OSDE: Urgent reminder for bus drivers to complete health certificate for DPS

Superintendents, 

We received the following reminder from Tammy Shepherd, Deputy Director, CDL Coordinator at the Oklahoma Department of Public Safety, which she asked that we urgently pass along to all school districts.

It is very important that you make sure ALL bus drivers have self-certified by close of business Friday. We have attached the affidavit that needs to be completed. The DPS strongly suggests you scan and email or fax using the information on the affidavit.   

Commercial Motor Vehicle Drivers who drive in Interstate Commerce are required to have a Federal Department of Transportation (DOT) approved health certification. School Bus drivers are not considered Interstate Commerce drivers and, therefore, are not required to complete the DOT health certification. 

Although school bus drivers do not have to complete a DOT health certification (The yearly SDE physical satisfies the legal requirement), they do have to let the Department of Public Safety know which category of driver they are; the interstate commerce driver or the excepted interstate driver (school bus driver).  This is done by completing the attached Medical Self-Certification Affidavit and sending it to the Department of Public Safety at the addresses provided on the form.

If this form is not completed by the close of business Friday, the driver’s CDL will be downgraded to a class “D” license. The only way for the driver to get their CDL reinstated will be to go through the CDL testing procedure again.

Because this process is so important we recommend the following;

1.    Verify that all drivers have sent in the Self-Certification Affidavit

2.    If a driver has not, or are if the driver is not sure,  have them complete the document.

       a.   If a school bus is the only CMV driven by a driver they should check box two on the form (interstate excepted).

       b.   If a school bus is the only CMV driven by a driver they should state that they are not attaching a health certificate.

       c.    Sign and date the form.

3.    Send the document to the Department of Public Safety using the fax or email information on the form.

4.    Keep documentation on file that the form has been sent in that includes the date and time it was sent.

If you have any questions, please contact Trent Gibson, 405-521-3472.

 

 

• Medical+Self-Cert+Affidavit.pdf