Ontario Class C Bus cheat sheet

Following distance for a bus: maintain at least a 4-second gap behind the vehicle ahead in good conditions; add 1 second for each adverse factor (rain, darkness, heavy load, gravel surface).

Speed and stopping: total stopping distance = perception distance + reaction distance + braking distance; braking distance rises with the square of speed, so doubling speed roughly quadruples braking distance.

A bus must stop for a school bus with alternating red lights flashing and stop arm extended when approaching from either direction on an undivided road; on a divided highway only traffic behind the school bus must stop.

At a railway crossing with a stop sign, flashing lights, or a gate, a bus carrying passengers must stop, open the door or window to listen, and proceed only when safe and the signal permits.

Right turns: swing wide enough to keep the rear wheels clear of the curb, but do not cross into an adjacent lane; check the right mirror and right-side blind spot before and during the turn.

Left turns: a bus needs a wider arc; enter the intersection before turning where permitted, and watch the rear wheels, which track inside the front wheels (off-tracking).

Lane changes require mirror checks, a shoulder check, a signal, and a final mirror check; a bus has large blind spots along both sides and directly behind, so signal early and move gradually.

Passing is prohibited where a solid line is on your side, on the shoulder, at railway crossings, and at intersections unless the vehicle being passed is a slow-moving device and passing is lawful.

At uncontrolled intersections, yield to the vehicle on the right; a vehicle turning left yields to oncoming traffic going straight or turning right.

Daily inspection items include: service brakes and parking brake, steering, lights and reflectors, tires and wheels, mirrors, horn, windshield wipers and washer, exhaust, emergency exits, and passenger seats and stanchions.

Brake check: with the engine running and air pressure at operating level, apply and hold the brake; a steady drop in pressure or audible leak indicates a defect requiring the bus to be taken out of service.

Air brake system: pressure should build from about 85 psi to 100 psi within the manufacturer's specified time; low-pressure warning must activate before pressure falls below 60 psi.

Tire check: minimum tread depth for front steer tires on a bus is typically 3 mm (about 4/32 in) and 1.5 mm (2/32 in) for other positions; check for cuts, bulges, exposed cord, and proper inflation.

Lighting check: verify headlights (low and high beam), tail, brake, turn, clearance, marker, and hazard lights, plus all interior passenger lighting and the stop arm if equipped.

Emergency equipment must be present and functional: fire extinguisher with a current charge, first aid kit, warning triangles or flares, and a seatbelt cutter or emergency tool where required.

Wheel and rim check: look for loose lug nuts, cracks, rust streaks around nuts (a sign of looseness), and oil or grease leaks at the hub seals.

Mirror adjustment: each mirror should show a defined portion of the bus side and the adjacent lane; crossover and convex mirrors must be clean and correctly aimed before departure.

Pre-trip sequence: walk-around exterior inspection, under-hood checks (fluids, belts, wiring), then in-cab checks (gauges, controls, brakes, lights, horn), then a brake test before moving.

Fluid checks: engine oil, coolant, power steering, washer fluid, and transmission fluid level where a dipstick is provided; low coolant or oil means the bus does not leave the yard.

Leak check: look under the bus for fresh puddles of oil, coolant, fuel, or air-line condensation; any active fuel leak is an out-of-service defect.

Defect classification: a major defect (brakes, steering, tires, lights at night, emergency exits) grounds the bus; a minor defect is recorded and reported but may allow operation if it does not affect safety.

Every defect found must be recorded on the daily inspection report with date, vehicle number, defect description, and the driver's signature, and reported to the operator before the next trip.

After any repair, the driver must confirm the repair was completed and the item functions correctly before signing the bus out again.

Pre-trip brake test: with the parking brake released and the bus stationary, apply the service brake and hold; check for air loss, then test the parking brake by attempting to move slowly and confirming it holds.

Emergency exit check: verify each exit opens freely from inside, the exit alarm or buzzer sounds where equipped, and the exit is unobstructed by seats or luggage.

Documentation: carry the current inspection report, registration, insurance, and any required permits; a missing daily inspection report is itself a defect that stops dispatch.

Passengers must remain seated while the bus is moving; standees are allowed only where the bus is designed and licensed for standing passengers and handholds are provided.

Aisles, stairwells, and emergency exits must be kept clear of baggage, strollers, and equipment at all times.

School bus passengers: students must be seated and quiet before the bus moves; the driver confirms all students are clear of the danger zone before closing the door.

Danger zone around a school bus extends about 3 metres (10 feet) in all directions; students must be able to see the driver and the driver must see them.

Seatbelts, where equipped, must be worn by the driver and required passengers; the driver verifies belt use before departure on routes that mandate it.

Behaviour management: the driver may stop the bus in a safe location to deal with a serious disturbance, and must report the incident to the operator and, where required, to the school authority.

Passengers with mobility devices must be secured with the wheelchair tie-down and occupant restraint system, and the bus must not move until the securement is checked.

The driver must not allow a passenger to ride in a position without a seat or proper restraint, and must not exceed the licensed seating capacity.

Loading sequence: stop the bus fully, set the parking brake, place the transmission in neutral or park, and only then open the door.

School bus unloading: the driver activates the alternating red lights and stop arm where required, and signals students to cross only after traffic has stopped in both directions.

Students crossing the road must walk at least 3 metres (10 feet) in front of the bus, never behind it, and wait for the driver's hand signal.

The driver counts students off and on at every stop and checks the bus, including under seats and in the aisle, for sleeping or left-behind passengers before leaving the unloading point.

Loading at a curb: passengers should board from the curb side; where boarding from the traffic side is unavoidable, the driver must control traffic and use hazard lights.

A bus must not stop within an intersection, on a crosswalk, or within the prohibited distance of a railway crossing when loading or unloading.

When backing to load or unload, a spotter must guide the bus; if no spotter is available, the driver must walk the area to confirm it is clear before reversing.

After unloading, the driver closes the door, confirms no passenger remains in the stairwell, releases the parking brake, and signals before re-entering traffic.

Evacuation decision: evacuate only when there is fire, smoke, a fuel leak, an unsafe position in traffic, or a hazard that threatens the occupants; otherwise keep passengers on board and call for help.

Evacuation command: stop, set the parking brake, shut off the engine, activate hazard lights, and direct passengers to the nearest usable exit, one at a time, to a safe gathering point.

Fire: pull over, shut off the engine, evacuate upwind and uphill of the bus, and keep passengers at least 30 metres (100 feet) away before calling emergency services.

Emergency exits include the rear door, side windows marked as exits, roof hatches, and the front door; the driver must know how to operate each type on the assigned bus.

After an evacuation, the driver accounts for all passengers by name or count, renders first aid, and remains with passengers until emergency responders take control.

Collision procedure: stop, protect the scene with warning devices, check for injuries, call emergency services, exchange information, and report to the operator as required by law.

A driver must report any collision involving injury, death, or property damage above the statutory threshold to police and the operator within the time required by the Highway Traffic Act.

Fire extinguisher use: PASS - Pull the pin, Aim at the base of the fire, Squeeze the handle, Sweep side to side; use only on small fires and never re-enter a burning bus.

A Class C licence permits driving a bus with a designed seating capacity of 24 or more passengers, or a school bus, under Ontario rules, with the appropriate endorsements.

Carrier obligations: the operator must maintain the bus in safe condition, keep inspection and maintenance records, and ensure drivers are licensed and trained for the vehicle class.

Cargo and baggage must be secured so it cannot shift, block an aisle, cover an exit, or obstruct the driver's view or control of the bus.

Weight and dimension limits: a bus must comply with legal axle and gross weight limits and height, width, and length limits; overheight loads require permits and route checks.

A daily inspection report must be completed before the first trip of the day, and a trip inspection is required each day the vehicle is operated.

Annual and periodic inspections: the bus must pass the required mechanical inspection at the prescribed interval, and the inspection certificate must be carried or available.

A driver must not operate a bus with a known defect that affects safety, and must not permit an unlicensed or unauthorized person to drive the bus.

Before pulling away from a stop, check mirrors and blind spots, signal, and yield to traffic already in the lane; a bus re-entering traffic does not have an automatic right of way.

Ontario hours of service for commercial drivers: no driving after 13 hours of on-duty time in a day, and a minimum of 8 consecutive hours off duty before the next shift.

Daily driving limit is generally 11 hours of driving in a day, with a required 30-minute break after 8 hours of driving under federal commercial vehicle rules.

Cycle limits: 70 hours on duty in 7 days or 120 hours in 14 days, depending on the cycle the carrier operates; a reset requires the prescribed off-duty period.

A driver must carry a daily log or use an electronic logging device where required, record duty status changes, and retain records for the required period.

A Class C licence requires a valid Ontario driver's licence, a medical examination report, and a driving record that meets the ministry's standards; a school bus endorsement requires a criminal record and vulnerable sector check.

School bus drivers must complete a prescribed training course and hold a valid first aid certificate where required, and must re-certify at the interval set by the ministry.

A driver must not drive while impaired by alcohol, cannabis, or drugs; Ontario's zero-tolerance rules apply to novice drivers and to commercial drivers in specified circumstances.

Demerit points accumulate against the driver's record; a Class C driver who reaches the suspension threshold loses the licence and must meet reinstatement requirements.

A conviction for a major offence (careless driving, impaired driving, failing to remain) can result in an immediate licence suspension and disqualification from school bus operation.