IL CDL Passenger cheat sheet

A passenger-vehicle pre-trip inspection covers brakes, steering, tires, lights, horn, mirrors, windshield and wipers, emergency exits, fire extinguisher, first aid kit, and passenger communication equipment if installed.

Check tire tread with a gauge: at least 4/32 inch on front tires and 2/32 inch on all other tires; reject tires with cord exposed, bulges, cuts, or improper dual spacing.

Test the service brake and parking brake before loading; with air brakes, confirm pressure builds and leakage stays within the vehicle manufacturer's limits.

Emergency exits must be labeled, unobstructed, and operable from inside; know each exit's release method before moving the vehicle.

Adjust mirrors and seat before departure; the windshield must be clear, defroster and wipers working, and dash gauges and warning lights normal.

Inside the bus, secure seats, stanchions, and handrails, keep aisles clear, and ensure interior lighting and exit signs function.

While driving, monitor gauges and warning lights and stop safely for overheating, low oil pressure, brake loss, or unusual noises or smells.

After the trip, inspect tires, lights, fluid leaks, body damage, and the passenger area; report defects and complete the required vehicle condition report.

Load and unload only at a safe, designated stop; set the parking brake, place the transmission in park or neutral, and prevent the vehicle from moving before opening the door.

Never exceed the vehicle's seating or standing capacity; count passengers when capacity limits or child passengers make the total uncertain.

Before moving, close all doors, confirm passengers are seated or securely standing, and keep the aisle and exit paths clear.

Do not let passengers board or leave while the vehicle is moving; watch the door and right side with mirrors and direct observation.

Secure wheelchairs with a four-point tie-down and use the occupant restraint system; follow the equipment manufacturer's instructions.

Assist passengers who need help boarding or exiting, and give them time to sit or move clear before accelerating.

After unloading, walk or check the passenger area for sleeping passengers, children, and belongings before securing the vehicle.

Keep door controls and emergency releases clear; do not allow baggage or standees to block the doorwell.

Use a following distance of at least four seconds under favorable conditions; add more time for rain, snow, darkness, heavy traffic, or a loaded bus.

Scan 12-15 seconds ahead and check mirrors every 5-8 seconds; watch for pedestrians, cyclists, and passengers moving near the bus.

Signal turns and lane changes early, check mirrors and blind spots, and brake smoothly to protect standing or unbelted passengers.

Illinois Move Over law: when approaching stopped emergency, law-enforcement, or maintenance vehicles with lights on, change lanes if safe or slow down and proceed cautiously.

Turn on headlights when windshield wipers are used because of precipitation, and use low beams in fog, rain, or snow.

At intersections, yield the right-of-way, watch for pedestrians, and swing wide enough to keep the rear wheels from hitting the curb.

In slippery conditions, reduce speed, increase following distance, avoid cruise control, and make gentle steering and braking inputs.

Do not drive in another vehicle's blind spot; if you cannot see the driver's mirrors, that driver likely cannot see you.

Before departure, locate every emergency exit and learn its release: door emergency handles, window releases, roof hatches, and rear exits vary by bus.

Emergency exits and the paths to them must remain unobstructed; never stow luggage, seats, or equipment in front of an exit.

In an emergency, stop safely, set the parking brake, shut off the engine, turn on hazard lights, and keep the bus from rolling.

Direct passengers to the nearest usable exit and away from traffic, fire, or spilled fuel; use the regular door if it is safe.

If a power door will not open, use the emergency release; break glass only when marked and necessary, using the designated tool.

Roof hatches can provide an exit when the bus is upright and doors are blocked; follow the hatch's marked operating instructions.

After evacuation, move passengers to a safe assembly point, account for everyone, and call 911 with location and injury details.

Do not let passengers re-enter the bus until authorities or the driver confirm it is safe.

For evacuation, choose the side away from traffic when possible, establish an assembly point, and keep passengers together until all are counted.

Passengers with disabilities may need extra time and assistance; assign helpers and use the vehicle's accessible exits when available.

A passenger-carrying CMV must stop before a railroad crossing unless the crossing is exempt; stop 15-50 feet before the nearest rail, look and listen, then proceed without shifting gears.

Never stop on railroad tracks; before crossing, confirm there is room for the entire bus on the far side.

If the bus stalls or is disabled on a crossing, evacuate passengers immediately and move them away from the tracks; call 911 and the railroad.

Do not rely on crossing gates or lights alone; check both directions and listen for trains before entering the crossing.

After crossing the tracks, do not shift gears until the entire vehicle is clear of the crossing.

At an evacuation, keep passengers upwind and uphill from fire, fuel, or hazardous spills.

No handheld mobile phone use or texting while driving a CMV; federal rules prohibit texting and handheld phone use, and Illinois bans handheld phone use while driving.

Do not exceed passenger capacity or allow passengers to ride in aisles, stairwells, or other spaces not designed for occupancy.

Do not fuel a bus with passengers on board; have passengers leave or follow the carrier's approved fueling procedure before fueling.

Do not leave passengers unattended in a bus, especially children or passengers needing assistance, without following carrier policy and safety checks.

Do not carry hazardous materials in the passenger area or allow passengers to bring aboard flammable, explosive, or otherwise dangerous items.

Do not block aisles, doors, or emergency exits with baggage, equipment, or seats.

Do not back a passenger vehicle unless necessary; use a spotter and check behind the bus before backing.

No alcohol or illegal drugs in the vehicle or on duty; do not drive while impaired by prescription or over-the-counter medication.

Illinois CDL standard: 0.04% BAC or higher while operating a CMV is a violation; a lower threshold than the 0.08% non-CMV limit.

No alcohol within four hours before driving or being on duty; alcohol possession or use while on duty is prohibited.

Refusing a required alcohol or drug test can disqualify a CDL and remove the driver from safety-sensitive duty.

A first DUI conviction in a CMV generally disqualifies the CDL for one year; a second major offense can result in lifetime disqualification.

Report alcohol- or drug-related convictions to the employer within 30 days, as required for CDL holders.

Prescription and over-the-counter medicines can impair driving; do not drive if they cause drowsiness, dizziness, or slowed reactions.

Required tests include pre-employment, random, post-accident, reasonable-suspicion, return-to-duty, and follow-up testing under federal rules.

Carry no open alcohol container in the passenger area; Illinois law and carrier policy restrict alcohol in a CMV.

Passenger-carrying vehicles may not transport hazardous materials in the passenger area; placarded hazmat loads are not allowed on buses.

A hazardous materials endorsement is separate from the passenger endorsement and is required to drive a vehicle carrying placarded quantities.

Hazmat classes include explosives, gases, flammable liquids, flammable solids, oxidizers, toxic and infectious substances, radioactive material, corrosives, and miscellaneous.

Never accept unmarked, leaking, or damaged containers; check shipping papers and emergency response information when hazmat is authorized.

In a hazmat incident, isolate the area, keep people upwind and uphill, call 911 and CHEMTREC, and do not touch spilled material.

Smoking and open flames are prohibited near hazardous materials; keep ignition sources away from spills and vapors.

Do not leave hazardous materials unattended or allow unauthorized persons access to the cargo.

If a passenger tries to bring a hazardous item aboard, refuse it and follow carrier reporting procedures.