Committed to the safe transportation of your students.
A team focused on safety
Our commitment to safety extends from our employees to our entire network of vendors. Our safety and compliance team actively works with our vendors to ensure all safety and compliance requirements are met for the transportation of your students.
Safety Requirements
To ensure the safety of all students, school staff members and drivers, the following information is what CST may request/require from our network of vendors.
Pre-trip Inspections
Vendors are required to have each driver or designee complete a thorough daily pre-trip inspection prior to operating Type III vans and school buses to ensure it is in safe operating condition.
Certificates
Vendors are required to meet the standards and specifications that meet all local, State and Federal standards. School buses (Types III, A, B, C & D) and must display a valid State school bus inspection certificate (annual, interim or temporary.)
GPS
All vehicles used for CST routes must be equipped with working GPS systems. Evidence of vehicle stop times and current location must be available to CST upon request.
Insurance Assurance
Whether vendors have just one vehicle or a fleet of buses used for CST routes, all must be insured to cover their vehicle and potential injuries to any passengers in the event of an accident on the road.
Driver Training
Minimum of 8 hours of in-service training for drivers is required annually. Vendors are required to create their own training program that is specific to their operations and the type of routes they service.
Driver Selection
All vendors within the network are required to hire drivers who are qualified, trained and licensed in accordance with applicable federal and state laws and regulations prior to providing service.
Weather Related Procedures
Depending on climate, vendors within our network are required to have cold weather starting procedures. Below are some of the common procedures utilized by our vendors
- Vehicles are parked inside the facility
- Vehicles are started early on cold weather days
- Vehicles have block heaters that are plugged in to insure starting
- Spare vehicles are pre-tripped inspected and started early
Inspection Records
Records detailing the past three (3) years of state inspection results of the vendor's fleet, this report must include average points lost per vehicle, number of vehicles placed out of service, vehicles receiving temporary permits, and any major defects found.
Video Surveillance
All vehicles used for CST routes must be equipped with functioning video surveillance. Video surveillance equipment must be tested on a daily basis and readily available to CST upon request.
Safety Audits
Safety Audits are performed to verify that vendors operate with effective and safe management and operating procedures. We may request documents related to drivers, vehicle and record-keeping.
Vehicle Maintenance
Vendors are required to maintain each vehicle in a safe and reliable operating condition by using a preventative maintenance program to mitigate vehicle breakdowns and service interruption during student
transport.
Vehicle Signage
Vendor's name must be clearly labeled on all vehicles used for CST routes. These vehicles must also display the route number in the window large enough for students and school staff to see from the curb.
Reports
All vendors are required to provide the following reports:
- Crash (collision) reports
- Injury reports
- Incident reports
- Student discipline reports
- Daily pre-trip inspection reports
- Daily bus ridership reports
- Late route reports
- First day departure without student reports
Severe Weather
It is the vendor’s responsibility to monitor the local news for the following weather related updates: district closures, late starts and early releases.