Pupil Transportation
The Pupil Transportation Program is responsible for helping ensure that school children across the state are transported safely to and from school and school-related activities. Each year, approximately 9,500 school buses are inspected as part of the state’s comprehensive school bus safety program. All publicly funded schools, charter schools, day cares and after school programs that operate buses to transport students are required to be part of the Pupil transportation program.
School buses are inspected, at a minimum, annually with older buses participating in the Extended Use Program, receiving inspections twice annually. These inspections continue throughout the life of the bus until it is removed from service. In addition, random inspections of buses are conducted throughout the year to ensure they are properly maintained and continue to meet required safety standards.
Pupil Transportation provides annual training to licensed bus drivers in Tennessee. All public-school bus drivers are required to complete mandatory four-hour driver safety training annually. Failure to attend this required training will result in the loss of the bus driver’s “S” endorsement.
The Pupil Transportation Program conducts approximately 17,000 bus inspections and provides over 42,000 hours of driver training annually. These duties are performed by state troopers assigned to the eight Tennessee Highway Patrol Districts, helping ensure that school buses remain safe and compliant for the students who depend on them every day.
Contact Information
Pupil Transportation
Tennessee Highway Patrol
1150 Foster Ave
Nashville, TN 37243
(615) 743-4990
Bus Safety
Bus safety is the responsibility of all motorists. When driving in school zones or around school buses all motorists bear the responsibility to obey all driver safety laws and operate their vehicle with caution. If you witness a motorist violating school safety laws, you may submit the Motorist Violation Report to Pupil.Transportation.tn.gov.
Motorist Violation Report Form
School Bus Inspection Program
All publicly funded schools, charter schools, day cares and after school programs that provide student transportation by bus are mandated by law to participate in the Pupil Transportation School Bus Inspection program.
The School Bus Inspection Program promotes the safe transportation of students by ensuring that school buses meet established mechanical, safety, licensing, and registration requirements. Each bus is subject to an annual or bi-annual inspection based on years of service, that evaluates critical mechanical components and safety features, while required documents are reviewed to verify compliance.
For more information and to receive access to the program authorized representatives need to email their name, title, agency name (school, daycare, after-school program) and their contact information to Pupil.Transportation@tn.gov.
School Bus Driver Annual Training
School bus drivers licensed in the state of Tennessee are required to maintain the “S” Endorsement on their commercial driver’s licenses. As a condition of maintaining this endorsement, drivers must complete annual refresher training designed to reinforce their knowledge of applicable safety procedures, regulations, and operational requirements.
Failure to complete the required annual training will result in the loss of the driver’s “S” endorsement and the inability to legally operate a school bus.
Certificate of Eligibility – School Bus (S) Endorsement (Form 2C)
Commercial Drivers License with (S) Endorsement Information
Extended Utilization
School buses are categorized according to years of service, with older buses subject to additional requirements through the Extended Use Program. Buses that remain in service beyond established age thresholds are required to undergo inspections twice annually to ensure their continued safe operation.
The commissioner of safety, through the inspection process, may approve additional years of service beyond the eighteenth year from the in-service date for conventional and Class D buses on a year-to-year basis. The owner of a bus may receive approval for additional years of service beyond the eighteenth year only if any conventional or Class D school bus being operated in the eighteenth year or beyond has less than two hundred thousand (200,000) miles of recorded travel; provided, however, that after the bus reaches two hundred thousand (200,000) miles of recorded travel the owner of the bus shall be allowed to operate the bus throughout the remainder of the school year and at the conclusion of the school year, the owner shall replace the bus. The bus shall meet all requirements for continued safe use and operation during the remainder of the school year and the owner of the bus shall notify the department of safety in writing, via certified mail, that the bus has reached two hundred thousand (200,000) miles of recorded travel.
If a bus reaches the eighteenth year following its in-service date requiring discontinuance of its use during a school year, the owner of the bus shall be allowed to operate the bus throughout the remainder of the school year. The bus shall meet all requirements for continued safe use and operation during the remainder of the school year and the owner of the bus shall immediately notify the department of safety in writing, via certified mail, when the bus reaches the eighteenth year requiring discontinuance.
Any conventional or Class D bus that is in use for more than fifteen (15) years from its in-service date, but not more than eighteen (18) years from such date, shall be inspected by the commissioner or the commissioner's designee at least twice annually.
No bus purchased from an out-of-state entity that has been in use for more than fifteen (15) years from its in-service date may be in use unless it has been in service in this state for a minimum period of two (2) consecutive years.
School wishing to participate in the Extended Utilization Program are required to complete an online application and pay a $385.00 fee for each bi-annual inspection.
For more information on how to apply for the
Extended Utilization Program contact Pupil.Transportation@tn.gov.