School Bus Driver Trainer Inservice

Transcription

1 School Bus Driver Trainer Inservice TITLE OF LESSON: INDUSTRY UPDATES FOR INSTRUCTORS Objectives of the Lesson: At the end of this lesson, the student will be able to: Explain new Department of Licensing (DOL) timeline for the Commercial Driver learner s permit process. Explain new skills testing fee collection process. Explain new Department of Licensing (DOL) skills test requirements related to back up maneuvers. Describe the Driver Instructor Training Course (DITC) registration process and how district personnel should plan ahead. Equipment and Handouts for Lesson: Overhead screen, projector and computer for Power Point TRAINER NOTE: Distribute handouts prior to presentation. Introduction: S-1 Every year our industry is faced with new challenges, which are generally triggered by new agency, state, or federal requirements. It is important for us to track industry changes because, more often than not, it directly impacts school districts, school bus drivers, and driver trainers. This year topics include: S-2 Department of Licensing learner s permit process Skills testing fee collection Skills test backing maneuvers Driver Instructor Training Course (DITC) registration system 1

2 Presentation: I. DOL Commercial Learner s Permit Process S-3 A. Federal requirements require a driver to have a Commercial Learner s Permit (CLP). This is obtained by taking the applicable knowledge tests for the CDL you wish to obtain. The CLP looks much like a Commercial Driver s License (CDL), with applicable vehicle class, endorsements, and restrictions. B. The new CLP requires a 14-day possession, 1. After a driver has met the 14-day possession for the CLP, that person is eligible to take a skills test. 2. Contact a third party tester to make an appointment for the skills test. A skills test can be requested at any time, HOWEVER The tester must have a 3-day notice AND A driver cannot take the skills test until after the 14-day wait period. 3. You must have a skills test results form before you take a skills test. Obtain the skills test results form from DOL Present the skills test results form when you take your skills test. C. Effective April 1, 2015, 1. If a driver takes a new knowledge test used for skills test purposes, DOL will require an updated permit (CLP) to be issued that shows vehicle class, endorsements, and restrictions. 2. Any upgrade to an old permit (passing another knowledge test for skills test purposes) will start the 14 day permit issuance clock over. 3. Additional testing fees may be imposed. Consequently, it is recommended that school districts groom new school bus drivers to prepare to take all DOL written knowledge tests, i.e., General Knowledge, Passenger Knowledge, School Bus Knowledge, and Air Brake Knowledge (if applicable) prior to initiation of any on the road training. 2

3 Evaluation: S-4 Question: How long must a driver possess a Commercial Driver Learner s Permit before taking a skills test? Answer: For at least 14 days II. Skills Test Collection Process S-5 Prior to September 1, 2015, Local LSOs will continue to receive the $100 Third Party Test Fee for ESD112. Beginning September 1, 2015, the $100 Skills Test Fee must be paid directly to ESD112 prior to a driver presenting to any local Licensing Service Office (LSO) for issuance of their Skills Test Results Form. A. School districts and/or authorized driver trainer instructors will need to contact Regional Transportation secretary at ESD 112 Regional Transportation at or to submit payment. B. Allowable methods of payment include 1. school district purchase order or 2. credit or debit card (school district or personal). 3. School district or personal checks will not be accepted. C. School districts and/or certified instructors will be issued an ESD112 Control or Verification Number. D. Once a Verification Number has been issued, school district personnel or authorized driver trainer instructors may then complete the new Third Party Tester Request Form (DLE ) E. The Request Form must be 1. completed electronically, 2. then printed, 3. then signed, 4. then provided to new school bus driver for submission to any local DOL Licensing Service Office (LSO) prior to receiving a Skills Test Results Form. The form must have the ESD 112 box checked and all pertinent information provided, including the skills test fee amount and the control number. 3

4 III. ESD 112 Third Party Skills Test Request Form S-6 This is what the DOL Third Party Tester Request Form looks like. A. It will be made available for use three days prior to September 1, It will be sent as an attachment to all school district supervisors and all OSPI Certified Instructors. B. Submission of this form to a LSO is necessary prerequisite to receiving the Skills Test Results Form, which the driver will hand deliver to the ESD 112 Third Party Examiner in your testing area. Evaluation S-7 Question: What is the effective date that DOL Licensing Service Offices will no longer collect the skills test fee? Answer: September 1, 2015 Question: Beginning September 1, 2015, where must skills test fees S-8 be paid directly to? Answer: ESD 112 Regional Transportation. IV. DOL Skills Test Backing Maneuvers S-9 Effective September 1, 2015, the Washington Department of Licensing (DOL) will implement new federal testing requirements related to the skills test backing maneuvers. Changes affect all three backing maneuvers currently in place: Straight line backing Offset backing to the right Alley dock backing A. DOL skills test backing maneuver straight line backing S-10 Effective September 1, 2015, the straight line backing maneuver will no longer include the three-foot docking boundary; it has been removed from the exercise. Also, exercise must begin and end outside the 100 exercise boundary. B. DOL skills test backing maneuver straight line backing S-11 This is a diagram of what the straight line backing exercise looks like today. C. DOL skills test backing maneuver straight line backing S-12 H-1 This is a diagram of what the straight line backing exercise will look like beginning September 1,

5 D. DOL skills test backing maneuver offset backing S-13 Effective September 1, 2015, the offset backing maneuver will no longer include the three-foot docking boundary; it has been removed from the exercise. Also, the ending staging area for the bus now only needs to be inside the first cone of the 40 portion of the exercise boundary. E. DOL skills test backing maneuver offset backing S-14 This is a diagram of what the offset backing exercise looks like today. F. DOL skills test backing maneuver offset backing S-15 H-2 This is a diagram of what the offset backing exercise will look like beginning September 1, G. DOL skills test backing maneuver alley dock backing S-16 Effective September 1, 2015, the alley dock backing maneuver will change from a 20 staging boundary to a 40 staging boundary. H. DOL skills test backing maneuver alley dock backing S-17 This is a diagram of what the alley dock backing exercise looks like today. I. DOL skills test backing maneuver alley dock backing S-18 H-3 This is a diagram of what the alley dock backing exercise will look like beginning September 1, Evaluation S-19 Question: During the straight line backing exercise, where is the driver required to begin and end? Answer: Outside the event boundary S-20 Question: The alley dock staging area boundary will change from 20 in length to what measurement? Answer: 40 in length V. Driver Instructor Training Couse (DITC) Registration System S-21 Registration for the Driver Instructor Training Course opened on March 1 of this year and the class filled in less than 13 hours. As in the past few years, there is a waiting list to get into the class. 5

6 The rate at which the course filled has sparked discussion. Consequently, OSPI staff is evaluating possible options and gathering input in order to honor those organizations that provide scholarships for the program and serve the needs of the industry. After thorough evaluation, any changes to the registration process for the driver instructor training course will be provided. In the meantime, driver trainers are strongly encouraged to communicate with transportation administrators regarding their availability and plans to provide driver training for the foreseeable future. Summary: S-22 It is important for us to not only know what is legally required of us, but what is on the horizon. We just covered: 1. DOL learner s permit process 2. The skills testing fee collection process 3. The skills test backing maneuver changes 4. The Driver Instructor Training Course (DITC) Are there any questions? S-23 6