JEFFERSON CITY – Colonel Michael A. Turner, superintendent of the Missouri State Highway Patrol, announces the results of the Driver and Vehicle Safety Division’s 2025 annual school bus inspection program.
Here is how the school buses in Perry and Ste. Genevieve county districts fared:
DISTRICT NAME #BUS PRESENTED % APPROVED % DEFECTIVE % OUT OF SERVICE
Altenburg 48 2 50.0% 0.0% 50.0%
Perry County 32 36 83.3% 8.3% 8.3%
Ste. Genevieve R-II 42 97.6% 2.4% 0.0%
Missouri’s 2025 school bus inspection results are as follows:
School buses rated as “approved” upon initial inspection — 10,144
School buses rated as “defective” upon initial inspection — 799
School buses rated as “out-of-service” upon initial inspection — 312
Buses with identified defective components require repair within 10 days. Buses placed out-of-service require the correction of the component(s), reinspection, and a return to service by Patrol personnel prior to further usage in transporting passengers.
A total of 297 Missouri school districts earned the Patrol’s Total Fleet Excellence award for 2025. During the 2024-2025 school year, 6,782 buses in these award-winning fleets are eligible to display the Patrol’s Total Fleet Excellence sticker in the lower corner of the first window on the passenger entry side of the bus.
“Missouri State Highway Patrol personnel, with the cooperation of pupil transportation professionals, completed the successful inspection of 11,255 school buses in accordance with Missouri revised state statutes,” said Colonel Turner. “These efforts help the Patrol, Missouri schools, and private pupil transportation companies ensure schoolchildren are safe while they travel on school buses.”
Missouri school bus inspection results are a matter of public record. Individual school district results for 2025 are available at
https://apps.mshp.dps.mo.gov/MSHPWeb/PatrolDivisions/DVSD/MVI/index.html
The following safety items are to be included in the safety inspection of all school buses in the state of Missouri:
Air Pollution – Missing, Inoperative, Other
Brakes – Air Compressor, Emergency/Park, Hoses/Lines, Low Warning Device, Master Cylinder, Pedal Reserve, Vacuum Unit, Other
Bumpers – Damaged, Missing, Other
Crossing Control Arm – Inoperable, Missing
Emergency Doors & Exits – Buzzer, Lettering, Operation, Passageway, Other
Exhaust System – Exhaust Pipe, Manifold, Muffler, Supporting Hardware, Tail Pipe, Other
Frame – Visible Cracks Not Properly Repaired
Fuel System – Filler Cap Missing, Leaking, Other
Glazing – Emergency Door, Service Door, Side Glasses, Windshield, Other
Hand Hold Grips/Handrails – Damaged/Missing, Improper Mount, Other
Heating & Defrosting – Defrosters, Heaters, Other
Horn – Operation, Other
lettering & Signs – Color, Lettering, Other
Lighting & Signaling – Clearance Lights, Headlights, Identification Lights, Reflectors, Side Marker Lights, Stop Arm Lights, Stoplights, Taillights, Tum Signal Lights, Overhead Warning Flashers, Other Miscellaneous – Body Condition, Bus Color, Passenger Compartment Condition, Other
Mirrors – Convex Crossview, Exterior Rearview, Interior Rearview, Other
Seat Belt (Driver) – Inoperative, Missing, Retractor Missing, Other
Seats – Mounting, Condition, Other
Service Door – Flexible Material, Operation, Other
Steering & Suspension – Ball Joints, Drag Link, Idler Arm, Jamming/ Binding, King Pins, Pitman Arm, Power Steering, Springs, Shackles, Steering Wheel Play, Tie Rods, Torsion Bar, Wheel Play, Wheel Bearings, Other
Tires – Damaged, Worn, Other
Treads and Mats – Aisle Mats/Runners, Step Treads, Other
Wheels – Damaged, Missing Lug Nut(s), Other
Windshield Wipers – Operation, Wearing, Other
The Missouri State Highway Patrol is hiring! The Patrol offers over 60 career paths. For all current openings, visit https://bit.ly/MSHPCareers or to apply for trooper or commercial vehicle officer positions, visit www.joinmshp.us to apply today.
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