charter motorcoaches for school trips ncbussafety/motorcoach

Charter Motorcoaches for School Tripswww.ncbussafety.org/motorcoach

Derek Graham

State Director, North Carolina

Derek.Graham@dpi.nc.gov

Background: School Charter Transportation Safety Committee

• NCDMV Enforcement

(now State Highway Patrol)

• Public Schools of North Carolina

• N.C. Motorcoach Association

• Federal Motor Carrier

Safety Administration

2001 Guidelines/Updated 2004

In June, 2001, North Carolina’s School Charter Transportation Safety committee (SCTSC) released a set of guidelines and procedures for schools to use when contracting with motorcoach operators to transport students. These recommendations resulted from a year-long multi-agency effort.

5 RegionalTraining Seminars

Federal Requirements Explained

• Drug and Alcohol Testing

• Insurance ($5,000,000)

• US DOT Number

• Driver Qualifications

• Hours of Service

• Inspection, maintenance, repair

Guidelines: Recommended 3 Step Process

1. List of pre-approved motorcoach companies (Site Visit, insurance documentation, Satisfactory Rating, etc)

2. Contract for a Specific Trip – No Subcontracting; Specify itinerary, Number of Drivers, Fees

3. Pre-trip Review (Check driver’s license, medical card, review paperwork and basic bus condition)

The Big Deal: THE LIST

list of pre-approved motorcoach companies at school district level

– North Carolina State Board of Education Policy requires districts to maintain a list of approved motorcoach companies

The Big Deal: THE LIST

list of pre-approved motorcoach companies at school district level

– Consortium approach emerged as “best practice”

• Groups of LEAs banded together so that a motorcoach operator could provide documentation to ONE group and be approved for multiple LEAs.

The Big Deal: THE LIST

list of pre-approved motorcoach companies at school district level

– About 55 of 115 school districts contract with a consultant to recommend companies (retired state motor vehicle officer)

– Includes initial inspection and occasional random visits

– No cost to the motorcoach company

Transportation Safety Exchange TSX

• Seeks to be the new standard for motorcoach safety

• Bus companies pay to become certified

• School districts pay to subscribe

TSX

• Touts the reduction in the number of carriers that the school districts have on their approved lists (or their list of carriers used)

TSX

FMCSA

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

Anne Ferro, Administrator

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Charter Motorcoaches for School Tripswww.ncbussafety.org/motorcoach

Derek Graham

State Director, North Carolina

Derek.Graham@dpi.nc.gov