Maryland CDL Passenger Test cheat sheet

Pre-trip inspection of a passenger vehicle covers the same items as any commercial vehicle plus passenger-specific items: passenger doors, emergency exits, aisle and aisle seats, handrails, and interior lighting.

During the pre-trip, verify every emergency exit opens, closes, and latches from the inside; confirm exit instructions and markings are legible and unobstructed.

Check that aisles are clear of baggage, boxes, and trash, and that seats are secured to the floor before the vehicle is moved; loose seats are an out-of-service defect.

Standing passenger limits depend on the vehicle: a bus may not carry more standing passengers than it is designed and certified to hold, and no passenger may stand in the aisle forward of the white line beside the driver on a transit-style bus.

Inspect tires for tread depth, sidewall damage, and proper inflation; inspect wheels and rims for cracks, missing lug nuts, and rust streaks that indicate loose fasteners.

Test the service brake, parking brake, and (if equipped) the emergency or spring brake; the parking brake must hold the vehicle when the transmission is in neutral.

Check mirrors, horn, wipers, lights (headlights, brake, turn, four-way flashers, clearance, and interior), and reflectors; also check the fire extinguisher, first aid kit, and emergency reflectors are present and charged.

After the inspection, the driver signs the inspection report; a driver who finds a defect must note it and not operate the vehicle until it is corrected or the defect is documented as non-safety-related.

The post-trip inspection is required at the end of the day's operation and must be documented; the driver reviews the report and signs it, and the next driver reviews the prior report before operating the vehicle.

Stop the bus so passengers can board or exit onto a sidewalk, shoulder, or other safe area, not into a traffic lane; if that is impossible, warn passengers and use hazard flashers.

Approach the stop at a slow speed, brake smoothly, and stop with the front door aligned to the curb; avoid stopping where the bus blocks a crosswalk, fire hydrant, or intersection.

Before opening the door, check mirrors and the area alongside the bus for cyclists, pedestrians, and vehicles passing on the right.

Count passengers as they board and exit, and re-check the count; a passenger left on the bus or a passenger still in the aisle is a common cause of injuries when the bus moves.

Keep the door closed and the bus stopped until boarding or exiting passengers are seated or holding a handrail; do not move until everyone is clear of the door and aisle.

When unloading at a terminal or school, walk to the rear of the bus and check the aisle and seats for sleeping or forgotten passengers before securing the vehicle.

Assist passengers with disabilities or mobility devices as required; secure wheelchairs and mobility aids to the floor with the provided tiedown system, and never allow a wheelchair to be occupied without tiedowns and a lap/shoulder belt where provided.

Do not allow passengers to stand forward of the standee line or on the stairwell; keep the aisle clear of baggage and do not load baggage so that it blocks an exit.

Load and unload baggage only when the bus is stopped and secured; do not carry hazardous materials, and inspect packages for leaks, odors, or damage before loading.

Use the pivot-point method for right turns: approach in the lane next to the curb or the proper lane, swing wide enough to keep the rear wheels clear of the curb, and check the right mirror throughout the turn.

A bus needs more space to stop and turn; maintain a following distance of at least one second per 10 feet of vehicle length at speeds below 40 mph, and add one second for speeds above 40 mph.

Look ahead 12 to 15 seconds in city driving and farther on the highway; scan the mirrors every 5 to 8 seconds and before every lane change or turn.

At railroad crossings, stop if required, turn off all noise-producing devices, open the door or window to listen, and cross only when the tracks are clear; never stop on the tracks.

Use four-way flashers when stopped to load or unload passengers, and use the horn only as a warning, not to express frustration.

Reduce speed before curves, ramps, and bridge joints; a bus with a high center of gravity can roll over if a curve is taken too fast, and passengers who are standing are at greatest risk.

In rain, fog, or snow, increase following distance and reduce speed; use low-beam headlights in fog, and be alert for hydroplaning, which is more likely with worn tires and light loads.

When backing, use a spotter whenever possible; if no spotter is available, get out and check behind the bus before backing, and back slowly using mirrors and the rear camera if equipped.

Never allow the vehicle to coast in neutral, and use a lower gear on long downgrades to control speed rather than relying only on the brakes.

You have the authority and responsibility to manage passengers: refuse to board a passenger who is ill, intoxicated, or a threat, and remove a disruptive passenger at the next safe stop.

Do not physically restrain or fight a passenger; stop the bus in a safe place, call dispatch or law enforcement, and document the incident.

In an emergency evacuation, decide whether to evacuate or keep passengers aboard based on fire, hazardous materials, or a safer alternative; move passengers upwind and at least 100 feet from the vehicle if hazardous materials are involved.

Evacuation order: use the front door when possible; if blocked, use side windows, roof hatches, or rear exits, and help passengers with disabilities first or assign helpers.

After evacuating, account for all passengers by counting them, move them to a safe location away from traffic, and place emergency reflectors or flares behind the bus.

A fire in the engine compartment requires stopping, shutting off the engine, evacuating passengers, and using the fire extinguisher only if the fire is small and you can stay upwind; never open the engine cover fully if flames are present.

If a passenger has a medical emergency, stop the bus safely, call for emergency medical help, and provide first aid within your training; do not move an injured person unless there is immediate danger.

Report any injury, fight, or threat to dispatch and law enforcement, and record names and statements while details are fresh.

After a crash, stop, protect the scene, and check for injuries; call 911 and dispatch, and do not move injured passengers unless there is fire or another immediate danger.

Place emergency reflectors or flares behind the vehicle: within 10 minutes, place them at 10 feet, 100 feet, and 200 feet behind the vehicle on a two-lane road, and on a divided highway place them 10 feet from the rear and 100 feet to the side of the vehicle facing traffic.

Do not move the vehicle from the scene unless it is necessary to prevent further injury or a traffic hazard, and only after police or dispatch advise it.

Exchange required information with the other driver: name, address, license number, vehicle registration, and insurance information; give aid and identify yourself to anyone injured.

Hazardous materials rules: a commercial driver transporting hazardous materials must have a hazardous materials endorsement, and the vehicle must display the required placards for the material being carried.

If hazardous materials are leaking or spilled, keep passengers and bystanders upwind and uphill, do not smoke or use flares near the spill, and notify emergency responders of the material and placard number.

Placards are required for quantities that meet the hazard class thresholds and for any amount of certain materials; a driver must know the shipping papers and emergency response information location before driving.

After any crash, complete the required written report and submit it to the employer; a driver must report a crash to the employer and, where required, to the state within the time set by law.

A driver involved in a crash must not leave the scene until it is lawful to do so; leaving the scene of a crash involving injury or death is a criminal offense.

Pre-trip inspection of a passenger vehicle covers the same items as any commercial vehicle plus passenger-specific items: passenger doors, emergency exits, aisle and aisle seats, handrails, and interior lighting.

During the pre-trip, verify every emergency exit opens, closes, and latches from the inside; confirm exit instructions and markings are legible and unobstructed.

Check that aisles are clear of baggage, boxes, and trash, and that seats are secured to the floor before the vehicle is moved; loose seats are an out-of-service defect.

Standing passenger limits depend on the vehicle: a bus may not carry more standing passengers than it is designed and certified to hold, and no passenger may stand in the aisle forward of the white line beside the driver on a transit-style bus.

Inspect tires for tread depth, sidewall damage, and proper inflation; inspect wheels and rims for cracks, missing lug nuts, and rust streaks that indicate loose fasteners.

Test the service brake, parking brake, and (if equipped) the emergency or spring brake; the parking brake must hold the vehicle when the transmission is in neutral.

Check mirrors, horn, wipers, lights (headlights, brake, turn, four-way flashers, clearance, and interior), and reflectors; also check the fire extinguisher, first aid kit, and emergency reflectors are present and charged.

After the inspection, the driver signs the inspection report; a driver who finds a defect must note it and not operate the vehicle until it is corrected or the defect is documented as non-safety-related.

The post-trip inspection is required at the end of the day's operation and must be documented; the driver reviews the report and signs it, and the next driver reviews the prior report before operating the vehicle.

Stop the bus so passengers can board or exit onto a sidewalk, shoulder, or other safe area, not into a traffic lane; if that is impossible, warn passengers and use hazard flashers.

Approach the stop at a slow speed, brake smoothly, and stop with the front door aligned to the curb; avoid stopping where the bus blocks a crosswalk, fire hydrant, or intersection.

Before opening the door, check mirrors and the area alongside the bus for cyclists, pedestrians, and vehicles passing on the right.

Count passengers as they board and exit, and re-check the count; a passenger left on the bus or a passenger still in the aisle is a common cause of injuries when the bus moves.

Keep the door closed and the bus stopped until boarding or exiting passengers are seated or holding a handrail; do not move until everyone is clear of the door and aisle.

When unloading at a terminal or school, walk to the rear of the bus and check the aisle and seats for sleeping or forgotten passengers before securing the vehicle.

Assist passengers with disabilities or mobility devices as required; secure wheelchairs and mobility aids to the floor with the provided tiedown system, and never allow a wheelchair to be occupied without tiedowns and a lap/shoulder belt where provided.

Do not allow passengers to stand forward of the standee line or on the stairwell; keep the aisle clear of baggage and do not load baggage so that it blocks an exit.

Load and unload baggage only when the bus is stopped and secured; do not carry hazardous materials, and inspect packages for leaks, odors, or damage before loading.

Use the pivot-point method for right turns: approach in the lane next to the curb or the proper lane, swing wide enough to keep the rear wheels clear of the curb, and check the right mirror throughout the turn.

A bus needs more space to stop and turn; maintain a following distance of at least one second per 10 feet of vehicle length at speeds below 40 mph, and add one second for speeds above 40 mph.

Look ahead 12 to 15 seconds in city driving and farther on the highway; scan the mirrors every 5 to 8 seconds and before every lane change or turn.

At railroad crossings, stop if required, turn off all noise-producing devices, open the door or window to listen, and cross only when the tracks are clear; never stop on the tracks.

Use four-way flashers when stopped to load or unload passengers, and use the horn only as a warning, not to express frustration.

Reduce speed before curves, ramps, and bridge joints; a bus with a high center of gravity can roll over if a curve is taken too fast, and passengers who are standing are at greatest risk.

In rain, fog, or snow, increase following distance and reduce speed; use low-beam headlights in fog, and be alert for hydroplaning, which is more likely with worn tires and light loads.

When backing, use a spotter whenever possible; if no spotter is available, get out and check behind the bus before backing, and back slowly using mirrors and the rear camera if equipped.

Never allow the vehicle to coast in neutral, and use a lower gear on long downgrades to control speed rather than relying only on the brakes.

You have the authority and responsibility to manage passengers: refuse to board a passenger who is ill, intoxicated, or a threat, and remove a disruptive passenger at the next safe stop.

Do not physically restrain or fight a passenger; stop the bus in a safe place, call dispatch or law enforcement, and document the incident.

In an emergency evacuation, decide whether to evacuate or keep passengers aboard based on fire, hazardous materials, or a safer alternative; move passengers upwind and at least 100 feet from the vehicle if hazardous materials are involved.

Evacuation order: use the front door when possible; if blocked, use side windows, roof hatches, or rear exits, and help passengers with disabilities first or assign helpers.

After evacuating, account for all passengers by counting them, move them to a safe location away from traffic, and place emergency reflectors or flares behind the bus.

A fire in the engine compartment requires stopping, shutting off the engine, evacuating passengers, and using the fire extinguisher only if the fire is small and you can stay upwind; never open the engine cover fully if flames are present.

If a passenger has a medical emergency, stop the bus safely, call for emergency medical help, and provide first aid within your training; do not move an injured person unless there is immediate danger.

Report any injury, fight, or threat to dispatch and law enforcement, and record names and statements while details are fresh.

After a crash, stop, protect the scene, and check for injuries; call 911 and dispatch, and do not move injured passengers unless there is fire or another immediate danger.

Place emergency reflectors or flares behind the vehicle: within 10 minutes, place them at 10 feet, 100 feet, and 200 feet behind the vehicle on a two-lane road, and on a divided highway place them 10 feet from the rear and 100 feet to the side of the vehicle facing traffic.

Do not move the vehicle from the scene unless it is necessary to prevent further injury or a traffic hazard, and only after police or dispatch advise it.

Exchange required information with the other driver: name, address, license number, vehicle registration, and insurance information; give aid and identify yourself to anyone injured.

Hazardous materials rules: a commercial driver transporting hazardous materials must have a hazardous materials endorsement, and the vehicle must display the required placards for the material being carried.

If hazardous materials are leaking or spilled, keep passengers and bystanders upwind and uphill, do not smoke or use flares near the spill, and notify emergency responders of the material and placard number.

Placards are required for quantities that meet the hazard class thresholds and for any amount of certain materials; a driver must know the shipping papers and emergency response information location before driving.

After any crash, complete the required written report and submit it to the employer; a driver must report a crash to the employer and, where required, to the state within the time set by law.

A driver involved in a crash must not leave the scene until it is lawful to do so; leaving the scene of a crash involving injury or death is a criminal offense.

Pre-trip inspection of a passenger vehicle covers the same items as any commercial vehicle plus passenger-specific items: passenger doors, emergency exits, aisle and aisle seats, handrails, and interior lighting.

During the pre-trip, verify every emergency exit opens, closes, and latches from the inside; confirm exit instructions and markings are legible and unobstructed.

Check that aisles are clear of baggage, boxes, and trash, and that seats are secured to the floor before the vehicle is moved; loose seats are an out-of-service defect.

Standing passenger limits depend on the vehicle: a bus may not carry more standing passengers than it is designed and certified to hold, and no passenger may stand in the aisle forward of the white line beside the driver on a transit-style bus.

Inspect tires for tread depth, sidewall damage, and proper inflation; inspect wheels and rims for cracks, missing lug nuts, and rust streaks that indicate loose fasteners.

Test the service brake, parking brake, and (if equipped) the emergency or spring brake; the parking brake must hold the vehicle when the transmission is in neutral.

Check mirrors, horn, wipers, lights (headlights, brake, turn, four-way flashers, clearance, and interior), and reflectors; also check the fire extinguisher, first aid kit, and emergency reflectors are present and charged.

After the inspection, the driver signs the inspection report; a driver who finds a defect must note it and not operate the vehicle until it is corrected or the defect is documented as non-safety-related.

The post-trip inspection is required at the end of the day's operation and must be documented; the driver reviews the report and signs it, and the next driver reviews the prior report before operating the vehicle.

Stop the bus so passengers can board or exit onto a sidewalk, shoulder, or other safe area, not into a traffic lane; if that is impossible, warn passengers and use hazard flashers.

Approach the stop at a slow speed, brake smoothly, and stop with the front door aligned to the curb; avoid stopping where the bus blocks a crosswalk, fire hydrant, or intersection.

Before opening the door, check mirrors and the area alongside the bus for cyclists, pedestrians, and vehicles passing on the right.

Count passengers as they board and exit, and re-check the count; a passenger left on the bus or a passenger still in the aisle is a common cause of injuries when the bus moves.

Keep the door closed and the bus stopped until boarding or exiting passengers are seated or holding a handrail; do not move until everyone is clear of the door and aisle.

When unloading at a terminal or school, walk to the rear of the bus and check the aisle and seats for sleeping or forgotten passengers before securing the vehicle.

Assist passengers with disabilities or mobility devices as required; secure wheelchairs and mobility aids to the floor with the provided tiedown system, and never allow a wheelchair to be occupied without tiedowns and a lap/shoulder belt where provided.

Do not allow passengers to stand forward of the standee line or on the stairwell; keep the aisle clear of baggage and do not load baggage so that it blocks an exit.

Load and unload baggage only when the bus is stopped and secured; do not carry hazardous materials, and inspect packages for leaks, odors, or damage before loading.

Use the pivot-point method for right turns: approach in the lane next to the curb or the proper lane, swing wide enough to keep the rear wheels clear of the curb, and check the right mirror throughout the turn.

A bus needs more space to stop and turn; maintain a following distance of at least one second per 10 feet of vehicle length at speeds below 40 mph, and add one second for speeds above 40 mph.

Look ahead 12 to 15 seconds in city driving and farther on the highway; scan the mirrors every 5 to 8 seconds and before every lane change or turn.

At railroad crossings, stop if required, turn off all noise-producing devices, open the door or window to listen, and cross only when the tracks are clear; never stop on the tracks.

Use four-way flashers when stopped to load or unload passengers, and use the horn only as a warning, not to express frustration.

Reduce speed before curves, ramps, and bridge joints; a bus with a high center of gravity can roll over if a curve is taken too fast, and passengers who are standing are at greatest risk.

In rain, fog, or snow, increase following distance and reduce speed; use low-beam headlights in fog, and be alert for hydroplaning, which is more likely with worn tires and light loads.

When backing, use a spotter whenever possible; if no spotter is available, get out and check behind the bus before backing, and back slowly using mirrors and the rear camera if equipped.

Never allow the vehicle to coast in neutral, and use a lower gear on long downgrades to control speed rather than relying only on the brakes.

You have the authority and responsibility to manage passengers: refuse to board a passenger who is ill, intoxicated, or a threat, and remove a disruptive passenger at the next safe stop.

Do not physically restrain or fight a passenger; stop the bus in a safe place, call dispatch or law enforcement, and document the incident.

In an emergency evacuation, decide whether to evacuate or keep passengers aboard based on fire, hazardous materials, or a safer alternative; move passengers upwind and at least 100 feet from the vehicle if hazardous materials are involved.

Evacuation order: use the front door when possible; if blocked, use side windows, roof hatches, or rear exits, and help passengers with disabilities first or assign helpers.

After evacuating, account for all passengers by counting them, move them to a safe location away from traffic, and place emergency reflectors or flares behind the bus.

A fire in the engine compartment requires stopping, shutting off the engine, evacuating passengers, and using the fire extinguisher only if the fire is small and you can stay upwind; never open the engine cover fully if flames are present.

If a passenger has a medical emergency, stop the bus safely, call for emergency medical help, and provide first aid within your training; do not move an injured person unless there is immediate danger.

Report any injury, fight, or threat to dispatch and law enforcement, and record names and statements while details are fresh.

After a crash, stop, protect the scene, and check for injuries; call 911 and dispatch, and do not move injured passengers unless there is fire or another immediate danger.

Place emergency reflectors or flares behind the vehicle: within 10 minutes, place them at 10 feet, 100 feet, and 200 feet behind the vehicle on a two-lane road, and on a divided highway place them 10 feet from the rear and 100 feet to the side of the vehicle facing traffic.

Do not move the vehicle from the scene unless it is necessary to prevent further injury or a traffic hazard, and only after police or dispatch advise it.

Exchange required information with the other driver: name, address, license number, vehicle registration, and insurance information; give aid and identify yourself to anyone injured.

Hazardous materials rules: a commercial driver transporting hazardous materials must have a hazardous materials endorsement, and the vehicle must display the required placards for the material being carried.

If hazardous materials are leaking or spilled, keep passengers and bystanders upwind and uphill, do not smoke or use flares near the spill, and notify emergency responders of the material and placard number.

Placards are required for quantities that meet the hazard class thresholds and for any amount of certain materials; a driver must know the shipping papers and emergency response information location before driving.

After any crash, complete the required written report and submit it to the employer; a driver must report a crash to the employer and, where required, to the state within the time set by law.

A driver involved in a crash must not leave the scene until it is lawful to do so; leaving the scene of a crash involving injury or death is a criminal offense.