Student Transportation: Buses, Cars

June 19, 2015

Ten or more pupils for school or parish activities must be transported by a school bus.
There are two categories for school buses:

Type I (yellow school bus) for the transportation of more than 16 pupils
Type II (car or minivan) for the transportation of 10 or fewer pupils.

The federal government has prohibited the sale of 15 passenger vans for the transportation of students. The federal government has found that the use of 15 passenger vans greatly increases the risk for vehicle roll-over.

The NJ Motor Vehicle Commission requires that the driver of a registered school vehicle, regardless of the capacity, possess a Commercial Driver's License (CDL). A Type I school vehicle requires a CDL license.

The driver of a Type II school vehicle is recommended to possess a class C license.

In cases in which a parent, parish employee or volunteer wishes to use his or her own personal automobile to transport children, he or she MUST be advised that his or her own personal automobile liability policy will provide primary coverage in the event of an accident resulting in the injury of children who are passengers.