ALBANY- In a continued effort to address a statewide shortage of school bus drivers, the state has decided to implement a federal waiver that allows school bus driver applicants to skip the engine compartment component, known as the “under the hood” component of the commercial driver license road test. According to industry experts and DMV officials, this change will remove barriers for licensing for school bus driver candidates without compromising student safety.
“The job of transporting and caring for our children is so important, and the need for more drivers throughout New York State is very real,” said Governor Kathy Hochul, who directed DMV to implement the federal waiver. “This simple change will encourage more New Yorkers to become school bus drivers – a chance for many to be a positive influence and help support our students, without sacrificing safety.”
Even after the “under the hood exemption” is fully implemented, during the road test, applicants are still required to perform the remaining elements of the exam which includes the inspection and driving skills test.
This waiver is the second significant step taken by the Hochul administration to address the school bus driver shortage. In 2022, DMV launched a program authorizing third parties to conduct commercial road tests, which has significantly increased the capacity for these types of road tests statewide. According to DMV, there are currently 27 third-party entities conducting commercial driver license road tests throughout the state.
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