Leaders from the National School Transportation Association (NSTA) recently traveled to Washington, D.C., to meet with Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) Administrator Derek Barrs and several of his senior staff members. The meeting, held in late May, gave the organization an opportunity to discuss federal policy issues affecting private school bus contractors and address a broader range of student transportation matters.

NSTA was represented by Curt Macysyn, executive director; Becky Weber, NSTA lobbyist; Paul Quinn Mori, Dell Transportation; Shawn McGlinchey, Krapf School Bus, and me. The meeting offered our association an opportunity to share industry concerns directly with senior leadership at the agency, as school bus operators continue to manage driver staffing challenges, a robust regulatory environment, and increasing operational pressures.

A central topic of discussion was NSTA’s request to extend the current NSTA “Under the Hood” exemption. The exemption permits eligible commercial driver’s license applicants seeking a school bus endorsement to omit the engine compartment portion of the pre-trip inspection skills test. NSTA has continued to advocate for the exemption as one tool to support driver recruitment and retention while maintaining the industry’s strong safety expectations. Our application was recently published for comment in the Federal Register.

Our group also discussed financial responsibility rules for school bus operators, and NSTA emphasized that insurance and liability requirements have significant practical implications for contractors, particularly as companies work to provide safe, reliable service amid the continued “hard insurance market.” The team highlighted the importance of aligning federal policies that recognize the highly regulated nature of student transportation with the essential role contractors play in local communities.

Administrator Barrs highlighted the new FMCSA rollout of MOTUS, the agency’s new motor vehicle registration system, and we were impressed by the level of direct knowledge and expertise that he exhibited in reviewing the rollout of the new system. NSTA continues to support the modernization of the agency’s various platforms, while noting that Commercial Motor Vehicle (CMV) operators continue to need clear instructions, reliable assistance, and consistent communication in this transition.

In addition to MOTUS, our discussion touched upon recent Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse changes, including updates designed to enhance and preserve the integrity of the information contained in this database.

Finally, NSTA leaders addressed the need for school transportation representation on the Motor Carrier Safety Advisory Committee (MCSAC). To that end, NSTA nominated Shawn McGlinchey of Krapf School Bus to the panel in February, pointing to his background in risk management and student transportation as valuable experience for the committee’s work.

Overall, the meeting reinforced the importance of a continued dialogue between the agency and school bus operators, and both sides reaffirmed their commitment to work together to maintain a high level of safety on the nation’s roads.

NSTA encourages its members to share feedback on federal issues discussed during the meeting to help guide the association’s ongoing engagement with FMCSA. If you have questions on these or other NSTA advocacy initiatives, please feel free to contact me at president@yellowbuses.org.

Remember, with NSTA, you never travel alone.