“La Camioneta,” the 2012 documentary about one retired school bus’ journey from the U.S. to Guatemala and its rebirth as colorful and vital modes of transportation for rural workers to get to their jobs in the city, is now available on DVD from Bullfrog Films for use schools and institutions.
Two versions are available, the original at 72 minutes and one at 52 minutes with disturbing scenes removed. This is because las camionetas, specifically their owner-operators, are the target of local gangs who demand extortion money. Filmmaker Mark Kendall’s story shows how these gangs harass these business owners into paying, or face a deadly consequence if they are unable to. Since 2006, according to the documentary, more than 1,000 of these camioneta drivers and fare collectors have been murdered on the job.
But the film, released this spring, also details how the school bus transforms from its original yellow life to a vividly painted one.
“La Camioneta” was accepted to nearly 30 film festivals, including the South-by-Southwest (SXSW) Film Festival, the Los Angeles Film Festiveal, DOCNYC, and the AFI Latin American Film Festival. It won the David L. Wolper Award from the International Documentary Association, was a Critic’s Pick by the New York Times and made Indiewire’s List of “Top Docs of 2013.”
Kendal was also director, producer, cinematographer, and editor. The educational DVD costs $295 with rentals costing $95.
Residents of Vineland, N.J., about 40 miles south of Philadelphia on Thursday and the entire student transportation community are mourning the death of 14-year-old Alexa Strittmater, who was hit twice by two separate cars and killed while crossing the street on her walk to the school bus stop.
Are you hearing complaints that it’s a bus driver’s right to a 30-minute rest break? Read on.
The National School Transportation Association reported this week that the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit issued an opinion in August negating a provision in FMCSA’s 2011 Hours of Service Rule that went into effect in July required property-carrying commercial motor vehicle drivers to wait no longer than 8 hours after the last off-duty or sleeper-berth period of that length or longer to take the break. Drivers who already take shorter breaks during the work day could comply with the rule by taking of the shorter breaks and extending it to 30 minutes.
NSTA said the Court vacated the rest break requirement with respect to any driver qualified to operate under either of the following “short haul” exceptions. Specifically, the following drivers are no longer subject to the 30 minute break requirement:
- All drivers (whether they hold a CDL or not) who operate within 100 air-miles of their normal work reporting location and satisfy the time limitations and recordkeeping requirements of 395.1(e)(1).
- All non-CDL drivers who operate within a 150 air-mile radius of the location where drivers report for duty and satisfy the time limitations and recordkeeping requirements of 395.1(e)(2).
In unrelated news, NSTA congratulated member John Benish, Jr., COO of Cook-Illinois Corporation, for winning the STN Leadership Award last week at the NAPT Summit in Grand Rapids, Mich.
A new website for the FMCSA’s new National Registry of Certified Medical Examiners is live. The site requires all medical examiners who wish to peform physical examinations for interstate commercial motor vehicle operator, of which only a small percentage are school bus drivers employed by contractor or charter companies, be trained and certified in FMCSA physical qualification standards.
National School Bus Safety Week might have come and gone, but school bus safety is professed and celebrated each week by student transporters across the country. Shortly before the national celebration, however, some school districts were already holding special events touting school bus safety.
For example, Phoenix Central School District in New York on Oct. 19 held its annual school bus safety expo, which is free and open to the community, and grows in attendance and participation each year (photo at left is from last year’s event). School bus drivers and attendants set up displays to educate children about school bus and traffic safety, as well as promote good eating habits and address the issue of bullying, or any other topic of relevance, and kids receive treats at each station. The local community and school sponsors donate funds to purchase bicycles, backpacks and bike safety helmets to distribute as prizes.
Organizers and attendees are encouraged to dress up in their Halloween costumes, while the kids can trick-or-treat at each station and model their costumes in a fun parade. It’s definitely a community event, as some of the sponsors have included the U.S. Ambulance Corps, U.S. Coast Guard, Department of Power and Water, and local state police and fire departments. Also, the district superintendent, business administrator, school principle and school board members also show up and support this event.
