“This is our AMCOS-CSLEA members all the way.  Our school pupil safety coordinators take care of the driver qualifications and our motor carrier specialists check the vehicles and other driver requirements.” – AMCOS President Terry Beatty

On May 8, 2014, the Child Safety Network present the California Highway Patrol with a  2014 California State Child Safety Award.  The award was presented at the 115th Annual California State PTA convention in Los Angeles and is considered the highest state honor for excellence in the protection of children.

“Congratulations to our members in the AMCOS affiliate, ” said California Statewide Law Enforcement Association (CSLEA) President Alan Barcelona.  “These men and women work diligently to keep our children safe as they travel to and from school, on field trips and to sporting events.  Their ‘behind the scenes’ work often goes unnoticed,  yet these safety professionals  perform a vital public safety service to Californians day in and day out.”

More than a million students  are transported to and from school or school-related activities each year in California.

“The men and women of the California Highway Patrol share my enthusiasm for saving lives, in particular, the lives of our children and youth,” said Commissioner Farrow. “We take great pride in the fact that the CHP’s School Bus Program is designed to ensure the highest level of safety for California’s students.”

California is the only state that has a Special Driver Certificate Program. Certification is accomplished through an intense qualification and testing process administered by the CHP, along with the Department of Education and the Department of Motor Vehicles. Because of this process, only the most qualified drivers are issued the required school bus driver certificate. Currently, there are approximately 33,000 certified school bus drivers in California.

In addition to ensuring the highest level of safety for California’s school bus drivers through a certification program, the CHP is responsible for the annual inspection and certification of more than 23,000 school buses in California.

“I am extremely proud of our school pupil safety coordinators and motor carrier specialists,” said Association of Motor Carrier Operation Specialists (AMCOS) President Terry Beatty.  “They are  true professionals who perform life-saving work whether inspecting a bus, a big rig or investigating a collision.   They are an invaluable part of CHP.”