In South Carolina, Dorchester School District Four’s transportation department is proud to announce that it has begun conducting the basic skills portion of the Commercial Driver License (CDL) examination as a third-party examiner for the South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles (SCDMV). 

This marks the first official use of the district’s newly constructed skill pad, a project completed in partnership with the South Carolina Department of Education (SCDE).

The CDL exam includes three parts: the vehicle inspection test, the basic vehicle control skills test, and the on-road driving test. The first two parts are administered on the district’s new skill pad, where applicants demonstrate their ability to inspect and maneuver a school bus safely. 

The final portion is conducted along an SCDMV-approved route designed to assess real-world driving abilities under various traffic conditions.

Once applicants pass all three sections of the exam, they can visit the DMV to obtain their official CDL license. After completing the state's school bus driver certification process, they become a fully licensed school bus driver in South Carolina.

How did it all come together? "It was truly a team effort," said Karim Johnson, director of student transportation at the district and a former SBF Administrator of the Year. "Our driver trainer, Tyrek Simmons, led much of the early development, working closely with the South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles to adapt the layout to potential sites and design the road test course, all while continuing his daily responsibilities as a school bus driver. When I joined the school district in March, I helped bring the project across the finish line by collaborating with our operations department and the South Carolina Department of Education to finalize site selection and oversee site preparation."

Johnson said this project is a game-changer for the district. "It represents the first major step in our broader plan to modernize driver training and create a more effective pipeline for recruiting and preparing new drivers."

The new CDL testing pad will serve as a shared regional resource, helping support surrounding school districts and the Department of Education by streamlining the driver certification process and reducing delays in onboarding qualified drivers across the lowcountry.

"My goal is to establish a strong foundation for long-term staffing stability," Johnson said. "At DD4, we’re committed to ensuring that every student and family in our community has access to safe, reliable transportation every day in support of student achievement. This initiative lays the groundwork for that mission by creating the infrastructure needed to attract, train, and retain qualified drivers."