Reading view

There are new articles available, click to refresh the page.

Updated: Non-domiciled CDL Crackdown Worsens School Bus Driver Shortage in Urban Areas

By: Ryan Gray

27 October 2026 at 20:57

Some school district transportation departments and bus companies are wrestling with added workforce challenges in light of the federal issue involving non-domiciled Commercial Driver’s Licenses (CDL) along with changes and uncertainty surrounding Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for immigrants from several countries.

The combination appears to be hitting some transportation workforces particularly hard, especially in larger urban areas such as those in and around New York City.

On Sept. 26, U.S. Department of Transportation (U.S. DOT) Secretary Sean P. Duffy announced an emergency action to drastically restrict who is eligible for a non-domiciled commercial learner’s permits (CLPs) and CDLs. The rule, effective immediately, comes in response to an ongoing nationwide audit by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) and what the U.S. DOT described as a recent series of horrific, fatal crashes caused by non-domiciled drivers.

According to the U.S. DOT, FMCSA’s nationwide review of state processes for issuing non-domiciled CDLs uncovered what it deemed systemic non-compliance across several states, including California, Colorado, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Texas, and Washington. U.S. DOT said the rule also targets programming errors and what it calls weak quality assurance as well as insufficient staff training that led to CDLs being issued to drivers who were not eligible and to drivers with expiration dates extending beyond a driver’s legal stay in the U.S.

The U.S. DOT indicated this interim final rule closes gaps in how states issue CLPs and CDLs to individuals from outside of the U.S. tightens eligibility, strengthens safeguards and makes clear when these licenses must be canceled or revoked.

FMCSA spokespersons declined to comment to School Transportation News on that impact. The public affairs office said it cannot speak on behalf of school districts and referred questions to state driver licensing agencies regarding the impact of federal policies on school bus drivers.

States Share Impact

The Washington State Department of Licensing indicated at this report that there were 54 drivers with a non-domicile Class B CDL in good standing with a school bus endorsement.

“However, we have no way to know if they are working in that capacity,” spokesperson Christine Anthony told STN.

Information the department recently shared with Washington legislators noted new rules issued in September 2025 significantly changed the non-domiciled CDL program.

Under current federal rules, non-domiciled CDL drivers can only hold three types of visas: H2-A (temporary agricultural workers), H2-B (temporary non-agricultural workers) and E-2 (treaty investors).

“Canadian and Mexican drivers still do not have to hold a U.S. non-domiciled CDL license,” Anthony pointed out.

He said the state also lost a “significant” number of drivers who previously qualified, including Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) residents.

Washington has paused all training, testing and licensing for non-domiciled CDLs due to federal requirements separate from the rule.

There were 188,274 CDL holders, 4,669 non-domiciled CDL holders as of last October and 3,182 non-domiciled CDL holders as of Oct. 4. Some 401 will expire before the end of the year and more than 2,400 will expire before 2030.

Anthony noted there is talk among commercial motor carriers about the challenges of the declining number of drivers, including from school districts.

STN reached out to the Student Transportation and Traffic Safety Education division at the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction but had not heard back at this writing.

Meanwhile, the Colorado Department of Education does not track the immigration status or non-domiciled CDL status of school bus drivers, nor does it maintain data regarding the number of affected drivers, licensing delays, or the potential impact on school district and contractor staffing, noted Fred Stewart, supervisor of the state school transportation unit.

“As a result, we are unable to provide specific data or confirm the extent to which these changes may be affecting school transportation operations in Colorado,” he added.

Corinne Willer, a spokeswoman for the Colorado Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV), told STN the state non-domiciled CDL program ceased following the federal regulatory final rule changes that went into effect in March. This includes new issuances and renewals. Temporarily lawfully present individuals are not eligible to receive a CDL in Colorado, regardless of their country of origin.

Colorado canceled a total of 414 Colorado CDL holders in late 2025 based on an internal review.

“The DMV does not track the jobs that CDL licensees hold, so we cannot comment on how many non-domiciled CDL holders are school bus drivers,” Willer added.

In Pennsylvania, there are currently no non-domiciled CDL drivers with a school bus endorsement, said Leanne E. Trindel, press officer for the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) Driver and Vehicle Services.

PennDOT has not issued any non-domiciled commercial products since Sept. 29, 2025, because the U.S. DOT directed the state to pause the issuance of all non-domiciled commercial driver products as of that date, Trindel said. This includes issuance, transfers, updates, replacements, duplicates, and renewals of both non-domiciled CLPs and non-domiciled CDLs.

Regarding potential challenges with people from Haiti and El Salvador seeking temporary protected status, Trindel echoed other states by observing that only three employment-based immigration statuses are eligible under the new federal regulations for a non-domiciled CDL: H-2A, H-2B, and E-1.

“An employment authorization document can no longer be accepted for purposes of proving legal presence to obtain a non-domiciled CD,” she added.

Although South Dakota was included in the federal review, “Our records indicate only a small number of non‑compliance findings were identified,” noted Kristi Frohreich, South Dakota Department of Public Safety communications director. “These cases were isolated, promptly corrected, and do not reflect a systemic issue within our licensing processes. South Dakota continues to meet federal compliance requirements, and we have updated internal procedures to ensure continued alignment with FMCSA guidance.”

There are 3,404 school bus endorsed drivers in the state of South Dakota.

The final rule has not delayed issuance to those that qualify for the licenses, Frohreich noted.

Of the other states named by the FMCSA as demonstrating systemic non-compliance, California and Texas did not provide a response to STN’s request for comment.

Non-domiciled CDL Issue Greatest in Urban Areas

Many school districts—including those in the urban areas of Philadelphia, Broward County and Miami-Dade County in Florida, Houston, Chicago, and Clark County in Nevada—also did not respond to STN requests for comment on this article.

Several school bus contractors contacted by STN did not provide comment. Those that did respond cited a spectrum of challenge ranging from great to none at all.

“Federal policy changes have impacted our workforce across the busing industry and in some cases resulted in the loss of dedicated drivers. We remain in close contact with our school districts, industry partners, state and federal officials and will continue to advocate for increased distribution of CDLs and policy solutions to support hiring and retention for the industry,” noted Paul Quinn Mori, president of the New York School Bus Contractors Association. “We remain focused on recruitment by offering competitive wages and signing bonuses and we are leveraging AI technology to streamline applications and bring more qualified drivers on board to support our schools and communities.”

The school bus driver workforce challenge as it relates to non-domiciled CDLs and TPS “continues to be a stubborn challenge,” said Timothy T. Eagen, Ed.D., Kings Park Central School District superintendent and past president of Suffolk County School Superintendents Association in the state of New York. “My best advice is to always be in the new driver recruiting and training business. “This needs to be a 12-month continuous effort.”

Robert Vecchio, executive director of the Nassau-Suffolk School Boards Association near Long Island, New York, noted the shortage of transportation workers before the issue of non-domiciled CDLs arose and uncertainty surrounding TPS emerged.

“While there is an impact, it is minimal by comparison to the shortages transportation providers have been dealing with for several years, especially in the area of certified drivers,” he said, adding those shortages also impact mechanics. “One other item of note that has created issues with drivers is the legalization of marijuana. While its legal random testing for drivers is still a requirement, this has become another issue to finding and keeping certified drivers.”

Some school said transportation is not impacted by the new policies.

“Atlanta Public Schools began the 2026–2027 school year with zero bus driver vacancies, and all routes have been covered since the first day of school,” said Jonathan D. Sheffield, media relations director. “Our transportation and human resources teams have worked collaboratively to build a culture and compensation structure that helps us retain experienced drivers while attracting and welcoming new team members.”

In October 2025, STN reported that federal rule outlawing the issuance of CDLs to non-U.S. citizens could make school district and bus company searches drivers even more challenging.

The story noted FMCSA’s nationwide audit of non-domiciled CDLs uncovered systemic non-compliance across several states, adding the state of California was “the worst and most egregious.”

However, Los Angeles Unified School District had yet to feel the impact, said a source who requested to remain anonymous.

Chloe Williams, CEO and president of current National School Transportation Association school bus contractor of the year B.R. Williams, said her company has not been impacted by the non-domiciled CDL or TPS issues. She said she has reached out to other contractors regarding the issue but had not gotten a response.

NSTA Executive Director Curt Macysyn added that the issue “affects some school bus operators, but it is clearly not universal in scope. What I know is that the CDL expiration date has to align with the date of the TPS expiration date, and that’s the extent of it.”

Editor’s note — This latest version includes comments from South Dakota. It also reflects information provided by the Colorado Division of Motor Vehicles, which was inadvertently omitted in the original published article. Additionally, the original article included an incorrect reference to the U.S. DOT classification for treaty investor visas, E-2.

The post Updated: Non-domiciled CDL Crackdown Worsens School Bus Driver Shortage in Urban Areas appeared first on School Transportation News.

FMCSA Warns of Fraudulent Emails Targeting Motor Carrier Registrations

School Transportation News

By: Ryan Gray

10 October 2026 at 00:04

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) is warning motor carriers about fraudulent emails and websites impersonating its Motus registration system, with the National School Transportation Association reporting that school bus contractors are among those being targeted.

NSTA alerted members Friday that several school bus contractors around the country have received emails falsely claiming to originate from FMCSA’s Motus, which is Latin for movement or progress. The phishing messages attempt to pressure recipients into providing confidential information by warning that their registration or ability to operate could be shut down unless they act immediately.

FMCSA said bad actors have begun creating websites designed to imitate Motus. The legitimate Motus website is hosted on the federal government’s DOT.gov domain. FMCSA identified several fraudulent addresses using variations of the Motus name, including sites with “motusdatasboard,” “motusdatadesk,” “motuswebdeck” and “motusfunction” in their domain names.

The agency said customers have received emails with the subject line “Notice of Required Off-Cycle Update- Motus email” directing them to what is described as a “New MOTUS Portal.” FMCSA noted that Motus is not an acronym and should not be presented in all capital letters, another possible warning sign that a message or website is fraudulent.

Anyone who believes they have been targeted can also contact FMCSA through its Contact Center. The agency’s fraud-alert page provides additional examples of fraudulent messages and websites as well as information on reporting suspected scams.

School Bus Contractors React to Suspicious Emails

NSTA said the fraudulent communications reported by school bus contractors similarly seek confidential information while creating a sense of urgency. The association advised members to verify emails and website addresses before entering sensitive, proprietary or account information.

The warning comes as motor carriers and other regulated entities transition to Motus, which FMCSA launched this year to replace several older registration systems. The platform is designed to allow companies to apply for and manage USDOT registrations while providing stronger identity verification and fraud-prevention protections.

That transition provides an opening for scammers attempting to take advantage of operators who are still becoming familiar with the new system.

FMCSA’s fraud alert page advises users not to click suspicious links contained in unsolicited emails. Instead, recipients should hover over links to examine the actual destination and only follow links they know to be trustworthy. The agency also recommends reporting suspicious communications to the Federal Trade Commission and, when appropriate, the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center, local law enforcement or a state attorney general’s office.

FMCSA maintains a broader list of registration-related scams involving fake audit requests, fraudulent carrier-status notices, spoofed government websites and emails impersonating the agency’s Safety and Fitness Electronic Records, or SAFER, system.

NSTA urged school bus contractors to be particularly cautious with unsolicited requests for account credentials, payments, sensitive company information or proprietary data. The association said it shared at least one reported example with FMCSA and was seeking additional guidance from the agency.

Article written with the assistance of AI.

The post FMCSA Warns of Fraudulent Emails Targeting Motor Carrier Registrations appeared first on School Transportation News.

NTSB, FMCSA Officials Discuss School Transportation Safety Priorities at NAPT

School Transportation News

By: Ryan Gray

9 October 2026 at 23:18

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — A National Transportation Safety Board official highlighted school bus seatbelt use and crash investigations while the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s chief counsel discussed CDL integrity and driver training at the National Association for Pupil Transportation Annual Conference.

Meg Sweeney, an NTSB project manager and accident investigator, described during the Oct. 4 general session how the independent federal agency investigates selected crashes, identifies probable causes and issues recommendations intended to prevent future incidents. The NTSB investigates significant crashes across several transportation modes, including highway, rail, pipeline and marine. The following day, NTSB dispatched investigators to Polk County, Florida following the fatal school bus crash there.

On Sunday before nearly 200 NAPT attendees, Sweeney said NTSB’s highway safety office has about 35 staff members, so the agency cannot investigate every fatal highway crash. Investigators assess factors such as the crash’s significance, public attention and the potential for the investigation to improve safety. A team may include experts in driver behavior, vehicle condition, motor carrier practices, occupant protection and roadway design.

NTSB may also invite organizations with relevant technical expertise to participate as party members. For a school bus investigation, that could include a school district, state transportation officials, law enforcement, a vehicle manufacturer or federal agencies. Party members can contribute information and review factual material for accuracy before it is published, Sweeney added.

Seatbelt Use and Driver Impairment

Sweeney focused on an NTSB investigation of a school bus rollover in Leander, Texas. The bus was equipped with lap-shoulder belts at every passenger seat, but investigators could confirm that only six of the 42 students were restrained. Video showed four students wearing the lap portion of their belts while placing the shoulder belt behind them. Investigators could not verify how the other two students were belted.

NTSB issued urgent recommendations to Leander Independent School District, the state of Texas and national school transportation organizations. The recommendations called for enforceable seatbelt policies and procedures, including pre-departure reminders, periodic checks, review of onboard video and training for students and families on proper belt use.

Sweeney said Leander ISD had begun making changes before receiving the recommendation. The NTSB was still awaiting a response from Texas at the time of the presentation. The agency also praised the school transportation organizations for sharing the recommendations with their members.

Another investigation involved a school bus driver impaired by alcohol in Millstone, West Virginia. Sweeney said the driver initially registered a blood alcohol concentration of 0.16 and later registered 0.12 following the March 4, 2024 incident, where the school bus right rear wheels left the roadway and struck a culvert. Three students suffered serious injuries, including a teenager who later required a leg amputation, during the resulting school bus roll over. Sixteen students sustained minor injuries.

The legal limit for commercial drivers is 0.04. Sweeney said the crash renewed NTSB’s interest in vehicle-integrated alcohol detection systems, she said. In a separate rollover crash without lap-shoulder belts, students were displaced from their seats.

NTSB is also investigating fatal incidents in Maine and New Jersey, in which students were struck near school buses or school buses dragged the students in the loading door, as well as reports of Waymo autonomous vehicles illegally passing stopped school buses. Sweeney noted that the agency uses onboard video and other available records as important evidence in its investigations.

FMCSA Emphasizes CDL and Training Standards

Rebecca Pettit, FMCSA chief counsel, said federal priorities include maintaining the integrity of commercial driver’s licenses and ensuring that drivers receive meaningful training. She described the CDL as a safety credential, particularly for drivers transporting students, and said qualifications and proficiency should not be weakened in response to driver shortages.

Pettit said FMCSA had removed 10,000 training locations from its Training Provider Registry as of the month of the presentation, with another 1,000 locations under review. She said the agency is working to ensure Entry-Level Driver Training providers are legitimate, and that training includes demonstrated behind-the-wheel skills, rather than relying only on classroom instruction or self-certification.

She also emphasized that FMCSA does not regulate every aspect of pupil transportation. Government-operated school transportation and routine home-to-school service are exempt from most federal motor carrier regulations, she said, although CDL and drug-and-alcohol requirements apply. Federal rules can also apply to some interstate transportation provided by private schools or contractors. Applicability depends on factors such as who provides the service, vehicle capacity, compensation, trip purpose and whether the operation crosses state lines.

Pettit encouraged school districts and contractors to contact FMCSA field offices when they are uncertain about their responsibilities. She also urged transportation professionals to comment on proposed federal rules, saying operational experience helps agencies identify unintended consequences and make workable policy. A separate session on Monday shared details on what student transporters need to know about FMCSA audits amid increased enforcement targeting CDL mills and non-domiciled CDL holders.

NAPT, NASDPTS and NSTA Share Updates

Peter Mannella, NAPT’s public policy liaison, said the association’s federal outreach is intended to ensure pupil transportation professionals have a voice in policy discussions. He described meetings with federal agencies as an opportunity to build relationships and bring industry concerns directly to decision-makers.

Curt Macsysn of the National School Transportation Association reported that the recent International School Bus Driver Safety Competition grew from 53 drivers in 2025 to 88 in 2026, with a goal of 100 drivers for the 2027 event in Austin, Texas. He also discussed scholarships for competitors, recruitment of judges with driver or trainer experience, and a proposed “Break for Kids Act” public-service campaign to raise awareness about illegal passing.

Ron Lichtfield of NASDPTS presented results from the group’s voluntary survey of illegal school bus passings. Participating drivers reported 56,024 illegal passings in a one-day study. Extrapolated across an estimated 180-day school year, the figure was about 38.4 million — down slightly from 39.3 million in the previous year’s projection, but still a substantial safety concern. Lichtfield also highlighted updated seatbelt guidance and a resource addressing concerns about aftermarket buckle guards.

Written with the assistance of AI and an audio transcript.

The post NTSB, FMCSA Officials Discuss School Transportation Safety Priorities at NAPT appeared first on School Transportation News.