Louisiana Administrative Code
Title 28 - EDUCATION
Part CXIII - Bulletin 119-Louisiana School Transportation Specifications and Procedures
Chapter 7 - Vehicle Inspection and Maintenance
Section CXIII-701 - Inspection and Maintenance

1. All student transportation vehicles must be maintained in safe operating condition through a systematic preventive maintenance program.

2. All student transportation vehicles must be inspected during the months of June, July, or August and certified as safe by the appropriate authority prior to the beginning of each school session. Re-inspection or more frequent inspections of vehicles may be made at the discretion of the LEA.

3. All student transportation vehicles must be inspected by an approved Commercial Motor Vehicle Inspection Station during December, January, or February of each school year. Re-inspection or more frequent inspections of vehicles may be made at the discretion of the LEA.

4. Accurate maintenance records must be kept for each school vehicle.

5. Student transportation vehicle drivers must conduct pre-trip inspections before beginning each trip, whether morning, mid-day or afternoon. Inspections must include all items required by the current CDL statutes.

6. Any defects or deficiencies in the areas listed above that may affect the safety of the vehicle's operation or result in its mechanical breakdowns must be reported verbally and in writing to the local transportation office and approval must be granted to continue operation of the vehicle.

7. A pre-trip inspection checklist designed by the LEA must be completed by drivers of all student transportation vehicles and maintained in the vehicle until it is filed with the local transportation office. Included in the pre-trip check should be an inventory of required documents: commercial driver's license, Department of Transportation physical verification, proof of vehicle insurance, copy of vehicle registration, student roster, seating chart, route description and stop locations (for daily routes), emergency telephone numbers, accident report forms, etc.

8. A written report shall be made at the completion of each trip or tour of duty regarding any defect, deficiency, malfunction or questionable performance of a student transportation vehicle.

9. A trip inspection must be conducted after each trip or individual run to check for passengers, equipment, medication, etc., that may have been left on the bus.

10. LEAs shall develop and provide pre-trip and post-trip inspection report forms to all school bus drivers and develop a system for collection and evaluation of the data.