LA CDL Passenger cheat sheet

Pre-trip inspection items specific to a passenger bus: passenger doors open and close fully from the driver's controls, emergency exits open from inside and outside, aisle and stairwells clear, handrails secure, seats and stanchions fastened, and all interior lights working.

Check the passenger capacity placard: seated capacity plus standee capacity. Never load beyond the placard rating; federal rules require the driver to ensure the bus is not overloaded before departure.

Verify stop-request cord or signal works along the full length of the bus, and that the driver can hear or see it from the driver's seat.

Test the service door interlock: many buses will not move with the door open, or will not open above a low speed. Confirm the interlock functions before carrying passengers.

Emergency equipment required on a passenger-carrying CMV: fire extinguisher (charged, mounted, rated 5 BC or greater for buses), spare fuses, warning triangles or reflectors, and a first-aid kit where the carrier requires it.

Brake checks before loading: air pressure builds to governor cut-out, static leak test (no more than 3 psi loss in one minute with engine off and brakes released, 4 psi with brakes applied for a single vehicle), and a low-pressure warning that activates before 60 psi.

Secure all baggage and cargo so it cannot shift into the aisle or become a projectile. Overhead racks must be rated and closed; nothing loose above seated passengers.

Walk the aisle before departure: no standees forward of the standee line, no objects in the aisle, exits unobstructed, and every passenger seated or braced before the bus moves.

Check tires, wheels, and mud flaps after loading too - an overloaded bus shows tire sidewall bulge and reduced steering response that a solo road test will not reveal.

Stop within 12 inches of the curb where a curb exists, and within 18 inches of the curb in most states' parallel-parking style standards; on a passenger route, stop close enough that passengers do not step into the traffic lane.

Deploy the stop arm and flashing red lights where equipped and required; passengers may cross only after the driver signals, and the driver must account for every passenger before retracting the arm.

Standees are prohibited forward of the standee line and on buses that lack stanchions or handholds; standees must not block the aisle or any exit.

The aisle must remain clear at all times - baggage, strollers, and mobility devices are secured in designated spaces, not left in the egress path.

Emergency exit access: no seats, cargo, or passengers may obstruct exit doors, roof hatches, or window exits. Exit windows must open freely from the inside.

Before closing doors, verify no passenger is in the doorwell or on the steps; door-edge sensors and mirrors are aids, not substitutes for a visual check.

When discharging passengers, watch the mirror until they are clear of the bus and off the roadway; do not move until they have reached safety.

On a downgrade or at a stop, hold the bus with the service brake; use the parking brake for extended stops and whenever the driver leaves the seat.

School-bus style loading rules apply where the bus is used for student transport: the driver confirms all passengers are clear before moving and uses the horn warning where required.

Speed limit for passenger-carrying CMVs: obey posted limits, and reduce below the limit for curves, downgrades, wet roads, and passenger comfort; a bus rolls over at lower lateral acceleration than a car.

Following distance: use at least one second per 10 feet of vehicle length plus one second. A 40-foot bus at speeds under 40 mph needs 5 seconds; above 40 mph add one more second for 6 seconds.

Lane use: stay in the right lane except to pass or to prepare for a left turn; buses are prohibited from the left lane on multi-lane highways except where signs permit.

Turn wide and slow: swing wide enough that the rear wheels clear the curb, but do not cross into oncoming lanes; check the right mirror through the turn for the tail swing.

Tail swing: the rear of a bus swings outward opposite the turn direction. Before turning, check that no vehicle or pedestrian is beside the rear quarter.

Brake smoothly and early: signal well in advance, brake progressively, and avoid abrupt stops that throw standing passengers.

Railroad crossings and drawbridges require a stop for buses carrying passengers: stop within 50 feet but not less than 15 feet from the nearest rail, open the door or window, listen, and cross only when clear.

Never change lanes without mirror and shoulder checks; buses have large blind spots directly behind and along both sides, so signal early and move deliberately.

Buses carrying passengers must stop at all railroad-highway grade crossings, whether or not the crossing is marked with a stop sign or gates - the stop is required by federal rule.

Stop between 15 and 50 feet from the nearest rail. Do not stop on the tracks or in a position where the front or rear overhang could foul the track.

At the stop, open the door or window, turn off noisy equipment (heater, fan, radio), and listen for an approaching train before proceeding.

Cross only when you can clear the entire crossing without stopping; a bus is long and a train can arrive faster than it appears.

Never shift gears while crossing the tracks; select the gear before entering the crossing and maintain steady speed.

If the bus stalls on the tracks: evacuate passengers immediately, move them away from the tracks and toward the direction of the approaching train if you know it, then call 911 and use the emergency contact number posted at the crossing.

Drawbridges: stop before the bridge if the warning signal is active or the barrier is down; do not proceed until the bridge is fully closed and the signal permits.

Do not stop on a drawbridge span; if traffic backs up, wait before the bridge so the bus is never trapped on the movable span.

Flashing red lights at a crossing mean stop; if the gates are down or descending, never drive around them - wait for the gate to rise fully.

Evacuation order: stop the bus in a safe place off the roadway, set the parking brake, shut off the engine, and put the transmission in park or neutral as appropriate.

Announce the evacuation clearly and calmly, direct passengers to the nearest usable exit, and assign a capable passenger to assist others if needed.

Primary exits: service door, emergency door, and emergency windows. Roof hatches are used when doors and windows are blocked or when the bus is upright and the roof is accessible.

After evacuation, move passengers at least 100 feet from the bus and upwind of any fire or fuel spill; keep them off the roadway and away from traffic.

Account for every passenger: use a head count against the manifest or passenger count, and report missing persons to responders.

Fire: evacuate first, then fight the fire only if it is small and you have a clear escape route; never re-enter a burning bus.

Set warning devices: triangles or reflectors placed behind the bus on the traffic side, plus hazard flashers, to protect the evacuation site.

Report the emergency with location, number of passengers, injuries, and hazards; stay with passengers until relief arrives or a responsible person takes charge.

In a crash, do not move injured passengers unless there is immediate danger such as fire or traffic; stabilize and wait for medical help.

At night, reduce speed so you can stop within the distance illuminated by headlights; high beams reach farther but must be dimmed for oncoming traffic within 500 feet and when following within 200 feet.

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

Increase following distance in rain, fog, or snow: double the normal time gap, and add more on ice or when visibility drops below a quarter mile.

Headlights must be on from sunset to sunrise, and whenever visibility is reduced - generally when you cannot see persons or vehicles clearly at 1,000 feet.

Hydroplaning: occurs at speeds above roughly 35 mph on wet roads with worn tires; ease off the accelerator, do not brake hard, and steer straight until traction returns.

Skids: steer in the direction you want the front of the bus to go, release the brake, and avoid hard acceleration; on ice, reduce speed before curves and brake gently and early.

Crosswinds affect a high-profile bus strongly; grip the wheel firmly, reduce speed, and be ready for sudden gusts when passing trucks or leaving sheltered areas.

At night, watch for passengers in dark clothing at stops and for pedestrians who misjudge bus speed; scan the road edges and use the interior lights when loading.

Scan 12-15 seconds ahead in urban areas and farther on open highway; check mirrors every 5-8 seconds and before any lane change or turn.

Look for the specific hazards that cause bus crashes: pedestrians near stops, vehicles cutting in front to stop short, cyclists in the blind spot, and passengers moving in the aisle before the bus stops.

Cover the brake when approaching a stale green light, a crosswalk with pedestrians, or a stopped vehicle that may be hiding a pedestrian.

Maintain a space cushion around the bus: avoid riding beside other vehicles, and drop back or move ahead to stay out of their blind spots.

When a vehicle cuts in front, release the accelerator and increase following distance rather than braking hard; a bus cannot stop as quickly as a car.

Anticipate passenger movement: begin braking early and smoothly before a stop so standees are not thrown, and wait until the bus is fully stopped before opening doors.

At intersections, look left-right-left, check for pedestrians and cyclists before turning, and confirm the rear has cleared before completing a right turn.

Recognize fatigue and distraction as hazards: use rest breaks, avoid unnecessary radio or dispatch interaction, and never use a hand-held phone while driving.

Air brake system: compressor builds pressure to governor cut-out (typically 120-140 psi) and cuts back in around 100 psi; the low-pressure warning must activate before pressure drops below 60 psi.

Static leak test: with engine off and brakes released, pressure loss must not exceed 3 psi in one minute for a single vehicle (4 psi with brakes applied); a bus with a trailer uses the higher combined limits.

Applied (leak) test: with the brake pedal held, loss must not exceed 4 psi in one minute for a single vehicle; investigate any greater loss before driving.

Brake fade: on long downgrades, use a lower gear and the engine brake; do not ride the service brake, which overheats drums and increases stopping distance.

ABS does not shorten stopping distance on all surfaces, but it maintains steering control during hard braking. Keep firm, steady pressure on the pedal - do not pump the brakes.

ABS malfunction is indicated by the yellow ABS lamp staying on; the bus still has normal brakes but loses antilock function, so report it and drive with extra margin.

Stopping distance = perception distance + reaction distance + brake lag + effective braking distance. At 55 mph a loaded bus needs roughly 300 feet or more on dry pavement.

Total stopping distance grows with the square of speed: doubling speed roughly quadruples braking distance. Wet or icy roads can double or triple it again.

Air brake check before each trip: drain air tanks, check the compressor builds pressure, test the low-pressure warning, and confirm the parking brake holds the loaded bus on a grade.

Prohibited: texting while driving a CMV, and using a hand-held mobile phone while driving. Hands-free use is permitted only with a hands-free device and within carrier policy.

Prohibited: driving after 14 consecutive hours on duty without 10 consecutive hours off duty; the 11-hour driving limit and 60/70-hour weekly limits apply to CMV drivers.

Prohibited: operating a CMV with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.04 or higher, or within 4 hours of consuming alcohol; refusal to test carries the same consequences as a positive test.

Prohibited: driving while ill, fatigued, or under the influence of any substance that impairs driving, including some over-the-counter medications; the driver must not drive when unable to do so safely.

Prohibited: allowing an unauthorized person to ride in the bus or to operate it; only properly licensed drivers may operate a passenger-carrying CMV.

Driver responsibility: ensure passengers are seated or braced before moving, that standees are behind the standee line, and that all exits and aisles remain unobstructed.

Driver responsibility: secure the bus before leaving the driver's seat - parking brake set, engine off, key removed, and doors secured where required.

Driver responsibility: report any accident, injury, or mechanical defect to the carrier, and complete required inspection reports each day the vehicle is operated.

Prohibited: pushing a bus past its placarded passenger capacity, carrying unauthorized hazardous materials, or carrying passengers in a cargo area not designed for them.