SCHOOL BUS DRIVER WORKING HOURS SAFETY PROCEDURES | Policy Manual

8604 - SCHOOL BUS DRIVER WORKING HOURS SAFETY PROCEDURES

District bus drivers are employed to drive school-day routes and to support extracurricular school activity trips. Many activity trips occur after the normal school day causing bus drivers to work extended hours. The purpose of this policy is to ensure District school bus drivers do not overextend their duty day while driving extracurricular field trips. This policy addresses the length of a school bus driver duty day, as well as, an appropriate rest period before returning to regular school bus driving duties.

The National School Transportation Specifications and Procedures publication recommends that driving hours for school bus drivers be regulated. The publication states that school districts should have regulations based on a common sense application of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulation limiting drivers to fifteen (15) hours on duty, of which no more than ten (10) hours are driving time, with eight (8) hours continuous off-duty time prior to a long trip.

The following time restrictions will apply to school bus drivers scheduled for an activity trip occurring after the driver completes all assigned bus routes for the school day. The activity trip must return to the point of origin (school) no later than 11:00 PM for trips taken Monday thru Thursday. Friday night trips must return no later than 12:00 AM. Trips scheduled on a Saturday may not last more than fifteen (15) hours and must return by 12:00 AM. Sunday activity trips may not last more than fifteen (15) hours and must return by 11:00 PM.

Transportation areas will ensure school bus drivers scheduled for after-school activity trips are not assigned duties during the four (4) hour period between morning and afternoon bus schedules. This is considered off-duty time for the school bus driver.

Activity trip bus drivers will not engage in recreational activities (i.e., swimming, bowling, etc.) at the activity site. Bus drivers are expected to remain close to their school buses and observe quiet rest time at the activity site.

School bus drivers not assigned a regular daily route may drive extracurricular school activity trips. The fifteen (15) hour duty day limitation and ten (10) hours maximum driving time restriction must be adhered to and the end-of-trip times listed above still apply.

In other than emergency situations, overnight activity trips utilizing District school buses are not authorized.

Schools requiring bus service beyond the limitations set forth in this Board policy should pursue another approved method of travel.

Revised 7/22/14
Reviewed 3/12/24