California CDL Passenger Test key terms

A systematic walk-around and in-cab check of a bus before departure, covering brakes, lights, tires, steering, emergency exits, and passenger items, performed to catch defects while the vehicle is still parked.

A parked check in which the driver applies the service brake and holds pressure to confirm the pedal does not fade and the bus does not creep, verifying the braking system before carrying passengers.

A check on air-braked buses where the driver charges the system, stops the engine, and observes gauge pressure; leakage beyond the allowed rate means the bus must be removed from service.

An audible and visual alert that activates when air pressure drops below the operating minimum, warning the driver that braking power is falling and the bus should be stopped safely.

Checking that every roof hatch, side window, and rear door marked as an emergency exit opens freely, is unobstructed, and has a functioning buzzer or latch alarm before passengers board.

A passenger who rides while standing, permitted only where the bus is designed for standees, the aisle is clear, and the load stays within the posted seated and standing capacity.

A marking on the floor showing where standing passengers may not cross, keeping them behind the driver's area so the driver's view and control of the doorway stay unobstructed.

The maximum number of riders a bus may legally carry, counting seated and standing positions, which the driver must not exceed regardless of demand at a stop.

Requiring riders to be seated or braced before the bus moves, and confirming wheelchair users are locked in place, so a sudden stop does not throw anyone into the aisle.

The process of positioning a mobility device in the designated area and locking it down with the approved tiedown straps and occupant restraint before the bus is put in motion.

The routine of stopping close to the curb, setting the parking brake, watching mirrors and the doorway, and counting passengers on and off to avoid leaving anyone behind.

A final walk-through of the bus at the end of a run or layover to confirm no sleeping child, rider, or person with a disability remains aboard after the doors are closed.

The organized removal of passengers from a bus during a fire, crash, or other threat, using the nearest usable exit and assigning helpers to assist those who cannot exit alone.

A safe gathering location away from the vehicle and traffic where evacuated passengers are counted and kept together until responders arrive or alternate transport is provided.

A tally of riders taken at boarding, at evacuation, and after any stop, used to determine whether anyone is missing or still inside the vehicle.

Applying the PASS method (pull, aim, squeeze, sweep) at the base of a small fire while keeping an escape route open, and abandoning the effort once the fire grows beyond a minor blaze.

A driving style that assumes other road users may err, maintaining following distance, scanning ahead, and covering the brake so the driver has time to react with passengers aboard.

The gap kept behind the vehicle ahead, measured in seconds of travel time, which should be increased for heavy loads, poor weather, and higher speeds when passengers are aboard.

The margin of clear space maintained around the bus on all sides so that a sudden hazard, such as a merging car or a braking truck, can be handled without a hard maneuver.

The outward sweep of the rear of a long bus when the front turns sharply, which can strike a pedestrian, pole, or parked car if the driver does not check the rear before turning.

The tendency of a bus's rear wheels to follow a tighter path than the front wheels in a turn, requiring the driver to swing wide and watch the rear in mirrors.

An electronic system that rapidly releases and reapplies brake pressure to prevent wheel lockup, helping the driver keep steering control during hard stops on slick or uneven pavement.

A dash light that stays on after start-up to signal an antilock fault; the bus still has normal brakes but may lose skid resistance, so it needs service before passenger service.

Applying brake force up to the point just before wheels lock, a skill used in buses without ABS and as a backup technique when the antilock system is not functioning.

A technique of firm, repeated brake applications to slow a vehicle without locking the wheels, sometimes taught for non-antilock vehicles on slippery surfaces.

A mechanically applied brake held by spring pressure and released by air, which sets automatically if air pressure is lost, serving as the bus's parking and emergency brake.

The time the eyes need to readjust after glare from oncoming headlights; drivers should slow down and look toward the right edge of the lane until vision returns.

Driving with low beams at night and in rain, fog, or snow, and switching to low beams when meeting traffic so oncoming drivers are not blinded by glare.

Choosing a speed below the posted limit when weather, visibility, road surface, or passenger load makes the posted limit unsafe, as required by the basic speed law.

Descending a long or steep hill in a low gear, using engine braking and light brake applications to avoid overheating the brakes and losing stopping power.

An escape lane of gravel or sand built beside steep downgrades for vehicles that lose braking, allowing a driver to stop in a controlled area rather than on the road.

The required stop before tracks for a bus carrying passengers, made with the door open when possible, hazard lights on, and a careful look and listen in both directions.

Confirming there is room on the far side of the tracks to fully clear the crossing before starting across, so the bus never stops on the rails.

The rule barring a passenger-carrying bus from transporting most placarded hazardous materials, with limited exceptions, because of the danger to riders in a crash or spill.

The legal limits on driving time, on-duty time, and required rest between shifts that apply to commercial passenger carriers, tracked in a log or electronic record.

Physical and mental tiredness that slows reaction time and judgment; drivers must recognize warning signs, take rest breaks, and never push through drowsiness with passengers aboard.

A driver's confirmation that they are rested, sober, healthy, and free of impairment before taking the wheel, including reporting illness or medication effects to the employer.

The steps after a collision: stopping, protecting the scene, checking passengers, calling for help, and exchanging information, while avoiding further injury from traffic or fire.

The danger of fuel ignition or battery fire after a collision, which requires shutting off the engine, evacuating passengers, and keeping people well back from the vehicle.

A collision the driver must report to the employer and, in California, to the DMV when it involves injury, death, or specified property damage, using the required form within the deadline.

The obligation of a California passenger carrier to keep records, report crashes and driver qualifications, and cooperate with CHP and DMV inspections of its fleet and drivers.

The California CDL endorsement required to drive a vehicle designed to carry 16 or more passengers, obtained by passing a knowledge test and a skills test in a passenger vehicle.

An additional California CDL endorsement needed to drive a school bus, requiring extra knowledge and skills testing plus a background check and specific training.