In accordance with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration Regulation found at 49 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 383.123 and A.C.A. §27-23-108 (e) and (f), no later than September 30, 2005, all Arkansas school bus drivers shall have a school bus specific endorsement on their commercial driver’s license (CDL). Any driver with less than two years experience driving a school bus must take the written and skills exams. Any driver with two or more years experience driving a school bus will only be required to take the written exam.
The written exam will be available statewide by November 1, 2004. The exam will consist of twenty multiple-choice questions and will be administered exclusively by State Police examiners. The skills exam waiver forms will be available at all State Police testing locations.
Attached is the new Arkansas School Bus Endorsement Chapter for the CDL manual and a copy of A.C.A. §27-23-108.