will be driving a small bus with 15 or less passengers (category B)  or a school bus with 16 or more passenger (category C).  Registrations must be done through the database in order to take the course. Course details can be found above. In addition, individuals must complete a Behind the Wheel/Pre-Drive to be qualified to drive.  A driver is required to take the Level II within five years of their Level I.

Level I | Three Hour Course

The three hour Level I course is designed for drivers who will be driving ONLY a small vehicle. Individuals who need the three hour course will attend the first three hours of the Level I course. Registrations must be done through the database in order to take the course. In addition, individuals must complete a Behind the Wheel/Pre-Drive to be qualified to drive.  A driver is required to take the Level II within five years of their Level I.

Level II | Three hour course

The level II course is a refresher course for all drivers who have completed a Level I and the course must be taken within five years of your Level I course.  Registrations must be done through the database in order to take the course.

Materials students must bring to Level I and Level II courses:

• Current Driver’s License
• Download and Print a copy of the Pupil Transportation Guide(THIS WILL NOT BE PROVIDED)

Level I and Level II Distance Learning Requirements:
Courses can be offered via Distance Learning in select locations.  
Students must take the following steps:

• Call the Safety Center (308-865-8256) to set up your distance learning location. There is a maximum of four sites per class.
• Please arrange for a proctor to supervise the course who unrelated to the student(s) taking the course and provide the Safety Center with the proctor information. 

Notice:

In the event of weather related cancellations - an email will be sent to the email address provided in the database and we will attempt to place phone calls to both the employer and student phone numbers. If you are concerned about weather conditions in your area - please contact the Nebraska Safety Center at 1 (800) 854-7867 or (308) 865-1550 or email bus@unk.edu for more information.

Registrations must be received 7 school days prior to the beginning course date. Registrations received less than 7 school days prior to the beginning course date cannot be guaranteed a seat in the requested course.

CDL Requirements
If the vehicle requires the driver to hold a CDL, the applicant must hold a Learner’s Permit for Commercial Vehicles (LPC) prior to the “behind the wheel” evaluation. In order to obtain the LPC the applicant must pass a general knowledge written examination based on the information contained in the CDL Manual.

A school bus Pre-Trip Inspection video can be found at the DMV's website:  http://www.dmv.nebraska.gov/examining/CDL.html

All employers are required to provide two hours of in-service each year for all Pupil Transportation drivers. 

Two Hour In-Service must include:

• Emergency Evacuations
• Loading and Unloading
• Student Management
• Vehicle Inspections
• School District Safe Pupil Transportation Plan
  
  

Employers can cover the training or the Nebraska Safety Center can provide the In-Service training. Two Hour In-Service Training flyer or contact us for additional details at bus@unk.edu or 308.865.1550. 

The Training Network

Current Training Videos:

• #2691: Drug and Alcohol Awareness for School Bus Drivers
• #2719: Mirror Usage and Blind Spots
• #2551: Pre-Trip Inspection of a School Bus
• #2678: Loading Zones- A Split Second Around Your School Bus
• #3099: Special Needs Bus Driving: What you Need to Know
• #2765: The Do's and Don'ts of Cell Phone Use for School Bus Drivers
• #2570: Safe Railroad Crossing Procedures for School Bus Drivers
• #1595: How to Safely Evacuate a School Bus
• #2499: First Aid Training for School Bus Drivers
• #1603: How to Respond to a School Bus Hijacking

AccuTrain

• School Bus Drivers: Positively in Control 

• Defensive Driving for School Bus Drivers

• School Bus Drivers: Dealing with Behavior

***Google Chrome is the recommended web browser for these links, but you may have to try different web browsers for them to work. 

Pupil Transportation Level Certification Materials

• Pupil Transportation Guide 
• Pre-Drive Form
• DMV School Bus Pre-Trip Inspection Video
• Medical Examiner's Certificate
• Medical Form (Long Form)
• Section 10 of the CDL Manual
• Online Waivers
  • Level I and II online waiver

General Pupil Transportation Information

• Nebraska Department of Education
• Nebraska School Transportation Association
• National School Transportation Association
• National Association for Pupil Transportation
• FMCSA Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse
• School Bus Fleet Forum
• County DMV Schedules
• Nebraska School Bus Stop Law Card
• Nebraska Child Passenger Safety Law (LB42)
• BOTL Wallet Card
• BOTL Brochure
• Child Passenger Safety Securement Recommendations

Medical Exams using the Medical Registry

NDE Pupil Transportation Rule 91 and Rule 92 (effective March 9, 2008) states that beginning June 7, 2011, vans originally manufactured as 15-passenger vans and modified so the seating was 10 passengers or less (not including the driver) can no longer be used to transport students. This ban does not include 12-passenger vans which have been modified by the dealer or manufacturer.

• Department of Education Modified 15-Passenger Van Information
• Van Safety Information from National Highway Traffic Safety Administration