11 investigates state police inspections of hundreds of school buses

PITTSBURGH — As kids head back to school, many will be boarding school buses to get there.

11 Investigates went to the ABC Transit Depot to find out how the company is working with state police to make sure your kids stay safe on their ride to school.

Troopers inspected the fleet of buses at ABC Transit in Cheswick to make sure they are up to state code.  Over a two-week period, they check out the exterior, interior, undercarriage and under the hood.

"State police, trained bus inspectors, will walk around the vehicle, go inside the vehicle.  Look for the lighting systems, the 8-ways, the emergency doors, the emergency windows, under the hood,” said Todd O’Shell, vice president of ABC Transit. “Making sure everything mechanically is sound, underneath to see if there are any hazards."

In addition to the required safety measures, ABC Transit goes one step further.

Five cameras on a bus to keep an eye on the school bus driver, the students and on drivers on the road.

Along with GPS and speed trackers, each bus can be monitored at any point along the route.

"Where he is located, what his speed is and his location as he approaches the stop," O’Shell said.

Currently, there is a nation-wide shortage of school bus drivers. With 14 hours of class time and six hours behind the wheel, many people shy away from getting the required CDL permit.

With student safety being the top priority, there are numerous background checks as well.

"Drivers have to pass a number of criminal history background checks, along with child abuse background checks,” O’Shell said. “They have to go through child abuse training, they have to go through drug and alcohol testing."

While they do have plenty of drivers to get students back to school, throughout the year, ABC Transit is always looking for additional drivers.

They pay more than $19 an hour and they include benefits.

Cox Media Group