So ….. What’s New in CDLs for School Bus Drivers?

1. So ….. What’s New in CDLs for School Bus Drivers? Skip Hood, CDL Coordinator, Bureau of Commercial Vehicle and Driver Services Maureen Johnson, Chief, Bureau of Driver Records Florida Department of Highway Safety & Motor Vehicles

2. But first ….. Some breaking news Costa Cruise Lines ex-captain Francesco Schettino began his new job yesterday as a school bus driver.....

3. Not working out so well

4. Today’s topics • Change that’s already here – The new medical certification procedures • Change coming up – The new CLP, Training, and Testing Rule • CDL driver records • Whatever your questions may be

5. Medical Certification - a couple key points • The medical certification requirements for school bus drivers and other CDL holders have NOT changed • What has changed is that, now, drivers required to be medically certified must prove it to get and keep their CDLs

6. Medical Certification - new procedures • Beginning last October 1st, drivers coming in to get or renew a CDL must: • Declare under oath whether they are required to be medically certified • If required to be certified, show a current valid medical card

7. Medical Certification - new procedures • The driver’s declaration can be made in one of 4 categories: • A. Non-excepted Interstate Commerce • B. Excepted Interstate Commerce • C. Non-excepted Intrastate Commerce • D. Excepted Intrastate Commerce • School bus drivers typically operate in category C, but MAY choose to self-certify in Category A

8. Medical Certification - new procedures • After the declaration, drivers present their medical cards • For school bus drivers this typically means the ESE 479 med card. However, a federal “DOT” card is acceptable to us. • All of the information from the card will be entered into the driver’s record. It must be legible.

9. Medical Certification - new procedures • Beginning July, 2012, drivers who have not been into an office will be notified by mail to complete the procedures by other means • Notices will be going out in monthly batches, based on the drivers’ birthdays • Drivers may go into an office to complete the procedure before they are notified ...but we would prefer not • All CDL holder’s medical information must be on record by January 30, 2014

10. Medical Certification - the really BIG change • Drivers have never before had to verify their continued medical certification between CDL renewals • Now they do, and will be disqualified from commercial motor vehicle operation if their certifications are allowed to lapse • The only way to keep a CDL without being medically certified is to be in an exempt category

11. Medical Certification - the really BIG change • At present, drivers must go into a DL office to update the Department’s record of their medical certifications. • Methods of updating medical certification without going to an office are under development • Web-based, email, fax, or regular mail • Expected to be ready within the year

12. Now for the even bigger stuff – The CDL Learner’s Permit, Training, and Testing Rule • Overhauls FMCSA’s requirements on states for many aspects of CDL Learner’s Permits (CLPs), CDL testing standards, training and monitoring of CDL testers, and more • Became effective July 8, 2011 • States have until July 8, 2014 to comply

13. CLP, Training, and Testing Rulethe highlights, in no particular order • No passengers, except trainers, may be carried with P & S endorsed CLPs • CLPs will look like CDLs, without the photo • CLPs must be held at least 14 days before the CDL is issued

14. CLP, Training, and Testing Rulethe highlights, in no particular order • The new medical certification for CDL holders will apply to CLPs as well • Your 3rd party CDL Skills Testers must be co-scored (or other monitoring) at least every 2 years • CMV training schools may not test own students *

15. CLP, Training, and Testing Rulethe highlights, in no particular order • 3rd Party Administrators must maintain performance bonds * • 3rd Party Administrators must submit schedules of skills test appointments at least 2 days in advance • 3rd Party Testers must conduct at least 10 tests per year, or complete refresher training or co-score.

16. CLP, Training, and Testing Rulethe highlights, in no particular order • States must accept one another’s CDL Skills Test results for CDL issuance • New CDL restrictions for automatic transmissions and air/hydraulic brakes • CDL skills tests must be conducted in English.

17. CLP, Training, and Testing Rulethe highlights, in no particular order • The three-part CDL Skills Test must be conducted and passed in this order: Pre-trip, Basic Skills, Road Test • CLP as well as CDL holders may not elect traffic school to avoid points • Mandatory refresher training for CDL Skills Testers every 4 years

18. CLP, Training, and Testing Rulethe highlights, in no particular order • National (FBI as well as State-level) criminal history background checks on all 3rd party CDL Skills Testers every year *

19. CDL driver records • Maureen ?

20. Questions • Any topic • For me • For Maureen