Some states simply mirror the federal transportation regulations in their state for simplicity or based on the commerce needs of their state, while other states have more stringent or specific regulations based on their states commerce needs.
The State of Michigan does has a number of state-specific regulations, as well as a number of different agencies and governing bodies that oversee different areas of transportation. Below we will highlight these different areas.
Michigan Department of State / Secretary of State (SOS)
The Michigan Department of State, and its Secretary of State division, oversee the commercial driver’s licenses, driving records, medical examiner certificates, enhanced travel ID’s, traffic accidents and tickets, and coordination of records with other states and the federal government.
This repository of information is kept updated in real-time to ensure only safe commercial credentialed drivers are operating on Michigan roadways.
For more information in regard to CDL’s in Michigan, please review the information from the Michigan Secretary of State website HERE.
Michigan Department of Education (MDE)
The Pupil Transportation Unit of the Michigan Department of Education, is governed by the Pupil Transportation Act of 1990. (Sections 257.1801-257.1877 of the Michigan Compiled Laws). The Unit’s major activities include administering the distribution of training funds in Section 74 of the State Aid Act (MCL 388.1674) for basic school bus driver safety education and continuing education courses, and providing assistance to school districts, parents, legislators and others on pupil transportation issues.
For more information in regard to School Bus Pupil Transportation in Michigan, please review the information from the Michigan Department of Education website HERE.
For more information in regard to Public Act 187 – “The Pupil Transportation Act of 1990”, please review the information from the Michigan Legislature website HERE.
Michigan State Police (MSP) Commercial Enforcement
The Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Division (CVED) is responsible for the staffing and operation of 14 scale facilities and conducts road patrol activities focused on commercial vehicle enforcement, e.g., enforcement related to traffic, commercial vehicle drivers and equipment, size and weight, hazardous materials transportation and regulatory requirements. Additionally, the division’s commercial vehicle enforcement responsibilities include conducting federal compliance reviews and investigations, school bus inspections, commercial vehicle training for division personnel as well as local and county law enforcement officers and conducting new entrant safety audits.
The Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Division is responsible for the annual inspection of every yellow school bus and pupil transportation vehicle operated in the state. Michigan has approximately 17,000 vehicles that transport in excess of 800,000 children over 10 million miles annually.
For more information in regard to Michigan State Police Commercial Vehicle Enforcement, please review the information from the Michigan State Police website HERE.
To review Michigan annual school bus inspection reports, please review the information from the Michigan State Police website HERE.
Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT)
The Office of Passenger Transportation (OPT) administers MDOT’s passenger transportation programs, including local transit, intercity bus, and for-hire passenger regulation, to provide a safe and balanced statewide network of passenger transportation services to meet the social, safety, and economic well-being of the state.
Nine (9) and above passenger vehicles are under the Michigan Department of Transportation’s regulatory guidance and MDOT will ensure that for-hire passenger carriers obtain a certificate of authority, meet commercial insurance requirements, submit to yearly vehicle safety inspections, and pay the required fees in order to operate safely.
For more information in regard to Michigan Department of Transportation Office of Passenger Transportation, please review the information from the Michigan Department of Transportation website HERE.
For more information in regard to Public Act 432 – “The Motor Bus Transportation Act of 1982”, please review the information from the Michigan Legislature website HERE.
