The Secretary of State's Office is responsible for the issuance and renewal of the charter bus drivers endorsement, monitoring the records of charter bus driver endorsement holders, entry of endorsement sanctions and direct entry of driving history data related to a Charter Bus drivers endorsement.
Who Needs a Charter Bus Endorsement?
Any person who drives a bus chartered for the sole purpose of transporting students regularly enrolled in grade 12 or below to or from interscholastic athletic or interscholastic or school sponsored activities. For further information please contact the Safe Ride section at 217-782-7674.
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Requirements for New Applicants
New applicants must meet the following requirements:
- Be twenty-one years of age or older.
- Possess a valid and properly classified driver's license issued by the Secretary of State.
- Submit to and successfully pass an Illinois specific criminal background check through an approved vendor.
- Complete a medical examination, including chemical testing for drugs. A current D.O.T. medical is acceptable.
- Successfully pass a written charter bus endorsement test administered by the Secretary of State.
- Successfully pass a road test, if applicable, in a representative vehicle of the class of the driver's license for passenger and charter bus endorsements.
- Affirm under penalty of perjury that he/she has not made a false statement or knowingly concealed a material fact in any application for a charter bus endorsement.
- Not have been repeatedly involved as a driver in motor vehicle accidents or repeatedly convicted of offenses, which indicates disrespect for traffic laws.
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Begin the Process to Become a Charter Bus Driver
You must seek employment with a Charter Bus Company that transports students grade 12 or below to and from school functions.
- The employer must request an employer 7-digit assigned number by faxing to our office (at 217-524-3654) their request on company letterhead indicating a contact person and phone/fax number.
- If an employer was previously issued a 7-digit number because of school bus permit legislation, the same employer number will be used for obtaining a Charter Bus drivers endorsement.
- The prospective employer schedules an appointment for fingerprinting through an Illinois State Police approved vendor.
- The employer completes the Illinois Secretary of State Charter Bus Application form certifying the following:
- The applicant is 21 years of age or older.
- The applicant has completed a medical examination, including chemical testing for drugs. Medical examination forms and drug testing results must be retained by the employer. A current D.O.T. medical is acceptable.
- The Illinois specific criminal background investigation was successfully completed on the applicant by the Illinois State Police showing no offenses as set forth in Section 6-508 of the Illinois Vehicle Code (625 ILCS 5/6-508).
- If the employer is participating in the Third Party Certification Program, the employer will conduct the behind-the-wheel examination of the applicant.
- The applicant goes to a Secretary of State CDL Drivers License Facility to obtain a charter bus driver endorsement and appropriate driver's license and presents the following documents to facility personnel:
- Three forms of identification containing the following information: name, date of birth, social security number, Illinois residency and signature.
- Presents a completed Application/Certification for charter bus endorsement form from the employer.
- Provides the Third Party Certification form (if applicable).
- Pays the appropriate fees.
- The facility personnel will conduct the following tests:
- Eligibility check.
- Vision test.
- Written test (as required).
- Pre-trip test (if applicable).
- Behind-the-wheel examination in the type of vehicle which the applicant will be driving, if applicable. (Proof of Third Party Testing will exempt the applicant from taking the drive test, if applicable).
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Charter Bus Driver Endorsement Forms
Application/Certification PDF
Certification of Employee PDF
Employer Notification Report PDF
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Employer Responsibility
- Insure that applicants submit to a fingerprint based criminal background investigation.
- Notify in writing the Secretary of State of the employment or termination of a driver that has a Charter Bus endorsement.
- Notify the Secretary of State as soon as possible, but not later than one (1) business day, whenever a charter bus used to transport students to and from school functions is involved in an accident and the driver is required to submit to the post-accident testing requirements as set forth in 49 C.F.R.382.303. Transporting students Grade 12 or below to and from school functions. Please use the Employer Notification Report.
- To maintain records of certifications and all verifications on the premises, which would be available for immediate inspection by the Secretary of State.
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Illinois Compiled Statute
105 ILCS 5/10 - 20.21 - Contracts for charter bus services
625 ILCS 5/6 - 104 - Classification of Driver - Special Restriction
625 ILCS 5/6 - 508 - Commercial Driver's License (CDL) qualification standards.
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If you have further questionsy ou may e-mail your request orcontact the Safe Ride Unit at 217-782-7674.
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