Indiana CDL School Bus Test cheat sheet

Indiana requires a pre-trip inspection before every trip; the CDL pre-trip is also tested as a scored skill with three parts: engine compartment, exterior walk-around, and in-cab inspection.

Engine compartment checks: engine oil level, coolant level, power steering fluid, windshield washer fluid, belts (frayed, cracked, loose), hoses (leaks, bulges), and battery secure with no corrosion.

Leak check rule: after starting the engine, look for puddles or drips under the bus; air-brake buses must build pressure to the governor cut-out (typically 120-140 psi) with the engine at fast idle.

Air brake tests: with the engine off and pressure built, apply the brake and hold one minute; allowable loss is no more than 3 psi for a single vehicle (4 psi for combination) with the engine off, and no more than 2 psi with the engine running.

Low-air warning rule: with the engine off, pump the brake pedal to reduce pressure; the low-air warning light and buzzer must activate before pressure drops below 60 psi.

Static leak test on the parking brake: with the bus secured, release the parking brake; the bus must not move until the brake is applied, and the spring brake must engage automatically when pressure drops to 20-45 psi.

Exterior walk-around: check tires for tread depth (4/32 inch minimum on front steering tires), cuts, bulges, and proper inflation; check all lights, reflectors, mirrors, and the stop arm.

In-cab inspection: seat belt, horn, wipers, defroster, heater, gauges, mirrors adjusted, emergency exits and windows open and close freely, and the emergency equipment (fire extinguisher, first aid kit, triangles, body fluid cleanup kit) is present and charged.

Stop rule: the bus must come to a complete stop before the door is opened; the driver opens the door, and students load or unload only after the driver signals it is safe.

Danger zone: the area within 10 feet around the bus is the danger zone; students must wait in a designated safe spot at least 10 feet from the bus until the driver signals them to board.

Unloading sequence: set the parking brake, place the transmission in neutral (or park), turn off the engine and remove the key, activate the hazard lights, and open the door only when traffic is clear.

Crossing rule: students who must cross the road cross at least 10 feet in front of the bus, wait for the driver's hand signal, and cross only after the driver confirms traffic is stopped in both directions.

Drop-off rule: students must never cross behind the bus; the driver counts students as they exit and confirms each student is clear of the danger zone before releasing the parking brake.

Loading rule: students board one at a time, use the handrail, and go directly to a seat; the driver counts students boarding and confirms the count matches the expected roster before moving.

Kindergarten and early-grade rule: the driver must ensure a student who is required to be met by a parent or guardian is not left unattended; if no one is there, the student stays on the bus and the driver contacts dispatch.

Stop arm and red lights: the stop arm and red flashing lights are used for loading and unloading; the driver checks mirrors and traffic before retracting the stop arm and resuming travel.

Authority rule: the school bus driver is responsible for order on the bus and may assign seats, but discipline is handled under the local school corporation's written policy, not by physical punishment.

Intervention ladder: verbal warning, seat reassignment, written referral to the school, parent contact, and suspension of riding privileges are typical steps; the driver documents each step.

Serious-offense rule: fighting, weapons, threats, or actions that endanger the bus are reported immediately to dispatch and the school; the driver may stop the bus in a safe location until order is restored.

Distraction rule: the driver must not attempt to discipline a student while the bus is in motion; the bus is stopped in a safe place before dealing with a serious behavior problem.

Bullying and harassment reports follow the same chain: the driver documents what was seen or heard, reports to the school, and does not investigate or mediate alone.

Communication rule: the driver speaks calmly, uses the student's name, states the expected behavior, and avoids arguing; escalating volume or sarcasm increases risk.

Documentation rule: each referral records date, time, location, students involved, witnesses, and the specific behavior; vague referrals are not actionable under school policy.

Emergency removal rule: if a student must be removed from the bus, it is done at a school or safe stop by school officials, not by leaving a student at the roadside.

Stop rule: school buses must stop at all railroad-highway grade crossings, whether or not the crossing has a stop sign, and whether or not the track appears active.

Exception rule: the stop is not required where an official sign or signal exempts the crossing, or where a police officer or flagger directs traffic through; the driver must know the route's exempt crossings.

Approach sequence: activate hazard lights, check traffic, downshift before the tracks, and stop no closer than 15 feet and no farther than 50 feet from the nearest rail.

Look-and-listen rule: open the driver's window, turn off the radio and any noise, look both ways, and listen before proceeding; the stop must be a full stop, not a rolling stop.

Crossing rule: cross only when the bus can clear the crossing completely without stopping; never shift gears while on the tracks, and do not stop on the tracks.

Stall rule: if the bus stalls on the tracks, evacuate students immediately, move them at least 100 feet from the tracks and upwind, then call 911 and report the exact location and crossing number.

Signal rule: flashing red lights, a lowered gate, or a flagger means stop and remain stopped; never drive around a lowered gate, even if no train is visible.

Multiple-track rule: on multiple tracks, wait until the bus can see past the first track and confirm no train is approaching on any track before moving.

Decision rule: evacuate only when staying on the bus is more dangerous than leaving; fire, a stalled bus on tracks, or a hazardous spill are evacuation triggers, while a minor breakdown may call for staying put.

Evacuation sequence: stop in a safe place, set the parking brake, shut off the engine, remove the key, activate hazard lights, call 911, and then evacuate.

Front-door evacuation: students exit in a line, use the handrail, move at least 100 feet from the bus, and assemble at a designated point where the driver can count them.

Rear-door evacuation: the driver or a trained student opens the rear door, helps students down, and the driver assigns helpers only after the evacuation is underway.

Fire rule: evacuate upwind and uphill, keep students at least 100 feet from the bus, and never return to the bus for belongings.

Count rule: the driver counts students before, during, and after evacuation and reports the count to responders; a missing student is reported immediately.

Emergency equipment: the fire extinguisher is used only on a small fire from a safe distance, the first aid kit and body fluid cleanup kit are on board, and reflective triangles are placed behind a stopped bus.

Drill rule: Indiana school corporations conduct school bus evacuation drills each school year; drivers must be able to demonstrate front, rear, and side evacuation routes.

Speed rule: a school bus may not exceed the posted speed limit, and the driver reduces speed for rain, snow, ice, fog, and curves; following distance is at least one second per 10 feet of bus length.

Loading-light rule: red flashing lights and the stop arm are used only for loading or unloading students; amber warning lights are activated in advance to warn traffic of the stop.

Railroad and stop-sign rule: a school bus stops at all grade crossings and at all stop signs; the stop must be complete with a mirror check before proceeding.

Passing rule: other vehicles must stop for a school bus with red lights flashing on a two-lane road; on a divided highway with a median, traffic on the opposite side is not required to stop.

Mirror rule: the driver checks mirrors before moving, after loading, and at stops; convex mirrors show the danger zone, and the driver confirms no student is near the bus before moving.

Hazard rule: a school bus has large blind spots behind and beside it; the driver uses a spotter when backing, and backing is avoided whenever possible.

Distraction rule: cell phone use, texting, and earphones are prohibited while driving a school bus; the driver keeps both hands on the wheel and eyes on the road.

Weather rule: in fog or heavy rain, reduce speed, increase following distance, and use low-beam headlights; stop in a safe place if visibility is too poor to proceed.

Indiana requires a pre-trip inspection before every trip; the CDL pre-trip is also tested as a scored skill with three parts: engine compartment, exterior walk-around, and in-cab inspection.

Engine compartment checks: engine oil level, coolant level, power steering fluid, windshield washer fluid, belts (frayed, cracked, loose), hoses (leaks, bulges), and battery secure with no corrosion.

Leak check rule: after starting the engine, look for puddles or drips under the bus; air-brake buses must build pressure to the governor cut-out (typically 120-140 psi) with the engine at fast idle.

Air brake tests: with the engine off and pressure built, apply the brake and hold one minute; allowable loss is no more than 3 psi for a single vehicle (4 psi for combination) with the engine off, and no more than 2 psi with the engine running.

Low-air warning rule: with the engine off, pump the brake pedal to reduce pressure; the low-air warning light and buzzer must activate before pressure drops below 60 psi.

Static leak test on the parking brake: with the bus secured, release the parking brake; the bus must not move until the brake is applied, and the spring brake must engage automatically when pressure drops to 20-45 psi.

Exterior walk-around: check tires for tread depth (4/32 inch minimum on front steering tires), cuts, bulges, and proper inflation; check all lights, reflectors, mirrors, and the stop arm.

In-cab inspection: seat belt, horn, wipers, defroster, heater, gauges, mirrors adjusted, emergency exits and windows open and close freely, and the emergency equipment (fire extinguisher, first aid kit, triangles, body fluid cleanup kit) is present and charged.

Stop rule: the bus must come to a complete stop before the door is opened; the driver opens the door, and students load or unload only after the driver signals it is safe.

Danger zone: the area within 10 feet around the bus is the danger zone; students must wait in a designated safe spot at least 10 feet from the bus until the driver signals them to board.

Unloading sequence: set the parking brake, place the transmission in neutral (or park), turn off the engine and remove the key, activate the hazard lights, and open the door only when traffic is clear.

Crossing rule: students who must cross the road cross at least 10 feet in front of the bus, wait for the driver's hand signal, and cross only after the driver confirms traffic is stopped in both directions.

Drop-off rule: students must never cross behind the bus; the driver counts students as they exit and confirms each student is clear of the danger zone before releasing the parking brake.

Loading rule: students board one at a time, use the handrail, and go directly to a seat; the driver counts students boarding and confirms the count matches the expected roster before moving.

Kindergarten and early-grade rule: the driver must ensure a student who is required to be met by a parent or guardian is not left unattended; if no one is there, the student stays on the bus and the driver contacts dispatch.

Stop arm and red lights: the stop arm and red flashing lights are used for loading and unloading; the driver checks mirrors and traffic before retracting the stop arm and resuming travel.

Authority rule: the school bus driver is responsible for order on the bus and may assign seats, but discipline is handled under the local school corporation's written policy, not by physical punishment.

Intervention ladder: verbal warning, seat reassignment, written referral to the school, parent contact, and suspension of riding privileges are typical steps; the driver documents each step.

Serious-offense rule: fighting, weapons, threats, or actions that endanger the bus are reported immediately to dispatch and the school; the driver may stop the bus in a safe location until order is restored.

Distraction rule: the driver must not attempt to discipline a student while the bus is in motion; the bus is stopped in a safe place before dealing with a serious behavior problem.

Bullying and harassment reports follow the same chain: the driver documents what was seen or heard, reports to the school, and does not investigate or mediate alone.

Communication rule: the driver speaks calmly, uses the student's name, states the expected behavior, and avoids arguing; escalating volume or sarcasm increases risk.

Documentation rule: each referral records date, time, location, students involved, witnesses, and the specific behavior; vague referrals are not actionable under school policy.

Emergency removal rule: if a student must be removed from the bus, it is done at a school or safe stop by school officials, not by leaving a student at the roadside.

Stop rule: school buses must stop at all railroad-highway grade crossings, whether or not the crossing has a stop sign, and whether or not the track appears active.

Exception rule: the stop is not required where an official sign or signal exempts the crossing, or where a police officer or flagger directs traffic through; the driver must know the route's exempt crossings.

Approach sequence: activate hazard lights, check traffic, downshift before the tracks, and stop no closer than 15 feet and no farther than 50 feet from the nearest rail.

Look-and-listen rule: open the driver's window, turn off the radio and any noise, look both ways, and listen before proceeding; the stop must be a full stop, not a rolling stop.

Crossing rule: cross only when the bus can clear the crossing completely without stopping; never shift gears while on the tracks, and do not stop on the tracks.

Stall rule: if the bus stalls on the tracks, evacuate students immediately, move them at least 100 feet from the tracks and upwind, then call 911 and report the exact location and crossing number.

Signal rule: flashing red lights, a lowered gate, or a flagger means stop and remain stopped; never drive around a lowered gate, even if no train is visible.

Multiple-track rule: on multiple tracks, wait until the bus can see past the first track and confirm no train is approaching on any track before moving.

Decision rule: evacuate only when staying on the bus is more dangerous than leaving; fire, a stalled bus on tracks, or a hazardous spill are evacuation triggers, while a minor breakdown may call for staying put.

Evacuation sequence: stop in a safe place, set the parking brake, shut off the engine, remove the key, activate hazard lights, call 911, and then evacuate.

Front-door evacuation: students exit in a line, use the handrail, move at least 100 feet from the bus, and assemble at a designated point where the driver can count them.

Rear-door evacuation: the driver or a trained student opens the rear door, helps students down, and the driver assigns helpers only after the evacuation is underway.

Fire rule: evacuate upwind and uphill, keep students at least 100 feet from the bus, and never return to the bus for belongings.

Count rule: the driver counts students before, during, and after evacuation and reports the count to responders; a missing student is reported immediately.

Emergency equipment: the fire extinguisher is used only on a small fire from a safe distance, the first aid kit and body fluid cleanup kit are on board, and reflective triangles are placed behind a stopped bus.

Drill rule: Indiana school corporations conduct school bus evacuation drills each school year; drivers must be able to demonstrate front, rear, and side evacuation routes.

Speed rule: a school bus may not exceed the posted speed limit, and the driver reduces speed for rain, snow, ice, fog, and curves; following distance is at least one second per 10 feet of bus length.

Loading-light rule: red flashing lights and the stop arm are used only for loading or unloading students; amber warning lights are activated in advance to warn traffic of the stop.

Railroad and stop-sign rule: a school bus stops at all grade crossings and at all stop signs; the stop must be complete with a mirror check before proceeding.

Passing rule: other vehicles must stop for a school bus with red lights flashing on a two-lane road; on a divided highway with a median, traffic on the opposite side is not required to stop.

Mirror rule: the driver checks mirrors before moving, after loading, and at stops; convex mirrors show the danger zone, and the driver confirms no student is near the bus before moving.

Hazard rule: a school bus has large blind spots behind and beside it; the driver uses a spotter when backing, and backing is avoided whenever possible.

Distraction rule: cell phone use, texting, and earphones are prohibited while driving a school bus; the driver keeps both hands on the wheel and eyes on the road.

Weather rule: in fog or heavy rain, reduce speed, increase following distance, and use low-beam headlights; stop in a safe place if visibility is too poor to proceed.