Tennessee’s Last Civilian School Bus Inspector Retires After 36 Years

As students across Tennessee return to school, a familiar face at East Tennessee school bus garages is retiring after a career dedicated to their safety.

Vernon Thomas of Morristown will retire Friday after 36 years of service as a school bus inspector with the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security. Thomas, who is assigned to the Tennessee Highway Patrol's Fall Branch District, is the department's last remaining civilian school bus inspector.

"Vernon Thomas represents the very best of public service," Department of Safety and Homeland Security Commissioner Jeff Long said. "For 36 years, he brought skill, experience and a strong sense of responsibility to a job that directly affected the safety of Tennessee children. We thank him for his service and wish him the very best in retirement."

When Thomas began his career, civilian school bus inspectors were required to have at least five years of experience as mechanics. That background helped inspectors identify mechanical problems that could affect the safe operation of a school bus.

Several years ago, THP absorbed the civilian inspection branch into its Pupil Transportation program. Sworn state troopers assigned to Pupil Transportation now perform school bus inspections multiple times per year across Tennessee.

Thomas continued serving as a civilian inspector while Pupil Transportation troopers were assigned throughout the state. During the transition, civilian inspectors and troopers worked alongside one another and brought different experience and perspectives to the shared mission of school bus safety.

"Vernon continued doing important work as our Pupil Transportation program transitioned to inspections performed by state troopers," THP Colonel Matt Perry said. "The civilian inspectors and troopers complemented each other well during that period. Vernon's commitment to thorough inspections and student safety remained clear throughout his career."

Pupil Transportation troopers are now assigned throughout Tennessee. They inspect school buses and work with local school systems to help ensure the vehicles transporting students meet state safety requirements.

Thomas said the equipment, vehicles and inspection program have changed over the years, but the purpose of the work has remained the same.

"I have been proud to lend my experience to this work for the past 36 years," Thomas said. "Every inspection was about making sure children could get to school and return home safely. I have enjoyed working with school transportation employees, fellow civilian inspectors and the Pupil Transportation troopers who now carry out this important responsibility across the state."

In the accompanying video, hear some of the funny and some of the sad he's seen over the three and a half decades on the job.

Thomas' retirement marks the end of civilian school bus inspections within the department and the completion of THP's transition to a statewide trooper-based inspection program.