School Bus Safety
Every school bus in Minnesota is required by statute to be inspected annually by the Minnesota State Patrol. These mandated inspections are carried out by seven inspection teams who are deployed regionally.
Additionally, state troopers are assigned to enforce traffic regulations for school bus drivers and other motorists operating in proximity to school buses. Troopers conduct random school bus driver qualification checks, post-crash inspection and follow up reviews, and school bus-related public outreach programs.
School Bus Contacts
Lieutenant Brian Reu
Pupil Transportation Safety Director
Phone: (651) 405-6047
Sergeant Duane Bartels
Chief School Bus Inspector
Phone: (651) 260-2223
Regional Troopers
Sergeant James Senenfelder
Northern Regional Trooper
Phone: (612) 360-5172
Sergeant Paul Davis
Metro / Central Regional Trooper
Phone: (612) 685-4820
Sergeant Chad Dauffenbach
Southern Regional Trooper
Phone: (507) 430-0791
Regional School Bus Inspectors
This map identifies school bus inspector regions.
| South Metro |
Ullmer, James |
(651) 276-2781 |
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| South Metro |
Bigelow, Pat |
(612) 432-8731 |
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| South Metro |
Eric Simonsen |
(507) 696-6465 |
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| North Metro |
Brannan, Floyd |
(651) 247-8156 |
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| North Metro |
Husnik, Frank |
(651) 373-1005 |
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| Southeast |
Hofschulte, Ethan |
(507) 450-1511 |
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| Southeast |
Zempel, Dennis |
(507) 429-5008 |
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| Southwest |
Streff, Dean |
(507) 215-2310 |
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| Southwest |
Gass, Whendy |
(612) 655-5549 |
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| Central |
Hudson, Chris |
(320) 345-0018 |
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| Central |
Norton, Chris |
(320) 372-0370 |
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| Northwest |
Nelson, Mark |
(218) 689-7902 |
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| Northwest |
Tradewell, Lee |
(218) 849-1377 |
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| Northeast |
Salmi, Greg |
(218) 780-9982 |
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Model School Bus Driver Training Manual
The Model School Bus Driver Manual is available for download. It may be downloaded as one complete document or each section may be downloaded independently below.
Complete Model School Bus Driver Training Manual
Unit III Crash and Emergency Preparedness
Unit IV Vehicle Care, Inspection & Use
Unit V Laws, Regulations & Recommendations
Unit V Student Stop Lane Usage Examples
Unit V Inspection Decals Examples
Unit VI Special Needs Transportation
School Bus Driver Certification (CDL)
School Bus Driver Pre-trip Evaluation - Appendix B
School Bus Driver Certification - Appendix D
8 Hour Training Option - Appendix F
Student Survey Cycle One - Quiz
Student Survey Cycle One - Answers
Student Survey Cycle Two - Quiz
Student Survey Cycle Two - Answers
Student Survey Cycle Three - Quiz
Student Survey Cycle Three - Answers
Type III School Bus Information
Type III Special Needs Knowledge Quiz - Answer Key
Type III School Bus Driver Evaluation – Appendix A1
School Bus Inspection Manual
Tires
Exhaust
Related Forms
School Bus Inspection Results
In Minnesota, there are five types of authorized school buses (Type A, Type B, Type C, Type D and Type III) used to transport children to and from school and school-related activities. View examples of school bus types.
Minnesota’s school bus inspection program is based on a point value system devised to evaluate the condition of each bus inspected. Each school bus begins with 100 total points. As defects are discovered during the inspection process, points are deducted in accordance with values assigned in Minnesota Rule 7470.0700 “Table of points to be deducted”.
School buses with an inspection score of 96 to 100 pass the inspection and an annual inspection decal is affixed to the windshield signifying its roadworthiness.
A school bus with an inspection score of 80 to 95 points receives a 14-day temporary inspection certificate. The school bus must be re-inspected within the 14-day period or it is prohibited from transporting school children until the violation(s) have been corrected. Upon successful completion of the re-inspection, an annual inspection decal will be issued by the State Patrol signifying its roadworthiness.
A school bus with less than 80 points is deemed unsafe for the transportation of school children. This school bus is immediately prohibited from transporting school children until the defects are corrected. A temporary inspection certificate is issued and affixed to the bus. Pending re-inspection by the State Patrol, a school bus bearing a rejection sticker may be used to transport pupils only if all defects have been corrected and the inspection form has been signed by the owner or designee certifying the corrections. The signed certification form must be carried in the first aid kit on the bus for immediate verification of repairs by enforcement personnel.
School bus inspection results are listed by year and by school district. If unable to find the results for a specific school district for the current year it is because the annual inspections have not yet been completed. The inspection results are updated monthly.
2011 Inspection Results
For questions regarding inspection results for a particular school district, contact the school’s transportation director or the superintendent of schools. A listing of district superintendents and their contact information is available through the Minnesota Department of Education.