October 7, 2005 - For Immediate Release

New special school bus driver license delayed

OLYMPIA—The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration recently delayed a provision of the federal Motor Carrier Safety Improvement Act (MCSIA) requiring bus drivers to have a special commercial endorsement.

The school bus endorsement requires drivers to pass a specialized knowledge test as well as a skills test in the size of bus they intend to operate. Federal regulations allows qualified drivers to have the skills test waived if they have been employed as a school bus driver for the last two years and have a clean driving record.

The Department of Licensing has been issuing a school bus endorsement since April of this year.