03/25/22 Skip Hood, CDL Coordinator Bureau of Commercial Vehicle and Driver Services Florida Department of Highway Safety & Motor Vehicles So ….. What’s New(er) in CDLs for School Bus Drivers?
Dec 15, 2015
04/18/23
Skip Hood, CDL Coordinator
Bureau of Commercial Vehicle and Driver Services
Florida Department of Highway Safety & Motor Vehicles
So ….. What’s New(er) in CDLs for School Bus Drivers?
04/18/23
The man who inspired my career in the safety biz .....
Uncle Morty was a FEMA guy, keeping us safe after natural and man-made disasters.
But first …..
A tribute to Uncle Morty
04/18/23
Today’s topics
Change that’s already here – The new medical certification procedures
Change coming up – The new CLP, Training, and Testing Rule
Whatever your questions may be
04/18/23
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
04/18/23
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
04/18/23
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
04/18/23
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.
04/18/23
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
04/18/23
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
04/18/23
Medical Certification -
the really BIG change
Procedures for disqualifying drivers who have not kept their medical certification information up to date START NEXT WEEK
About 4,000 drivers to start with will be notified to update their information within 20 days to avoid disqualification
04/18/23
Medical Certification -
but here’s the good news
Our web site for drivers to submit medical certification updates on-line is up and running.
https://services.flhsmv.gov/cdlmedcert
04/18/23
Medical Certification - Scan or take a digital photo of your card, save to your PC, and upload to us
04/18/23
Medical Certification - You can verify that it’s the right image - - AND LEGIBLE - - before the upload
04/18/23
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
04/18/23
CLP, Training, and Testing Rule
the 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
04/18/23
CLP, Training, and Testing Rule
the 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 *
04/18/23
CLP, Training, and Testing Rule
the 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.
04/18/23
CLP, Training, and Testing Rule
the 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.
04/18/23
CLP, Training, and Testing Rule
the 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
04/18/23
CLP, Training, and Testing Rule
the 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 *