A new federal mandate that went into effect on Feb. 7 will require bus drivers to not only attend training from the school district prior to taking a CDL test but to go to “school” before they have the opportunity to take the CDL exam.

“We are working on our training program for the bus licenses,” said Gary Pohlmann, transportation director for the Gasconade County R-2 School District. “We will be speaking to someone who has set up their own program. It will be a huge learning curve.”

The Gasconade County R-2 Board of Education on Aug. 16, 2021, authorized Pohlmann to begin a training program. 

Pohlmann said the change still requires behind-the-wheel training but also increases the bookwork to acquire a CDL (commercial driver’s license).

“On the road and pre-trip training, 380 topics on theory, a lot of paperwork and training on hand,” Pohlmann said.

Superintendent Dr. Jeri Kay Hardy told the board they are fortunate to have Pohlmann.

“Very few superintendents had knowledge of MAP21,” Hardy said. “We understood what it was (because of Pohlmann). Many districts have no certified trainers and we have three.”

Pohlmann had informed the board during the August 2021 meeting that he didn’t know how the school district could not become a training facility in light of how hard it is to bring in bus drivers under the older, easier CDL rules.

“There are risks though,” he had said.

If a driver is later involved in an accident while under other employment for another school district, there is always a risk it could fall back on the training provider.

The district faces a second transportation issue after August 2022 when bus purchases prices will increase. Pohlmann shared the information along with bus bids and a request to approve the purchase of four buses instead of two for the year. Pohlmann had requested bus bids for their annual purchase.

“The bid was $109,000 for the 2022-23 model with air conditioning,” Pohlmann began.

The bus bid specifications included a Detroit engine to match the other fleet engines.

“There is also a 2022 model in Kansas City with no air conditioning for $94,000,” Pohlmann continued. 

The 77 passenger bus in Kansas City will haul six more kids than the other buses they have looked at.

“They have five if we want to move for next year,” he continued. “They will hold the price until August and could do two this month and two in August.”

Prices are set to increase after July. Buses two years ago went up to $90,000 and the time frame to get them is going up as well. 

Hardy told the board they do normally budget two bus purchases a year to rotate the fleet and keep it as new as possible. “The government is wanting to put more restrictions on public vehicles,” Pohlmann said. “If we try to get our fleet as new as possible and buy one a year, we may be able to hold off.”

Pohlmann added that the federal government wants to move toward electric vehicles and buses.

“Electric School busses are $300,000 and Kansas City and St. Louis and others use them,” he said. “We don’t have it here. It’s nice to start updating our fleet to be newer and still have the option to save $15,000 per bus.”

The board approved the purchase order to buy two now and two in August with a 5-0 vote.