School Bus Driver

School Bus Driver

Welcome to Iowa Park CISD. This information is provided to help you in the process and requirements of being able to drive a school bus for the district. We are here to help you.

Please contact us any time if you have a question.

Contact Persons

Serena Arredondo at View phone number on click.appcast.io or View email address on click.appcast.io Ms. Arredondo will handle all documents and paperwork related to your file.

Dale Glebe at View phone number on click.appcast.io or View email address on click.appcast.io Mr. Glebe will handle your assignment to a trainer and any questions related to your license.

Items Needed To Drive

• Valid CDL with "P" and "S" endorsements
• Current DOT physical and new employee drug screen
• Current 20-hour bus driver certification
• Category 1 or category 2 election on file with Transportation office
• Current copies of all related forms and documents

All required documents must be on file with Ms. Arredondo for you to be able to drive. To start a file, the transportation department must have a copy of your current driver's license.

Acceptable driving record check A driver record check will be done now and at least annually. State of Texas rules for driver qualification will be followed. Any driver that does not meet state qualifications for eligibility will not be allowed to operate a district vehicle. Once you have a CDL, state law requires written notification to your employer if you are involved in a traffic accident or receive a citation. Notification applies to any type of vehicle not just a commercial vehicle. Written notification is to be sent to the Director of Operations.

Transportation must have a current copy of your driver license with appropriate endorsements.

DOT Physical To operate a school bus in Texas requires an individual to pass annually a DOT physical.

The District will reimburse you for the cost of the physical if completed at a District approved location. You must contact Ms. Arredondo for an approved list of DOT physical providers. You are responsible for setting up the time for your annual DOT physical. The physical must be completed prior to any behind-the-wheel training.

Drug Screen All new employees to the district or current employees obtaining a CDL must have an initial Drug Screen before operating a school bus. All CDL holders are subject by law to random drug and or alcohol testing throughout the year. These are done without notice and participation is mandatory. An outside company manages the drug and alcohol program for the district. The costs for the random tests are covered by the district. When contacted an individual must make themselves immediately available. Failure to take a random drug screen is considered a positive test. District CDL holders are held to all aspects of drug and alcohol testing as prescribed by law and policy.

20-hour certification class The State of Texas requires a 20-hour bus driver certification class. These are held around the region at participating school districts. Please contact Ms. Arredondo for approved locations. The enrollment process is handled through Region IX and it is the responsibility of the employee to register. A driver must have completed the 20-hour course before they will be allowed to operate a district bus. The certificate is up for renewal every 3 years and requires an 8-hour refresher course. The enrollment process is the same as that of the 20-hour class. There is also an 8-hour online recertification class available. The 20-hour certification course is offered each summer in a classroom setting. While the 8-hour refresher is offered each summer or can be taken anytime online. Please contact Ms. Arredondo for scheduling information.

Non-exempted interstate (category 1) and Excepted interstate (category 2) license election The State of Texas requires each CDL driver to elect either category 1 (CDL is used for school bus plus other) or category 2 (CDL is used for school bus only). Category 1 drivers are required to send a copy of the yearly DOT physical to Austin. Category 2 exempts the driver from having to send a copy of the yearly DOT physical to Austin. All drivers are required to pass a yearly DOT physical regardless of category election. If required to fill out a CDL-1 and CDL-10 form and submit to TXDOT the Transportation office is available to provide guidance. It is imperative that category 1 drivers inform Ms. Arredondo of their category designation. All drivers are assumed category 2 unless the Transportation office in notified in writing otherwise.

CDL with passenger and school bus endorsement A CDL handbook is available from the DPS office or online at

The CDL consist of 3 parts.

Written, Skills and a Driving test. (5 written tests, Pre-Trip Walk Around/Skills Tests {Parallel Parking, Backing, Off-set backing} and the Road Test. The 9 sections covered on the written tests are applicable to the type of CDL needed to drive a school bus. The sections are 1, 2, 4, 5, 10, 11, 12, 13 and 14. They do not have to be taken at the same time. Once all sections are completed the driver will be issued a CDL permit.

Part 1: Tests Test-1 is the Permit Test over Commercial Rules-section14.

Test-2. General Knowledge- section 1, 2, 11, 12 and 13 & Pre-Trip section 11 covers the rest of your written tests.

Test-3. Air Brakes- section 5 (The next two tests may be taken in any order.) Test-4. Passenger Bus-section 4 Test-5. School Bus-section 10 Any single test must be passed within three tries. If any single test cannot be passed in 3 tries all test will have to be retaken. An additional fee will have to be paid to start over. The permit allows you to drive with a trainer and no passengers. Failure to complete all written and skill tests in the 90-day timeframe will require the individual to start over.

Part 2: Behind the Wheel Training

Once all required written tests are completed Mr. Glebe will assign you a trainer. Trainers and Trainees will set times to meet for training sessions. Trainees must attend all times set down (within reason) to ensure all areas of the DPS driving test are covered before the test date or the 90-day expiration.

Part 3: DPS Examination/Driving Test

Driving tests are scheduled through designated DPS units and must be coordinated through Mr. Glebe. (This will be over the pre-trip, light inspection, physical air brake test, skills and driving test on the route designated by the examiners. All of this will be taught by the trainers prior to testing.) The test procedure could take all day. You must schedule with your campus administrator if applicable.

Individuals already possessing a CDL Individuals already possessing a CDL but needing the P and S endorsements to drive a school bus will need to follow the same procedure for behind-the-wheel training. The School Bus and Passenger endorsement requires a written test over chapters 4 and 10. A driving test with a DPS official will also be needed. A trainer will prepare the individual for the test and work on any skill improvement determined by the trainer. Times for the driving test appointments are to be coordinated with the trainer to ensure there is a bus/trainer available for that time and date.

Initial CDL cost CDL fees will be reimbursed as long as you are driving for the district and turn in appropriate receipts to Ms. Arredondo.

Copies of documents The Transportation Department must have on file copies of all related documents for the operation of a district bus. These include copies of

• valid CDL with "P" and "S" endorsements
• current bus driver certification
• current DOT physical
• category 1 or category 2 election on file
• pre-employment drug screen (new district employees)

Region 9 Education Service Center