LA CDL Passenger flashcards
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32 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.
- Pre-trip passenger door check
- Open and close every passenger door and emergency exit from the driver's position and from outside. Confirm they latch fully and that the door interlock prevents movement with a door open.
- Standee line purpose
- A floor marking showing the forward limit for standing passengers. Standees must stay behind it so the driver's view and the door area remain clear.
- Bus following distance rule
- Allow one second per 10 feet of vehicle length plus one second. A 40-foot bus needs 5 seconds below 40 mph and 6 seconds above 40 mph.
- Required stop at crossings
- A bus carrying passengers must stop at every railroad-highway grade crossing, even without gates or a stop sign, before crossing the tracks.
- Crossing stop distance
- Stop between 15 and 50 feet from the nearest rail. Open a door or window, turn off noisy equipment, and listen before proceeding across.
- Evacuation assembly distance
- Move evacuated passengers at least 100 feet from the bus and upwind of any fire or fuel spill, keeping them off the roadway and away from traffic.
- Low beam use in fog
- Use low beams in fog, rain, and snow. High beams reflect off precipitation and worsen visibility, so they are reserved for clear, dark roads.
- Hydroplaning speed threshold
- Hydroplaning can begin around 35 mph on wet pavement with worn tires. Ease off the accelerator, steer straight, and avoid hard braking until traction returns.
- Twelve-second scan rule
- Look 12 to 15 seconds ahead in traffic, farther on open highway, and check mirrors every 5 to 8 seconds to catch hazards early.
- Space cushion around buses
- Avoid riding beside other vehicles and stay out of their blind spots. A bus needs room ahead to brake smoothly without throwing standees.
- Governor cut-out pressure
- The compressor builds air until the governor cuts out, typically 120 to 140 psi, and resumes around 100 psi when pressure falls.
- Static air leak test
- With engine off and brakes released, pressure loss must not exceed 3 psi in one minute for a single vehicle. Greater loss means a leak to fix before driving.
- ABS lamp meaning
- A yellow ABS lamp that stays on means antilock function is lost. Normal brakes remain, but steering control under hard braking is reduced, so report it.
- Hand-held phone prohibition
- CMV drivers may not use a hand-held mobile phone or text while driving. Hands-free use is allowed only within carrier policy and applicable law.
- CMV alcohol limit
- A CMV driver is prohibited from driving with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.04 or higher, or within four hours of consuming alcohol.
- Emergency exit obstruction rule
- No seat, baggage, or passenger may block a service door, emergency door, window exit, or roof hatch. Exits must open freely from inside.
- Tail swing hazard
- The rear of a bus swings outward opposite the turn direction. Check the mirror and blind spot beside the rear quarter before starting any turn.
- Drawbridge crossing rule
- Do not enter a drawbridge span unless you can clear it completely. Stop before the bridge when signals are active or traffic backs up ahead.
- Fire response on a bus
- Evacuate passengers first, move them upwind and at least 100 feet away, then fight the fire only if small with a clear escape route.
- Night speed rule
- Drive so you can stop within the distance your headlights illuminate. Dim high beams within 500 feet of oncoming traffic and 200 feet when following.
- Skid recovery technique
- Steer in the direction you want the front of the bus to go, release the brake, and avoid hard acceleration until the tires regain traction.
- Passenger count accountability
- After any evacuation or crash, count passengers against the manifest or your own tally and report missing persons to responding emergency personnel.
- Brake fade prevention
- On long downgrades, select a lower gear and use engine braking instead of riding the service brake, which overheats drums and lengthens stopping distance.
- Stopping distance components
- Total stopping distance is perception distance plus reaction distance plus brake lag plus effective braking distance. It grows with the square of speed.
- Hours of service limits
- CMV drivers may drive up to 11 hours after 10 consecutive hours off duty, within a 14-hour on-duty window and weekly 60 or 70-hour limits.
- Securing the bus
- Before leaving the driver's seat, set the parking brake, shut off the engine, remove the key, and secure the doors as carrier policy requires.
- Loading capacity check
- Never exceed the placarded seated plus standee capacity. Verify the count before departure; an overloaded bus loses steering response and tire margin.
- Doorwell visual check
- Before closing doors, visually confirm no passenger is on the steps or in the doorwell. Sensors and mirrors supplement but do not replace the check.
- Right turn procedure
- Swing wide enough for the rear wheels to clear the curb, check the right mirror through the turn, and confirm the rear has cleared before completing it.
- Stalled on the tracks
- Evacuate passengers immediately, move them away from the tracks, then call 911 and use the emergency number posted at the crossing.
- Hazard scanning priorities
- Watch for pedestrians near stops, vehicles cutting in to stop short, cyclists in blind spots, and passengers moving in the aisle before the bus stops.
- Low-pressure warning requirement
- The air brake low-pressure warning must activate before pressure drops below 60 psi. Test it during the pre-trip brake check.