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Operator Volume 51 Issue 11 • December 2021
Stop and Stay Stopped By Shelly Jonas School Transportation News published an article called, “A Revolutionary New Idea to Reduce Fatalities When Loading & Unloading Students” on November 1. The crux of the article was based on the fact that the Kansas Department of Education’s annual survey on Danger Zone fatalities has dropped nearly in half when comparing 10-year periods: • •
Ten Years – From 2000/2001 to 2009/2010: 118 fatalities (11.8 avg) Ten Years – From 2010/2011 to 2019/2020: 68 fatalities (6.8 avg) The article states that the possible reasons are that over the last 10 years, there has been: 1. Greater use of crossing gates 2. Reduced crossovers 3. Improved driver training 4. Greater focus on preventing these accidents by school districts.
It then advertises a kid safety program by the School Bus Safety Company for students in Pre-K – 2nd grade. It states that school bus safety training is a problem for many schools as the transportation department has little access to students and teachers don’t have the knowledge or the time to be incorporating this into their curriculum. Minnesota State Law differs from most states as they do require students to be trained in the first month of school. Our industry must make sure that we keep stressing the importance of this training. Now as video cameras are being added on every school bus in the state, training is required as part of the grant process. I started doing stop arm training as required by the state in driver’s education programs. I noticed a dramatic drop in stop arm violations by high school students after I started this training. My own daughter went to a driver’s school that skipped over the whole subject. The teacher admitted she doesn’t have very good curriculum. I share this as an opportunity for you perhaps to do part of your required public outreach if you are applying for the stop arm grant. While I am sure that you are short on staff, I think you will find there is a direct safety benefit. The best stop arm violation outcome is the one that never occurred.
Look for the full agenda on page 9!
2 The Operator
From the President Garrett Regan, Faribault, MN I hope the newsletter finds each of you well in the midst of the holiday season. I am taking part in leadership training with one of our customers, and part of the training is working with Clifton Strengths. If anyone has the opportunity to explore this curriculum, I’d suggest you do, as it can be eye opening. One of the items that has resonated with me is involving staff with our goals as a company. We aren’t an investment firm, shooting to make a certain financial return every month, nor are we selling cars, attempting to meet our quota. We want to provide safe transportation, and have strong customer service. We want to take care of our employees the best we can so they can provide for their families, and enjoy being a part of our teams. These items may not be as easy to quantify. How do we involve our staff with specific goal setting in order to celebrate accomplishments along the way? This may be different for each location or terminal we have. It’s something we’ve all heard and experienced in our management training, that buy-in from staff leads to deeper investment and more motivation, but I know for me, this was a refresher worth some thought and planning.
MISSION STATEMENT: THE PURPOSE OF THE OPERATOR IS TO PROVIDE THE MEMBERSHIP OF THE MINNESOTA SCHOOL BUS OPERATORS ASSOCIATION WITH INFORMATION REGARDING CURRENT INDUSTRY ISSUES. THE OPERATOR IS PUBLISHED 11 TIMES A YEAR BY THE MSBOA, 10606 Hemlock St. NW • Annandale, MN 55302. FOR MORE INFORMATION CALL 320-274-8313. FAX: 320-274-8027. Website: www.msboa.com SUBSCRIPTIONS ARE FREE WITH MEMBERSHIP. Additional subscriptions are $24.00 a year. COPYRIGHT 2021 MEMBERS MAY MAKE PHOTOCOPIES OR USE ARTICLES AS NECESSARY PROVIDING THE SOURCE IS CITED. Co-Editors: Shelly Jonas: shellyj@msboa.com
VIEWS PRESENTED IN THIS NEWSLETTER MAY NOT NECESSARILY REPRESENT THE OPINIONS OF THE ENTIRE MEMBERSHIP OR ITS BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
I hope each of you have a very Merry Christmas!
Board of Directors PRESIDENT
Garrett Regan FIRST VICE PRESIDENT
Bethany Schubert SECOND VICE PRESIDENT
Jason Anderson TREASURER
Tom Hey Ex-Officio
Josh Schiffler
Jason Anderson, Big Lake 763.263.7900/Cell 612.251.8364 jason.anderson@visionmidwest.com
Tom Hey, Marshall
507.532.4043 /CELL 507.829.7365 thomashey@iw.net
Garrett Regan, Faribault 507.334.5121/ CELL 651.470.7948 gregan@minnesotacoaches.com
Rayme Bernick, Delano 763.972.3991/Cell 612.702.8954 rayme@stahlkebus.com
Shelly Jonas, Annandale 320.274.8313 / CELL 612.599.0431 shellyj@msboa.com
Josh Schiffler, Crosby 218.546.6156 / CELL 612.245.6579 jschiffler@citransportation.com
Eric Burrill, Jordan 952.492-2410/Cell eburrill@benjaminbus.com
Scott Kennedy, Zumbrota - Mazeppa Bethany Schubert, Saint Stephen 507.273.2819 skennedy379@aol.com
320.251.1202 / CELL 218.851.2061 bethany@trobecsbus.com
Ann Casey, St. Louis Park
Steve Latour, St. Paul
Kathryn Forbord, Lakeville
952.426.7114/Cell 952.797.4936 acasey@adamsvs.net
Connie Grisim, Stewartville 507.533.8775/Cell 507.254.3828 Connie.grisimbus@gmail.com
Doug Grisim, Lake City 651.345.4112/CELL 651.380.9063 douggrisim@gmail.com
651.251.8080 / CELL 651.587.6292 slatour@minnesotacoaches.com
Paul Meyer, Hutchinson
320.234-0888 / CELL 612.281.7375 paulm@hutchbus.com
Michael Putzke, Paynesville 320.243.4455 / FAX 243.4450 putmic@hotmail.com
952.985.7540/ CELL 952.484.6879 kforbord@schmittyandsons.com
Nathan Olander, Detroit Lakes 218.847.7533 njolander@gmail.com
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Legislative Update By Scott MacMahon, Flaherty Hood Phone: 651-259-1908 • Email: shmcmahon@flaherty-hood.com
As I sit down to write my article this month, I am reminded that the 2022 legislative session begins in two months—on January 31. Usually at this point I have a good sense on how the session will flow, what the priorities will be of each chamber and each party, and what we should expect. This year is different. For starters, we still do not have clarity if the public, including lobbyists, will be allowed inside the Capitol and the legislative office buildings. A couple months ago, the House DFL announced that the State Office Building, where all 134 state representatives have offices and most House committee hearings are held, would remain closed to the public, and that committee hearings would continue to be held virtually. The Senate GOP has yet to announce its plans for the Senate office building, but the expectation is that it will be open in some capacity when sessions starts. As I said last session, which was conducted entirely virtually, it is difficult to lobby when there isn’t a lobby. But more importantly, there is a very important part of the legislative process that comes from the light of transparency shining on the process. This is missing when the capitol is closed, and the public is removed from the process of law making, and government accountability. The other significant unknown for this session is what will be the agenda of each body. Typically, the primary focus of an even-numbered year session is the bonding bill, where the state makes long-term capital investments in things likes roads and bridges, public buildings, and other public infrastructures. But this year I anticipate significant discussions on supplemental budgets. Month-to-month revenue reports have shown revenues significantly higher than projected a year ago, and next week we will get the state’s new budget report which will likely show a projected budget surplus of more than $1 billion. In addition, the state is expected to receive $6-7 billion from the federal infrastructure bill passed earlier this fall. Included in that is an additional $4.8 billion over five years for our roads and bridges. To put it in perspective, the state usually spends about $2 billion per year on roads and bridges from our gas tax and bonding. Additional funding is available for transit, waste water and drinking water infrastructure, broadband, along with other efforts. It is unclear where the legislature will go on the spending efforts this session. I suspect the House (controlled by the DFL) and Senate (controlled by the GOP) will come to an agreement on how the invest the federal money. On the state surplus, I suspect the House will push for new investment and the Senate will push for tax cuts. This difference, coupled with another virtual session, will likely lead to a stalemate with neither new investment nor tax cuts from the state’s budget surplus. Between the unknown of whether or not the session will be conducted virtually or in person, the uncertainty of how the legislature will address the $6+ billion in federal infrastructure funding, and the uncertainty of the state’s projected budget surplus, my crystal ball is pretty cloudy. But at the end of the day, no matter how the session plays out, we will be at the Capitol advocating on behalf of the MSBOA, our policy agenda, and our great operators. I wish you each the happiest of holidays and all the best in 2022.
ELDT
Entry-Level Driver Training
What steps should you take before you register in the Training Provider Registry? When registering, training providers are required to self-certify that they meet ELDT requirements.
Do your entry-level driver training programs meet minimum Federal requirements? Carefully review the requirements and make sure you meet the criteria for listing on the Training Provider Registry, or make any needed changes. Curricula Does your entry-level driver training curricula meet the criteria set forth in 49 CFR part 380 appendices A through E, as applicable? You can also download the ELDT Curricula Summary to review a quick overview of requirements for each type of entry-level driver training. Facilities Do your classrooms and range facilities comply with all applicable Federal, State, and/or local statutes and regulations? (see § 380.709) Instructors Do all of your behind-the-wheel (BTW) instructors and theory instructors meet the CDL, experience, and State qualification requirements set forth in § 380.713? State Licensing Is your operation licensed, certified, registered, or authorized to provide training in accordance with the applicable laws of any State where in-person training is conducted? (see § 380.703) Vehicles Do all vehicles you will use in BTW training comply with applicable Federal and State safety requirements? (see § 380.711) Are all training vehicles in the same group and type that driver-trainees will operate for their CDL skills test?
Are you retaining the required records? Do you have processes in place to retain the following for three years from the date created or received, per § 380.725? Self-certifications by all accepted driver-trainees for BTW training attesting that they will comply with U.S. Department of Transportation regulations in parts 40, 382, 383, and 391, as well as State and/or local laws, related to controlled substances testing, age, medical certification, licensing, and driving record A copy of the driver-trainee’s commercial learner’s permit(s) (CLP(s)) or CDL Instructor qualification documentation Lesson plans for theory and BTW (range and public road) training curricula Records of individual entry-level driver training assessments
TRAINING PROVIDER REGISTRY
Learn more at: https://tpr.fmcsa.dot.gov/provider
ELDT
Entry-Level Driver Training
Are you prepared to assess the drivers you train? Training providers must meet the requirements to determine, evaluate, and document driver-trainee proficiency. Are you using written or electronic assessments to determine driver-trainees’ proficiency in the knowledge objectives in the theory portion of each unit of instruction in appendices A through E of 49 CFR part 380, as applicable? Are you tracking the score to determine if each driver-trainee has received an overall minimum score of 80 percent on the theory assessment? Are your training instructors evaluating and documenting driver-trainees’ proficiency in BTW skills in accordance with the curricula in appendices A through D of part 380, as applicable?
Are you ready to register all your locations in the Training Provider Registry? Once a training provider meets the requirements in § 380.703, it is eligible to register to be listed in the Training Provider Registry. All training providers are required to register in the Training Provider Registry, even if they do not provide training to the public. Training providers will have the option not to list their contact information if they only offer training to select drivers through established arrangements. Decide who will register your training provider. Each training provider must select one representative to register the provider with FMCSA. Once the training provider registration is approved, the training provider representative will log in to the Training Provider Registry to provide location-specific information. • If a training provider operates multiple locations, it must register each location. • Once the training provider registration is approved by FMCSA, the training provider representative will also have the option to send an invitation to add users, allowing them to register and work in the Training Provider Registry on behalf of that training provider.
How will you submit information about the drivers you train to the Training Provider Registry? Once a driver-trainee has successfully completed training, the training provider must submit that driver’s information to FMCSA’s Training Provider Registry by midnight of the second business day after the driver completes training. States will only accept driver certification information from the Training Provider Registry to determine if the driver is eligible to take the applicable skills or knowledge test. If a State cannot verify a driver’s ELDT completion based on the information that has been submitted to the Registry, the driver will not be permitted to take the skills or knowledge test. All registered training providers will be able to log in to the Training Provider Registry to manually enter this information. Instructional guides will be available once the Registry is operational. Will you develop a web interface to the TPR Web Service? Training providers with their own IT systems also have the option to set up a web interface to submit data via the TPR Web Service. For more information, visit https://tpr.fmcsa.dot.gov/DeveloperToolkit.
July 2021 version 1.1
Looking for more information? • Read the ELDT regulations.
• Browse the frequently asked questions.
• Review the TPR Training Provider factsheet for an overview of the training provider roles and responsibilities.
• Visit the Training Providers page of the Training Provider Registry for additional resources and to sign up for email updates.
• Review the ELDT Curricula Summary for an overview of the curricula requirements.
TRAINING PROVIDER REGISTRY
Learn more at: https://tpr.fmcsa.dot.gov/provider
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Pandemic Fatigue By Shelly Jonas This past week I had (yet another) Zoom meeting with several industry people. You could tell we are deep into Pandemic Fatigue. Everyone was hesitant to talk about how things are going. There is obviously a great weight on the education system. We are dealing with illness and death. We are seeing school board meetings disintegrate into fighting, yelling and storming out of meetings. Students are fighting at bus stops. Educators have said that student behavior has regressed in general. It is very likely students are absorbing the stress from their parents as well as a community whose patience and empathy has bottomed out. There are several fatigue risk factors identified by the CDC in 2009 for emergency workers – (and let’s face it what we have been doing in the past 20 months is emergency work): • Insufficient or fragmented sleep (less than 7-8 hours of uninterrupted sleep) • Shift work/rotating shifts/night shift • Lack of/limited rest breaks • Physically and mentally demanding work • Exposure to temperature and other environmental extremes (Did the recent cold snap seem more stressful this year?) • Exposure to chemical and physical hazards • Use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) – (It is interesting that just the use of PPE is considered a fatigue factor in 2009). • Limited access to recreational/fitness equipment • Exposure to psychological stressors (e.g., close contact with ill or dead victims) WE REALLY DO MEAN • Unfamiliar work environment and/or work task/operations (New routes?) FULL SERVICE • Limited access to nutritious meals With radiators, DPFs, EGRs and more than 30,000 exhaust parts, it’s no wonder Auto-jet is the choice of school bus systems coast to coast. John Rapp President
Managing fatigue is going to be an issue for us moving forward this school year. We will need to talk to our staff about the importance of managing their sleep and downtime. Not only is it important for the work we do, but it will also keep them healthy in the long term as well. The WHO has guidance on dealing with pandemic fatigue. The top recommendation is to be transparent. Let employees know the reasons behind your decisions while acknowledging the limits of science and government. They also suggest communication – talk to everyone as to what support they need from you and engage them in the outcomes. Allow people to live their lives, but reduce risks. Lastly, they suggest acknowledging the difficulties and hardships that people have experienced.
AUTO-JET.COM 800-247-5391
Continued to Page 11
7 School Bus Driver Appreciation Day will be held on February 23, 2022 The committee met with Goff Public on December 6th. We know that this year has been a struggle for the industry. Our hope is to focus on a thank you to our people, especially those that have stepped up this past year. If you have a new school bus driver who has a great story – perhaps someone in your community who is community minded and responded to the need, please let us know. You can email shellyj@msboa.com and we will forward the story to Goff Public.
Need Legal Help? It’s Just a Phone Call Away! As a valued member of Minnesota School Bus Operator’s Assosication, you are entitled to using Thomas Revnew of Seaton, Peters & Revnew Legal Hotline free of charge. During each six month period, you will be entitled to two free fifteen minute telephone calls to the Hotline. MSBOA encourages you to use this free service. When using the hotline, please follow the following procedure: 1. Call Tom Revnew’s direct dial, which is (952)921-4622. 2. Identify yourself, your company name and that you are a client of MSBOA. 3. If Tom Revnew is not available, please leave a voicemail with the information described above and Tom will return the call as soon as possible. 4. If Tom Revnew is not available and your call is an emergency, please dial “0” when you receive Tom’s voicemail and you will be transferred to the receptionist.
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MN School Bus Safety Expo By Shelly Jonas The Annual MN School Bus Safety Expo will be held January 28-29 in St. Cloud. We have several hot topics on the agenda: February 7th is the deadline for the ELDT registration. Matthew Marrin from FMCSA will be there to discuss all the last-minute details you need to know. Tony Anderson is the new Director of Operations at DVS, he will be addressing some of their plans to help with the driver shortage issues. The Office of Traffic Safety will also be attending to talk about what they’ve learned during the first round of camera grants and what to know for Round 2. The TSA will be discussing Security Awareness. In North Carolina, a man took advantage of buses warming up in the parking lot and eventually stole a school bus after being confronted by a driver. We have a person in Minnesota who has been caught creeping around in spare buses using the excuse that he wants to buy the bus. These activities should have our industry thinking about ways to secure our fleets. We will also have Lt. Reu addressing items that he has been seeing in the field. We will have Senator Scott Newman addressing our group for the Saturday luncheon. Senator Newman’s passion for the school bus industry has been the impetus for the camera grant and other hearings at the Capitol. The Vendor Show on Friday night should be a good opportunity to network and perhaps see friends that we have only seen on Zoom over the past two years. Tim Eggebraaten is a former police officer who will talk to us about leadership skills. In the spring of 2020 pretty much every school district in the US shut down and the country was left to grapple with the question of “how do we continue to educate our country’s kids” and school district after school district stepped up and did their very best. It was a true testament to the dedication of the education system. Tim’s message is a stark reminder that, while we work every day to do what is best for kids, we also need to remember to take care of ourselves. Terry Nebelsick is a former Superintendent in South Dakota. Terry served the past three governors on education committees and juvenile justice committees and continues to advise Governor Noem on the South Dakota State Board of Educational Standards, and serves as chairman of the School Finance Accountability Board. In his retirement, he got his CDL license and drives school bus. He brings a lot of leadership and service experience to share with the attendees. We will see you in January! Sign up at www.msboa.com
January 28-29, 2022
St. Cloud, Minnesota River’s Edge Civic Center Courtyard by Marriott (Reservations: 320-654-1661) Questions: MSBOA 320-274-8313 Register at msboa.com
A comprehensive seminar on school bus safety for Transportation Directors, Contractors, and Safety Personnel!
Tentative Agenda FRIDAY, JANUARY 28, 2022-
Terry Haws, River's Edge
4:00PM
MSBOA Board Meeting
6:00 - 8:00PM
Vendor Show and Happy Hour
SATURDAY, JANUARY 29, 2022 -
Stockinger Suite, River's Edge
7:00 - 8:00AM
Breakfast
8:00 - 10:00AM
MNDPS & FMCSA
10:00 - 11:00AM
TSA- Security Awareness
11:00 - 12:00PM
Tim Eggebraaten- Former police officer - critical thinking skills, leadership skills,
12:00 - 1:30PM
Luncheon & Guest Speaker Senator Scott Newman
1:30 - 2:30PM
Camera Panel Grant Committee
2:30 - 3:30PM
Terry Nebelsick - Former Superintendent/current school bus driver - employee motivation
3:30 - 4:00PM
General Business Session
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Pandemic Fatigue continued from page 6. Lastly, I know that many of you plan snacks and treats for your staff. Here is a list of stress-busting foods that you can incorporate: • Herbal Tea - Helps Promote Feelings of Warmth and Calmness • Dark Chocolate - Offers an Antioxidant-Rich Indulgence • Whole Grains - Carbohydrates can temporarily increase levels of serotonin, a hormone that boosts mood and reduces stress • Avocados - Offer omega-3 fatty acids. These healthy essential acids are known to reduce stress and anxiety, boost concentration, and improve mood. • Fish – More Omega-3s! But while having fish in an office is generally frowned upon due to the smell there are other whole-food options, like seaweed, chia seeds, flaxseeds, walnuts, and fortified food, such as certain brands of eggs, milk, soy milk, and nut milk. (There are many recipes for protein balls containing peanut butter, chia seeds, flax, protein powder, honey and oatmeal that could be passed off as cookies!) • Pass the milk - Calcium-rich foods are an essential part of a healthy diet for bone health, but this nutrient may also help reduce depression, help muscles relax and stabilize mood. • Nuts - contain B vitamins, along with healthy fatty acids. B vitamins are an important part of a healthy diet and can help reduce stress. Almonds, pistachios, and walnuts may even help lower blood pressure levels. Nuts and seeds are also high in magnesium which has been linked to better anxiety management and better sleep! • Oranges - Citrus Fruits and Strawberries Contain Vitamin C Which Help Fight Stress • Yogurt - Probiotics Can Create a Healthy Gut Microbiota, Helping You Manage Stress Lastly, positivity! The connection between positive thinking not only reduces stress, but overall health. According to Johns Hopkins, there are three steps you can take to help with positivity. 1. Smile more (even if you have to fake it) it reduces stress and anxiety. 2. Practice reframing – look for that silver lining in the situation. 3. Build resiliency – accept that change is a part of life. The school bus industry is filled with people who have accepted change and have been resilient the past 20 months. We can do this!
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Mask Mandate extended through March By Shelly Jonas The federal travel mask mandate isn't going away any time soon thanks to the emergence of omicron, the latest COVID-19 variant of concern. On December 2nd President Joe Biden announced an extension of the Transportation Security Administration's mandate, which requires travelers to mask up on airplanes, trains, buses and in airports and train stations, through March 18. This will be the third extension since the mandate was first implemented on Feb. 1. Travelers who refuse to wear masks may face fines ranging from a minimum $500 to $3,000 for repeat offenders, although the mandate does carve out exemptions for travelers under the age of 2 and people with certain disabilities. School Bus companies around the state have struggled with the mandate. The original CDC order stated that students should be provided with a mask rather than face punishment for non-wearing. School officials have struggled with enforcement as mask wearing remains a highly sensitive and divisive issue for parents and families. Metro Transit, has been handing out masks, but has not, according the Star Tribune, issued any fines.
MSBOA LEGAL HOTLINE (952) 921-4622 • Tom Revnew at Seaton, Peters & Revnew
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