RTO Conductor Licence Test cheat sheet

A conductor's licence authorises the holder to act as conductor on the class of public service vehicle endorsed on the licence; driving a PSV requires a separate driver's licence.

Core statutory duties: collect the correct fare, issue a valid ticket, ensure no passenger travels beyond capacity, and maintain order and safety on the vehicle.

The conductor is responsible for the passenger manifest where required and must be able to state the number of passengers carried at any inspection point.

Regulatory inspectors may board and demand production of the licence, waybill, and ticket stock; refusal to produce is an offence.

Conductor licences carry conditions (route, vehicle class, seating capacity) and breaching a condition is treated as breaching the licence itself.

Operating a PSV without a valid conductor where one is required exposes the operator and the conductor to separate penalties.

Penalties escalate for repeat offences; records of prior convictions are considered at licence renewal or disciplinary hearings.

The conductor must report accidents and incidents to the operator and police within the period set by national transport law.

Keep-left or keep-right convention follows the country; the conductor must know the local rule and brief passengers at the door on the correct side.

Overtaking is prohibited on solid centre lines, at pedestrian crossings, on bends, and where visibility is restricted.

Speed limits: urban default, rural default, and vehicle-class limits apply; the lowest applicable limit governs.

A vehicle must stop for a red light, a stop sign, a police signal, and a pedestrian already on a crossing.

Following distance rule: at least a two-second gap in dry conditions, doubled in rain and further increased at night.

Loading rules: no passenger may stand forward of the driver, on the stairs, or in a doorway while the vehicle is moving.

Reversing requires a competent person to guide the driver; the conductor performs this role when present.

Emergency vehicles with sirens and flashing lights have priority; the conductor signals the driver and secures the aisle.

Sign shapes: circle = prohibition, triangle = warning, rectangle = information or direction, octagon = stop.

Red ring signs prohibit; blue circles generally indicate a mandatory instruction such as 'turn left only'.

Traffic light sequence: red, red-and-amber, green, amber, red; amber means stop unless stopping is unsafe.

Flashing amber at a crossing means proceed with caution and give way to pedestrians.

Police hand signals override fixed signals and signs; a raised palm toward the vehicle means stop.

Road markings: solid white line = do not cross, broken white line = cross when safe, yellow line = parking restriction.

The conductor relays signals to the driver when visibility is poor and confirms the driver has seen a hazard before giving the go-ahead.

Level crossing signs and signals require a complete stop when lights flash or barriers lower, regardless of schedule pressure.

Maximum passenger load is the licensed seating plus any authorised standing capacity; the conductor counts boarding passengers and stops boarding at the limit.

Passengers must remain seated or hold a handrail while the vehicle is moving; the conductor enforces this before signalling departure.

Doors must be closed and secured before the vehicle moves and must not be opened until the vehicle is fully stopped.

Prohibited items include flammable liquids, gas cylinders, and livestock outside permitted categories; the conductor inspects luggage where authorised.

Vulnerable passengers (children, elderly, pregnant, disabled) are given priority seating and extra time to board and alight.

The conductor monitors the aisle for obstructions and keeps emergency exits, hammers, and extinguishers clear at all times.

Any passenger who threatens safety may be removed at the next safe stop, with police notified where an offence is suspected.

Child restraint and lap-belt rules apply to seated passengers; the conductor checks belts on vehicles so equipped.

Board only at designated stops or where stopping is legal; never signal the driver to stop on a bend, crossing, or clearway.

Sequence: vehicle fully stopped, handbrake applied, door opened by the authorised person, passengers alight first, then board.

The conductor counts passengers out and in, then confirms the door is clear and closed before giving the departure signal.

The departure signal is a verbal or bell code agreed with the driver; a single bell means go, repeated bells mean stop.

Assist passengers with luggage and mobility aids; ensure prams and wheelchairs are secured and brakes applied.

At night or in poor visibility, the conductor uses a torch and reflective clothing when assisting boarding from the roadside.

Alighting passengers must be given time to clear the vehicle before it moves; the conductor watches the nearside mirror area.

Record the stop, time, and passenger count where the operator's system requires it.

A valid ticket shows the fare paid, the stage or destination, the date, and the vehicle or operator identifier.

Issue the ticket at the point of fare payment; issuing after the passenger alights or not at all is an offence.

Tickets must be issued from the official stock in sequence; missing or out-of-sequence numbers must be reported immediately.

Transfer tickets are valid only within the stated time and route conditions printed on them.

Concession and child fares require proof of eligibility where the operator's policy demands it; record the concession category.

Damaged or unreadable tickets are replaced only after the conductor verifies the serial number against the ticket register.

Electronic ticketing: confirm the transaction has registered before allowing boarding, and print or display a receipt on request.

Unused ticket stock is reconciled at the end of each shift against the issued serial range.

Fares are set by the operator's approved tariff; the conductor may not discount, waive, or negotiate fares without written authority.

Count change back to the passenger and state the amount aloud; this prevents disputes and detects short-changing.

Cash is held in a secure bag, never in open pockets, and is deposited or handed over at the end of each trip as required.

The revenue reconciliation formula: opening cash float + fares collected − refunds = cash handed in; any variance must be explained in writing.

Refunds are given only for service failure under the operator's policy, and a refund receipt must be issued and recorded.

Two-person handling applies to large cash sums; the conductor and a second official sign the handover sheet.

Fare evasion is handled by requesting payment, then recording details and reporting; physical restraint is used only as a last resort.

All cash, tickets, and waybills are surrendered at shift end; failure to account for revenue is treated as a disciplinary matter.

Priority order at any incident: stop the vehicle safely, protect the scene, then assist casualties and call emergency services.

Hazard warning lights on, engine off, handbrake applied, and passengers evacuated to a safe point away from traffic and fire risk.

Evacuation routes: front door first, then rear door or emergency exits; the conductor checks the vehicle is empty before leaving.

Give the emergency operator the location, number of casualties, nature of the incident, and the vehicle registration.

Do not move an injured person unless there is immediate danger such as fire or oncoming traffic.

First aid priorities: airway, breathing, circulation, then control bleeding and treat for shock by keeping the casualty warm.

Record witness names and contact details and preserve the scene until police release the vehicle.

Report the incident to the operator's control room immediately after the emergency call.

Fire triangle: fuel, oxygen, and heat; removing any one side extinguishes the fire.

Extinguisher classes: water for Class A solids, foam for A and B, CO2 for electrical and flammable liquid fires, dry powder for mixed risks.

PASS technique: Pull the pin, Aim at the base of the fire, Squeeze the handle, Sweep side to side.

Never use water on electrical or fuel fires; isolate the battery where the vehicle has a master switch.

Burns: cool with running water for at least 20 minutes, remove jewellery and loose clothing, do not burst blisters.

Severe bleeding: apply direct pressure with a clean dressing and elevate the limb if no fracture is suspected.

Recovery position for an unconscious but breathing casualty; start CPR at 100–120 compressions per minute if breathing stops.

Report every extinguisher use and first aid incident, and restock the first aid kit before the vehicle returns to service.

Pre-trip walk-around: tyres and tread depth, lights and indicators, mirrors, wipers, horn, and bodywork for damage.

Fluids check: engine oil, coolant, brake fluid, washer fluid, and fuel level against the trip requirement.

Safety equipment check: fire extinguisher pressure gauge in the green, first aid kit sealed and stocked, emergency hammers present, doors operating.

Brake and steering check by a slow test at low speed before entering traffic; report any pull or unusual noise.

Door interlocks and the emergency release must be tested; the conductor must know the release location on each vehicle type.

Ticketing equipment, bell or communication system, and PA system tested before departure.

Any defect affecting safety grounds the vehicle; record it on the defect sheet and report to the operator before departure.

Know the seating and standing capacity plate, the location of the emergency exits, and the vehicle's height and width limits.

The conductor is the operator's representative; uniform and identification must be worn and visible while on duty.

Prohibited on duty: alcohol, unauthorised passengers in the cab, sleeping, leaving the vehicle unattended, and using a phone except for duty purposes.

Remain calm and polite under provocation; never escalate to physical contact except in lawful self-defence or to protect others.

Conflicts of interest, accepting gifts for free travel, and fare pocketing are grounds for immediate suspension and prosecution.

Punctuality and attendance are contractual duties; report absence before the shift start through the approved channel.

The conductor directs the driver only through agreed signals and never distracts the driver while the vehicle is moving.

Report colleague misconduct or vehicle defects through the official channel; informal cover-up is itself a disciplinary offence.

Personal appearance, language, and noise levels on the vehicle are part of the duty of care to passengers.

Greet passengers, state the fare clearly, and answer route questions with the stop name and expected time.

Complaint handling: listen fully, acknowledge, apologise for the experience, explain what will happen next, and record it.

Service recovery for a delay or missed stop includes information, an apology, and the operator's compensation procedure where applicable.

Use plain language and visual aids for passengers with hearing or language barriers; never shout or mock.

Announce stops clearly and in advance, and repeat the announcement where the vehicle is crowded.

Disputes over fares are resolved by reference to the printed tariff, not by argument; escalate to the inspector if unresolved.

Record compliments and complaints in the log with date, time, route, and outcome for the operator's service review.

Accessibility duties: assist wheelchair users, announce priority seating, and allow service animals on board under the operator's policy.

Documents carried on the vehicle: route permit, certificate of fitness, insurance certificate, vehicle registration, driver's licence, and conductor's licence.

The route permit states the authorised route, stops, and timetable; operating off-route is an offence.

The certificate of fitness has an expiry date; an expired certificate voids the vehicle's authority to carry passengers.

The waybill or trip sheet records the trip number, times, passenger counts, and fare totals, and must be completed in ink.

Records are retained for the period set by the regulator and must be produced on demand to an authorised officer.

Amendments to records are made by striking through and initialling, never by erasure or overwriting.

Lost or damaged documents are reported to the operator immediately and replacements obtained before the next trip.

Insurance must cover passenger liability; the conductor should know the policy number and the emergency contact.

The conductor supports smooth driving by giving advance stop signals and avoiding unnecessary 'stop now' bells.

Idling wastes fuel; switch off the engine at stops where the wait exceeds the operator's idling policy time.

Harsh acceleration and braking increase fuel use and emissions; the conductor avoids pressuring the driver to make up time.

Correct tyre pressure reduces rolling resistance; the pre-trip check includes a visual tyre inspection and pressure check where assigned.

Load management: balanced loading and not exceeding capacity reduces fuel consumption and wear.

Report excessive exhaust smoke, fluid leaks, and unusual noise as they indicate poor combustion or a fault.

Segregate waste for recycling and prevent litter from being thrown from the vehicle.

Route and timetable adherence reduces unnecessary mileage; the conductor records delays so the operator can adjust schedules.

Stop sign: octagon, red, white lettering; a complete stop is required even when the road appears clear.

Give way sign: inverted triangle; yield to traffic on the major road and to pedestrians crossing.

Warning signs are triangular with red borders; they indicate hazards ahead such as bends, crossings, and school zones.

Regulatory signs are circular; a red ring prohibits, a blue circle mandates, and a red diagonal slash cancels the restriction.

Direction signs are rectangular and give route numbers, destinations, and distances; they do not impose legal duties.

Traffic light failure: treat as an unmarked intersection, give way to the right or as local law requires, and proceed with caution.

The conductor confirms the driver has seen a signal or sign the conductor has spotted, using the agreed verbal or bell code.

Temporary signs and roadworks signals override permanent markings; obey the sign in the direction indicated.