ALBANY–As the need for school bus drivers across the country, including in New York, persists, the state Department of Motor Vehicles is reminding prospective school bus drivers about efforts designed to remove barriers to becoming a certified bus driver.

A waiver from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) known as the “Under-the-Hood” exemption allows only Commercial Driver License (CDL) applicants planning to become school bus drivers to skip the pre-trip engine inspection portion of their road test. The exemption is aimed at helping districts in states across the country hire more bus drivers without sacrificing safety, as all other existing school bus inspection and maintenance standards continue to apply.

During their road tests, applicants must still perform the remaining elements of the Commercial Driver License vehicle inspection skills test.

“By continuing to offer the Under-the-Hood exemption, we’re paving the way for more people to get behind the wheel of a school bus, where drivers are needed to perform a critical service in our communities,” said Mark Schroeder, DMV commissioner and chair of the Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee. “What makes school bus drivers so irreplaceable is their ability to get our kids back and forth to school safely, not their ability to replace a crankshaft.”

DMV first implemented the exemption in January 2024 in support of Gov. Kathy Hochul’s initiative to address the school bus driver shortage. Now that the waiver has been extended, DMV will continue to offer it through November 28, 2026, when the waiver is expected to expire.

In addition to offering the waiver, DMV has significantly expanded access to CDL road tests statewide by partnering with third parties to offer these tests rather than requiring applicants to take their skills tests at a DMV site. DMV has also worked with county-run DMV offices around the state to expand capacity for written commercial learner permit exams.

Despite these efforts, the need for bus drivers remains. In August 2022, nearly three-quarters of school district superintendents who responded to a New York State School Boards Association survey anticipated having bus driver staffing shortages that year. Districts still face a shortage, according to the New York School Bus Contactors Association.

“The driver shortage continues to be an issue for our members, with the impact varying by contractor. While we haven’t yet reached pre-COVID number of drivers, we are making progress, thanks in part to initiatives like the S-1 Under-the-Hood exemption,” said Paul Quinn Mori, vice president of the New York School Bus Contractors Association. “For many potential drivers, the time spent under the hood can be stressful. The S-1 exemption allows these candidates to focus more on safe driving practices.”

The Under-the-Hood waiver applies to new CDL applicants or applicants who previously held, but no longer hold, a CDL and want the School Bus (S) and Passenger (P) endorsements. Applicants who have a current CDL are not eligible for this exemption. 

CDL applicants who want the exemption must take the “Limited School Bus” road test.

The exemption requires the CDL Intrastate Only (K) restriction and the CDL School Bus Only (S1) restriction to be applied. 

Applicants who choose to get the exemption must pass the “Limited School Bus” road test and visit a DMV office on or before November 28, 2026, to amend their license to a CDL.