Training records for school bus drivers
District and contractor bus driver training, from pre-trip inspection to route driving, with every session scored and signed.
School bus
From pre-trip to the route
A driver getting the school bus (S) endorsement for the first time must complete entry-level driver training for that endorsement from a provider listed on FMCSA's Training Provider Registry (49 CFR 380.609). Many states add their own school bus driver training and yearly refresher rules on top; ELDT Systems shows them by state.
Pre-trip and safety checks
Score the pre-trip inspection item by item, with the clock running for the time it takes.
Loading zones and crossings
Student loading and unloading, danger zones and railroad crossings as their own score sheet sections.
Route driving
Ride-along scoring on the route, signed by the trainee and the trainer.
Refresher training
Yearly in-service and refresher sessions recorded the same way, so every driver's file is complete.
Trainer files
Each trainer's license, endorsements and certificates, with reminders before they expire.
State rules
Each location shows the state's new-driver and refresher rules for school bus drivers, with the official sources.
The record
Every session becomes a signed, dated record
Score every session on a phone
Each skill on your own score sheet, tapped 1 to 5 while you ride along. Running averages show who is ready and who needs more time.
A clock in every section
Start and stop the clock beside each section's minutes. The record shows the start and end times, and the trainer can correct the minutes.
Signatures on every session
The student and the trainer sign on the screen. A student who could not sign at the time signs later from their own login.
Who taught, and in which vehicle
Every session keeps the trainer who taught it, substitutes included, and the vehicle used.
Documents in the student file
Enrollment agreements, permits, licenses and photos stay with the student's record.
Reports when you need them
A daily progress report PDF for each student, a full audit binder, and every score as a spreadsheet.
State rules
Training rules where you teach
Most states set their own school bus driver training and refresher rules. The state pages list them with links to the official sources.
See driver training rules by state
Sources
- 49 CFR 380.609 (eCFR): https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-49/section-380.609
Questions
Frequently asked questions
Does the federal ELDT rule apply to school bus drivers?
Yes, for drivers getting the school bus (S) endorsement for the first time: they must complete entry-level driver training for that endorsement from a provider on FMCSA's Training Provider Registry (49 CFR 380.609).
Can we record yearly refresher training?
Yes. Refresher and in-service sessions are scored and signed like any other session and stay in the driver's file.
Do states have their own school bus training rules?
Many do. See the state rules pages for each state's new school bus driver and refresher requirements, with links to the official sources.