CDL Passenger Endorsement — All Questions

Before driving a bus, you must be sure that:

• a.All emergency exits and access panels are secured and roof hatches close properly✓
• b.The seats are clean
• c.The radio works
• d.The fare box is full

During the pre-trip inspection you must check that all emergency exits are working and that any open roof hatches or vents are secured or can be closed. Access panels, doors, and hatches must be closed and latched before driving. Riders depend on exits working in an emergency.

When inspecting the inside of a bus before driving, you should check that:

• a.The upholstery matches
• b.Handrails, floors, signaling devices, and emergency exit handles are in good working order✓
• c.There is a spare tire on every seat
• d.The windows are tinted

Inside the bus, check that seats are safe, handrails and floor covering are secure, the emergency exit handles and signaling devices work, and the interior is clean. Loose handrails or broken exit handles endanger riders. All safety equipment must function before you carry passengers.

Bus seats must be inspected to make sure they are:

• a.Covered in plastic
• b.Removed from the aisle
• c.Safely secured to the bus and not damaged✓
• d.Reclined fully

All passenger seats must be firmly fastened to the bus and free of damage that could injure a rider. A loose or broken seat can shift in a crash or hard stop. Never carry passengers on a bus with unsafe seats.

Which item must be checked during a bus pre-trip inspection but is less critical on many freight vehicles?

• a.Tire tread
• b.Passenger emergency exits and interior handrails✓
• c.Brake lights
• d.Steering

Buses carry people, so the inspection must include interior items such as emergency exits, handrails, floor covering, signaling devices, and clean, safe seating. These passenger-specific items are unique to bus inspections. All must be in working order before you carry riders.

If you find a problem with an emergency exit during your pre-trip inspection, you should:

• a.Tape the exit shut and continue
• b.Only fix it if inspectors are present
• c.Drive anyway and report it later
• d.Not drive the bus with passengers until it is fixed✓

You must never drive a bus with an unsafe emergency exit or other safety defect. Have the problem repaired before carrying passengers. Riders' lives may depend on that exit working during a fire or crash.

Roof hatches on a bus that can be locked open:

• a.Never need checking
• b.May be left open for ventilation but should be closed in bad weather✓
• c.Should be removed
• d.Must always be locked open in warm weather

Some buses have roof hatches that can be locked slightly open for fresh air. You may leave them open for ventilation, but remember that an open hatch reduces roof strength in a rollover and lets rain in. Close them when heavy weather threatens or when required.

During an en-route inspection, a bus driver should watch the gauges and:

• a.Ignore warning lights
• b.Rely only on the pre-trip inspection
• c.Check tires, brakes, lights, and other critical systems at stops✓
• d.Only stop if the engine dies

Safe drivers keep watching instruments and the bus's condition throughout the trip, not just before starting. At stops, check items such as tires, wheels, brakes, and lights for problems that develop while driving. Catching a defect en route prevents a breakdown or crash.

Watching the temperature, oil pressure, and air pressure gauges while driving helps you:

• a.Save fuel only
• b.Choose a radio station
• c.Spot developing mechanical problems before they cause a breakdown✓
• d.Track your speed

Gauges give early warning of engine overheating, low oil pressure, or falling air pressure. Checking them regularly lets you stop and address a problem before it becomes a breakdown or a crash. Never ignore a warning light or an abnormal gauge reading.

The interior of a bus should be inspected to be sure the aisle and stairwell are:

• a.Blocked by a chain
• b.Carpeted in red
• c.Filled with baggage
• d.Clear of objects that could trip riders or block exits✓

Aisles and stairwells must be clear so riders can move and exit safely, especially in an emergency. Remove any objects that could cause a trip or fall or block an exit. A cluttered aisle is a serious safety hazard on a loaded bus.

Which of these is part of a proper bus pre-trip inspection?

• a.Counting the money in the fare box
• b.Adjusting the passenger seats to recline
• c.Cleaning the exterior paint
• d.Checking that service and parking brakes, lights, mirrors, and tires work✓

A pre-trip inspection covers the vehicle's critical safety systems, including brakes, steering, lights, mirrors, tires, horn, and wipers. On a bus you also check passenger-related items like exits and handrails. Only a properly inspected bus should carry passengers.

Emergency equipment on a bus that should be checked before driving includes:

• a.A second steering wheel
• b.A spare uniform
• c.Fire extinguisher, spare electrical fuses, and warning devices such as reflective triangles✓
• d.Extra fare tickets

Before driving, check that required emergency equipment is present and in good condition. This includes a properly charged and rated fire extinguisher, spare electrical fuses if used, and warning devices like reflective triangles. This equipment is vital if you must stop or have a fire.

If a bus's parking brake does not hold during your inspection, you should:

• a.Ignore it if the service brakes work
• b.Use the accelerator to hold on hills
• c.Chock the wheels and drive anyway
• d.Take the bus out of service until it is repaired✓

A parking brake that will not hold is a serious defect that can let the bus roll while loading or parked. Do not carry passengers until it is repaired. All braking systems must work properly before a bus goes into service.

Signaling devices that let passengers request a stop should be checked to be sure they:

• a.Play music
• b.Are disconnected
• c.Work so riders can signal the driver to stop✓
• d.Are painted yellow

Many transit buses have cords, buttons, or strips that riders use to signal for a stop. These must work so passengers can tell the driver where they need to get off. Test them during your interior inspection along with other safety devices.

When should a bus's brakes and other systems be re-checked after the trip has started?

• a.Only at the destination
• b.During the trip, such as at stops and rest breaks✓
• c.Never, once is enough
• d.Only after 500 miles

En-route inspections during stops and rest breaks help catch problems that develop while driving, such as overheating brakes or low tires. Watching gauges and doing quick checks keeps small problems from becoming dangerous. Continuous attention to the bus's condition is part of safe operation.

A bus's mirrors should be inspected and adjusted so that:

• a.They are folded flat
• b.They point at the sky
• c.You can see down the sides and the loading area✓
• d.They face the passengers

Properly adjusted mirrors let you see down both sides of the bus, the rear, and the loading and unloading area. This is essential for watching riders at the doors and for safe lane changes and turns. Adjust mirrors before you start driving.

During the pre-trip inspection, checking the service door and its controls is important because:

• a.Passengers ride outside the door
• b.It runs the air conditioning
• c.Riders board and exit through it, and it must open and close safely✓
• d.It changes the fare

The service door is the main way riders board and leave the bus, so it must open, close, and latch properly. A door that sticks or fails can trap passengers or open unexpectedly while driving. Test its operation and controls during your inspection.

When checking tires on a bus during the pre-trip inspection, look for:

• a.A shiny finish
• b.Matching hubcap colors
• c.Whitewall stripes
• d.Proper inflation, adequate tread, and no cuts or damage✓

Tires must have proper air pressure, enough tread depth, and no cuts, bulges, or other damage that could cause a blowout. Under-inflated or worn tires are dangerous, especially on a heavy, loaded bus. Replace or repair unsafe tires before carrying passengers.

The interior lighting of a bus should be inspected to make sure it:

• a.Blinks constantly
• b.Is colored red
• c.Works so riders can see steps, aisles, and exits✓
• d.Is turned off at all times

Interior lights help riders see the steps, aisle, and exits, especially at night. Working lights reduce trips and falls when boarding or leaving. Check that interior and step-well lighting functions during your pre-trip inspection.

Why must access panels and engine compartment doors be secured before driving a bus?

• a.To store baggage
• b.To keep the bus quiet
• c.So they do not come open and cause damage or a hazard while driving✓
• d.To improve the paint

Unsecured access panels or engine doors can fly open at speed, damaging the bus, obstructing your view, or creating a road hazard. Make sure all such panels and doors are closed and latched during your inspection. This is part of preparing the bus to carry passengers safely.

A bus should be kept clean during inspections and trips mainly because:

• a.Clean buses use less fuel
• b.Trash and spills in the aisle or steps can cause slips, trips, and falls✓
• c.It impresses inspectors
• d.Dirt slows the bus

Trash, spills, or debris in the aisle and stairwell can cause riders to slip, trip, or fall. Keeping the interior clean is a safety measure, not just appearance. Check and clear the aisle, steps, and floor as part of your inspection and during stops.

Which statement about bus pre-trip inspections is TRUE?

• a.Interior items do not need inspection
• b.A bus must never be driven with an unsafe defect that endangers passengers✓
• c.Inspection is optional if you are running late
• d.Only the engine matters

You must never drive a bus with a safety defect that could endanger passengers, such as bad brakes, a broken exit, or unsafe tires. The pre-trip inspection covers both the vehicle systems and passenger-specific items. A running-late schedule never justifies skipping the inspection.

When checking the emergency exits on a bus, you should:

• a.Leave them all open while driving
• b.Cover them with signs
• c.Make sure they are closed but able to be opened quickly if needed✓
• d.Weld them shut for safety

Emergency exits, such as rear doors, windows, and roof hatches, must be closed and secured while driving but able to open quickly in an emergency. Verify the handles and latches work during your inspection. Never block or disable an emergency exit.

The steering system on a bus should be checked before driving to be sure:

• a.The seat is comfortable
• b.The mirrors are folded
• c.There is no excessive play or looseness in the steering wheel✓
• d.The horn is loud

Too much free play in the steering wheel makes the bus hard to steer accurately and is a serious defect. Check for looseness and any binding when the wheel is turned. Safe steering is essential when carrying a load of passengers.

On buses with air brakes, part of the inspection is to:

• a.Ignore the air pressure
• b.Drain all the air
• c.Test that the low-air-pressure warning and brakes build and hold pressure properly✓
• d.Keep the parking brake off

On air-brake buses, verify that the system builds pressure, that the low-pressure warning works, and that the brakes and parking brake hold. Air-brake defects can cause total brake failure with a full load of passengers. Complete the required air-brake checks before driving.

How does inspecting the bus interior differ from inspecting a typical dry-van trailer?

• a.Only the trailer needs an inspection
• b.There is no difference
• c.The bus interior has passenger seats, handrails, and exits that must be checked✓
• d.A bus has no interior

Because a bus carries people, its interior inspection includes passenger seats, handrails, floor covering, signaling devices, and emergency exits. A freight trailer has cargo space instead of passenger features. These passenger items are unique and critical to a bus inspection.

If the interior emergency exit lighting does not work during your inspection, you should:

• a.Ignore it
• b.Have it repaired before carrying passengers at night✓
• c.Give riders flashlights
• d.Drive only in daylight

Emergency and interior lighting helps riders find and reach exits, especially in the dark. A lighting defect that affects passenger safety should be repaired before carrying riders in low-light conditions. Never rely on passengers to provide their own lighting for exits.