South Washington County Schools: Type III Driver Information

Statute regulates how students are transported in a traditional passenger vehicle for curricular and extra-curricular activities. When used for student transport, these vehicles are referred to as Type III School Buses. South Washington County Schools developed our Type III training program to align with these state requirements.

Type III vehicles used to transport students by a driver certified by this training program, may only transport from site to site and never to or from a home or residence.

The Type III program specifies that:

  1. ALL vehicles used MUST be inspected annually by the state patrol, outfitted with the proper safety equipment and have a 10 passenger rating or less. For these reasons, South Washington County Schools must provide the vehicle for Type III use. A personal vehicle or rented vehicle is not allowed.

  2. ALL Type III drivers MUST be trained and evaluated (ride-along) annually (380 days)

  3. The driver of the Type III vehicle must not have been hired to have the primary job responsibility to drive the vehicle.

To be a Type III driver for SWCS you must:

  1. Attend an in-person Type III training course at Transportation and complete online training every year after.

  2. Complete an annual driving evaluation ride-along with a transportation trainer after completing the training. -These evaluations will take place at Transportation M-F between 10am and 1pm. A trainer will email you to schedule after successfully completing the in-person or online refresher training. The driving evaluation takes approximately 45 minutes.

  3. Be a district staff member/coach and have completed a district background check prior to training.

  4. Drivers must submit their Driver's License number for an internal confidential review of their driving record. If you hold a licence outside of MN or WI, you will be required to obtain a driving record from your state prior to training.

  5. Attend additional training if you choose to tow a trailer with a Type III vehicle.

  6. Immediately report all moving violations (includes your personal vehicle outside of work). Complete the form: Type III violation and submit to asmith2@sowashco.org within 10 days of conviction.

Vehicles Available:

Our district has two Type III vans at each high school and several other vans are available as needed through the Transportation department.

For van availability please contact: the specific High School Activities Department or the Transportation Dispatcher at 651-425-5303.

Vehicles from outside of the district such as personal or rental vehicles are prohibited as all vehicles MUST be inspected annually by the MN State Patrol under the district's DOT #.

Questions?

Type III program administrator: Andy Smith 651-425-5309 asmith2@sowashco.org

Ready to begin the training?

Please complete the form below to register for initial training or to complete annual refresher training

IMPORTANT: The form will guide you based off of your answers. Be sure to read each page carefully and follow any necessary links to the next training segment; which may be a link on the submission confirmation page or presentation. The time required to complete the form entries are: New Drivers: 5 mins; Renewal Drivers: 60 mins. Please make sure you allow time for completion.