Transportation

Welcome to the Tennessee Department of Education student transportation homepage.

As school buses provide services for students to and from school and school activities, safety remains the department’s number one priority. With this in mind, the department is committed to providing all transportation supervisors with high-quality training and necessary resources to ensure that all buses are properly maintained. In addition, all drivers must meet strict licensing requirements, including successful completion of driver training, background checks, and drug and alcohol testing.

Tennessee schools transport approximately 700,000 students a day on approximately 8,700 bus routes in districts and charters across the diverse terrain of city, urban, and rural routes.

The department rules on all waiver requests from public school officials; coordinates the development of new or revised State Board rules and regulations; determines pupil transportation equipment specifications  approves and issues or rejects overload permits; distributes school bus accident, medical examination, and annual statistical report forms to local school districts; collects, compiles and analyzes data from accidents involving school buses; and, allocates pupil transportation funds to local school districts.

Upper Cumberland Districts: Bledsoe County, Cannon County, Clay County, Cumberland County, DeKalb County, Fentress County, Jackson County, Macon County, Overton County, Pickett County, Putnam County, Smith County, Trousdale County, Van Buren County, Warren County, White County, York Institute. Southwest Districts: Arlington, Achievement School District, BartlettChester, Collierville, Decatur, Fayette, Germantown, Hardeman, Hardin, Haywood, Henderson, Lauderdale, Lakeland, Lexington, McNairy, Madison, Millington, Shelby, Tipton. Southeast Districts: Athens City, Bradley County, Cleveland City, Dayton City, Etowah City, Grundy County, Hamilton County, Marion County, McMinn County, Meigs County, Polk County, Rhea County, Richard City, Sequatchie County. South Central Districts: Bedford County, Coffee County, Manchester City, Tullahoma City, Franklin County, Giles County, Hickman County, Lawrence County, Lewis County, Lincoln County, Fayetteville City, Marshall CountyMaury County, Moore County, Perry County, Wayne County. Northwest Districts: Benton County, Carroll County, Hollow Rock-Bruceton SSD, Huntingdon SSD, McKenzie SSD, South Carroll SSD, West Carroll SSD, Crockett County, Alamo City, Bells City, Dyer County, Dyersburg City, Gibson County SSD, Bradford SSD, Humboldt SSD, Milan SSD, Trenton SSD, Henry County, Paris SSD, Lake County, Obion County, Union City, Weakley County. Mid Cumberland Districts: Cheatham County, Metro Nashville Public Schools, Dickson County, Houston County, Humphreys County, Montgomery County, Robertson County, Rutherford County, Murfreesboro City, Stewart County, Sumner County, Williamson County, Franklin SSD, Wilson County, Lebanon SSD, TSB. First Tennessee Districts: Carter County, Elizabethton City, Cocke County, Newport City, Greene County, Greeneville City, Hamblen County, Hancock County, Hawkins County, Rogersville City, Johnson County, Sullivan County, Bristol City, Kingsport City, Unicoi County, Washington County, Johnson City. East Tennessee Districts: Anderson County, Clinton City, Oak Ridge, Blount County, Alcoa City, Maryville City, Campbell County, Claiborne County, Grainger County, Jefferson County, Knox County, Loudon County, Lenoir City, Monroe County, Sweetwater City, Morgan County, Roane County, Scott County, Oneida City, Sevier County, Union County, ETSD.

Mission & Vision

Our mission is to provide safe, reliable, and efficient transportation services for all children with a focus on continuous improvement that supports positive learning experiences.

Our vision is to be recognized as an integral member of the school community; a model of excellence in safety and reliability with zero student injury accidents.

Contact Information

Joshua Hinerman

Transportation Manager

Office of School Safety and Transportation

Andrew Johnson Tower, 10th floor

710 James Robertson Parkway

Nashville, TN 37243

Joshua.Hinerman@tn.gov

(629) 259-1099

 

Brian Yarbro

Senior Director of School Safety & Transportation

Office of School Safety and Transportation

Andrew Johnson Tower, 10th floor

710 James Robertson Parkway

Nashville, TN 37243

Brian.Yarbro@tn.gov

(629) 259-4952

 
Resource Links Resource Description
Accident Procedures Checklist These emergency operations best practice resources include a sample accident procedures checklist to help guide and document actions taken during a student transportation accident, as well as evacuation procedures, tips, drill checklists, and documentation forms.
Activity Safety Announcements Script - Sample
Emergency Safety Bus Drill Best Practices
Front Door Evacuation Drill - Sample 
Rear Door Evacuation Drill - Sample
School Bus Evacuation Documentation - Sample
School Bus Evacuation Procedures - Sample
Resource Links Resource Description
Pre-Trip Inspection Monthly - Sample This sample school bus pre-trip inspection log helps ensure that a school bus is in proper working condition before each route.
School Bus Preventative Schedule - Sample This sample school bus preventative maintenance schedule will help inform what bus repairs are needed in order to keep each bus in good working condition.
Resource Links Resource Description
Bus Driver Annual Evaluation Form - Sample This is a sample Bus Driver Annual Evaluation Form.
Previous Employer Form - Sample This sample Previous Employer Form can be used to verify details about a prospective employee’s previous work history.
Resource Links Resource Description

School Bus Safety Tips For Students & Parents

 These resources include school bus safety tips for students, parents, transportation supervisors, and bus drivers, as well as a sample School Bus Stop Evaluation Form in order to assess the safety of a bus stop.
School Bus Safety Tips For Transportation Supervisors & Bus Drivers
School Bus Stop Evaluation Form - Sample
Resource Links Resource Description
Motor Coach Vendor The motor coach vendor qualification form is intended to be used by schools to vet motor coach vendors prior to using their services.
Transportation Complaint Form - Sample Sample Driver Safety Violation/Concern Complaint Report Form (in accordance with Tenn. Code Ann. 49-6-2116)
Transportation Services Internal Monitoring - Sample This sample internal monitoring form provides a comprehensive audit of Transportation operations.
Transportation Supervisor Monthly Checklist - Sample This sample checklist assists Transportation Directors with monthly day-to-day operations.
Resource Links Resource Description

On-site Monitoring Guide

Student Transportation Self-Assessment Tool

 This guide is designed to assist LEAs in maintaining appropriate records and documentation of tasks, which are required by state and federal law, as well as best practices recommended by the department and Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security.
DOT Mental & Physical Guidance The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) mandates that drivers with a Commercial Driver License (CDL) undergo a Department of Transportation (DOT) physical examination to obtain a Medical Examiner’s Certificate during the preceding 24 months. Additionally, Tenn. Code Ann. § 49-6-2108 requires each local board of education to complete annual physical and mental examinations of school bus drivers and requires reports to be made on prescribed forms issued by the local board of education.
2025 National Congress on School Transportation These specifications for school buses and operational procedures are available for states to consider when establishing their standards, specifications, recommendations and guidelines. As a general rule, state legislatures should confer upon the appropriate state agency or regulatory body the general responsibility for establishing and revising state-wide rules and regulations regarding the specifications for school bus chassis, bodies and equipment and procedures related to school transportation operations
TN Department of Safety 2C Form This document is to be used to satisfy the requirements of Tenn. Code Ann. 55-50-302(d) and 55-50-302(e) regarding certification and recommendation by appropriate officials of an individual applying for a school bus (S) endorsement.
Student Transportation FAQs The following responses have been compiled from inquiries made to the Tennessee Department of Education Student Transportation Team from parents, school bus drivers, school & district administrators, and student transportation leaders. While these are considered best practices for the specific instance in question, one should always ensure their response to an inquiry is aligned with local school board policy, state/federal law and is in consultation with the local school board attorney.
Student Transportation Laws This provides a list of commonly reviewed Student Transportation Laws for quick reference use.
FAQs on Driver Testing and Third Party Examiners This FAQ has been compiled by the TN Department of Safety’s CDL Division and is intended to help schools understand how to schedule driver skills testing and the process of using or becoming a third party examiner.
Webinar: The Role of Transportation Directors in School Safety Efforts This webinar emphasizes the role of Transportation Directors in supporting school safety.
Resource Links Resource Description
Documentation of Completion Form This checklist is intended for by the Transportation Supervisor or trainer designee in conducting required training for entry level drivers.
Key Performance Indicators for Trainers This resource provides key driver performance indicators for trainers conducting entry level school bus driver training.

To correct or replace transportation director information, click here

District Supervisor Email Address Bus Complaint # Office Address