Pennsylvania DOT finalizes expanded access to driving records
Commercial driver employers will now be given a candidate’s complete driving history, and accident information will include the crash severity to specify whether it resulted in fatalities or injuries. School bus operations can contact a potential new driver for details about a crash.
NORRISTOWN, Pa. — State officials have finalized plans to provide commercial driver employers with more information about drivers’ records.
Effective immediately under new guidelines established by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT), employers will automatically be given a complete driving history through a PennDOT electronic service channel, The Mercury reports. Previously, only a 10-year driving history was provided.
In addition, crash information contained on a driver record will be expanded to include the “crash severity,” regardless of the type of license the individual holds, in order to specify whether the crash resulted in fatalities, injuries or property damage.
The records will not indicate the individual at fault for a crash, but the new guidelines will allow a school district or school bus company to contact the potential new driver for additional information about a crash, The Mercury reports.
State legislators called upon the PennDOT to make changes to its policy regarding driving records for school bus driver applicants in the wake of a fatal crash in February involving school bus driver Frederick Robert Poust III.
As SBF reported in March, Poust was transporting 45 middle school students when he attempted to turn left into a school driveway. Footage from an onboard recorder shows the bus turning into the path of an oncoming car. Poust’s bus struck the car, killing the passenger.
More Safety

School's Back. Here's What Happened to Traffic, Speeding & Distraction
What happens to traffic when school resumes? New data analysis examines changes in distracted driving, congestion, and speeding around schools.
Read More →
Geotab Expands Fleet Safety Tools With Video Coaching, Risk Insights
New safety and video capabilities aim to help fleet managers assess risk, support drivers, and take targeted action through video coaching, red-light violation detection, and more.
Read More →
How to Build a Better School Bus Driver Training Program
Is it time to strengthen your driver training? Here’s how to pick the right talent and improve recruitment, retention, and safety. This video is brought to you by IC Bus.
Read More →
Recent School Bus Accidents Leave 2 Dead, 2 Injured
Four school bus crashes in Florida, Illinois, and Georgia highlight risks in transportation lots, at bus stops, and during student loading and unloading.
Read More →
When Every Second Matters, Clarity Keeps Routes Moving
From routine delays to urgent incidents, strong communication practices help drivers, dispatchers, schools, and families respond with confidence.
Read More →
What Happens When a School Bus Catches Fire — and What Can Help
School bus fires are rare but can be devastating. Learn how advances in fire suppression and asset protection help fleets detect fires earlier, reduce damage, and improve safety.
Read More →
Geotab Launches Tool to Help Fleets Investigate Road Incidents
Geotab Investigations combines telematics data, video, documents, and other evidence to help fleets reconstruct incidents, resolve claims, and determine what happened.
Read More →
Texas Sixth Grader Wins 2026 National School Bus Safety Poster Contest
Sai Darshana Yekolu of Moseley Middle School in Prosper, Texas, was named the newest winner for her artwork, bringing the theme of “Safe Rides, Everyday Heroes” to life.
Read More →
Doing More With Less: How Transportation Directors Can Prioritize Safety Amid Budget Uncertainty
With diesel prices soaring and nearly one-third of transportation directors expecting budget cuts, maintaining student safety has never been more challenging. Download this guide to learn how leading districts are prioritizing risk, funding critical safety technology, and building stronger budget cases with data.
Read More →
Walton County Schools Adds Gatekeeper Stop-Arm Enforcement System
The Florida district will deploy Gatekeeper’s updated Student Protector technology, which now incorporates AI to improve video evidence.
Read More →

