| School Bus Driver Safety Requirements |  | The contract for transportation services contains specific requirements related to school bsu driver training, responsibilities, and operations.
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Ability to Perform Job ResponsibilitiesCompetency to Operate EquipmentBus Driver Licensure RequirementsDriver License ChecksDrivers of Special Education RoutesFitness for Service EvaluationMandatory Annual School Bus Driver Safety EvaluationsEmployment History of DriversAbility to Perform Job Responsibilities
153. Ability to Perform Job Responsibilities Each contractor is responsible for ensuring that all drivers employed on District service have the ability to read and understand uniform traffic signage, school bus instrumentation and warning devices, signs, or markings within the vehicle; have the ability to understand and complete fully and correctly all required reports, including load counts, Incident Report Forms, and Racial/Sexual Harassment Forms; are able to communicate with their students at the level necessary to enforce disciplinary policies, understand emergency situations, and clearly direct student action in an emergency situation; and are able to understand the requirements of state regulations, District Policies, and Transportation Administrative Procedures pertaining to student transportation. Failure to understand a Law, Rule, Policy, or Guideline shall not be accepted as a valid reason for failure to obey, comply, or perform. |
Competency to Operate Equipment
152. Competency to Operate Equipment Each contractor must ensure that all drivers operating under this contract possesses competency, by reason of experience and training, to safely operate the type of vehicle and/or specialized equipment required. |
Bus Driver Licensure Requirements
150. Bus Driver Qualifications All drivers must have in their possession a valid Minnesota Commercial Driver's License for the class of vehicle operated, or equivalent out-of-state Commercial Driver's License, with a school bus and passenger endorsement while operating a school bus for Independent School District No. 625. Drivers operating air brake equipped vehicles must not be air brake restricted. Drivers shall be required to produce this license when requested by Transportation Department representatives.
No contractor may knowingly allow, require, permit, or authorize a driver to operate a school bus under this contract during any period in which the driver's commercial drivers license and/or school bus endorsement, has been suspended, revoked, or canceled.
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Driver License Checks
157. Driver License Record Checks by Contractor Successful bidder(s) shall run a Minnesota Department of Public Safety commercial motor vehicle driver license record check on each applicant who seeks to operate a school bus under this contract prior to employment as a driver. This includes substitute drivers and drivers who will be operating field trips, athletic trips, and Community Education service. A copy of each license check shall be provided to the District Transportation Safety Coordinator along with the Contract Driver Assignment Form. The District will, upon request, run the pre hire driver license record check for the contractor without charge. As noted in Section III-F-155, the District will treat drivers license information supplied by the contractor as confidential information to the extent possible under the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act.
158. Driver License Checks by District The District Transportation Department shall perform driver license record checks on all drivers operating under this contract at least three times during the school year. Each successful bidder shall supply the Traffic Operations Coordinator with a complete listing of all drivers operating under this contract no later than September 1, 2003, December 1, 2003, and March 1, 2004. The District Transportation Department will supply the employing contractor with copies of all drivers’ license checks run by the District on contract drivers.
Pursuant to the requirements of the contract agreement between the District and the Driver and Vehicle Services Division (DVS) of the Minnesota Department of Public Safety, the contractor shall not share drivers license information provided by the District with any third parties without the permission of the District and DVS. As outlined in Section III-F-162, the District will treat drivers license information on contractor drivers which is run by the District as confidential information to the extent possible under the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act.
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Drivers of Special Education Routes
154. Drivers of Special Education Routes Each driver that is assigned to operate a District route transporting special education students, whether as a regular assignment or as a substitute driver, shall be carefully chosen by the contractor after consideration of his/her experience, capabilities, attitude, sensitivity, and ability to deal with the unique requirements and responsibilities of special needs transportation.
Assignment of drivers to District special education service shall be made solely on the drivers ability to safely transport the special need students and successfully interact with students, parents, bus assistants, and school staff. Drivers shall not be assigned to District special education service based solely upon a seniority system, collective bargaining unit agreement, or other system which fails to consider the qualifications required in this section.
The Transportation Coordinator supervising a special education route, or the Transportation Administrator, Transportation Safety Coordinator, or Traffic Operations Coordinator may direct reassignment of any driver to other service who has demonstrated through actions, statements, omissions, or attitude, that he/she does not have the ability, or sensitivity, to interact effectively with special education students.
Assignment of drivers to special education service who do not demonstrate the requirements of this section may result in the reassignment of the route(s) to another contractor. In the event that the reassignment of service results in increased costs to the District, the contractor shall be required to reimburse the District for the difference between the original contract (bid) cost and the cost of the reassigned service.
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Fitness for Service Evaluation
267. Fitness for Service Evaluation The contractor is responsible for determining that all drivers employed under this contract are fit to operate commercial motor vehicles and in particular to transport school children. All drivers shall be able to perform all essential functions of a school bus driver, including emergency evacuations of students.
In addition to and as part of the annual evaluation required under Minnesota Statute 171.321 and Section III-F-266 of these Specifications, each contractor shall review the driving record of each driver operating under this contract to determine that the driver meets the requirements for safe driving or is disqualified to operate a school bus. The contractor shall consider the driver’s driver license record, the driver’s accident record, any evidence that the driver has violated laws governing the operation of motor vehicles and in particular commercial motor vehicles, and shall give great weight to violations such as speeding, reckless driving, careless driving, operating a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol or drugs, or that indicate that the driver has exhibited a disregard for the safety of the public.
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Mandatory Annual School Bus Driver Safety Evaluations
266. Mandatory Annual School Bus Driver Safety Evaluations Each contractor must comply with the requirement for an annual evaluation of each school bus driver employed under this contract as required by Minnesota Statute 171.321 Subd. 5. The contractor shall report the results of these evaluations to the District Transportation Safety Coordinator.
Each contractor shall provide the Transportation Safety Coordinator with written certification to the Board of Education of Independent School District No. 625 that all drivers employed under this contract meet the school bus driver training competencies required under Minnesota Statute 171.321 Subd. 4. The written certification must be provided to the Transportation Safety Coordinator no later than April 1, 2004.
The contractor shall ensure that the driver complies with the training and performance requirements of Minnesota Statutes, Department of Public Safety Rules, Saint Paul Public Schools Policies, procedures and guidelines, and these Specifications. The District will treat training and performance reports supplied by the contractor as confidential information to the extent possible under the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act.
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Employment History of Drivers
160. Employment History - New Drivers Each contractor is required to obtain a detailed employment history on all new drivers operating under this contract. This history must cover a period of not less than five (5) years prior to the date of application and must contain the following information:
1. The addresses at which the applicant has resided for the previous five (5) years.
2. The names and addresses of each employer for the previous five (5) years, the dates which the applicant was employed by each employer, the nature of each employment, the exact position occupied at each employer, and the reason for leaving the employ of each employer.
3. The nature and extent of the applicant’s experience in the operation of motor vehicles, including the type of equipment which he/she has operated.
4. A list of all violations of motor vehicle laws or ordinances, other than parking related offenses, of which the applicant was convicted or forfeited bond or collateral during the five (5) years preceding the date of application.
5. A statement explaining in detail the facts and circumstances of any denial, revocation, or suspension of any drivers license, endorsement, or privilege to operate a motor vehicle.
The employment history must be made available to the District Transportation Administrator, District Transportation Safety Coordinator, or District Traffic Operations Coordinator upon request. Failure to provide the information when requested shall be deemed to be noncompliance with the terms of the transportation contract. The District will treat employment history information which is supplied by contractors as confidential information to the extent possible under the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act.
Each contractor is required to review the names of any driver applicants with previous school bus driving experience with the District Transportation Safety Coordinator to determine if the applicant has a previous record of unsafe or unacceptable performance in this District. The District reserves the right to exclude any applicant from service for the District based upon his/her past performance, attitude, or record.
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