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ArticlesMay 6, 2015

NSTA Advocacy in Action — Should FMCSA increase the federal insurance minimums?

The FCMSA is considering an increase in the federal minimum insurance requirements for passenger motor carriers. This is a very important issue for school bus contractors, as these requirements could dramatically affect insurance costs.

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Newsby Thomas McMahonMay 5, 2015

Bill would leave passenger carrier insurance authority with Congress

The legislation, which NSTA supports, would prevent the U.S. secretary of transportation from raising insurance minimums on the school transportation and motorcoach industries.

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Newsby Thomas McMahonFebruary 20, 2014

Drug, alcohol clearinghouse for CDL drivers proposed

Federal officials say that the clearinghouse would make it easier to determine whether a truck or bus driver is prohibited from operating a commercial motor vehicle for failing to comply with drug and alcohol regulations. A spokesperson for the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration says that all employers of CDL holders, including school bus drivers, would have to have programs to satisfy the proposed rule.

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Newsby Thomas McMahonJanuary 14, 2014

FMCSA: CDL drivers still have to self-certify by Jan. 30

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration publishes a final rule that extends by one year the requirement for interstate commercial drivers to have paper copies of their medical examiner’s certifications with them while operating their vehicle. However, the deadline for CDL drivers to self-certify their status (interstate or intrastate, exempt or non-exempt) is still Jan. 30, 2014.

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NewsOctober 18, 2013

Obama signs sleep apnea bill

The bipartisan bill requires the FMCSA to go through a formal notice and comment rulemaking proceeding when issuing guidance on the screening, testing and treatment of commercial drivers for obstructive sleep apnea and other sleep disorders. The National School Transportation Association and the National Association of State Directors of Pupil Transportation Services were among the groups advocating for the legislation.

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Articlesby Thomas McMahonOctober 15, 2013

Gauging the safety of school bus alternatives

Many school districts and contractors are employing a variety of vehicles to supplement traditional yellow bus service. These alternative arrangements often cut costs and shorten ride times, but the safety implications of transporting students in taxis, vans and other non-school bus vehicles have become a contentious issue.

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Newsby Thomas McMahonSeptember 27, 2013

Sleep apnea bill passes House, NASDPTS adds support

The House unanimously passes the bipartisan bill that aims to prevent the FMCSA from issuing guidance on sleep apnea testing for commercial drivers without a formal rulemaking. The state directors association joins NSTA and other groups in advocating for the legislation, which the Senate will now consider.

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NewsSeptember 19, 2013

FMCSA withdraws training proposal for commercial vehicle drivers

The 2007 Notice of Proposed Rulemaking would have required additional training for entry-level operators of commercial vehicles — including school buses — who cross state lines. Officials say on Thursday that the proposal was withdrawn “because commenters to the NPRM, and participants in the agency’s 2013 public listening sessions, raised substantive issues which have led the agency to conclude that it would be inappropriate to move forward with a final rule based on the proposal.”

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Newsby Thomas McMahonSeptember 16, 2013

Bill would require formal rulemaking on sleep apnea

The federal legislation would force FMCSA to go through a formal notice and comment rulemaking proceeding when issuing guidance on the screening and testing of commercial motor vehicle drivers for obstructive sleep apnea and other sleep disorders. NSTA is among the transportation organizations advocating for the bill.

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Newsby StaffApril 18, 2013

FMCSA safety officer to speak at Zonar conference

Jack Van Steenburg, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s chief safety officer and assistant administrator, is scheduled to speak at THE ZONE, which will be held in San Antonio in May. Officials say he will provide an update of federal safety and compliance efforts and discuss future plans for the administration’s Compliance, Safety, Accountability program.

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