Pre-Trip Inspection and Vehicle Safety Equipment
The inspection sequence
A defensible pre-trip inspection is systematic, not random. Work from the ground up and front to back: approach and check for leaks and damage, inspect the engine compartment (fluid levels, belts, hoses, wiring), then lights and reflectors, tires and wheels, brakes and air pressure buildup and loss, steering, suspension, exhaust, emergency exits, and the passenger compartment. Inside, verify the stop arm, crossing gate or swing arm, warning lights, horn, wipers, mirrors, heater and defroster, first aid kit, fire extinguisher charge, emergency triangles or reflectors, and the two-way radio.
Brake and air checks
For air-brake buses, confirm the low-pressure warning activates before pressure drops below the manufacturer's threshold, confirm the governor cut-in and cut-out, and perform a static leak test and a tug test on the tractor if applicable. Check that the parking brake holds and that the service brake stops the bus without pulling.
Traps to expect
Examiners and test writers love the difference between a check that is required daily and one that is periodic, and between what the driver must correct before departure and what may be written up afterward. Questions may ask what to do if a defect is found: the answer is generally to report it and not operate the bus until it is corrected. Another common trap is confusing the stop arm with the crossing gate, or forgetting that mirrors must be adjusted after the driver's seat is set.
Rule of thumb
Anything affecting stopping, steering, lights, or student exits is a no-go item until repaired.