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Section 4: Transporting Passengers

A bus driver must have a CDL if he/she drives a vehicle designed to seat 16 or more persons, including the driver. A bus driver must have a Passenger Endorsement on his/her CDL. To obtain the endorsement, you must pass a knowledge test on Sections 2 and 4 of this manual (if the bus has air brakes, you also must pass a knowledge test on Section 5). You also must pass the skills tests required for the class of vehicle you drive.

4.1 Pre-Trip Inspection

Before driving your bus, make sure it is safe. During the pre-trip inspection , check defects reported by previous drivers. Only if defects reported earlier have been repaired should you sign the previous driverʼs report. This is your certification that the defects reported earlier have been repaired.

Vehicle Systems

Make sure the following are in good working order before driving:

  • Service brakes, including air hose couplings (if your bus has a trailer or semitrailer).
  • Parking brake.
  • Steering mechanism.
  • Lights and reflectors.
  • Tires (front wheels must not have recapped or regrooved tires).
  • Horn.
  • Windshield wiper or wipers.
  • Rear-vision mirror or mirrors.
  • Coupling devices (if present).
  • Wheels and rims.
  • Emergency equipment.

Access Doors and Panels

As you check the outside of the bus, close any open emergency exits. Also, close any open access panels (for baggage, restroom service, engine, etc.) before driving.

Bus Interior

People sometimes damage unattended buses. Always check the interior of the bus before driving to ensure rider safety. Aisles and stairwells must always be clear. The following parts of your bus must be in safe working condition:

  • Each handhold and railing.
  • Floor covering.
  • Signaling devices, including the restroom emergency buzzer, if the bus has a restroom.
  • Emergency exit handles.

The seats must be safe for riders. All seats must be securely fastened to the bus.

Never drive with an open emergency exit door or window. The Emergency Exit sign on an emergency door must be clearly visible. If there is a red emergency door light, it must work. Turn it on at night or any other time you use your outside lights.

Roof Hatches

You may lock some emergency roof hatches in a partly open position for fresh air. Do not leave them open as a regular practice. Keep in mind the busʼs higher clearance while driving with them open.

Make sure your bus has the fire extinguisher and emergency reflectors required by law. The bus must also have spare electrical fuses unless equipped with circuit breakers.

Safety Belt

The driverʼs seat should have a safety belt. Always use it for safety.

This number absolutely must be memorized! It is a very commonly asked question. So remember, a CDL is required for any vehicle designed to carry 16 persons or more, including the driver.
While emergency doors and windows must stay closed while driving, the roof hatches may be opened in the need of fresh air. Sometimes there is a question about this on the written exam. Just be sure to remember that opening the roof hatches will raise the height of your vehicle.

A bus is required to have the same emergency equipment as all other commercial vehicles including:

  • Fire Extinguisher
  • 3 Red Reflective Triangles
  • Spare Electrical Fuses (unless equipped with Circuit Breakers)

You need to have that list memorized.

Pre-trip Inspection:

A pre-trip inspection is a thorough inspection of the truck completed before driving for the first time each day.

Federal and state laws require that drivers inspect their vehicles. Federal and state inspectors also may inspect your vehicles. If they judge a vehicle to be unsafe, they will put it “out of service” until it is repaired.

CDL:

Commercial Driver's License (CDL)

A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:

  • Any combination of vehicles with a gross combined weight rating (GCWR) of 26,001 or more pounds, providing the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of the vehicle being towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds.
  • Any single vehicle with a GVWR of 26,001 or more pounds, or any such vehicle towing another not in excess of 10,000 pounds.
  • Any vehicle, regardless of size, designed to transport 16 or more persons, including the driver.
  • Any vehicle required by federal regulations to be placarded while transporting hazardous materials.

HOS:

Hours Of Service

HOS refers to the logbook hours of service regulations.

OWI:

Operating While Intoxicated

Review Questions - Click On The Picture To Begin...

Can the front tires on a commercial bus be recapped or regrooved?
  • Front tires can be recapped, but never regrooved
  • Front tires can be regrooved or recapped as long as they have 4/32 tread depth
  • Front tires can never be recapped or regrooved
  • Front tires can be regrooved, but never recapped

Quote From The CDL Manual:

Make sure the following are in good working order before driving:

  • Service brakes, including air hose couplings (if your bus has a trailer or semitrailer).
  • Parking brake.
  • Steering mechanism.
  • Lights and reflectors.
  • Tires (front wheels must not have recapped or regrooved tires).
  • Horn.
  • Windshield wiper or wipers.
  • Rear-vision mirror or mirrors.
  • Coupling devices (if present).
  • Wheels and rims.
  • Emergency equipment.

TruckingTruth's Advice:

Whether driving a bus or truck, the same rule applies to all commercial vehicles. Front tires can never be recapped or regrooved even if minimum tread depth is legal.

Next
Which statement is true about roof hatches on commercial buses?
  • Roof hatches should only be used as an emergency exit and should never be used as ventilation sources
  • The height of the bus is calculated assuming the roof hatches will be open
  • Roof hatches should be left open as regular practice
  • You may lock some emergency roof hatches in a partly open position for fresh air.

Quote From The CDL Manual:

You may lock some emergency roof hatches in a partly open position for fresh air. Do not leave them open as a regular practice. Keep in mind the bus's higher clearance while driving with them open.

TruckingTruth's Advice:

Even if you don't plan on obtaining a CDL passenger endorsement, you will still required to have an understanding of some basic passenger rules and regulations for the written exam.

Prev
Next
When performing a pre-trip inspection on a bus, what are some interior items that should be checked to ensure rider safety?
  • All of these should be checked during a pre-trip
  • Emergency exit handles
  • Floor covering
  • Each handhold and railing

Quote From The CDL Manual:

Bus Interior: People sometimes damage unattended buses. Always check the interior of the bus before driving to ensure rider safety. Aisles and stairwells must always be clear. The following parts of your bus must be in safe working condition:

  • Each handhold and railing.
  • Floor covering.
  • Signaling devices, including the restroom emergency buzzer, if the bus has a restroom.
  • Emergency exit handles.

TruckingTruth's Advice:

Even if you don't plan to obtain a passenger endorsement for your CDL, you will still be required to have a basic understanding of some general rules and regulations for transporting passengers.

Prev
Next
A CDL with a passenger endorsement is required when driving a vehicle designed for how many passengers, including the driver?
  • 15 or more
  • 16 or more
  • 12 or more
  • 10 or more

Quote From The CDL Manual:

A bus driver must have a CDL if he/she drives a vehicle designed to seat 16 or more persons, including the driver. A bus driver must have a Passenger Endorsement on his/her CDL.

TruckingTruth's Advice:

Even if you don't plan on driving passengers or don't plan on obtaining a passenger endorsement, you will still be asked basic questions about passenger transport regulations. Be sure to memorize that 16 passengers, including the driver, requires a CDL with a passenger endorsement.

Prev
Finish
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