Maryland CDL Passenger Test key terms

A systematic check of the bus and its equipment performed before driving, covering brakes, lights, tires, mirrors, emergency exits, and passenger items. It must be repeated whenever the vehicle's condition or cargo changes.

Part of the pre-trip inspection where you look for frayed belts, cracked or leaking hoses, and loose clamps. Faulty belts or hoses can cause loss of cooling, steering assist, or charging while passengers are aboard.

Any door, window, roof hatch, or other opening designed for rapid passenger evacuation. Inspectors expect you to know how each one operates, to verify it opens freely, and to confirm its markings are visible.

A sequence of checks on air pressure buildup, leakage rates, and warning devices before driving a bus equipped with air brakes. Failure to complete it is a common cause of out-of-service violations.

A test confirming the parking or emergency brake holds the bus when applied. On many buses this is a spring-applied, air-released system, so low air pressure can cause the brake to set automatically.

Checking tread depth, sidewall condition, inflation, and lug nut tightness, plus looking for debris wedged between dual tires. Dual tires touching each other or badly mismatched inflation are safety hazards.

Setting flat and convex mirrors so the driver can see the sides and rear of the bus, including blind spots near the doors and rear corners. Mirrors should be adjusted before any passengers board.

A marking on the floor showing where standing passengers may not pass while the bus is moving. It keeps the aisle and the area near the driver clear and is required on buses that allow standees.

A passenger who rides while standing rather than seated. Standees are only permitted when the bus is designed and marked for them, and the driver must ensure they stay behind the standee line.

The requirement that aisles, doorways, and stepwells stay free of baggage, feet, and other obstructions so passengers can move and evacuate quickly. Drivers should ask riders to move items before departure.

The number of riders aboard, checked at boarding, at stops, and after any unloading. A reliable count helps confirm no one is left behind, especially a sleeping child or a passenger with a disability.

A walk-through of the bus after unloading to look for sleeping children, passengers with disabilities, or anyone who failed to exit. It is performed before the bus is parked or secured for the day.

Recounting passengers each time riders board or leave, rather than assuming the total is unchanged. Counting at every stop prevents leaving someone behind and catches riders who boarded without paying or registering.

The process of passengers getting on and off the bus. Drivers should stop close to the curb, watch the stepwell, and wait until riders are seated or holding a handhold before moving.

The stair area at a bus door where passengers enter and exit. It is a frequent fall zone, so drivers watch it closely, keep it clear, and use the interior light at night.

A bus with a suspension feature that lowers the front step to make boarding easier for older riders and people with disabilities. The driver should kneel only when stopped and raise the bus before moving.

The system of straps, belts, and clamps that holds a wheelchair in place during travel. Securement must be attached to the wheelchair frame, not to the occupant, and the occupant needs a separate seat belt.

Using a wheelchair lift or ramp to raise or lower a passenger between the curb and the bus floor. The driver must deploy it on level ground, use the safety restraints, and never move the bus while it is in use.

An area around the bus that the driver cannot see directly or in the mirrors. Large blind spots behind and beside a bus mean the driver must check carefully and never assume a pedestrian or cyclist has seen the vehicle.

A hazard in which a bus turning right pinches a cyclist or pedestrian against the curb because the rear of the bus swings inward. Drivers should swing wide, check the right mirror, and yield before turning.

The tendency of the rear wheels of a long bus to follow a tighter path than the front wheels in a turn. Drivers must allow extra room so the rear does not clip curbs, poles, or vehicles.

The space kept between the bus and the vehicle ahead. Heavy buses need more room than cars, and the gap should increase in rain, snow, darkness, or when passengers are standing.

The total distance a bus travels from the moment the driver perceives a hazard until the vehicle stops, including perception, reaction, and braking distance. A loaded bus needs far more room than an empty one.

The steps taken before crossing tracks: stop when required, open the door or window to listen, look both ways, and proceed only when clear. Buses carrying passengers must stop at crossings unless the crossing is exempted.

The skill of noticing developing risks early, such as a pedestrian stepping off a curb or a car braking suddenly ahead. Scanning far down the road gives the driver time to brake smoothly with passengers aboard.

Applying the brakes gradually so passengers are not thrown forward or caused to fall. A bus should be slowed early and gently, since standing riders have no seat belt to restrain them.

Any activity that takes the driver's eyes, hands, or attention away from the road, including phones, dispatching devices, and passenger conversations. Even a brief distraction is dangerous in a vehicle full of riders.

The driver's role in keeping order aboard, such as asking riders to stay seated, keeping aisles clear, and addressing disruptive behavior calmly. The driver's authority is limited to the vehicle and the trip.

A rider whose behavior threatens safety or interferes with the driver. The driver should stay calm, avoid physical confrontation, stop the bus in a safe place, and request help when needed.

Getting passengers off the bus quickly and safely during a fire, crash, or other danger. The driver directs the exit, keeps riders away from traffic, and accounts for everyone at a gathering point.

The procedure for fighting a small fire with the onboard extinguisher, aiming at the base of the flames and staying between the fire and the passengers. A large fire requires evacuation, not attack.

Actions taken when a passenger becomes ill or injured, such as stopping safely, calling for emergency help, and giving first aid within the driver's training. The driver should not move a seriously injured person unless there is immediate danger.

The steps after a collision: stopping, checking for injuries, securing the scene, notifying authorities, and exchanging information. The driver must not leave the scene and should protect passengers from traffic.

A written record of a crash, injury, or disruptive event, completed as soon as possible while details are fresh. It should state facts, times, and witnesses without guessing or assigning blame.

A diamond-shaped sign on a vehicle showing the class of hazardous material carried. Passenger-carrying buses generally may not carry hazardous materials, and drivers should recognize placards on other vehicles.

Regulations limiting what may be carried on a passenger bus. Flammable, explosive, or otherwise dangerous items are prohibited, and drivers should refuse riders who bring such materials aboard.

Onboard supplies such as a first aid kit, reflectors or triangles, and a fire extinguisher. The driver should know where each item is stored and confirm during the pre-trip inspection that it is present and usable.

Warning devices placed behind a stopped bus to alert approaching traffic after a breakdown or crash. They should be set out when it is safe to do so, and passengers kept away from the roadway.