CDL Practice Tests: School Bus Endorsement
Choose A Section:
Go!There is a sign that marks the railroad crossing. It requires you to yield the right of way to the train. If there is no white line painted on the pavement, you must stop the bus before this sign. What is it called?
- Active sign
- Passive sign
- Crossbuck sign
- Setback sign
When stopping a school bus at a bus stop you should stop with the front bumper how far from students, and why?
- At least 100 feet away from students. This keeps traffic clearly visible in your mirrors
- All these are correct
- At least 10 feet away from students. This forces the students to walk to the bus so you have a better view of their movements
- At least 50 feet away from students. This gives you time to set the parking brake
When stopping, you should:
- Bring the school bus to a full stop with the front bumper at least 10 feet away from students at the designated stop. This forces the students to walk to the bus so you have a better view of their movements.
- Place transmission in “Park” (if there is no “Park” shift point, place in “Neutral” and set the parking brake at each stop.
- Activate alternating red lights when traffic is a safe distance from the school bus and ensure stop arm is extended.
- Make a final check to see that all traffic has stopped before completely opening the door and signaling students to approach.
When students have gotten off the bus and reach the edge of the roadway to cross the street, which of the following is NOT the correct procedure for them to follow?
- Cross far enough in front of the school bus to be in your view.
- Look for traffic in both directions, making sure the roadway is clear.
- Stay very close to the front of the bus as they cross to make sure they are protected
- Walk to the left edge of the school bus, stop and look again for your signal to continue to cross the roadway.
Upon your signal, the students should:
- Cross far enough in front of the school bus to be in your view.
- Walk to the left edge of the school bus, stop and look again for your signal to continue to cross the roadway.
- Look for traffic in both directions, making sure roadway is clear.
- Proceed across the roadway, continuing to look in all directions.
If there is a behavior problem on the bus while unloading students, when should you handle it?
- While the students are unloading. Let the students get off the bus on their own while you handle the situation
- Before the students leave the bus. If there is a problem, keep the students waiting on the bus while you handle the situation
- Wait until the students unloading are safely off the bus and have moved away.
- Immediately. Do not let a situation on the bus continue, even during unloading
When loading students onto a bus, which of the following is NOT the procedure to follow?
- Begin to move the bus while the students are getting seated
- Students should board the bus only when signaled to do so by the driver.
- Monitor all mirrors continuously
- Students should wait in a designated location for the school bus, facing the bus as it approaches.
- Perform a safe stop as described in Subsection 10.2.1.
- Students should wait in a designated location for the school bus, facing the bus as it approaches.
- Students should board the bus only when signaled to do so by the driver.
- Monitor all mirrors continuously.
- Wait until students are seated and facing forward before moving the bus.
If there is a serious behavior problem on the bus, which of the following is NOT the proper way to handle it?
- If a change of seating is needed, request that the student move to a seat near you.
- Stop the bus. Park in a safe location off the road, perhaps a parking lot or a driveway.
- Put the student off the bus immediately, regardless of location along the route.
- Stand up and speak respectfully to the offender or offenders. Speak in a courteous manner with a firm voice. Remind the offender of the expected behavior. Do not show anger but do show that you mean business.
Tips for handling serious problems:
- Follow your school’s procedures for discipline or refusal of rights to ride the bus.
- Stop the bus. Park in a safe location off the road, perhaps a parking lot or a driveway.
- Secure the bus. Take the ignition key with you if you leave your seat.
- Stand up and speak respectfully to the offender or offenders. Speak in a courteous manner with a firm voice. Remind the offender of the expected behavior. Do not show anger but do show that you mean business.
- If a change of seating is needed, request that the student move to a seat near you.
- Never put a student off the bus except at school or at his or her designated school bus stop. If you believe that the offense is serious enough that you cannot safely drive the bus, call for a school administrator or the police to come and remove the student. Always follow your state or local procedures for requesting assistance.
If your school bus stalls on the tracks, get the students off the bus and move them where?
- Far from the bus at an angle, both away from the tracks and toward the train
- Far from the bus at an angle, both away from the tracks and away from the train
- Far from the bus and perpendicular to the tracks, both toward the tracks and toward the train
- Far from the bus and perpendicular to the bus, both along the tracks and away the train
Bus Stalls or Trapped on Tracks. If your bus stalls or is trapped on the tracks, get everyone out of the bus and off the tracks immediately. Move everyone far from the bus at an angle, both away from the tracks and toward the train.
What can you do as a bus driver to ensure safety in case of an emergency?
- You can do all of these
- Teach all students how to operate the various emergency exits and the importance of listening to and following all instructions given by you
- Assign an older student assistant to lead the students to a “safe place” after evacuation.
- When possible, assign two responsible, older student assistants to each emergency exit. Teach them how to assist the other students off the bus.
As a bus driver, anytime you leave the bus you must:
- Turn off the ignition switch and remove the key
- Open the rear safety door
- Secure the control arm to the overhead fastener
- Put on the red flashing lights
Secure the bus by:
- Turning off the ignition switch.
- Removing key if leaving driver’s compartment.
When stopping a school bus at a bus stop, what is the last thing you must do before completely opening the door and signaling students to approach?
- Make a final check to see that all traffic has stopped
- All these are correct
- Beep the horn to make sure students are paying attention
- Pump the brakes at least 5 times to reduce air pressure in the parking brakes
When stopping, you should:
- Bring the school bus to a full stop with the front bumper at least 10 feet away from students at the designated stop. This forces the students to walk to the bus so you have a better view of their movements.
- Place transmission in “Park” (if there is no “Park” shift point, place in “Neutral” and set the parking brake at each stop.
- Activate alternating red lights when traffic is a safe distance from the school bus and ensure stop arm is extended.
- Make a final check to see that all traffic has stopped before completely opening the door and signaling students to approach.
About The School Bus CDL Exam
The School Bus CDL Exam is required if you want to get a school bus or charter bus endorsement. It is not required for getting a Class A CDL to drive a big rig. Bus drivers must have a commercial driver's license if they drive a vehicle designed to seat 16 or more persons, including the driver.
Bus drivers must have a passenger endorsement on their commercial driver license. To obtain the endorsement, you must pass a knowledge test on the Safe Driving and (this section) portions of the CDL manual. If your bus has air brakes, you must also pass a knowledge test on air brakes. You must also pass the skills/drive tests required for the class and type of passenger vehicle you plan to drive.
This section covers:
- Vehicle Inspection
- Loading
- On the Road
- After-trip Vehicle Inspection
- Prohibited Practices
- Use of Brake-door Interlocks
Vehicle Inspection
Before driving your bus, make sure it is safe. You must review the inspection report made by the previous driver. Only if defects reported earlier have been certified as repaired or not needed to be repaired, should you sign the previous driver's report. This is your certification that the defects reported earlier have been repaired.
Make sure the following are in good working order before driving:
- Service brakes, including air hose couplings (if your bus has a trailer or semitrailer).
- Parking brake.
- Steering mechanism.
- Lights and reflectors.
- Tires (front wheels must not have re-capped or re-grooved tires).
- Horn.
- Windshield wiper or wipers.
- Rear-vision mirror or mirrors.
- Coupling devices (if present).
- Wheels and rims.
- Emergency equipment
Loading And Trip Start
Do not allow riders to leave carry-on baggage in a doorway or aisle. There should be nothing in the aisle that might trip other riders. Secure baggage and freight in ways that avoid damage and:
- Allow the driver to move freely and easily.
- Allow riders to exit by any window or door in an emergency.
- Protect riders from injury if carry-ons fall or shift.
Forbidden Hazardous Materials
Buses may carry small-arms ammunition labeled ORM-D, emergency hospital supplies and drugs. You can carry small amounts of some other hazardous materials if the shipper cannot send them any other way. Buses must never carry:
- Division 2.3 poison gas, liquid Class 6 poison, tear gas, irritating material.
- More than 100 pounds of solid Class 6 poisons.
- Explosives in the space occupied by people, except small-arms ammunition.
- Labeled radioactive materials in the space occupied by people.
- More than 500 pounds total of allowed hazardous materials and no more than 100 pounds of any one class.
Riders sometimes board a bus with an unlabeled hazardous material. Do not allow riders to carry on common hazards such as car batteries or gasoline. See Section 2 and Section 9 for additional information on hazardous materials.
Common Bus Accidents
Accidents In Intersections:
The Most Common Bus Accidents: Bus accidents often happen at intersections. Use caution, even if a signal or stop sign controls other traffic. School and mass transit buses sometimes scrape off mirrors or hit passing vehicles when pulling out from a bus stop. Remember the clearance your bus needs and watch for poles and tree limbs at stops. Know the size of the gap your bus needs to accelerate and merge with traffic. Wait for the gap to open before leaving the stop. Never assume other drivers will brake to give you room when you signal or start to pull out.
Speed In Curves
Accidents on curves result from excessive speed, often when rain or snow has made the road slippery. Every banked curve has a safe "design speed." In good weather, the posted speed is safe for cars but it may be too high for many buses. With good traction, the bus may roll over; with poor traction, it might slide off the curve. Reduce speed for curves. If your bus leans toward the outside on a banked curve, you are driving too fast.
Railroad Crossings
Bus drivers must stop at railroad crossings:
- - At streetcar crossings.
- - Where a policeman or flagman is directing traffic.
- - If a traffic signal is green.
- - At crossings marked as "exempt" or "abandoned.
Prohibited Practices
- Avoid fueling your bus with riders on board unless absolutely necessary. Never refuel in a closed building with riders on board.
- Do not talk with riders or engage in any other distracting activity while driving.
- Do not tow or push a disabled bus with riders aboard the vehicle, unless getting off would be unsafe. Only tow or push the bus to the nearest safe spot to discharge passengers. Follow your employer's guidelines on towing or pushing disabled buses.
Questions You Should Know For The Exam
- 1. Name some things to check in the interior of a bus during a pre-trip inspection.
- 2. What are some hazardous materials you can transport by bus?
- 3. What are some hazardous materials you cannot transport by bus?
- 4. What is a standee line?
- 5. Does it matter where you make a disruptive passenger get off the bus?
- 6. How far from a railroad crossing should you stop?
- 7. When must you stop before crossing a drawbridge?
- 8. Describe from memory the “prohibited practices” listed in the manual.
- 9. The rear door of a transit bus has to be open to put on the parking brake. True or False?
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