For Immediate Release
Date: September 16, 2005
Contact: Maura Browning
Phone: (573) 751-8222

Federal Law Requires Changes in Commercial Driver License Processing

Revisions to Affect School Bus Endorsements, Commercial Drivers

        JEFFERSON CITY – A federal law will require the Missouri Department of Revenue to make changes in administering licensing for school bus drivers and commercial motor vehicle drivers. The law, called the Motor Carrier Safety Improvement Act (MCSIA), becomes effective September 30, 2005, but could have implications for current school bus drivers who have not recently obtained the school bus endorsement (“S endorsement”) on their driver license.

        The department notified each current school bus permit holder in mid-March with instructions to properly update their commercial license with the new S endorsement. The department asked drivers with a Missouri CDL and commercial (Type 1) school bus permit to submit new school bus written test results and the grandfathering application form to the department to begin the eligibility review.

        Drivers who already hold a valid Missouri Commercial Driver License (CDL) and Missouri school bus permit are allowed to grandfather for a school bus endorsement (“S endorsement”). Applicants who qualify to grandfather do not have to take the driving skills test. To be eligible to grandfather, the driver must verify that in the past two years he held a valid CDL with a passenger endorsement (“P endorsement”), met federal driving history review criteria, and been employed as a school bus driver and provides evidence of such employment.

        If a driver has tested for and been issued a new passenger endorsement after September 30, 2002, the driver is not required to take a new school bus driving skills test. However, he is required to take and pass the new school bus written test and submit it with the application form to the department for approval.

        Current school bus drivers must either go through the process to grandfather or take the skills test to obtain the S endorsement. Without the S endorsement, the driver will not be allowed to operate a school bus.

        Two other changes are required by the federal law, both affecting commercial drivers: First, courts will no longer be allowed to defer or suspend imposition of sentence, or allow a CDL holder or person required to have a CDL to enter a diversion program that would prevent a traffic conviction in any type of vehicle from appearing on the person’s driving record.

        Second, the department will no longer be able to issue a Limited Driving Privilege to a driver to operate a commercial motor vehicle if the driver’s license is suspended, revoked, cancelled, or disqualified. Limited driving privileges will allow the person to continue driving in a non-commercial vehicle for employment or other specific reasons, but are not available if the driver’s CDL has been disqualified and are not available for suspensions or revocations such as felonies or alcohol related actions. Previously, a commercial driver with a CDL could continue to operate a commercial vehicle with a Limited Driving Privilege.

        Any school bus driver or commercial vehicle driver who has questions about the requirements should call (573) 751-2730. More information is available on the department’s web site at www.dor.mo.gov.

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