CDL Practice Tests: School Bus Endorsement
Choose A Section:
Go!During your post-trip inspection of a school bus, which of the following should you look for?
- Mechanical/operational problems with the bus, with special attention to items that are unique to school buses, such as mirror systems, flashing warning lamps and stop signal arms.
- All these are correct
- Sleeping students.
- Articles left on the bus.
When your route or school activity trip is finished, you should conduct a post-trip inspection of the bus. You should walk through the bus and around the bus looking for the following:
- Articles left on the bus.
- Sleeping students.
- Open windows and doors.
- Mechanical/operational problems with the bus, with special attention to items that are unique to school buses, such as mirror systems, flashing warning lamps and stop signal arms.
- Damage or vandalism.
When approaching a bus stop in a school bus you should activate your alternating flashing amber warning lights:
- At least 500 feet (250 in an urban area) or approximately 10 to 20 seconds before the school bus stop
- No more than 100 feet before the stop or approximately 1 to 5 seconds before the school bus stop
- At least 200 feet (100 in an urban area) or approximately 5 to 10 seconds before the school bus stop
- at least 400 feet before the stop or approximately 8 to 12 seconds before the school bus stop
When approaching the stop, you should:
- Approach cautiously at a slow rate of speed.
- Look for pedestrians, traffic or other objects before, during and after coming to a stop.
- Continuously check all mirrors.
- If the school bus is so equipped, activate alternating flashing amber warning lights at least 200 feet (100 in an urban area) or approximately five to 10 seconds before the school bus stop or in accordance with state law.
- Turn on right-turn signal indicator about 100-300 feet or approximately three to five seconds before pulling over.
- Continuously check mirrors to monitor the danger zones for students, traffic and other objects.
- Move as far as possible to the right on the traveled portion of the roadway.
If there is a behavior problem on the bus while unloading students, when should you handle it?
- Immediately. Do not let a situation on the bus continue, even during unloading
- While the students are unloading. Let the students get off the bus on their own while you handle the situation
- Wait until the students unloading are safely off the bus and have moved away.
- Before the students leave the bus. If there is a problem, keep the students waiting on the bus while you handle the situation
The blind spot behind the bus extends how far depending on the length and width of the bus?
- 200 to 400 feet and could extend up to 600 feet
- 50 to 150 feet and could extend up to 400 feet
- 300 to 500 feet and could extend up to 1000 feet
- 150 to 350 feet and could extend up to 500 feet
When unloading students on a school bus route, which of the following is NOT the correct procedure?
- Tell students to exit the bus and walk at least 10 feet away from the side of the bus to a position where you can plainly see all students.
- Have the students remain seated until told to exit.
- Count the number of students while unloading to confirm the location of all students before pulling away from the stop.
- Have the children lined up at the front of the bus, but behind the white line as you approach the stop
- Have the students remain seated until told to exit.
- Check all mirrors.
- Count the number of students while unloading to confirm the location of all students before pulling away from the stop.
- Tell students to exit the bus and walk at least 10 feet away from the side of the bus to a position where you can plainly see all students.
Which of the following is the proper procedure when at a railroad crossing in a school bus?
- Open the service door and driver’s window. Look and listen for an approaching train.
- Turn off all radios and noisy equipment and silence the passengers.
- All these are correct
- Place the transmission in “Park” (if there is no “Park” shift point, use “Neutral”) and set the parking brake.
At the crossing:
- Stop no closer than 15 feet and no farther than 50 feet from the nearest rail, where you have the best view of the tracks.
- Place the transmission in “Park” (if there is no “Park” shift point, use “Neutral”) and set the parking brake.
- Turn off all radios and noisy equipment and silence the passengers.
- Open the service door and driver’s window. Look and listen for an approaching train.
- After you have determined that no train is approaching, close the service door and proceed with caution.
Which of the following IS NOT the proper procedure when at a railroad crossing in a school bus?
- Cross the tracks in a low gear. Do not change gears while crossing.
- When crossing a double set of tracks, stop before each set of tracks. Just because you cleared the first set doesn't mean a train isn't coming on the second set
- At a multiple-track crossing, stop only before the first set of tracks. When you are sure no train is approaching on any track, proceed across all of the tracks until you have completely cleared them.
- If the gate comes down after you have started across, drive through it even if it means you will break the gate.
- Check the crossing signals again before proceeding.
- At a multiple-track crossing, stop only before the first set of tracks. When you are sure no train is approaching on any track, proceed across all of the tracks until you have completely cleared them.
- Cross the tracks in a low gear. Do not change gears while crossing.
- If the gate comes down after you have started across, drive through it even if it means you will break the gate.
Approximately how far before a railroad crossing should you activate the school bus hazard lights to warn people you are stopping?
- 200 ft
- 500 ft
- 50 ft
- 1000 ft
Some school buses are equipped with roof-mounted, white strobe lights. If your bus is so equipped, the overhead strobe light should be used when:
- You are in a construction zone or crossing railroad tracks
- You have limited visibility
- You have a problem with your ABS system
- You are waiting for children to cross the street
Which of the following are NOT true about backing a school bus?
- If you must back up at a student drop-off point, be sure to unload students after backing.
- If you must back up at a student pickup point, be sure to pick up students before backing and watch for late comers at all times.
- Never post a lookout at the back of the bus to watch for people or obstacles
- Be sure that all students are in the bus before backing.
- Post a lookout. The purpose of the lookout is to warn you about obstacles, approaching persons and other vehicles. The lookout should not give directions on how to back bus.
- Signal for quiet on the bus.
- Constantly check all mirrors and rear windows.
- Back slowly and smoothly.
- If no lookout is available:
- Set the parking brake.
- Turn off the motor and take the keys with you.
- Walk to the rear of the bus to determine if the way is clear.
- If you must back up at a student pickup point, be sure to pick up students before backing and watch for late comers at all times.
- Be sure that all students are in the bus before backing.
- If you must back up at a student drop-off point, be sure to unload students after backing.
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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