Driver Training and Qualifications

Cloquet Transit Company goes to great lengths to ensure the quality and skill of its bus drivers, and the safety of the children they drive to school every day. The following is a list of requirements for each of our bus drivers:

Commercial Drivers License (CDL) Requirements:

• Class B Minnesota license with both school bus & passenger endorsements

Background Checks:

• Moving violation record check annually
• National criminal background check
• Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) background checks
• Department of Public Safety initiated BCA background check every four years upon license renewal
• Previous employer references checked (10 year history)

Other Employment Requirements:

• CDL DOT physical (must be renewed every two years)
• Drug testing: pre-employment, random, reasonable suspicion, post-accident and follow-up

25 hours Initial School Bus Driver Training:

• Pre-trip inspection training
• Behind-the-wheel training
• Classroom training requirements according to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration and MN State

Driver In-Services & Evaluation:

• Eight hours of annual driver in-services
• Safety coordinator ride-along and pre-trip inspection evaluations annually