Indiana CDL School Bus Test key terms

A systematic walk-around and in-cab check of the bus performed before every trip to confirm lights, brakes, tires, mirrors, emergency exits, and warning equipment are present and working.

A three-part check of air pressure buildup, static leakage, and warning buzzer or light activation, run before driving to confirm the air brake system holds pressure and signals low-pressure failure.

A measurement of pushrod travel on each air brake chamber, or a visual check of slack adjusters, to confirm brakes are within adjustment limits before the bus is driven.

The walk-through completed after the last run of the day, checking for sleeping or left-behind students, damage, and mechanical problems, then reporting findings and securing the bus.

A mandatory sweep of every seat, including the rear rows and under-seat areas, at the end of each route to make sure no student remains on the bus.

Any designated door, roof hatch, or window intended for rapid evacuation, which must be unobstructed, properly latched, and checked for operation during the pre-trip inspection.

The extendable sign on the left side of the bus that signals traffic to stop while students are loading or unloading, and which must be tested for full extension and retraction.

The area immediately around the bus, roughly ten feet in every direction, where students are hardest to see and where most loading and unloading injuries occur.

The marked area at a stop where the bus positions itself to pick up or drop off students, kept clear of traffic hazards and selected so students need not cross the roadway if avoidable.

The practice of stopping on the right side of the road so students board and exit onto the shoulder, avoiding the need to cross traffic except where routing makes crossing unavoidable.

The practice of counting students as they board and again as they leave, and reconciling the numbers, so no student is unaccounted for after a stop or at the end of a run.

Comparing the number of students who boarded with the number who exited at a stop or at school, and investigating any mismatch before the bus moves on.

A standardized arm and hand gesture used by the driver to direct students to wait, cross, or stop, giving clear instructions when voice commands cannot be heard.

The driver's physical position at the front of the bus, or the act of stepping into the doorway, used to hold students back until it is safe for them to cross.

The driver's duty to watch for and intervene in repeated intimidation, physical aggression, or exclusion among students, documenting incidents and reporting them to school officials.

A written set of expected bus behaviors and graduated consequences, communicated to students and families, that gives the driver consistent responses to misconduct.

A written record of a student conduct problem, describing what happened, who was involved, and what action the driver took, submitted to the school for follow-up.

Any activity that takes the driver's eyes, hands, or attention off the road, including phone use, eating, or managing students, and which is prohibited while the bus is in motion.

An assigned-seat plan that helps the driver learn student names, separate students who disrupt each other, and identify who was sitting where after an incident.

Any place where a public road crosses railroad tracks at the same level, requiring the bus driver to stop, look, and listen under specific rules before proceeding.

The required procedure at a grade crossing: stop the bus, open the door or window to listen, look both directions, and proceed only when certain no train is approaching.

The confirmation that the bus can completely cross the tracks without stopping, so the vehicle never blocks the railroad right-of-way.

A grade crossing protected only by signs and pavement markings, without gates or flashing lights, which demands the driver's full stop and careful judgment.

A grade crossing equipped with warning devices such as flashing lights, bells, or gates, which the driver must obey even when no train appears to be coming.

The orderly removal of students from the bus through designated exits to a safe assembly point, practiced in drills and carried out during emergencies.

A scheduled practice in which students rehearse leaving the bus through front, rear, and side exits, so they can act quickly and safely in a real emergency.

A pre-selected safe location away from the bus, traffic, and fire hazards where students gather after evacuation and are counted.

The use of the onboard extinguisher, aimed at the base of a small fire, only when the driver can do so safely before evacuating students.

The radio or phone call to dispatch and emergency services reporting the location, nature of the emergency, injuries, and number of students aboard.

The gap kept between the bus and the vehicle ahead, measured in seconds, increased for bad weather, heavy loads, or higher speeds to allow room to stop.

A green signal that has been green for some time and may change to yellow before the bus reaches the intersection, so the driver should prepare to stop.

A reduced speed limit posted near a school and in effect during specified hours or when children are present, requiring the driver to slow and watch for students.

The outward sweep of the rear of the bus when the front wheels turn, which can strike pedestrians, signs, or parked vehicles if the driver does not check mirrors.

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

An area around the bus that cannot be seen in the mirrors, especially directly behind and alongside the rear, where the driver must account for unseen vehicles or students.

The technique of releasing hard braking, steering in the direction the bus should go, and avoiding sudden inputs to regain traction on slippery pavement.

Activating the bus's four-way flashers to warn traffic during loading, unloading, or a roadside stop, in addition to the required red warning lamps.