CDL passenger transport practice test

The Passenger Transport (P) test is for you if you carry passengers, such as in a bus or a van. It follows federal rules, so these 144 questions apply in every state.

Passenger Transport practice test

Answer at your own pace. After each question you see the correct answer and why, and at the end a review of what you missed.

Practice test: 20 random questions; pass with 16 correct, the 80 percent every CDL knowledge test requires.
Long practice: 50 random questions; pass with 40 correct.

Passenger Transport questions with answers

Which group of interior items must be in safe working condition before a bus is put in service?
1. The fare box, the destination sign and the radio the driver uses to call the dispatcher
2. The luggage racks and the overhead reading lamps, and nothing else inside the bus body
3. Handholds and railings, floor covering, signaling devices and emergency exit handles
4. The heater, the air conditioner and the public address system, and no other interior item
Show answer

Answer C: Handholds and railings, floor covering, signaling devices and emergency exit handles

The interior check covers the parts riders depend on to move about and to get out, so handholds, railings, flooring, signaling devices and emergency exit handles all have to work.

Source: oregon.gov
What must be true of the passenger seats before you drive a bus?
1. Every seat is safe for riders and securely fastened to the bus
2. Every seat has a headrest and an armrest
3. A loose seat is acceptable as long as the rider is asked to sit elsewhere
4. Seats only need to be examined at the annual inspection
Show answer

Answer A: Every seat is safe for riders and securely fastened to the bus

A damaged or unanchored seat can injure the person in it and everyone around it, so seats must be sound and firmly attached before the bus carries anyone.
May a bus be driven with an emergency exit door or window standing open?
1. Yes, when the weather is hot and the riders on board have asked for more ventilation
2. Yes, provided the riders are told to sit well away from the opening while the bus moves
3. Yes, on city routes where the bus never travels faster than the surrounding traffic
4. No, the bus must not be driven with an emergency exit door or window open
Show answer

Answer D: No, the bus must not be driven with an emergency exit door or window open

An open emergency exit can let a rider fall out and can be torn off in traffic, so the bus does not move until every emergency door and window is closed.
What is required of the emergency exit marking on a bus emergency door?
1. It only has to be readable from the driver seat, since the driver is the one who directs an evacuation
2. The sign must be clearly visible, and a red emergency door light, if the bus has one, must work
3. It must be painted on the outside of the bus only, where rescue crews can find the door from the street
4. It must be printed in at least three languages so that every rider on board is able to read it easily
Show answer

Answer B: The sign must be clearly visible, and a red emergency door light, if the bus has one, must work

Riders have to find that exit under pressure, so the sign has to be easy to see and any red emergency door light must be in working order.
When should the red emergency door light on a bus be switched on?
1. At night and at any other time the outside lights are in use
2. Only while riders are boarding or stepping down from the bus at a stop
3. Only when the bus is parked overnight and nobody is left on board
4. Only during an actual emergency, when riders are being led off the bus
Show answer

Answer A: At night and at any other time the outside lights are in use

The light marks the exit whenever visibility is poor, so it goes on at night and whenever the exterior lights are being used.
What is the rule on emergency roof hatches that can be locked in a partly open position?
1. They may be left locked open at all times to keep the bus cool, because they do not change its height at all
2. They must never be opened while the bus is in service, and may be unlocked only by the garage staff at the depot
3. They may be used occasionally for fresh air but not as a routine, and they add to the height of the bus
4. They may only be opened by a mechanic at the garage, and the driver is not allowed to touch them at any time
Show answer

Answer C: They may be used occasionally for fresh air but not as a routine, and they add to the height of the bus

Some roof hatches can be locked slightly open for ventilation, but this should not become routine and the driver has to allow for the extra height under anything low.
In what condition must the aisle and the stairwell of a bus be kept?
1. Covered with a mat that standing riders may use
2. Clear at all times so riders can move about and reach the exits
3. Loaded only with soft bags weighing under 20 pounds
4. Closed off with a chain while the bus is moving
Show answer

Answer B: Clear at all times so riders can move about and reach the exits

Anything left in the aisle or the stairwell trips riders and slows an evacuation, so both are kept clear whenever the bus is in service.
Why does the interior of a bus need to be inspected at the end of a shift and not only before the trip?
1. Because the odometer reading has to be written down twice a day, once at each end of the shift
2. Because the fuel level changes during the shift and has to be recorded before the bus is parked
3. Because federal rules require two separate mileage readings to be filed for every bus each day
4. Because riders can damage handholds, seats, emergency exits and windows during the run
Show answer

Answer D: Because riders can damage handholds, seats, emergency exits and windows during the run

Damage caused by riders shows up during the trip, and reporting it at the end of the shift lets it be repaired before the bus goes out again.
What must the written post-trip inspection report for a bus contain?
1. The name of every rider carried that day, together with the stop where each of them boarded and the stop where each got off
2. A photograph of each axle and each tire, taken from both sides of the bus at the end of the shift and filed with the dispatcher
3. The route number and the fare total for the day, and nothing else that the shop would need to know about at all
4. The identity of the bus and every defect that would affect safe operation or result in a mechanical breakdown
Show answer

Answer D: The identity of the bus and every defect that would affect safe operation or result in a mechanical breakdown

The report has to name the bus and list each defect that would affect safe operation or lead to a breakdown, so it can be repaired before the bus goes out again.
What does federal rule require whenever a person rides inside the closed body of a commercial vehicle?
1. A second driver must ride along with that person
2. There must be a means of getting out from the inside, and it must be ready to operate
3. The person must wear a reflective vest
4. The doors must be locked from the outside for that person protection
Show answer

Answer B: There must be a means of getting out from the inside, and it must be ready to operate

Nobody may ride in a closed body unless an exit can be worked from the inside, because a trapped occupant cannot be reached quickly.

Source: ecfr.gov
Baggage and freight on a bus must be stowed so that three things are assured. Which set is correct?
1. The driver can move and operate freely, every occupant can reach the exits, and nothing can fall on a rider
2. The load is level across the bays, no axle is overloaded, and the fuel on board will last to the end of the route
3. The bags are sorted by destination, tagged with the rider name, and weighed before they go in the baggage bay
4. The aisle is padded, the overhead racks are locked shut, and the baggage doors are sealed for the trip
Show answer

Answer A: The driver can move and operate freely, every occupant can reach the exits, and nothing can fall on a rider

Federal rule ties bus baggage stowage to three outcomes: unrestricted movement for the driver, unobstructed access to the exits, and protection from articles that fall or shift.

Source: ecfr.gov
A rider wants to set a suitcase down in the stepwell beside the front door. What should you do?
1. Allow it while the bus is not full, since nobody else needs to use that stepwell
2. Allow it if the rider is getting off at the next stop and will lift it out again
3. Refuse, because carry-on items must not be left in a doorway or an aisle
4. Allow it if the suitcase weighs less than the limit set for carry-on items
Show answer

Answer C: Refuse, because carry-on items must not be left in a doorway or an aisle

A bag left in a doorway or aisle blocks the way out and trips other riders, so it has to be stowed somewhere else.
What does the standee line on the floor of a bus mark?
1. The point beyond which riders need a ticket
2. The point forward of which standing riders may not stand
3. The boundary of the wheelchair securement area
4. The place where carry-on bags may be stacked
Show answer

Answer B: The point forward of which standing riders may not stand

The standee line shows standing riders how far forward they may come, and everyone on their feet has to remain behind it.

Source: ecfr.gov
On a bus built to carry standing riders, what does the standee marking look like?
1. A dotted white line half an inch wide, painted across the aisle at the point where the front seat rows begin
2. A yellow arrow painted on the floor pointing toward the rear door, so that riders know which way they should move
3. A red band four inches wide running across the aisle, with the word standee printed alongside it on the floor
4. A line of contrasting color at least two inches wide, or another approved means of showing the limit
Show answer

Answer D: A line of contrasting color at least two inches wide, or another approved means of showing the limit

The rule calls for a contrasting line at least two inches wide, or an equivalent device, so riders can see where standing stops being allowed.

Source: ecfr.gov
How far forward may a standing rider come while the bus is in service?
1. As far as the windshield, provided the rider holds a rail
2. Level with the driver shoulder
3. No farther forward than a plane drawn through the rear of the driver seat
4. Anywhere, as long as the rider does not speak to the driver
Show answer

Answer C: No farther forward than a plane drawn through the rear of the driver seat

Standing riders must stay behind a plane through the back of the driver seat so they cannot block the driver view or interfere with the controls.

Source: ecfr.gov
Study tip. Rule out the options you know are wrong first. Two plausible answers are easier to choose between than four.
On a charter run, when should the driver let riders board the bus?
1. At departure time, which helps prevent theft and vandalism
2. As soon as the bus arrives, so that nobody waits outside
3. Only after a supervisor has sealed the baggage bay
4. Exactly half an hour before departure, without exception
Show answer

Answer A: At departure time, which helps prevent theft and vandalism

Holding boarding until departure time keeps the interior supervised and cuts down on theft and vandalism while the driver is busy loading.
Which hazardous items may a bus carrying passengers for hire normally transport?
1. Small arms ammunition, emergency shipments of drugs, and emergency hospital supplies
2. Any hazardous material at all, provided that it rides in the baggage bay and not in the seating area
3. Propane cylinders and gasoline cans, so long as they are packed in sealed boxes in the baggage bay
4. Fireworks and signal flares, as long as they are kept in the passenger compartment where they can be watched
Show answer

Answer A: Small arms ammunition, emergency shipments of drugs, and emergency hospital supplies

The short list a bus may carry covers small arms ammunition and emergency shipments of drugs, chemicals and hospital supplies; nearly everything else is barred.

Source: ecfr.gov
Which materials must a bus carrying passengers never transport at all?
1. Sealed batteries and household paint
2. Photographic film and cleaning supplies
3. Poison gas, liquid poisons, tear gas and irritating material
4. Bottled water and cylinders of compressed air
Show answer

Answer C: Poison gas, liquid poisons, tear gas and irritating material

Poison gas, liquid poisons, tear gas and irritating material are barred outright, because a release inside an occupied vehicle would be immediately dangerous.
What limit applies to solid poisons carried aboard a bus?
1. There is no limit as long as they are boxed
2. No more than 750 pounds
3. They may be carried only inside the passenger compartment
4. No more than 100 pounds
Show answer

Answer D: No more than 100 pounds

Solid poisons are capped at 45 kg, about 100 pounds, on a bus, while liquid poisons are not permitted at all.

Source: oregon.gov
What weight ceilings apply to the hazardous materials a bus is allowed to carry?
1. No more than 100 pounds in total, whatever the class
2. No more than 500 pounds in total, and no more than 100 pounds of any one class
3. No more than 1,000 pounds in total, and 500 pounds of any one class
4. No more than 250 pounds in total, and 50 pounds of any one class
Show answer

Answer B: No more than 500 pounds in total, and no more than 100 pounds of any one class

Permitted hazardous materials are capped at 225 kg, about 500 pounds, in total, and at 45 kg, about 100 pounds, for any single class.

Source: oregon.gov
Where may explosive material never be carried on a bus that transports passengers for hire?
1. In the baggage bay, under any circumstances, whether or not the bus is carrying riders that day
2. On a bus of any kind, in any location whatsoever, including the baggage bay and the roof rack
3. Anywhere on a bus that has fewer than sixteen seats, though a larger coach may carry it in the bay
4. In the space occupied by people, with small arms ammunition as the only exception
Show answer

Answer D: In the space occupied by people, with small arms ammunition as the only exception

Explosives are kept out of the space where people ride, and small arms ammunition is the single exception to that rule.

Source: ecfr.gov
What is the rule on labeled radioactive material aboard a bus carrying passengers?
1. It may ride anywhere on the bus as long as it is boxed
2. It must not be carried in any compartment occupied by people
3. It may ride in the aisle if it is strapped down
4. It may be carried only when a rider signs for it
Show answer

Answer B: It must not be carried in any compartment occupied by people

Labeled radioactive material is kept out of the occupied space, and when it is carried at all it rides in the trunk or baggage compartment.

Source: ecfr.gov
A rider tries to board carrying a car battery and a can of gasoline. What should you do?
1. Refuse both, because riders may not bring common hazards like these aboard
2. Allow both if they travel in the baggage bay, well away from the people in the seats
3. Allow the battery but turn away the gasoline, since only the fuel can give off vapor
4. Allow both if the rider agrees to sit at the rear of the bus with them under the seat
Show answer

Answer A: Refuse both, because riders may not bring common hazards like these aboard

Riders often arrive with unlabeled hazards, and everyday items such as car batteries and gasoline are not allowed on the bus.
Under what condition may a bus carry a small amount of a hazardous material that is not on the normally permitted list?
1. Whenever a rider is willing to hold it on his or her lap and keep it away from the other passengers on board
2. Whenever the baggage bay happens to be empty, so that the material can ride on its own well away from the riders
3. When no other practicable means of transportation is available, and the quantity limits are respected
4. Whenever the trip is short enough that the bus will not have to stop anywhere along the way
Show answer

Answer C: When no other practicable means of transportation is available, and the quantity limits are respected

A narrow allowance exists for small quantities when no other practicable means of transportation is available, and even then the per class and total weight ceilings still apply.

Source: ecfr.gov
You are approaching a railroad grade crossing with riders on board. In what range must the bus be brought to a stop?
1. Anywhere in the last 5 feet before the nearest rail
2. Somewhere between 75 and 100 feet from the nearest rail
3. Between 15 and 50 feet from the tracks
4. At any distance, provided the bus is already in a low gear
Show answer

Answer C: Between 15 and 50 feet from the tracks

The stop is made in a window between 15 and 50 feet from the tracks, near enough to see along the rails but clear of a passing train.

Source: ecfr.gov
After stopping short of a railroad crossing in a bus, what must the driver do before moving forward?
1. Look and listen in both directions for an approaching train
2. Sound the horn three times
3. Set the parking brake and walk up to the tracks
4. Ask a rider to watch the crossing from a front seat
Show answer

Answer A: Look and listen in both directions for an approaching train

The stop is only useful if it is spent looking and listening along the track in both directions before the bus rolls onto the rails.
Why might a bus driver open the forward door at a railroad crossing?
1. To let riders step off before the bus crosses
2. Because it can improve the driver ability to see or hear an approaching train
3. Because federal rule requires the door to be open at every crossing
4. To air out the passenger compartment
Show answer

Answer B: Because it can improve the driver ability to see or hear an approaching train

Opening the front door cuts engine and road noise and widens the view, so it is done whenever it helps the driver detect a train.
What should the driver of a bus with a manual transmission avoid while the bus is on the tracks?
1. Looking to the left
2. Using the outside mirrors
3. Keeping both hands on the wheel
4. Changing gears
Show answer

Answer D: Changing gears

A missed shift can stall the bus on the rails, so the gear is chosen before the crossing and held all the way across.
A train has just cleared a crossing that has several tracks. What must you confirm before you move?
1. That the crossing gates have finished rising and are locked in the fully upright position
2. That no second train is coming on another track, possibly from the other direction
3. That the riders have all sat back down and the aisle has been cleared before the bus moves
4. That the engine temperature has come back down after the bus has been standing at the crossing
Show answer

Answer B: That no second train is coming on another track, possibly from the other direction

One train easily hides another on a parallel track, so the driver looks and listens again in both directions before crossing.
At which crossing is a bus excused from making the mandatory stop?
1. A crossing on a two lane rural road
2. A crossing marked only with a crossbuck and no gate
3. A crossing that carries more than two tracks
4. A crossing where a working traffic control signal is showing green
Show answer

Answer D: A crossing where a working traffic control signal is showing green

The stop is excused at streetcar and industrial switching crossings in a business district, where an officer or flagman is directing traffic, where a traffic signal shows green, and at crossings marked abandoned or exempt.

Source: ecfr.gov
What does a sign reading Exempt at a railroad crossing tell a bus driver?
1. That the crossing must be taken at walking speed, and that the bus is excused from the stop only for as long as it keeps rolling slowly over the rails
2. That only buses running without passengers on board may use it, and that a loaded bus has to find another route to the far side of the railroad line
3. That it is an industrial or spur line crossing where the mandatory stop does not apply, though the driver must still be sure the way is clear
4. That the crossing is closed to commercial vehicles altogether, so a bus has to turn around and take a different road
Show answer

Answer C: That it is an industrial or spur line crossing where the mandatory stop does not apply, though the driver must still be sure the way is clear

An exempt marking identifies an industrial or spur line crossing where the stop is not required, but the driver still has to make certain nothing is coming.

Source: ecfr.gov
How far before the draw of a drawbridge must a bus stop when the bridge has no signal and no attendant?
1. At least 50 feet
2. At least 10 feet
3. At least 200 feet
4. At least 500 feet
Show answer

Answer A: At least 50 feet

With nothing controlling traffic, the bus stops no less than 50 feet from the draw so the driver can check the span from a safe position.

Source: oregon.gov
After stopping at an uncontrolled drawbridge, what must the driver confirm before crossing?
1. That the draw is completely closed
2. That the bridge tender has gone off duty
3. That no boat is within a mile of the bridge
4. That the bus weight is under the seasonal limit
Show answer

Answer A: That the draw is completely closed

The reason for the stop is to see with certainty that the draw is fully closed before the bus moves onto the span.
At which drawbridge may a bus cross without stopping?
1. One with a posted weight limit well above the weight of the loaded bus, so the span cannot be overloaded at all
2. One whose draw opens fewer than four times a day, since the odds of meeting it open are very small
3. One the driver already crossed earlier the same day and found closed on that occasion
4. One with a traffic light showing green, or an attendant or officer who controls traffic when the bridge opens
Show answer

Answer D: One with a traffic light showing green, or an attendant or officer who controls traffic when the bridge opens

A green signal, or a person controlling traffic whenever the bridge opens, takes the place of the stop.

Source: oregon.gov
An attendant is directing traffic at the drawbridge ahead. What is still expected of the bus driver?
1. To stop 15 feet from the draw anyway
2. To slow down and make sure it is safe to cross
3. To sound the horn and hold road speed
4. To wait for the attendant to board the bus
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Answer B: To slow down and make sure it is safe to cross

Being excused from the stop does not excuse the driver from slowing down and confirming that the crossing is safe.
You have to put a disruptive rider off the bus. Where should that happen?
1. At the nearest point on the shoulder of the highway, as soon as the bus can be brought to a stop
2. Wherever the rider demands to be let off, whatever the hour and whatever the surroundings
3. At a scheduled stop, or in a well lit place where other people are present
4. At the next unlit rural intersection, where the bus can pull clear of the traffic behind it
Show answer

Answer C: At a scheduled stop, or in a well lit place where other people are present

The driver is responsible for that rider safety as well, so the discharge happens somewhere safe such as a scheduled stop or a lit area with other people around.
What is the driver first concern when a rider becomes drunk or disruptive?
1. Collecting an extra fare from that rider
2. Recording the incident on the onboard camera
3. Getting the rider off the bus at once, wherever the bus happens to be
4. The safety of that rider and of everyone else on board
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Answer D: The safety of that rider and of everyone else on board

The driver has to protect the other riders and the disruptive rider at the same time, which is why the person is not simply put out at the nearest spot.
What should a bus driver announce on reaching a destination or an intermediate stop?
1. The fare structure, the refund policy and the address of the ticket office at that stop
2. The name of the carrier, the driver license number and the telephone number of the depot
3. The location, the reason for the stop, the departure time and the bus number
4. The weather forecast for the rest of the route and the condition of the road ahead
Show answer

Answer C: The location, the reason for the stop, the departure time and the bus number

Riders need to know where they are, why the bus has stopped, when it leaves again and which bus is theirs, so all four are announced.
What reminder should riders be given when they get off the bus at a stop?
1. To take their carry-on items with them
2. To leave their carry-on items on the seat
3. To report to the ticket office
4. To sign the passenger manifest
Show answer

Answer A: To take their carry-on items with them

Riders leaving the bus are reminded to take their carry-ons so that belongings are not left loose in the aisle or lost.
The aisle of your coach sits lower than the seat rows. What should riders be told before they get off?
1. To stay in their seats until the baggage bay has been opened and the bags are out
2. To watch their step, because there is a step down from the seats to the aisle
3. To leave by the emergency exit at the rear instead of the door beside the driver
4. To hold the seat back in front of them while the bus is still coming to a stop
Show answer

Answer B: To watch their step, because there is a step down from the seats to the aisle

A change in floor level is easy to miss, so riders are warned about the step down before they stand up to leave.
While driving a bus in service, what should the driver be scanning?
1. Only the road ahead, since the riders are the carrier responsibility
2. The road ahead, the sides, the rear, and the interior of the bus
3. Only the mirrors and the instrument panel
4. Only the interior, because the mirrors already cover the road
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Answer B: The road ahead, the sides, the rear, and the interior of the bus

A bus driver watches the traffic scene and the passenger compartment together, because trouble inside the bus can quickly become a crash outside it.
Why should the driver of a transit bus brake and accelerate as gently as conditions allow?
1. Because standing riders and riders moving in the aisle are thrown off balance by sudden changes in speed
2. Because the service brakes on a transit bus are not rated for firm use and will fade if they are applied hard
3. Because it lowers the amount of fuel burned over the course of the route and saves the company money
4. Because federal rule sets a maximum rate of deceleration that a bus in service is not allowed to exceed
Show answer

Answer A: Because standing riders and riders moving in the aisle are thrown off balance by sudden changes in speed

People on their feet have nothing holding them in place, so abrupt speed changes are what put riders on the floor.
Using the standard rule of thumb, how much following distance does a 40 foot bus need at 55 mph?
1. Two seconds
2. Three seconds
3. Four seconds
4. Five seconds
Show answer

Answer D: Five seconds

The rule is one second for every 10 feet of vehicle length, giving four seconds for a 40 foot bus, plus one more second because the speed is above 40 mph.

Source: oregon.gov
You are approaching an underpass whose posted clearance is only slightly above the height of your coach. What is the safe assumption?
1. The posted height is guaranteed by the highway authority and can be relied on exactly as it is written
2. The posted height applies only to loaded trucks and trailers, so a coach may pass under it safely
3. The real clearance may be less than posted, because repaving or packed snow can have reduced it
4. The clearance is measured with a margin already built in, so the sign always understates it
Show answer

Answer C: The real clearance may be less than posted, because repaving or packed snow can have reduced it

Posted clearances are not always updated after resurfacing or heavy snow, so a marginal clearance should be treated as smaller than the sign claims.

Source: oregon.gov
Why does a long bus have to swing out into the intersection before completing a right turn?
1. Because the front wheels track outside the rear wheels, so the nose of the bus needs all the extra room
2. Because the outside mirrors have to be swung clear of the curb and of anything standing on it
3. Because the rear wheels follow a tighter path than the front wheels and can strike the curb or a pole
4. Because the rear door has to stay over the crosswalk while the riders at that stop get off
Show answer

Answer C: Because the rear wheels follow a tighter path than the front wheels and can strike the curb or a pole

On a long vehicle the rear wheels cut inside the path taken by the front wheels, so the driver keeps the bus far enough out for the rear to clear.
Study tip. When two answers both seem legal, pick the one that is safer for everyone on the road. That is how most tests are written.
You are pulling away from a curbside stop into moving traffic. What is the safe approach?
1. Signal and pull out at once, trusting the drivers coming up behind the bus to slow down and let it into the lane
2. Wait for a gap large enough for the bus to accelerate and merge, without counting on other drivers to brake
3. Pull out slowly with the front door left open, so that traffic behind can see the bus is moving off
4. Accelerate hard from the stop so that the gap closes up behind the bus before anyone can take it
Show answer

Answer B: Wait for a gap large enough for the bus to accelerate and merge, without counting on other drivers to brake

A loaded bus gains speed slowly, so the driver has to know how big a gap the bus needs and wait for it rather than rely on others yielding.
What do the prohibited practices for bus drivers say about conversation with riders?
1. The driver should chat with riders during the run to keep them calm and to make the trip pass quickly
2. The driver may talk with riders on open road, but not while the bus is working through heavy city traffic
3. The driver may talk with riders only when every seat is taken and nobody is left standing in the aisle
4. The driver should not talk with riders or take part in any other distracting activity while driving
Show answer

Answer D: The driver should not talk with riders or take part in any other distracting activity while driving

Conversation takes attention away from a vehicle that needs plenty of room and plenty of warning, so it is left for when the bus is stopped.

Source: oregon.gov
Which refueling practice is flatly forbidden on a bus?
1. Refueling inside a closed building while riders are on board
2. Refueling at an open outdoor pump with the engine shut off
3. Refueling before a charter run begins
4. Refueling at the end of a shift after the riders have left
Show answer

Answer A: Refueling inside a closed building while riders are on board

Fuel vapor collects indoors, so refueling in a closed building with riders aboard is never acceptable.

Source: oregon.gov
What is the guidance on refueling a bus outdoors while riders are still on board?
1. Avoid it unless it is absolutely necessary
2. It is encouraged, because it saves time against the schedule
3. It is required whenever the tank falls below one quarter
4. It is fine as long as riders stay seated and the doors are shut
Show answer

Answer A: Avoid it unless it is absolutely necessary

Fueling with people aboard adds risk for no operational benefit, so it is done only when there is no reasonable alternative.

Source: oregon.gov
A bus breaks down with riders on board. What does the rule say about towing or pushing it?
1. It may be towed with riders aboard for any distance at all, provided that the driver stays at the wheel and the doors are kept shut tight
2. It must not be towed or pushed with riders aboard unless getting off would be unsafe, and then only as far as the nearest safe spot
3. It may be pushed by another bus of the same company whenever the two drivers agree that the road ahead is clear enough for them to do it
4. Riders must stay on board until a mechanic arrives, whatever the location and however long the repair is going to take
Show answer

Answer B: It must not be towed or pushed with riders aboard unless getting off would be unsafe, and then only as far as the nearest safe spot

Riders are normally taken off before the bus is moved, and the exception applies only when leaving the bus would be more dangerous than staying aboard.

Source: ecfr.gov
Which emergency equipment must be aboard a bus before it goes into service?
1. A first aid kit, a set of tire chains and a flashlight with spare batteries
2. A spare wheel, a jack and a tow strap long enough to reach another vehicle
3. A charged fire extinguisher, spare electrical fuses if the bus uses them, and warning devices for a stopped vehicle
4. A set of hazard placards, a sack of absorbent granules and chemical gloves
Show answer

Answer C: A charged fire extinguisher, spare electrical fuses if the bus uses them, and warning devices for a stopped vehicle

The CDL manual lists the required emergency equipment for a bus: a properly charged and rated fire extinguisher, spare electrical fuses unless the bus has circuit breakers, and warning devices to put out when it is stopped on the road.

Source: oregon.gov
You have finished loading bags into the side bays of a coach. What must you confirm before pulling out?
1. That every baggage compartment door is closed and securely latched
2. That the bags in each bay have been weighed and the totals entered on the trip sheet
3. That the heaviest bags have been placed in the bay nearest the rear axle of the coach
4. That each bag carries a tag with the name of the rider who checked it in at the depot
Show answer

Answer A: That every baggage compartment door is closed and securely latched

A bay door that is not latched can swing open in traffic and spill baggage into the road, so each door is checked shut and latched before departure.
Which buses are required to carry a standee line or an equivalent marking?
1. Every bus that operates in interstate commerce, whatever its seating arrangement may be
2. Only buses used on charter work, where riders are unfamiliar with the vehicle they board
3. Only buses that have more than one door for riders to use getting on and off
4. Buses designed and built to carry standing riders
Show answer

Answer D: Buses designed and built to carry standing riders

The marking requirement attaches to buses designed and constructed to allow standees, because those are the buses where a limit on standing has to be shown.

Source: ecfr.gov
The standee line on your transit bus has worn away until it is barely visible. What should you do?
1. Carry on, and tell standing riders where the line used to be as they board
2. Report it as a defect so the marking can be restored
3. Paint a replacement line yourself with whatever material the depot has on hand
4. Rope off the two front rows so nobody can stand in that part of the bus at all
Show answer

Answer B: Report it as a defect so the marking can be restored

A required marking that has worn away is a defect, and the bus needs it restored so standing riders can see the limit for themselves.
A rider boards in a wheelchair. What is the driver responsible for before the bus moves off?
1. Using the securement system to secure the chair in its designated space
2. Helping the rider out of the chair and into a regular seat near the front door
3. Folding the chair and stowing it in the baggage bay for the length of the journey
4. Having the rider sign a form accepting responsibility for the chair on the trip
Show answer

Answer A: Using the securement system to secure the chair in its designated space

An unsecured mobility device rolls under braking and turning, so the driver uses the securement system to anchor it in its designated space before the bus moves.
Your bus is fitted with a passenger lift. When should its operation be checked?
1. Only when a rider who needs it is known to be waiting at a stop on the route
2. Only at the annual inspection, since the lift is not part of the daily walk around
3. During the pre-trip inspection, along with the rest of the bus
4. Only after the lift has been cycled ten times since it was last serviced
Show answer

Answer C: During the pre-trip inspection, along with the rest of the bus

The lift is part of the bus, so it is checked in the pre-trip inspection rather than discovered to be broken with a rider waiting at the curb.
What does the brake and accelerator interlock on an urban mass transit coach do?
1. It shuts the engine down completely whenever the rear door is opened at a stop
2. It applies the brakes and holds the throttle at idle while the rear door is open
3. It locks the steering so the coach cannot be turned while riders are boarding
4. It sounds a horn outside the coach for as long as the rear door stays open
Show answer

Answer B: It applies the brakes and holds the throttle at idle while the rear door is open

The interlock brakes the coach and keeps the throttle at idle whenever the rear door is open, so the coach cannot pull away with someone in the doorway.

Source: oregon.gov
How should a driver treat the brake and accelerator interlock system?
1. As the normal way of holding the coach at every stop, in place of the service brake
2. As a substitute for the parking brake when the coach is left standing at a terminal
3. As a device that needs attention only while the coach is being loaded with baggage
4. As a safety feature, not as a replacement for the parking brake
Show answer

Answer D: As a safety feature, not as a replacement for the parking brake

The interlock is a safeguard tied to the rear door, and it is never used in place of setting the parking brake.

Source: oregon.gov
When does the brake and accelerator interlock release?
1. When the rear door is closed
2. When the driver presses the accelerator firmly enough to override the system
3. When the coach has been standing still for a full thirty seconds at the stop
4. When the parking brake has been set and then released again by the driver
Show answer

Answer A: When the rear door is closed

The interlock is controlled by the rear door, so closing that door is what releases the brakes and the throttle again.
Where do bus crashes often happen, so that extra caution is needed there?
1. On open stretches of interstate highway, where a coach runs at its highest speed
2. In parking lots and terminals, where the coach moves slowly among other vehicles
3. At intersections
4. On long downgrades, where a loaded coach is hardest for the driver to hold back
Show answer

Answer C: At intersections

Bus crashes often happen at intersections, so a driver approaches them with caution even when the light is green and other traffic has a stop sign.
You pull out of a curbside stop and steer left away from the curb. What does the rear of a long bus do?
1. It tracks the same path as the front, so the curb side stays clear
2. It lifts a little, and the rear tires lose part of their grip
3. It stays over the stop until the front reaches the traffic lane
4. It swings out toward the curb and toward anything or anyone standing on it
Show answer

Answer D: It swings out toward the curb and toward anything or anyone standing on it

The overhang behind the rear axle swings opposite the turn, so a bus leaving a stop can sweep the curb with its tail even though the front is moving away.
A curve ahead carries a posted advisory speed. How should a bus driver treat that number?
1. As the speed a bus should hold through the curve to keep traffic behind it moving
2. As a speed set for cars, which may be too fast for a bus
3. As a limit that applies to cars but never applies to a commercial vehicle at all
4. As a figure that can be exceeded whenever the surface is dry and clear of debris
Show answer

Answer B: As a speed set for cars, which may be too fast for a bus

Advisory speeds are worked out for passenger cars, and a tall heavy bus can lose stability well below that figure, so the driver slows before entering the curve.
Riders are still moving down the aisle looking for seats. When should you pull away from the stop?
1. After they are seated or braced and holding on
2. Straight away, because the schedule leaves no time to wait for riders to settle
3. After every rider has a seat, even if some standing riders must be turned away
4. As soon as the doors are shut, whatever the riders inside happen to be doing
Show answer

Answer A: After they are seated or braced and holding on

A rider walking in the aisle has nothing holding them in place, so the bus waits until people are seated or braced before it starts to move.
You have just let riders off at a stop. What must you check before moving away?
1. That the fare box has recorded each fare collected during that stop
2. That the interior lights are switched off for the next leg of the run
3. That the riders who got off are clear of the bus and out of its path
4. That the rear door has been left open in case anyone else wants to board
Show answer

Answer C: That the riders who got off are clear of the bus and out of its path

People who have just stepped off may walk around the bus or in front of it, so the driver checks the mirrors and the area around the bus before pulling away.
What should you do before closing the passenger door at a stop?
1. Sound the horn once to warn anyone still walking toward the bus at that stop
2. Look at the doorway and the mirrors for anyone boarding or standing close by
3. Switch off the interior lights so that the doorway is easier to see from the seat
4. Release the parking brake so the bus can move the moment the door is shut
Show answer

Answer B: Look at the doorway and the mirrors for anyone boarding or standing close by

A closing door can catch a late boarder or a coat, so the driver checks the doorway and the mirrors before the door is operated.
Two riders are standing on the stairwell steps and leaning against the door. What should you do?
1. Allow it while the bus is full, as long as they hold the handrail beside them
2. Allow it if they are getting off at the next stop and will be there only a moment
3. Allow it once the bus is clear of city traffic and running at a steady speed
4. Have them move behind the standee line before the bus goes anywhere
Show answer

Answer D: Have them move behind the standee line before the bus goes anywhere

The stepwell has to stay clear and a door can come open, so riders are moved back behind the standee line before the bus is driven.
A rider wants to put a heavy toolbox in the overhead rack. What should you tell the rider?
1. That it may stay there if the rack has a net fitted across the front of it
2. That it may stay there as long as it sits directly above the seat the rider takes
3. That it has to go somewhere it cannot fall on anyone
4. That it may stay there once the rider has been given a receipt for the item
Show answer

Answer C: That it has to go somewhere it cannot fall on anyone

Baggage on a bus has to be stowed so that nothing can fall or shift onto a rider, and a heavy object overhead does exactly that in hard braking.

Source: ecfr.gov
You are about to leave on a charter run with a group that has never traveled with you. What is worth covering before you set off?
1. The emergency exits and the rules that apply on board
2. The mechanical history of the coach and the date of its last annual inspection
3. The name of every town the coach will pass through on the way to the destination
4. The fuel consumption of the coach and the number of stops needed to refuel it
Show answer

Answer A: The emergency exits and the rules that apply on board

Charter riders do not know the coach, so telling them where the exits are and what is expected on board prevents both accidents and arguments later.
A rider starts arguing loudly with you while you are driving in heavy traffic. What is the right response?
1. Settle the argument now so the rider calms down and stops shouting
2. Keep your attention on the driving and take up the matter once the bus is safely stopped
3. Pull onto the shoulder at once, wherever the bus happens to be at the time
4. Ask the riders sitting nearby to move the person away from the front of the bus
Show answer

Answer B: Keep your attention on the driving and take up the matter once the bus is safely stopped

Arguing with a rider is exactly the kind of distraction the prohibited practices are aimed at, so the matter waits until the bus is stopped in a safe place.
A rider hands you a sealed can of paint thinner to put in the baggage bay. What should you do?
1. Take it, because the baggage bay is separate from the space where riders sit
2. Take it if the rider states in writing what the container holds
3. Take it if it is wrapped in plastic so nothing can leak into the bay
4. Refuse it, because the restrictions cover the baggage bay as well as the seats
Show answer

Answer D: Refuse it, because the restrictions cover the baggage bay as well as the seats

A flammable liquid is not on the short list of materials a bus may carry, and putting it in the bay instead of the aisle does not make it allowed.
Which vehicles must stop at every railroad crossing that is not exempt?
1. Buses carrying passengers, vehicles placarded for hazardous materials, and cargo tank vehicles
2. Every commercial vehicle over 26,000 pounds, whether or not it is carrying anything
3. Only school buses, since they are the vehicles the rule was written for
4. Every vehicle with more than two axles, including a tractor pulling an empty trailer
Show answer

Answer A: Buses carrying passengers, vehicles placarded for hazardous materials, and cargo tank vehicles

The mandatory stop applies to buses with passengers aboard, to placarded hazardous materials vehicles and to cargo tank vehicles, loaded or empty.

Source: ecfr.gov
Before you start across a set of tracks in a bus, what must you be sure of?
1. That the crossing gates are fully raised and the warning lights have gone out
2. That the bus is in the highest gear it can pull, to cross in the shortest time
3. That there is room on the far side to clear the tracks without stopping
4. That no vehicle behind is following closely enough to be caught by the gates
Show answer

Answer C: That there is room on the far side to clear the tracks without stopping

Traffic backed up beyond the crossing can leave a long bus stranded on the rails, so the driver only starts across with somewhere to finish.
You are slowing on a highway to make the required stop at a railroad crossing. What best protects you from the traffic behind?
1. Moving into the left lane so that following traffic can go past on the right
2. Sounding the horn repeatedly as the bus slows toward the crossing
3. Stopping much farther back than required so the queue behind has more room
4. Switching on the hazard warning flashers as you slow down
Show answer

Answer D: Switching on the hazard warning flashers as you slow down

Drivers behind do not expect a vehicle to stop at an open crossing, so the flashers warn them well before the bus comes to a halt.
What is the rule about lane changes at a multi lane railroad crossing?
1. Move to the right lane while on the tracks so that following traffic can get by
2. Do not change lanes while any part of the bus is on the crossing
3. Change lanes only once the front wheels have passed the last rail of the crossing
4. Change lanes freely, since a crossing is treated like any other piece of road
Show answer

Answer B: Do not change lanes while any part of the bus is on the crossing

Steering and shifting on the rails invites a stall or a loss of control in the worst possible place, so the bus crosses in one lane without changing.
You reach a drawbridge whose traffic signal is dark and has clearly failed. What should you do?
1. Treat the bridge as uncontrolled and make the required stop before the draw
2. Cross at reduced speed, because a failed signal counts the same as a green one
3. Wait where you are until the signal has been repaired before crossing at all
4. Sound the horn twice and cross without stopping, as the rule allows at that bridge
Show answer

Answer A: Treat the bridge as uncontrolled and make the required stop before the draw

The exception depends on a working signal or a person controlling traffic, so a dead signal leaves the bridge uncontrolled and the stop before the draw applies.
Study tip. One test a day for a week beats seven tests in one evening: spaced practice is what makes rules stick.
What does the driver have to do with the written post-trip inspection report?
1. File it with the state agency that licensed the bus before the next trip begins
2. Keep it in a personal logbook that travels with the driver rather than the bus
3. Post a copy inside the bus where riders are able to read it during the trip
4. Sign it, so the report records who inspected the bus
Show answer

Answer D: Sign it, so the report records who inspected the bus

The report is signed by the driver who made the inspection, which is what ties the findings to a person and a date.

Source: ecfr.gov
A driver reports a defect that would affect safe operation. What has to happen before that bus goes out again?
1. The next driver decides whether the defect matters on the route being run
2. The carrier has the defect repaired and certifies that it was corrected
3. The bus may run for seven more days while the parts are ordered and delivered
4. The defect is filed and reviewed at the next annual inspection of the vehicle
Show answer

Answer B: The carrier has the defect repaired and certifies that it was corrected

A reported defect that affects safe operation has to be repaired and the correction certified before the bus is dispatched again.

Source: ecfr.gov
Before taking a bus out, what does a driver have to do about the last inspection report?
1. Copy its contents onto the new report so the information carries forward
2. Send it to the dispatcher and wait for permission before starting the trip
3. Review it and sign it if defects were reported and certified as corrected
4. Discard it, because a new report replaces the old one at each change of shift
Show answer

Answer C: Review it and sign it if defects were reported and certified as corrected

The driver taking over reads the previous report and signs to acknowledge that any reported defects were certified as repaired.

Source: ecfr.gov
A passenger endorsement is required for a vehicle designed to carry how many people?
1. 16 or more, counting the driver
2. 9 or more, not counting the driver or a company employee riding along
3. 24 or more, counting the driver and everyone else who is aboard at the time
4. 12 or more, not counting the driver but counting any children who are aboard
Show answer

Answer A: 16 or more, counting the driver

The threshold is a design capacity of 16 or more people including the driver, which is what makes the vehicle a passenger vehicle for licensing.

Source: oregon.gov
You take your passenger skills test in a 16 passenger van instead of a full size coach. What is the result?
1. Nothing changes, because the endorsement covers every size of passenger vehicle
2. The endorsement is issued but expires a year earlier than it otherwise would
3. You are restricted from the larger classes of passenger vehicle
4. You must sit the knowledge test again before the endorsement can be issued
Show answer

Answer C: You are restricted from the larger classes of passenger vehicle

The class of vehicle used for the skills test sets the limit, so testing in a small passenger vehicle keeps you out of the larger classes.

Source: oregon.gov
You pass your skills test in a bus fitted with hydraulic brakes rather than air brakes. What appears on your license?
1. A note that the license is valid only for buses of that same make and model
2. A requirement to take a further road test within the following twelve months
3. A restriction limiting you to routes inside the state that issued the license
4. An air brake restriction
Show answer

Answer D: An air brake restriction

Testing in a vehicle without air brakes produces an air brake restriction, which bars you from driving a bus equipped with them.

Source: oregon.gov
Exhaust fumes are leaking into the passenger compartment of your bus. What must you do?
1. Open the windows and finish the route, then report the leak at the end of the shift
2. Take the bus out of service until the leak is repaired
3. Move the riders to the rear seats and keep the front of the bus empty for the trip
4. Run the heater at full output so that fresh air is forced through the compartment
Show answer

Answer B: Take the bus out of service until the leak is repaired

A bus may not be operated when exhaust can escape into the occupied space, because carbon monoxide has no smell and disables people before they notice it.

Source: ecfr.gov
What does the federal rule say about fueling a bus with the engine running?
1. It is not allowed unless the engine must run in order to fuel the bus
2. It is allowed at any time provided no rider is standing near the pump
3. It is allowed whenever the fueling is done outdoors at a public fuel stop
4. It is allowed once the parking brake is set and all the doors are closed
Show answer

Answer A: It is not allowed unless the engine must run in order to fuel the bus

Fueling with the engine running is prohibited except where running the engine is necessary to fuel the vehicle, and nobody may smoke or expose an open flame near a vehicle being fueled.

Source: ecfr.gov
How should a bus be positioned at a curbside stop?
1. Angled in toward the curb so the front door sits closest to the sidewalk
2. A bus length short of the stop, so a following bus can also reach the curb
3. Parallel and close to the curb, so that riders do not have to step into the roadway
4. Well out from the curb so the mirrors clear anything standing on the sidewalk
Show answer

Answer C: Parallel and close to the curb, so that riders do not have to step into the roadway

Riders should step from the door onto the sidewalk, not into a gap or a traffic lane, which means bringing the bus in parallel and close.
What is the interior mirror of a bus mainly for?
1. Checking the road behind when the outside mirrors are dirty or misted over
2. Watching the riders and what is happening inside the bus
3. Judging how far the rear of the bus is from an object while backing slowly
4. Letting riders at the rear catch the eye of the driver when they want a stop
Show answer

Answer B: Watching the riders and what is happening inside the bus

Passenger supervision is part of the job, and the interior mirror is how the driver keeps watch over the compartment while driving.
Your bus has broken down on a two lane road and the riders have to leave it. Where should they wait?
1. In the traffic lane behind the bus, where approaching drivers will see them
2. Beside the bus on the traffic side, so they stay together and in your sight
3. Spread along the shoulder for a hundred yards to warn oncoming traffic
4. Well off the roadway, away from traffic
Show answer

Answer D: Well off the roadway, away from traffic

Riders standing on or near the traveled way are in more danger than they were on the bus, so they are moved clear of the road altogether.
What should decide whether riders are taken off the bus after a crash?
1. The number of riders aboard and how long the delay is expected to last
2. Whether the dispatcher can be reached on the radio to give instructions
3. Whether staying aboard is more dangerous than getting off, as it is with fire or spilled fuel
4. Whether the riders paid a fare or were traveling as part of a chartered group
Show answer

Answer C: Whether staying aboard is more dangerous than getting off, as it is with fire or spilled fuel

Getting people out has its own risks, so riders are evacuated when the bus itself is the greater hazard, such as a fire or leaking fuel.
What is the main purpose of a roof hatch on a bus?
1. It is an emergency exit
2. It lets warm air out of the passenger compartment during the summer months
3. It gives access to the roof for cleaning and for reaching the air conditioning unit
4. It provides light in the aisle when the interior lamps have failed on a night run
Show answer

Answer A: It is an emergency exit

A roof hatch is first of all a way out when the doors cannot be used, which is why it counts as emergency exit equipment on the inspection.
A parked truck is blocking your regular bus stop. Where should you let riders off?
1. Alongside the truck, so the stop is still made at the marked location
2. At a nearby place where riders are able to reach the sidewalk without walking in traffic
3. In the intersection just ahead, where there is room for the bus to stand
4. In the traffic lane beside the truck, with the hazard warning flashers switched on
Show answer

Answer B: At a nearby place where riders are able to reach the sidewalk without walking in traffic

Riders must never be unloaded into a traffic lane, so the driver finds the nearest safe spot where they can step straight onto the sidewalk.
Riders have been tracking snow and slush into the stepwell all morning. Why does that matter?
1. Because the melt water can drain down into the baggage bay below the floor
2. Because the fare box will not read a ticket that has become wet at the doorway
3. Because the rubber door seals will freeze and stop the door opening at the next stop along the route
4. Because wet steps are slippery, and the steps and floor covering have to stay safe to use
Show answer

Answer D: Because wet steps are slippery, and the steps and floor covering have to stay safe to use

The condition of the steps and floor covering is part of what keeps riders safe, and a wet stepwell is where boarding riders fall.
You have finished the walkaround on your coach. Which openings must be closed and secured before you drive away?
1. Only the baggage bay doors, because every other panel is checked by the garage each week
2. None of them, since a panel left open will swing closed on its own once the bus is moving
3. Only the panels on the side of the bus that faces the traffic lane while it is parked
4. Every access door and panel you opened, including the battery box and any service panel
Show answer

Answer D: Every access door and panel you opened, including the battery box and any service panel

Access doors and service panels opened during the inspection have to be closed and latched, because an open panel can swing into traffic or be torn off at speed.
What should you confirm about the passenger entry door while inspecting a bus?
1. That it opens and closes properly and that its glass and seals are undamaged
2. That it can be locked from the outside with the same key that starts the engine
3. That it stays open by itself once the bus is parked and the engine is shut off
4. That it carries a plate showing the year the body was built and who built it
Show answer

Answer A: That it opens and closes properly and that its glass and seals are undamaged

Riders board and leave through that door many times a shift, so it has to work smoothly and be sound; a door that sticks or has broken glass is a defect.
Why must the passenger signaling devices be working before a transit bus goes into service?
1. Because the fare box will refuse to take payment while any of them is out of order
2. Because they count the riders who travel on the bus during each shift a driver works
3. Because a rider uses one to tell the driver that the bus is wanted at the next stop
4. Because they release the rear door automatically when a rider presses one of them
Show answer

Answer C: Because a rider uses one to tell the driver that the bus is wanted at the next stop

The signaling devices are how riders make themselves understood from their seats, so they sit among the interior items that must be in safe working condition.
A vertical stanchion beside the rear door moves in your hand when you pull on it. What is the right response?
1. Report it as a defect and keep the bus out of service until the stanchion is repaired
2. Run the bus as usual and ask riders to use one of the other rails in that part of the bus
3. Tape a written warning around the stanchion and finish the work scheduled for the day
4. Use the bus only on quiet runs where every rider on board will be able to find a seat
Show answer

Answer A: Report it as a defect and keep the bus out of service until the stanchion is repaired

Handholds and railings carry the weight of riders when the bus brakes or turns, so a loose one is a defect that has to be put right before the bus carries anyone.
The lamp over the entry stepwell has failed and your run starts after dark. Why does that matter?
1. Because the fare box cannot be read by the driver unless that lamp is switched on
2. Because a bus may not leave a depot with any lamp inoperative anywhere on the body
3. Because the interior lamps share a circuit with the clearance lamps on the roof
4. Because riders need to see the steps as they climb aboard and as they step down
Show answer

Answer D: Because riders need to see the steps as they climb aboard and as they step down

Boarding and stepping down is where riders fall, and a dark stepwell hides the edge of every step.
How should the outside mirrors on a city bus be adjusted before the run?
1. So that both of them are aimed at the traffic lane immediately to the left of the bus
2. So that they show the road far behind the bus and none of the body of the bus itself
3. So that the driver can see down each side of the bus and the ground beside the doors
4. So that the driver can see the roof of the bus and the top edge of the rear window
Show answer

Answer C: So that the driver can see down each side of the bus and the ground beside the doors

A bus driver has to watch the sides of a long vehicle and the ground beside the doors where riders and pedestrians move, so the mirrors are set to cover both.
Why look through the passenger compartment before a new group boards?
1. To count the seats so the number of riders can be checked against the trip sheet
2. To confirm the destination sign agrees with the route the bus is scheduled to run
3. To be sure the fare box has been emptied and reset before anybody gets on board
4. To find damage, litter and left items that could injure the riders about to board
Show answer

Answer D: To find damage, litter and left items that could injure the riders about to board

Whatever the last group broke or left behind becomes a hazard for the next one, and it is far easier to deal with while the bus is empty.
At the back of your coach a rider has stacked two large bags against the emergency exit door. What must you do?
1. Move the bags, because every person aboard has to have unobstructed access to the exits
2. Leave them, since the rear exit is only used when the front door cannot be opened at all
3. Leave them if the rider agrees to move them the moment anything goes wrong on the trip
4. Strap the bags to the door so that they cannot slide into the aisle while the bus moves
Show answer

Answer A: Move the bags, because every person aboard has to have unobstructed access to the exits

Baggage has to be stowed so nothing blocks an occupant from reaching an exit, and an emergency door is worthless with bags piled against it.

Source: ecfr.gov
A rider wants to leave a large holdall on the floor next to your seat. What should you say?
1. That it may stay there if the rider keeps hold of the strap for the whole of the trip
2. That it may stay there once the bus has left the built up area and the traffic has thinned out
3. That it may stay there provided it is lighter than the limit set for a carry-on item
4. That it must go elsewhere, because your freedom to move and operate the bus comes first
Show answer

Answer D: That it must go elsewhere, because your freedom to move and operate the bus comes first

Baggage on a bus is stowed so the driver keeps unrestricted freedom of movement and can operate the bus properly, so nothing is left near the controls or the driver seat.

Source: ecfr.gov
May a bus carry freight as well as riders?
1. No, a vehicle that carries people for hire may not carry freight of any kind at all
2. Yes, but only when the seats are empty and no rider is aboard for any part of the trip
3. Yes, if it is not a forbidden material and it is stowed to the same standard as baggage
4. No, unless the freight belongs to the carrier itself and stays in the bay for the whole of the route
Show answer

Answer C: Yes, if it is not a forbidden material and it is stowed to the same standard as baggage

The stowage rule names baggage and freight together, so freight may ride if it is not a prohibited material and it cannot block an exit, hamper the driver or fall on anyone.

Source: ecfr.gov
Who is answerable for the way carry-on items are stowed in a bus?
1. The carrier alone, because the loading rules are written for the company and not the driver
2. The riders alone, since each of them decides what to bring aboard and where to put it
3. The baggage handler at the depot, the last person to touch anything loaded on the coach
4. The driver, who must not drive the bus unless everything aboard is properly stowed
Show answer

Answer D: The driver, who must not drive the bus unless everything aboard is properly stowed

The regulation is written as a prohibition on driving, so it falls to the driver to see that stowage is right before the bus moves.

Source: ecfr.gov
Besides the line on the floor, what has to be posted at or near the front of a bus built for standing riders?
1. A sign, in letters at least half an inch high, warning that standing forward of the line is a violation
2. A card giving the seating capacity of the bus and the total weight it is rated to carry when loaded
3. A notice giving the name of the driver on duty and the telephone number of the dispatch office at the depot
4. A diagram of the bus showing where each emergency exit is placed and how each one is to be opened
Show answer

Answer A: A sign, in letters at least half an inch high, warning that standing forward of the line is a violation

The standee rule also calls for a posted sign, with letters at least half an inch high, telling riders that occupying the area forward of the line breaks the federal rule.

Source: ecfr.gov
A rider is standing forward of the standee line as you are about to pull away. How is the rule written?
1. As a fine on the rider, payable at the depot before traveling on that route again
2. As a rule for the carrier only, which must build the bus so the area cannot be reached
3. As a prohibition on driving, so you may not move while anyone is forward of that line
4. As advice, so you may move off after asking the rider to hold on to a rail up there
Show answer

Answer C: As a prohibition on driving, so you may not move while anyone is forward of that line

The regulation says the bus shall not be driven unless all standees are behind the line, which makes waiting for the rider to move back the duty of the driver.

Source: ecfr.gov
What hazardous materials duty falls on you while bags are being loaded into the bays?
1. To place hazard placards on both sides of the bus whenever any sealed container has been loaded
2. To seal each bag with tape once you have looked at it and put it away in the baggage bay
3. To fill in a shipping paper for every bag and keep the papers in the pouch on your door
4. To watch for baggage or cargo holding hazardous material, since almost all of it is barred
Show answer

Answer D: To watch for baggage or cargo holding hazardous material, since almost all of it is barred

The driver is the last check on what goes aboard, and a bus may carry only a very short list of hazardous materials.
A shipper offers a small, well packed carton of an irritating material for the baggage bay and points out how little it weighs. What is the answer?
1. It may travel in the bay, because its weight is far below the ceiling that applies to a bus
2. It must be refused, because that material is barred from a passenger bus whatever it weighs
3. It may travel in the bay if it is kept apart from the bags belonging to the riders on board
4. It may travel in the bay if the run is a charter and every rider aboard agrees to carry it
Show answer

Answer B: It must be refused, because that material is barred from a passenger bus whatever it weighs

Some materials are capped by weight on a bus, but irritating material is on the list forbidden outright, so the quantity makes no difference at all.
Study tip. Before test day, check on the official agency website which documents and fees you need to bring.
A queue at the stop steps toward the roadway while your bus is still rolling the last few feet in. What should you do?
1. Open the door early so that nobody has to reach across a gap as the bus finishes stopping
2. Wave them forward, so that the bus can get away from the stop without losing any time
3. Stop the bus short of the marked stop so that the first of them can climb aboard at once
4. Keep the door closed until the bus is stopped and secured, and signal them to stand back
Show answer

Answer D: Keep the door closed until the bus is stopped and secured, and signal them to stand back

A rider who reaches for a bus that is still moving can be knocked down and caught by the wheels, so nobody boards until the bus is stopped and held.
Your coach makes a scheduled rest stop and most riders get off. What should you do before pulling out again?
1. Sound the horn twice from the driver seat and leave at the time you announced earlier
2. Ask the rider in the first row whether the group is complete and rely on that answer
3. Count the bags in the racks and leave once the number matches the number of seats
4. Make sure everyone who left the bus is back aboard before the bus leaves the stop
Show answer

Answer D: Make sure everyone who left the bus is back aboard before the bus leaves the stop

Announcing a departure time is not enough on its own; the driver checks that nobody has been left behind before the coach goes.
A rider tells you they wanted the stop you have just gone past. What is the right response?
1. Back up along the curb lane to the stop, using the mirrors to watch the traffic behind
2. Stop where you are, in the traffic lane, and let the rider step down between the stops
3. Carry on to the next stop, since stopping in a traffic lane or backing up is not safe
4. Make for the opposite curb and let the rider off there, where the traffic is lighter
Show answer

Answer C: Carry on to the next stop, since stopping in a traffic lane or backing up is not safe

Backing a bus or opening the door in a live traffic lane puts the rider and other road users at risk, so the bus continues to a proper stop.
A rider is behaving in a way that frightens the others and will not settle down. What is the sound course?
1. Pull over where it is safe, secure the bus and call for help rather than manage it while driving
2. Keep driving to the end of the route and hand the whole matter to the depot staff on arrival
3. Stop in the traffic lane at once and stand up to argue the matter out with the rider face to face
4. Drive faster so the run finishes sooner and the rider has less time to upset the other riders
Show answer

Answer A: Pull over where it is safe, secure the bus and call for help rather than manage it while driving

Handling a serious disturbance from the driver seat means driving distracted, so the bus is stopped somewhere safe and help is called.
An elderly rider using a cane boards slowly while others wait behind. What should you do?
1. Ask the riders behind to board through the rear door and settle their fares later on
2. Give the rider the time needed and offer help, holding the bus until they are seated
3. Ask the rider to stand aside and board last, so the queue at the stop can be cleared
4. Start away gently as soon as the rider is aboard so the schedule does not slip more
Show answer

Answer B: Give the rider the time needed and offer help, holding the bus until they are seated

The rider who is slow on the steps is the one most likely to fall, so the bus stays still until they are seated or holding on.
Which practice helps a rider who needs assistance both to board and to leave the bus?
1. Seating the rider at the rear, where there is more room and fewer riders pass the seat
2. Boarding the rider first and letting them off last, clear of the rush of other riders
3. Boarding the rider last, so the aisle is already full and there is plenty to hold on to
4. Asking another rider to take charge of them for the whole of the journey to their stop
Show answer

Answer B: Boarding the rider first and letting them off last, clear of the rush of other riders

Moving along a crowded aisle is what causes falls, so a rider who needs help is boarded and set down while nobody else is on the move.
A rider who is blind boards your bus with a guide dog. What applies?
1. The dog travels only if it is muzzled and kept in a closed carrier for the whole trip
2. The dog is refused, because animals are not permitted in the passenger compartment
3. The dog travels with the rider, since a service animal goes where its handler goes
4. The dog travels in the baggage bay, where it cannot disturb the other riders aboard
Show answer

Answer C: The dog travels with the rider, since a service animal goes where its handler goes

A service animal accompanying a rider with a disability rides in the passenger compartment alongside the person it works for.
You are about to operate the wheelchair lift at a curbside stop. What comes first?
1. Switch the interior lights off so the rider is not dazzled while the lift is moving
2. Ask the riders in the front rows to step outside while the lift goes up and down
3. Open every door on the bus so that the rider has more than one way out of it
4. Bring the bus to a full stop, set the parking brake and secure the transmission
Show answer

Answer D: Bring the bus to a full stop, set the parking brake and secure the transmission

The lift is worked only with the bus held still, because a bus that can creep while somebody is on the platform is extremely dangerous.
Where should the tie-down straps of a wheelchair securement system be attached?
1. To the wheels of the chair, so that it cannot roll in any direction once the straps are tight
2. To the armrests, which are the parts of the chair the driver can reach most quickly
3. To the footrests, which sit low down and give the straps a good angle to the floor
4. To the frame of the chair, at the points the chair maker intends to be used for securing
Show answer

Answer D: To the frame of the chair, at the points the chair maker intends to be used for securing

Wheels turn and armrests and footrests fold or come away, so the straps go only to solid frame points meant for the purpose.
A wheelchair has been rolled into the securement area of your bus. What is done besides fastening the straps?
1. The chair is placed as the securement area was designed for and its own brakes are set
2. The chair is turned to face the side windows so the rider is able to see out on the way
3. The chair is set at an angle across the aisle so that the straps run in a straight line
4. The chair is lifted onto blocks so that the tires carry none of the weight of the rider
Show answer

Answer A: The chair is placed as the securement area was designed for and its own brakes are set

Securement works only when the chair sits in the position the anchor points were designed for, and the brakes on the chair are set as well.
A rider with a folding stroller is standing in the wheelchair securement area when a rider using a wheelchair boards. What should you do?
1. Carry the rider using the wheelchair in the aisle instead, with the brakes on the chair set
2. Ask the rider using the wheelchair to wait for the bus that is following along behind
3. Secure the wheelchair to the leg of the nearest seat, since the proper area is occupied
4. Ask the rider with the stroller to move and fold it, so the securement area comes free
Show answer

Answer D: Ask the rider with the stroller to move and fold it, so the securement area comes free

The securement area exists for one purpose, so other riders and their belongings make way when it is needed.
You usually drive a transit coach with a brake and door interlock and are given a charter coach today. What should you assume?
1. That the interlock works in the same way but takes a little longer to release
2. That the interlock on this coach holds the bus when the front door is open too
3. That the coach may have no interlock at all, so the parking brake holds the bus
4. That an interlock is fitted to every bus built to carry more than fifteen people
Show answer

Answer C: That the coach may have no interlock at all, so the parking brake holds the bus

The brake and accelerator interlock is a feature of urban mass transit coaches, so a driver moving to another kind of bus cannot count on one being there.
At which of these is a bus carrying riders excused from the mandatory railroad stop?
1. A crossing that carries a single track through a quiet residential neighborhood street
2. A streetcar crossing or an industrial switching track inside a business district
3. A crossing where the driver has a clear view along the track in both directions
4. A crossing the driver has already used twice that day without meeting a train
Show answer

Answer B: A streetcar crossing or an industrial switching track inside a business district

Streetcar crossings and railroad tracks used only for industrial switching within a business district are among the places where the stop is not required.

Source: ecfr.gov
A police officer at a railroad crossing is waving traffic across. What does that mean for your bus?
1. The stop is not required, but you still have to satisfy yourself that it is safe to cross
2. The stop is still required, and the officer must wait while the bus makes it as usual
3. The stop is not required and no further check is needed, since the officer is in charge
4. The stop is required unless the officer boards the bus and rides over the tracks with you
Show answer

Answer A: The stop is not required, but you still have to satisfy yourself that it is safe to cross

A police officer or flagman directing traffic removes the duty to stop, but the driver stays responsible for crossing safely.

Source: ecfr.gov
You reach a crossing where the warning lights are flashing but the gates have not come down. What should you do?
1. Cross at once, because the gates are the control that counts and they are still up
2. Move up onto the crossing and wait there until the lights stop flashing and go dark
3. Cross slowly in a low gear, sounding the horn as the bus goes over the near rail
4. Stay well clear of the tracks, because flashing lights mean a train is approaching
Show answer

Answer D: Stay well clear of the tracks, because flashing lights mean a train is approaching

The flashing lights are the warning that a train is coming, and a gate that has failed to lower does not make the crossing safe.
Two cars ahead of you have just driven over an uncontrolled drawbridge without stopping. What must your bus do?
1. Follow them over at once, since their crossing has shown that the draw is closed
2. Make its own stop at least 50 feet before the draw and check that the draw is closed
3. Cross at walking pace with the hazard flashers on rather than stopping before the draw
4. Wait for a vehicle to come the other way, which will prove the span is safe to travel
Show answer

Answer B: Make its own stop at least 50 feet before the draw and check that the draw is closed

The stop belongs to the driver of the bus, and what a car did a moment earlier says nothing about the state of the span when the bus reaches it.

Source: oregon.gov
Why do bus crashes so often happen at intersections even when the signal favors the bus?
1. Because the mirrors on a bus cannot be aimed to cover an intersection from both sides
2. Because a bus is long and slow to clear, and other drivers misjudge the gap it needs
3. Because the brakes on a bus are built for gentle stops and fade at an intersection
4. Because a bus has to yield to every other vehicle at any intersection that it enters
Show answer

Answer B: Because a bus is long and slow to clear, and other drivers misjudge the gap it needs

A loaded bus needs time and distance to get across, and drivers used to cars often pull out in front of it, so extra caution is called for even on a green.
A signal ahead turns yellow as your loaded bus approaches at road speed. What is the sound decision?
1. Accelerate to clear the intersection before the light turns red for your direction
2. Brake hard so the bus stops within the last few feet before the marked stop line
3. Begin slowing early and stop, unless you are so close that stopping would be abrupt
4. Hold your speed and sound the horn as the bus carries on through the intersection ahead
Show answer

Answer C: Begin slowing early and stop, unless you are so close that stopping would be abrupt

A loaded bus needs far more room to stop than a car, so the decision is made early; a late hard stop throws riders about and a dash for the light is worse.
Why should a bus driver go well into the intersection before turning the wheel for a left turn?
1. Because turning early would sweep the long left side of the bus over the next lane
2. Because the rear wheels of a bus follow a wider path than the front wheels in a turn
3. Because the front of the bus lifts as it turns and the driver loses sight of the road
4. Because a bus may not enter an intersection until the way beyond it is completely clear
Show answer

Answer A: Because turning early would sweep the long left side of the bus over the next lane

Turning left too soon drags the long body of the bus across the lane alongside, so the bus is taken well in before the wheel goes over.
Which mirror deserves your attention through the whole of a right turn in a long bus?
1. The interior mirror, which shows whether the riders have all stayed in their seats
2. The left mirror, because the tail of the bus swings out toward the lane on that side
3. The right mirror alone, since the curb on the right is the only thing you can strike
4. Neither mirror, because the turn is over before anything can come alongside the bus
Show answer

Answer B: The left mirror, because the tail of the bus swings out toward the lane on that side

As the front of a long bus swings right, the tail sweeps out to the left, so the left mirror shows what the rear is doing and who is beside it.
You are not certain your coach will pass under a low structure ahead. What should you do?
1. Let some air out of the tires to lower the bus and continue at a walking pace
2. Ask a rider to lean out of a window and watch the roof as the bus passes under
3. Slow down and take another route, rather than trying it to see whether it fits
4. Drive under at speed, since airflow at speed presses the body of the bus down
Show answer

Answer C: Slow down and take another route, rather than trying it to see whether it fits

There is no safe way to test a doubtful clearance with a loaded bus, so the answer is a different road.
What most reduces the need for the hard braking that throws standing riders about?
1. Looking well down the road, so hazards are seen early and speed is lost gradually
2. Keeping one hand ready on the parking brake control while the bus is in traffic
3. Driving in a lower gear than usual so the engine holds the speed of the bus down
4. Sitting further forward in the seat, which gives a better view over the steering wheel
Show answer

Answer A: Looking well down the road, so hazards are seen early and speed is lost gradually

A hard stop usually means a hazard was seen late, while a driver who looks far ahead can wash off speed gently instead.
Your bus ran perfectly all day and you found nothing wrong at the end of the shift. What does the rule require?
1. No report at all, because a report is prepared only when there is a defect to record
2. A spoken report to the dispatcher, who writes it up in the maintenance file kept for that vehicle
3. A report once a week, summing up the condition of the bus across the whole week
4. A written report all the same, because the no defect exception leaves out passenger vehicles
Show answer

Answer A: No report at all, because a report is prepared only when there is a defect to record

Since September 2020 a driver who has found no defect or deficiency does not have to prepare a written report, and that exception now covers passenger carrying vehicles as well as freight vehicles; a carrier may still ask for one as its own policy.

Source: ecfr.gov
Which set of items must be covered by the driver vehicle inspection report?
1. The fare box, the destination signs, the two way radio and the seat covers
2. The engine oil level, the coolant level, the fuel level and the odometer reading
3. The paintwork, the advertising panels, the interior lighting and the blinds fitted to the windows
4. Brakes, steering, lights and reflectors, tires, horn, wipers, mirrors, wheels and rims
Show answer

Answer D: Brakes, steering, lights and reflectors, tires, horn, wipers, mirrors, wheels and rims

The report has to cover a named list that runs from the service and parking brakes, steering, lighting and reflectors, tires, horn, wipers and mirrors through to coupling devices, wheels and rims and the emergency equipment.

Source: ecfr.gov
How long must the carrier keep the original driver vehicle inspection report on file?
1. Three months from the date on which the report was prepared
2. Two weeks from the date on which the report was prepared
3. Twelve months from the date on which the report was prepared
4. Three years from the date on which the report was prepared
Show answer

Answer A: Three months from the date on which the report was prepared

The original report, along with the certification that repairs were made, is kept for three months from the day it was prepared.

Source: ecfr.gov
What happens to the inspection report once the driver has completed and signed it?
1. It is handed to the next driver, who keeps it aboard the bus for the rest of the week
2. It is submitted to the motor carrier, which has to act on any defect listed on it
3. It is mailed to the state agency that issued the license plate for that vehicle
4. It is filed in the door pocket of the bus, where an inspector can ask to see it
Show answer

Answer B: It is submitted to the motor carrier, which has to act on any defect listed on it

The report goes to the carrier, because the carrier is the one that must repair a listed defect and certify the repair before the bus is used again.

Source: ecfr.gov
What does a driver have to pass in order to hold a passenger endorsement?
1. A knowledge test only, because driving skill was already proved for the license class
2. A skills test only, taken in whatever commercial vehicle the applicant can bring along
3. A knowledge test and a skills test taken in a vehicle of the type the endorsement covers
4. A medical examination and an interview with the carrier that intends to employ the driver
Show answer

Answer C: A knowledge test and a skills test taken in a vehicle of the type the endorsement covers

The passenger endorsement calls for a written knowledge test and a skills test taken in a passenger vehicle representative of the group the driver wants to drive.
You take your passenger skills test in a bus with an automatic transmission. What follows?
1. Nothing follows, since the kind of transmission has no bearing on a commercial license
2. A restriction that keeps you from driving a commercial vehicle with a manual transmission
3. A requirement to sit a second skills test within the first twelve months of holding the license
4. A note on the license that has to be renewed each time the license itself is renewed
Show answer

Answer B: A restriction that keeps you from driving a commercial vehicle with a manual transmission

A skills test taken in a vehicle without a manual transmission brings a restriction that bars the holder from driving a commercial vehicle fitted with one.
You hold a Class B license with a passenger endorsement. May you drive a school bus on a school route?
1. Yes, because a school bus is a passenger vehicle and the endorsement already covers it
2. Yes, provided the school bus carries fewer than sixteen students including the driver
3. No, a school bus route also calls for the school bus endorsement and its own tests
4. No, a school bus needs a Class A license because of the weight of the vehicle itself
Show answer

Answer C: No, a school bus route also calls for the school bus endorsement and its own tests

Carrying students on a school bus takes the school bus endorsement in addition to the passenger endorsement.
While driving, you notice exhaust fumes seeping into the passenger compartment. What does the rule require?
1. Finishing the run as scheduled, provided the windows and the roof hatches are opened
2. Driving at reduced speed with the heater switched off until the shift comes to an end
3. Stopping the bus and keeping it out of service until the fault has been put right
4. Driving as normal, since exhaust fumes are only ever a concern while the bus is standing still
Show answer

Answer C: Stopping the bus and keeping it out of service until the fault has been put right

No commercial vehicle may be driven, and no passengers may be carried in it, once carbon monoxide has been detected inside or a fault likely to produce it has been found, until that condition has been remedied or repaired.

Source: ecfr.gov
Study tip. Rule out the options you know are wrong first. Two plausible answers are easier to choose between than four.
A vehicle carries an open flame heater used in loading or unloading the commodity it hauls. When may that heater be burning?
1. Only while the vehicle is at rest, since it must not be in operation while the vehicle moves
2. At any time at all, provided a fire extinguisher is kept within reach of the driver seat
3. While the vehicle is in motion, as long as nobody is seated within ten feet of the heater itself
4. Only while the vehicle is moving, because the airflow around it carries the fumes away
Show answer

Answer A: Only while the vehicle is at rest, since it must not be in operation while the vehicle moves

An open flame heater of that kind must not be in operation while the vehicle is in motion.

Source: ecfr.gov
What is the general rule about the condition a commercial vehicle may be operated in?
1. It may be operated with any fault at all that does not appear on the annual inspection sheet
2. It may not be operated in a condition that is likely to cause an accident or a breakdown
3. It may be operated with any fault as long as that fault has been written on a report
4. It may be operated to the end of the shift whatever fault has been discovered on it
Show answer

Answer B: It may not be operated in a condition that is likely to cause an accident or a breakdown

No commercial vehicle may be operated in a condition likely to cause an accident or a breakdown, whatever the paperwork happens to say.

Source: ecfr.gov
An inspector marks your bus out of service at the roadside. When may it be driven again?
1. Once the bus has been emptied of riders and is being driven with no load aboard
2. Once a supervisor from the carrier has signed the notice and returned it to the inspector
3. Once every repair named in the out of service notice has been satisfactorily completed
4. Once twenty four hours have passed, which is how long such a notice remains in force
Show answer

Answer C: Once every repair named in the out of service notice has been satisfactorily completed

A vehicle declared and marked out of service stays out of service until the repairs required by the notice have been properly completed.

Source: ecfr.gov
Your bus is stopped on the shoulder of an undivided two lane road. Where do the warning devices go?
1. One at each corner of the bus, so traffic can make out the full width of the vehicle
2. One about 10 feet behind, one 100 feet behind, and one 100 feet ahead of the bus
3. All three together about 50 feet behind the bus, in the middle of the traveled lane
4. One 10 feet ahead of the bus and two more spaced along the shoulder further ahead
Show answer

Answer B: One about 10 feet behind, one 100 feet behind, and one 100 feet ahead of the bus

On a two lane road the devices go about 10 feet behind the vehicle on the traffic side, 100 feet behind it and 100 feet ahead of it, so traffic from both directions is warned.

Source: ecfr.gov
A rider who is blind asks you to tell them when the bus reaches their stop. What is good practice?
1. To announce the stops clearly aloud, so the rider knows where the bus has reached
2. To hand the rider a printed timetable showing the order of the stops on the route
3. To ask another rider to take on the job of telling them when to get off the bus
4. To seat the rider at the rear, where the sound of the doors is easiest to make out
Show answer

Answer A: To announce the stops clearly aloud, so the rider knows where the bus has reached

Calling out the stops is how a rider who cannot read the street outside keeps track of where the bus has got to.
A rider with a stiff knee is struggling with the height of the first step. What can help on a bus fitted for it?
1. Using the kneeling feature to lower the entrance closer to the level of the curb
2. Asking the rider to use the rear door, where the steps are usually shallower
3. Pulling further out from the curb so the rider has room to take a run at the step
4. Backing the bus a little so the front wheels sit on the sloped part of the curb
Show answer

Answer A: Using the kneeling feature to lower the entrance closer to the level of the curb

Many buses can lower the front entrance toward the curb, which shortens the step for a rider who cannot lift a foot high.
A sign warns of a low ground clearance railroad crossing ahead. Why does that concern a long coach?
1. Because the coach may hang up on the hump of the crossing and be stranded on the tracks
2. Because the coach will lose grip on the rails and slide sideways into the crossing gate
3. Because the coach is too tall for the wires that are carried above that set of tracks
4. Because the coach has to sound its horn twice before going over a crossing of that kind
Show answer

Answer A: Because the coach may hang up on the hump of the crossing and be stranded on the tracks

A humped crossing can lift the middle of a long, low vehicle until the wheels lose their grip and the vehicle is left sitting on the rails.

Source: oregon.gov
You have to back your bus into a bay at a terminal. What is the safe way to do it?
1. Back slowly using only the interior mirror, which shows the whole length of the bus
2. Back briskly, so the move is finished before another vehicle can come along behind
3. Avoid backing where you can, and use a helper outside to guide you when you must
4. Ask a rider to stand in the bay behind the bus and wave when the bus is close enough
Show answer

Answer C: Avoid backing where you can, and use a helper outside to guide you when you must

A bus has a long blind area behind it, so backing is avoided where possible and done with somebody outside watching when it cannot be.
You are starting down a long, steep grade with a full load of riders. What keeps the brakes usable?
1. Shifting into neutral, so the engine is not working against the brakes on the way down
2. Choosing a low gear before the descent and letting the engine hold the speed back
3. Holding steady pressure on the brake pedal from the top of the grade to the bottom
4. Building speed at the top so that less of the grade has to be driven under braking
Show answer

Answer B: Choosing a low gear before the descent and letting the engine hold the speed back

A loaded bus is heavy, so the gear is chosen before the descent and the engine does most of the work, leaving the brakes cool enough to use when they are needed.