Section 458.1030  Driver Requirements

a)         Each day that a school bus is operated the driver shall conduct a pretrip inspection of the mechanical and safety equipment on the bus as prescribed by this Part.  A person other than the driver may perform portions of the pretrip inspection as prescribed by this Part.  (Section 13-115 of the Illinois Vehicle Inspection Law, as amended by Public Act 89-658)

b)         The pretrip inspection shall consist of inspecting mechanical and safety equipment on the school bus.  (See Section 458.Illustration A for specific equipment listed.)

c)         The pretrip inspection shall be performed each day a school bus is operated.  If the same driver operates the same bus more than once a day, a new inspection is not required for each subsequent trip.

d)         If a bus is operated by a different driver for any subsequent trips during the day, an additional pretrip inspection is required.  If a driver is required to complete his/her route in a bus different than the one he/she started the route in, a complete pretrip inspection must be performed on the replacement bus.

e)         The driver is required to complete a School Bus Driver's Pretrip Inspection Form (the Form) each time an inspection is performed.  Any defects found on the bus must be recorded on the Form.

f)          The following items can be inspected during the pretrip by someone other than the driver (e.g., school bus mechanic).  The driver is responsible for verifying that these items have been inspected as required.  Verification is provided by the driver's signature on the Form.

1)         Oil;

2)         Coolant;

3)         Battery;

4)         Transmission Fluid;

5)         Master Cylinder Brake Fluid;

6)         Power Steering Fluid;

7)         Washer Fluid;

8)         All belts (e.g., fan, alternator, power steering); and

9)         Wiring.

g)         If any person other than the driver inspects any item listed in subsection (f) of this Section, that person must provide his or her signature on the Form.  Items listed in subsection (f) may be inspected the evening prior to the day the bus will be used for a trip.  The Form must indicate the date the components listed in subsection (f) are inspected.  If items listed in subsection (f) are inspected on the previous day, the bus cannot be driven between the time the components listed in subsection (f) are inspected and the first trip of the day.

h)         If defects are discovered, the driver must notify the school bus owner/operator so the defects can be corrected.

i)          The Department recommends that all defects be corrected before any bus is used to transport children.  Each school district or contractor must establish policies to govern procedures that are to be followed when any component is found to be unsatisfactory.

j)          Each day before a school bus is operated, the driver must examine the previous Form to verify all defects have been corrected.  If all defects have not been corrected, the driver must immediately notify the school bus owner/operator or his or her designee.

k)         The Form shall be completed in duplicate.

l)          The original Form shall be presented to the school bus owner/operator, or his or her designee, each day an inspection is completed.  The owner/operator, or his or her designee, shall be responsible for insuring the repairs/adjustments are made as soon as practicable.

m)        After any repairs are made, the school bus mechanic performing the repairs/adjustments must sign and date the Form.

n)         The original copy shall be maintained by the owner/operator for one hundred and eighty days from the date of inspection.

o)         The duplicate copy shall remain in the bus for thirty days from the date of inspection.

p)         The original Forms shall be organized in an orderly fashion and made available for inspection at any time by officers of the Department as authorized by 92 Ill. Adm. Code 456.60(ll).

q)         The owner/operator is responsible for providing Forms to the drivers.

r)          Each school bus must be equipped with an adequate supply of Forms.

s)         Forms are typically organized in a booklet format.  Each booklet contains a number of Forms.  Each bus shall have one booklet assigned to it.  The booklet must stay on the bus until each duplicate copy has remained on the bus for at least 30 days (see subsection (o) of this Section).

t)          Forms must not be filled out in advance and each individual component must be checked or marked while the Form is being completed.  If a component listed in Section 458.Illustration A was not present on the bus at the time of manufacture (e.g., clutch), the item must be marked out and "Not Applicable" or "N/A" must be written beside the component.

u)         A copy of Section 458.Illustration A can be used or a form can be developed which contains all the information found in Section 458.Illustration A. Additional components may be added to the components listed in Section 458.Illustration A as the bus owner/operator deems necessary (e.g., wheelchair lift).

v)         The Department must approve all variations of Section 458.Illustration A before a form other than Section 458.Illustration A can be used.  Forms submitted for approval must be submitted to:  Vehicle Inspection Unit Manager, Illinois Department of Transportation, Division of Traffic Safety, 3215 Executive Park Drive, P.O. Box 19212, Springfield, IL  62794-9212.

w)        The Form shall contain general information about the bus as well as list the items that are required to be inspected by the driver (see Section 458.Illustration A).  A Remarks Section must be provided for the driver to detail specific defects.  A signature line must be provided for the driver and, if applicable, the mechanic who performed any inspection of mechanical components.  A signature and date line must also be provided for the school bus mechanic performing any repairs/adjustments.

x)         Inventory of preprinted Forms may be used, in the manner previously authorized, until depleted or until August 1, 1998.

y)         The Form shown in Section 458.Illustration A may be used on or after October 1, 1997; however, use of the Form shown in Section 458.Illustration A is mandatory on or after August 1, 1998.

            Agency Note: If the bus is not being used as a school bus (e.g., is being driven to obtain maintenance/repair work), this Part does not apply.