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Post date: Sep 28, 2017 1:8:50 AM
No. Only drivers actually transporting pre-primary, primary, or secondary school students from home to school, from school to home, or to and from school sponsored events in a school bus are required to have both the “P” and “S” endorsements. Only a “P” endorsement is required by drivers delivering school buses from the manufacturer, by mechanics and other drivers operating empty school buses, and by drivers transporting students and/or adults to and from events that are not sponsored by the school (49 CFR, DOT Interpretation 383.93, Question 14). In situations as the ones mentioned above where the “S” endorsement is not required, the words “school bus” on the front and rear of the vehicle must be concealed and the red and amber visual signals cannot be used.
*Note that school buses, regardless of GVWR require semi-annual inspection.
On the PA school transportation FAQ it also goes on to provide this question and answer:
7. Is a driver required to have both the “P” passenger and “S” school bus endorsements if they are not transporting students when operating a “school bus?”
An inspection mechanic is not required to have a school bus endorsement to perform safety inspection of a school bus and the associated test drive. This is found in Subchapter B of the inspection regulations where it states that a mechanic seeking inspection certification; "Shall, as provided in subsection (a), have valid driver’s license for each class of vehicle which the mechanic will inspect; except that a certified mechanic who inspects school buses is not required to hold a school bus driver endorsement."The mechanic must otherwise have a Class A or B commercial driver's license to drive the bus as well as a "P" endorsement. If the bus is over 17,000 GVWR the inspection mechanic must also have a Category 3 (or 4, 6 or 7) inspection license.
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