KY CDL Passenger cheat sheet

Pre-trip inspection covers six systems: engine compartment, cab/controls, lights and reflectors, brakes, suspension/steering, and emergency equipment; each must be checked before every trip.

Brake test order: build air pressure to governor cut-out, shut engine off, check for static leaks (allowable loss is 3 psi per minute for a single vehicle), then check warning buzzer and spring brake pop-out between 45 and 20 psi.

Low-air warning must activate before pressure drops below 60 psi on vehicles with air brakes; the spring brakes must apply between 20 and 45 psi.

Tire check: minimum tread depth is 4/32 inch on front steer tires and 2/32 inch on all other tires; no cuts, bulges, or exposed cord is allowed anywhere.

Bus-specific items include emergency exits (doors, roof hatches, windows), fire extinguisher charge and mounting, first aid kit, body fluid cleanup kit, and passenger seat security.

Walk-around inspection confirms all lights, reflectors, and reflective tape are clean and functional, mirrors are adjusted, and the stop arm and crossing gate deploy if equipped.

After any defect is found, the driver must document it on the inspection report and either correct it or place the vehicle out of service; driving a defective bus is prohibited.

Kentucky requires a driver vehicle inspection report (DVIR) each day for passenger-carrying CMVs, signed by the driver and reviewed by the carrier, with certification that repairs were made.

Standees are permitted only when the bus is designed and rated for standing passengers; no standee may ride forward of the standee line or in the area beside the driver.

The standee line must be a solid line across the floor, plainly visible to standing passengers, and no passenger may stand ahead of it while the bus is moving.

Before moving, the driver must confirm all passengers are seated or behind the standee line, doors are closed, and the aisle is clear of baggage and limbs.

Loading and unloading is done only at designated stops or safe pull-outs; never stop in a traffic lane, on a curve, or on a hill crest where visibility is limited.

When unloading, the driver counts passengers leaving and scans the interior for sleeping or left-behind passengers, including children, before securing the bus.

Assisting passengers with mobility devices: secure wheelchairs with four-point tie-downs and a lap/shoulder belt; never allow a wheelchair to be used as a seat without proper restraint.

Passenger baggage must be stowed so it cannot block the aisle, emergency exits, or the standee area; keep the aisle clear to the rear door at all times.

If a passenger is unruly or a safety hazard, the driver may refuse boarding or require the passenger to leave at the next safe stop; the driver may not physically remove a passenger except as permitted by law.

Emergency exit types on a bus include the rear door, side windows marked as exits, roof hatches, and emergency door release handles; know each location before departure.

Evacuation order: stop the vehicle in a safe location, set the parking brake, shut off the engine, activate hazard lights, then direct passengers to the nearest usable exit.

Roof hatches open outward and are used when doors or windows are blocked; push up and out, then assist passengers through the opening.

Fire extinguisher use: PASS - Pull the pin, Aim at the base of the fire, Squeeze the handle, Sweep side to side; only fight a small fire with a clear escape path.

If a fire occurs, evacuate passengers first, move them at least 100 feet from the vehicle and upwind, then call 911 and report the location and any injuries.

Passenger injury or medical emergency: stop safely, render first aid within training, call 911, and document the incident; do not move an injured passenger unless there is immediate danger.

Emergency evacuation drills should be practiced so passengers know how to open exits; drivers must be able to explain exit operation to passengers on request.

After any evacuation, account for all passengers by counting and checking the vehicle, including under seats and in the restroom if equipped.

Approaching a bus stop: signal early, slow gradually, check mirrors and blind spots, and stop with the rear of the bus clear of the travel lane where possible.

At a railroad crossing, stop within 50 feet but not less than 15 feet from the nearest rail, open the window, look and listen, and proceed only when the track is clear in both directions.

Never stop on tracks; if the bus stalls on a crossing, evacuate passengers immediately and move them away from the tracks and toward the direction of an oncoming train.

School bus and passenger bus stop laws in Kentucky require traffic to stop for a bus with flashing red lights and extended stop arm; drivers must not proceed until the signal is withdrawn.

Hazard awareness includes scanning 12-15 seconds ahead, checking mirrors every 5-8 seconds, and identifying escape routes before traffic conflicts develop.

At stops, watch for passengers crossing in front of the bus, cyclists passing on the right, and vehicles passing illegally; use the crossing arm and horn when needed.

Flashing amber lights warn that the bus is preparing to stop; flashing red lights and the stop arm mean traffic must stop in both directions on undivided roads.

Kentucky law requires drivers to yield to pedestrians in crosswalks and to stop for a pedestrian who has entered the roadway at a marked or unmarked crossing.

Following distance for a passenger bus: use at least one second per 10 feet of vehicle length plus one second; a 40-foot bus needs at least 5 seconds in ideal conditions.

Total stopping distance equals perception distance plus reaction distance plus brake lag distance plus effective braking distance.

Air brake lag adds about 0.4 to 0.6 second before braking begins; at 55 mph that is roughly 32 to 49 feet of travel before the brakes engage.

Space management: maintain a cushion of at least one car length per 10 mph in front, and avoid driving beside other vehicles in their blind spots.

Braking on downgrades: select a lower gear before the descent, use engine braking, and apply brakes in short, firm applications to avoid overheating.

When stopping, use progressive braking and release pressure just before a full stop to avoid a jerky stop that can injure standing passengers.

Backing a bus requires a spotter whenever possible; if no spotter is available, get out and check behind the vehicle before backing, and back only when necessary.

Lane changes require mirror checks, a head check, turn signal, and sufficient gap; buses have large blind spots and slow acceleration, so plan changes early.

At night, reduce speed so you can stop within the distance illuminated by headlights; low beams show about 160 feet, high beams about 350 feet.

Use low beams in fog, rain, or snow; high beams reflect off precipitation and reduce visibility.

In rain, hydroplaning risk increases above 35 mph; reduce speed, avoid cruise control, and brake gently to maintain traction.

In snow and ice, increase following distance to at least double the normal gap and brake early and lightly; avoid sudden steering inputs.

Kentucky's Move Over law requires drivers to move over one lane or slow down for stopped emergency, tow, and highway maintenance vehicles with flashing lights.

Night driving requires scanning for pedestrians, cyclists, and animals at the road edges; use the high-beam/low-beam switch to avoid blinding oncoming drivers.

In heavy fog or smoke, turn on low beams and hazard lights if visibility is severely reduced, reduce speed, and be prepared to pull off the road at a safe location.

Adverse weather may require stopping entirely; if you must stop, pull off the roadway, turn on hazard lights, and keep passengers inside the bus unless evacuation is necessary.

After a crash: stop, secure the vehicle, set the parking brake, turn off the engine, and turn on hazard lights; do not leave the scene.

Check passengers for injuries, call 911, and provide first aid within your training; do not move seriously injured passengers unless there is fire or other immediate danger.

Report the crash to the carrier immediately and to the Kentucky State Police or local law enforcement as required; a written report is required for crashes involving injury, death, or property damage over the state threshold.

Exchange information with other drivers: name, address, license number, plate number, insurance, and vehicle owner; obtain witness names and contact information.

For fire: evacuate passengers first, move them at least 100 feet away and upwind, call 911, and only then attempt to fight a small fire with the extinguisher.

Do not open the engine cover or hood fully if an engine fire is suspected; oxygen feeds the fire. Use the extinguisher through the available opening.

Preserve the scene: do not move vehicles or debris unless necessary for safety or directed by law enforcement; photograph the scene if safe to do so.

Post-crash drug and alcohol testing is required for the driver of a CMV involved in a fatal crash or a crash requiring immediate medical treatment away from the scene.

Kentucky CDL passenger endorsement (P) is required to drive a vehicle designed to carry 16 or more passengers, including the driver; a school bus endorsement (S) is separate.

Kentucky CDL holders must self-certify their operating category and provide a medical examiner's certificate; a passenger carrier generally falls under non-excepted interstate or intrastate categories.

Kentucky's implied consent law applies to CDL holders; refusing a chemical test results in license suspension and disqualification of the CDL.

Kentucky law prohibits texting while driving and restricts handheld cell phone use for commercial drivers; hands-free use is permitted where not otherwise restricted.

Kentucky requires seat belt use by the driver and passengers in vehicles where belts are installed; the driver is responsible for ensuring passengers are secured where required.

Kentucky's school bus stop law requires traffic in both directions to stop for a school bus with flashing red lights on undivided roads; on divided highways, only traffic in the same direction must stop.

A Kentucky CDL is disqualified for 1 year for a first offense of driving a CMV with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.04 or higher, or for refusing a test.

Kentucky requires commercial vehicles to stop at railroad crossings when carrying passengers, unless the crossing is exempted and marked; the driver must open the door or window to look and listen.