WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Unified Carrier Registration Plan Board of Directors approved by unanimous vote a UCR fee exemption for intrastate school buses.

On December 13, 2018, the National School Transportation Association (NSTA) met with the Unified Carrier Registration Plan Board of Directors (UCR Board) to request an exemption from the UCR fleet size calculation for school buses and school vehicles owned by for-hire contractors that are operated exclusively as intrastate transportation for school children.

Twenty-five school bus contractor trade associations, representing school bus contractors across the country, showed their support by signing NSTA’s letter to the UCR Board.

NSTA’s request was presented at the UCR Board meeting by Maria Battista, Association Director of NSTA, who presented the legal argument, and Michelle Simon, Vice President of Safety Compliance with National Express, LLC, who presented the contractor perspective. Other members of the team present for the argument were Brandon Wiseman, Partner with Scopelitis, Garvin, Light, Hanson & Feary, P.C.; Becky Weber, Managing Director with Prime Policy Group; and, Shawn McGlinchey, Vice President of Risk Management with the Krapf Group.

Battista explained that the UCR Board has broad authority and discretion to exempt motor carriers from fleet size calculations in determining UCR fees and that Congressional intent and public policy considerations support an exemption for intrastate school buses and vehicles that transport children to and from school and to school-related activities. NSTA provided suggested exemption language for the UCR Board’s consideration. Following the presentation and discussion, the UCR Board voted unanimously to approve the request.

NSTA President Blake Krapf said, “NSTA member contractors reached out to our advocacy team earlier this year noting that UCR fee exemptions available to other intrastate motor carriers were not available to school bus contractors. NSTA worked with member contractors and industry leaders to develop the facts and law supporting the request. NSTA appreciates the collaborative work and support from our peer associations and the careful consideration of the UCR Board in voting to approve the request. This is a significant achievement by NSTA that will benefit all of our members, but especially our smaller contractors faced with discontinuing trips due to the cost of UCR fees on their entire fleet.”

For more information on the National School Transportation Association and its member initiatives, visit www.yellowbuses.org