The DMV has increased its efforts to alleviate the shortage of school bus drivers

Albany, New York – The waiver to do away with the engine compartment requirement for school bus drivers’ road tests was extended by the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles on Tuesday. The waiver was signed by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) in order to alleviate the scarcity of school bus drivers and remove obstacles for potential bus drivers.

The pre-trip engine inspection part of the road test, which entails looking under the bus’s hood, can be skipped by CDL applicants who wish to work as bus drivers. New CDL applicants who have previously obtained a CDL and wish to obtain school bus and passenger endorsements are eligible for the exemption, which was initially put into effect in January 2024.

Those who wish to take advantage of the exemption must pass the Limited School Bus road test, and it will remain in effect until November 28, 2026. The New York School Bus Contractors Association stated that even if the exemption lowers an obstacle for applicants, there is still a significant demand for drivers.

Other vehicle inspection skills exam components will still need to be completed by applicants. The exemption has made school bus driving more accessible for those with a CDL, according to DMV Commissioner Mark J.F. Schroeder, who also serves as the chair of the Governor’s Traffic Safety Commission.

“By keeping the Under-the-Hood exemption available, we’re opening the door for more people to ride school buses, where drivers are essential to our communities,” Schroeder stated. “School bus drivers are extremely valuable because they can safely transport our children to and from school, not because they can swap out a crankshaft.