Wisconsin Administrative Code

Trans 300.38 Emergency warning equipment. (1) Each school bus shall be equipped with 3 bidirectional emergency triangles. Oil burning pot flares may not be carried on a school bus. (2) All emergency equipment shall be kept in suitable fasteners or containers in a readily accessib…

Trans 300.39 Emergency exits. (1) Each school bus shall have emergency exits that comply with 49 CFR 571.217 and FMVSS 217, bus window retention and release, and the following requirements. If a left side emergency door is utilized, there shall also be an emergency exit window in…

Trans 300.40 Exhaust system. (1) The exhaust system, which includes the exhaust manifolds, joining gaskets, piping leading from the exhaust manifold, muffler and tail pipe may not enter the bus body at any location. The exhaust system pipes shall be of nonflexible steel except th…

Trans 300.41 Fire extinguisher. (1) Each bus shall be equipped with a fire extinguisher mounted in full view in the driver’s compartment or mounted inside a compartment in the driver’s area if the compartment is in plain view and is labeled “Fire Extinguisher” in red letters to i…

Trans 300.42 First aid kit. (1) Each school bus shall carry a first aid kit. The container shall be moistureproof and dustproof and of rigid construction. The kit shall be mounted in full view in the driver’s compartment, or it may be placed in an enclosed unlocked compartment in…

Trans 300.43 Fenders. Each school bus shall provide protection from debris thrown by the tires by the use of fenders or body construction. The tire tread shall be within the fender or body construction. History: Cr. Register, February, 1983, No. 326, eff. 3-1-83.

Trans 300.44 Floor covering. (1) The floor in the underseat, driver’s compartment, step-well and the toeboard areas, including the tops of the wheel housings, shall be covered with a fire-resistant material. (2) Type A-II buses shall have the floor covering secured so it cannot s…

Trans 300.45 Frame. (1) Alterations to the frame side members may only be made by the chassis or body manufacturer. (2) Holes are not permitted except where originally provided in the chassis frame. There may be no welding to the frame except by the chassis or body manufacturer. …

Trans 300.46 Fuel tank and fuel system integrity. (1) All fuel systems and tanks must be maintained free of leaks. The fuel tank shall be attached to the bus in a manner that prevents any movement of the tank while the bus is in motion. (2) All fuel lines shall be secured in a ma…

Trans 300.47 Heaters. (1) An inside temperature of not less than 50° fahrenheit at average minimum January temperatures as established by the U.S. department of commerce, weather bureau, for the area in which the bus is to be operated shall be maintained throughout the bus. (2) T…

Trans 300.48 Horn. Every bus used to transport pupils shall be equipped with a horn in good working order and capable of emitting a sound audible under normal traffic from a distance of not less than 200 feet. History: Cr. Register, February, 1983, No. 326, eff. 3-1-83.

Trans 300.49 Inside height. (1) The inside height of the school bus shall be 72 inches or more, measured metal to metal, at any point on longitudinal center line from front vertical bow to rear vertical bow. (2) Type A-II school buses need not comply with this section. History: C…

Trans 300.50 Insulation. The ceilings and walls of buses manufactured in 2 stages and all type A-I, B, C and D buses shall be insulated to reduce heat and cold transfer. History: Cr. Register, February, 1983, No. 326, eff. 3-1-83; am. Register, December, 1997, No. 504, eff. 1-1-9…

Trans 300.51 Instruments, gauges. (1) Every school bus shall be equipped with the following illuminated instruments to indicate malfunctions or gauges to indicate a measure or capacity: (a) Air pressure or vacuum, where air or vacuum brakes are used with low energy supply warning…

Trans 300.52 Interior. (1) Every school bus shall have a fire resistant inner lining on the ceilings and walls. The interior rearward metal panels shall be lapped over forward panels to reduce the likelihood of injury in the event of separation. The exposed edges of all interior …

Trans 300.53 Ladders. A school bus may not have a ladder attached to the interior or exterior while it is in motion. History: Cr. Register, February, 1983, No. 326, eff. 3-1-83; am. Register, December, 1997, No. 504, eff. 1-1-98.

Trans 300.54 Lights, lamps, and reflectors. (1) The following lights, lamps, and reflectors are required on a school 10 bus. Each lamp shall be operational and meet the applicable SAE specifications as provided in this section. (a) A school bus painted in accordance with s. 347.4…

Trans 300.55 Mirrors. (1) School bus mirrors shall comply with the requirements in 49 CFR 571.111 and FMVSS 111. In addition, type A-I, B, C or D buses shall comply with the following: (a) There shall be one interior rearview mirror of at least 6 by 30 inches. The mirror shall be…

Trans 300.56 Mounting of body. (1) The chassis frame for body-on-chassis type buses shall extend to the rear edge of the rear body cross member. Insulating material used at body to frame contact points shall be so attached that it will remain in position under any anticipated mai…

Trans 300.57 Openings. (1) All openings in the floorboard or firewall, between chassis and passenger compartment, such as for the gear shift lever and auxiliary brake lever, shall be sealed to prevent fumes or foreign material from entering the passenger compartment. (2) Every sc…

Trans 300.58 Rub rails. (1) Every bus shall contain a rub rail located at seat cushion level. Except at the emergency door, rear compartment or special service door, the seat cushion level rub rail shall extend from the rear side of the service door completely around the bus body…

Trans 300.59 Seating. (1) All seats shall be forward facing and securely fastened to that part or parts of the body which support them. Passenger seat cushions shall be fastened to prevent the cushions from disengaging from the seat frames in event of an accident. There shall be …

Trans 300.60 Service door. (1) The service door shall be under control of the driver and so designed as to prevent accidental opening. When a hand lever is used, no parts shall come together so as to shear or crush any fingers. (2) The service door shall be located on the right s…

Trans 300.61 Signs and lettering. (1) Only signs and lettering approved by state law or rule shall appear on or in the bus. (2) The body shall bear words “School Bus” in black letters at least 8 inches high and one-inch stroke on both front and rear or on yellow signs attached th…

Trans 300.62 Steering. (1) Steering systems shall comply with 49 CFR 393.209. No changes may be made in the steering apparatus without the approval of the chassis manufacturer. (2) There shall be a clearance of at least 2 inches between the steering wheel and the cowl, instrument…

Trans 300.63 Steps. (1) The first step at the service door may not be more than 16 inches from the ground. (2) The riser of any step may not be more than 15 inches. If there are 2 or more risers, they shall be approximately equal in height. (3) The step may not protrude beyond th…

Trans 300.64 Stop signal arm. (1) A stop signal arm which meets FMVSS 131 and SAE J1133 is required on every school bus painted with the yellow and black color scheme. The stop signal arm may not be extended until the bus is completely stopped. (2) The stop signal arm shall be in…

Trans 300.65 Sunshield. Each school bus shall have an interior sunshield installed above the windshield. Each type A-I, B, C or D bus shall have one of a size not less than 6 by 16 inches. History: Cr. Register, February, 1983, No. 326, eff. 3-1-83; am. Register, December, No. 50…

Trans 300.66 Suspension system. (1) (a) The suspension system shall comply with the requirements in 49 CFR 393.207. The bus shall be equipped with front and rear shock absorbers. (b) The shock absorbers shall be maintained free of leaks and all mountings shall be in good working …

Trans 300.67 Tires. (1) The front tires shall have tread depth of at least 4/32-inch and rear tires shall have tread depth of at least 2/32-inch around the entire periphery measured at 2 points no less than 15 inches apart in any major tread groove. (2) A school bus may not be op…

Trans 300.68 Wheels. (1) A bus may not be operated with any cracked rims, loose lug bolts or nuts or elongated stud holes. (2) The wheel bearings may not have more than 1/4 inch free play when measured at the tire level. Trans 300.69 (3) The following measurements are the maximum…

Trans 300.69 Windows. (1) In this section: (a) “ANS Z26.1” means the standards for glazing in land vehicles adopted by reference in s. Trans 300.20 (1) (k), under 49 CFR part 571, motor vehicle safety standard 205, glazing materials. (b) “AS 1” to “AS 11” have the same meaning as…

Trans 300.70 Windshield. (1) The glass in the windshield shall be laminated safety glass identified by the designation AS 1. This mark shall be visible and legible. The glass shall be of such quality as to prevent distortion of view in any direction. (2) The windshield may not be…

Trans 300.71 Windshield washer. (1) Each school bus shall be equipped with an operational windshield washer system that provides fluid for the windshield wipers to effectively clean the windshield. (2) The washer shall be maintained and operational. History: Cr. Register, Februar…

Trans 300.72 Windshield wipers. Every school bus shall be equipped with 2 complete and operational windshield wipers. The system shall have at least 2 speeds. History: Cr. Register, February, 1983, No. 326, eff. 3-1-83.

Trans 300.73 Wiring. All circuits of the bus shall be protected by a circuit breaker, field effect transistors, or fuse of sufficient rating to handle the current load. Subchapter III—Special Additional Requirements

Trans 300.75 Special service opening. (1) Every school bus used for transporting persons in wheelchairs shall have an enclosed door opening located on the right side of the vehicle which will permit the use of a ramp or lift. (2) The door of the special opening shall be equipped …

Trans 300.76 Power lift or ramps. (1) Every school bus transporting persons in wheelchairs shall be equipped with either a power lift or ramp which utilizes the special service opening specified in s. Trans 300.75. (2) If a school bus uses a ramp it shall have a nonslip material …

Trans 300.77 Wheelchair fasteners. (1) Each wheelchair shall be secured to the bus with a fastening device with sufficient strength to: (a) Retain the chair in the event the bus overturns. (b) Prevent the chair from moving. (c) Prevent the chair’s wheels from leaving the floor in…

Trans 300.78 Seats and restraints. (1) Seat frames may be equipped to accept seat belts or other types of restraints. (2) Every occupant shall be secured to the wheelchair while being transported. This securement shall be separate and in addition to that required in s. Trans 300.…

Trans 300.79 Communications. Every school bus used to transport students in special education or students with disabilities shall comply with the communication requirements found in s. Trans 301.14.

Trans 300.80 Optional equipment. A school bus owner or operator shall use the following procedure to obtain authorization for equipment that is not specifically authorized by this chapter: (1) Submit an authorization request for equipment installation to the administrator, divisi…

Trans 300.81 Authorized optional equipment. The following equipment is approved: (1) PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEM. A school bus may be equipped with a permanently mounted public address system that allows the driver to communicate directions by voice to students outside the bus. Mountin…

Trans 300.85 Replacement equipment. Any item of equipment if covered by a standard in this chapter shall, upon replacement, be replaced with an item meeting the original standard. Any modification of a school bus shall be in conformity with state rules in effect at the time of th…

Trans 300.86 Enforcement policy. (1) The enforcement policy of the division of state patrol shall take into consideration the age, condition, and equipment of buses before granting approval for their continued use. The division may not permit the use of any bus for school transpo…

Trans 300.87 Inspection procedures. (1) Upon notification by the department of transportation, or the department of public instruction, or any public school official, the owner or operator shall present all school buses for inspection at the time and place designated or the depar…

Trans 300.88 Applicability. (1) School buses manufactured prior to March 1, 1995 shall be subject to the rules applicable at the time the vehicle was first registered as a school bus in Wisconsin. School buses subject to previous standards are less stringent. (2) All school buses…