General Transportation Information
STATE BUS LAWS
1. Bus stops must be two tenths (2/10) miles apart.
2. Drivers may not leave approved route to pick up a student
living within three tenths of a mile of walking distance of a regular stop.
3. Students living one and one half miles or more from an attending
school qualify to ride the bus.
4. Bus drivers may not change their route or stops without prior
approval.
5. You may go to the State Site for further information:
ALCOHOL AND DRUG TESTING
All regular or substitute bus drivers and all employees who drive activity vehicles must have a pre-employment drug test in-order to insure a pool of safe, drug/alcohol free drivers. Therefore, all drivers will become part of a random testing program that will ensure each driver is tested without prior announcement. Failure to submit to a drug/alcohol test will be grounds for termination.
It is is well to note that The Transportation Department located in Ruby does not decide who will be tested. It is done by computer by a company in North Carolina and is a Federal and State regulated program.
BUS EVACUATIONS
According to Highway Safety Program Guideline 17, all bus drivers, regular and substitute, shall instruct their students in safe riding practices and shall participate in emergency evacuation drills. This is required once during the first semester and again during the second semester for a total of two times during the year.
HOW TO SCHEDULE A BLUE AND WHITE ACTIVITY BUS
1. Submit a "Request To Use District Activity Bus" form approved by the Principal, to Ruby Operations to the attention of Kimberly Edwards.
2. A copy of the "Request To Use District Activity Bus" form will be returned approved or giving an alternate date available.
3. A "Bus Use Record Form" is used to record the mileage and total cost of the trip. These are available in all school offices. They should be returned to the school office after the trip with the mileage listed. The office will write a check for the total cost to The Transportation Department.
4. The cost for use is per mile changes often...Contact Kimberly Edwards at The Transportation Office for updated costs per mile.
5. All requests must be made well in advance of the date a bus is to be used except in an emergency.
IMPORTANT: EACH BUS MUST BE FUELED AND CLEANED AFTER EACH TRIP. FAILURE TO FUEL AND CLEAN CAN RESULT IN A FINE OF $25.00 PER INCIDENT.
HOW TO APPLY FOR A YELLOW BUS PERMIT
1. Decide on the date of use. (USE CANNOT BE DURING THE REGULAR ROUTE SCHEDULE)
2. Contact Area Bus Supervisor to obtain permission to use the bus and to get the number of the bus to be used (503,507, etc)
3. Provide the origin and destination of the trip and the name of the group using the bus.
4. Supply the name of the driver.
5. Email or fax your request to the Transportation Department.([email protected])
6. Requests must be made two (2) weeks in advance except in emergencies.
7. Per mile costs will be determined quarterly by SDE in Columbia.
8. The permit is then given to the school office, and they will write a check to The District Transportation Office for payment.
NOTE: THE PERMIT, OR A COPY, MUST BE WITH THE DRIVER AT ALL TIMES DURING A TRIP.