Vehicle Inspection
Vehicle Inspection is the domain that checks whether you can certify a passenger vehicle as safe before carrying riders. Maryland's CDL passenger endorsement test emphasizes passenger-cabin equipment, emergency exits, and brake and light checks, not just the engine.
Inspection sequence
Use a systematic outside-in, then inside-out walk-around. Exterior: tires (tread depth, cuts, proper inflation), wheels and lug nuts, brake adjustment, lights, turn signals, four-way flashers, horn, mirrors, windshield, wipers, doors, and emergency exits. Interior: seats secure, handrails tight, aisle and stepwell clear, standee line visible, fire extinguisher charged and mounted, first aid kit sealed, emergency exit markings and release handles working, and no loose objects that become projectiles. Engine compartment: oil, coolant, power-steering fluid, washer fluid, belts, and leaks. Test service brake, parking brake, and air-brake system if equipped.
Worked example
During pre-trip you find the rear emergency exit release handle loose and the door does not latch. The bus is not roadworthy: an exit that will not open smoothly can trap passengers in a fire. Tag the bus out of service, report it, and do not dispatch until repaired.
Traps
Walking only the exterior and skipping exit operation; assuming the first-aid kit is stocked; missing the standee line; failing to check the wheelchair lift or tiedowns on an equipped bus; adjusting mirrors after pulling out instead of before moving.