Annual Safety Inspections Under Way for School Bus Fleet

All CCSD's school buses go through a state inspection each summer.

CCSD's Transportation Department spends the summer break getting its fleet of almost 500 big yellow buses inspected and ready for another 4.9 million miles on Cherokee County roads.  The Georgia Department of Public Safety's Motor Carrier Compliance division has had officers at CCSD bus garages this week conducting annual safety inspections to get each bus checked out and ready for the 2026-27 school year. 

In the days before the start of the school year, CCSD’s school buses can be spotted out on the county's roads and highways, conducting practice runs for routes and for training new drivers. While Georgia requires 24 hours of school bus driver training, our Transportation department goes well beyond that standard by providing 50 hours of instruction and hands-on experience for every driver.  Drivers receive extensive training in safe vehicle operation, first aid, student behavior management, and other essential skills that help support students both on and off the road.   Students are expected to follow the same Code of Conduct on the bus as they do in the classroom, helping ensure a safe and respectful experience for everyone onboard.

From sunrise routes to afternoon drop-offs, our bus fleet travels nearly 27,500 miles each day, connecting students to classrooms where they can learn more, grow more, and achieve more than anywhere else.  Powering that effort is a dedicated team of 450 bus drivers and attendants, alongside 42 maintenance technicians, routing specialists, and support staff who work behind the scenes to keep everything running smoothly.

Learn more about our Transportation Department, including how you can join our outstanding team of bus drivers, online at https://www.cherokeek12.net/divisions/support-services/transportation.