14-90.006. Operational and Driving Requirements

(1) Bus transit systems shall not permit a driver to drive a bus when such driver’s license has been suspended, cancelled, or revoked. Bus transit systems shall require a driver who receives a notice that his or her license to operate a motor vehicle has been suspended, cancelled, or revoked to notify his or her employer of the contents of the notice immediately, no later than the end of the business day following the day he or she received the notice.

(2) Buses shall be operated at all times in compliance with applicable traffic regulations, ordinances, and laws of the jurisdiction in which they are being operated.

(3) A driver shall not be permitted or required to drive more than 12 hours in a 24-hour period, or drive after having been on duty for 16 hours in a 24-hour period. A driver shall not be permitted to drive until the requirement of a minimum eight consecutive hours of off-duty time has been fulfilled. A driver’s work period shall begin from the time he or she first reports for duty to his or her employer. A driver is permitted to exceed his or her regulated hours in order to reach a regularly established relief or dispatch point, provided the additional driving time does not exceed one hour.

(4) To ensure uniform interpretation of subsections 14-90.002(10), (11), (22) and 14-90.006(3), F.A.C., the following practical applications are provided:

(a) A driver is required to drive from 4 a.m. – 8 a.m., off-duty from 8 a.m. – 3 p.m., then required to drive from 3 p.m. – 11 p.m. Driving hours and on-duty hours are the same. 4 hours + 8 hours = 12 hours driving. This driver has met the maximum allowed driving hours within a 24-hour period and cannot be permitted or required to drive until a minimum eight consecutive hours off-duty has been fulfilled. This driver cannot be permitted or allowed to drive before 7 a.m.

(b) A driver is required to drive from 4 a.m. – 8 a.m., off-duty from 8 a.m. – 11 a.m., then required to be on-duty, not driving, from 11 a.m. – 11 p.m. Driving hours = 4 hours and on-duty not driving hours = 12 hours for a total of 16 hours on-duty. This driver has met the maximum allowed on-duty hours within a 24-hour period and cannot be permitted or required to drive until a minimum eight consecutive hours off-duty has been fulfilled. This driver cannot be permitted or allowed to drive before 7 a.m.

(c) A driver is required to be on-duty, not driving, from 4 a.m. – 8 a.m., off-duty from 8 a.m. – 11 a.m., then on-duty, not driving from 11 a.m. – 11 p.m. On-duty not driving hours = 4 hours + 12 hours for a total of 16 hours on-duty. This driver has met the maximum allowed on-duty hours within a 24-hour period and cannot be permitted or required to drive until a minimum eight consecutive hours off-duty has been fulfilled. The driver cannot be permitted or allowed to drive before 7 a.m.

(d) A driver is required to be on-duty, not driving, from 4 a.m. – 8 a.m., then off-duty from 8 a.m. – 11 a.m., then on-duty, driving from 11 a.m. – 11 p.m. On-duty, not driving hours = 4 hours and on-duty driving hours = 12 hours for a total of 16 hours on-duty. This driver has met the maximum allowed driving and on-duty hours within a 24-hour period and cannot be permitted or required to drive until a minimum eight consecutive hours off-duty has been fulfilled. This driver cannot be permitted or allowed to drive before 7 a.m.

(5) A driver shall not be permitted or required to be on duty more than 72 hours in any period of seven consecutive days; however, any 24 consecutive hours of off duty time shall constitute the end of any such period of seven consecutive days. A driver who has reached the maximum 72 hours of on duty time during the seven consecutive days shall be required to have a minimum of 24 consecutive hours off duty prior to returning to on duty status.

(6) A driver is permitted to drive for more than the regulated hours for the safety and protection of the public when conditions such as adverse weather, disaster, security threat, a road or traffic condition, medical emergency, or an accident occur.

(7) Bus transit systems shall not permit or require any driver to drive a bus when his or her ability is impaired, or likely to be impaired, by fatigue, illness, or other causes, likely to create an unsafe condition.

(8) Bus transit systems shall require pre-operational or daily inspection and reporting of all defects and deficiencies likely to affect safe operation or cause mechanical malfunctions.

(a) An inspection or test shall be made of the following parts and devices to ascertain that they are in safe condition and in good working order:

1. Service brakes.

2. Parking brakes.

3. Tires and wheels.

4. Steering.

5. Horn.

6. Lighting devices.

7. Windshield wipers.

8. Rear vision mirrors.

9. Passenger doors.

10. Exhaust system.

11. Equipment for transporting wheelchairs.

12. Safety, security, and emergency equipment.

(b) Bus transit systems shall review daily inspection reports and document corrective actions taken as a result of any deficiencies identified by daily inspections.

(c) Bus transit systems shall retain records of daily bus inspections and any corrective action documentation a minimum of two weeks.

(9) A bus with any passenger door in the open position shall not be operated with passengers aboard. The doors shall not be opened until the bus is stopped. A bus with any inoperable passenger door shall not be operated with passengers aboard, except to move a bus to a safe location.

(10) During darkness, interior lighting and lighting in stepwells on buses shall be sufficient for passengers to enter and exit safely.

(11) Passengers shall not be permitted in the stepwells of any bus while the bus is in motion, or to occupy an area forward of the standee line.

(12) Passengers shall not be permitted to stand on buses not designed and constructed for that purpose.

(13) Buses shall not be refueled in a closed building. The fueling of buses when passengers are being carried shall be reduced to the minimum number of times necessary during such transportation.

(14) Bus transit systems shall require the driver to be properly secured to the driver’s seat with a restraining belt at all times while the bus is in motion.

(15) Buses shall not be left unattended with passengers aboard for longer than 15 minutes. The parking or holding brake device shall be properly set at any time the bus is left unattended.

(16) Buses shall not be left unattended in an unsafe condition with passengers aboard at any time.

Rulemaking Authority 334.044(2), 341.041(3), 341.061(2)(a) FS. Law Implemented 341.061(2) FS. History–New 9-7-87, Amended 5-31-89, 11-10-92, 8-7-05, 6-24-08, 9-16-10.