ME CDL School Bus cheat sheet

Pre-trip inspection must cover the same items the CDL skills test checks: engine compartment, exterior lights, brake system, and suspension/steering components.

The air brake test sequence is: static leak test (engine off, governor cut-out, loss of no more than 3 psi in one minute for a single vehicle), then applied-leak test, then low-air warning (must activate by 60 psi), then tractor-protection valve check on combination vehicles.

Governor cut-out is typically around 120-125 psi; cut-in is typically around 85-100 psi; the low-air warning buzzer/light must sound before the gauge drops below 60 psi.

On a bus, the emergency (red) push-pull valve applies parking brakes by releasing air; pulling it out on a running vehicle with air pressure should cause the parking brake to set.

The belt/pulley check requires no more than 3/4 inch of deflection at the midpoint of a v-belt span; cracked, frayed, or glazed belts fail inspection.

Steering wheel free play must not exceed 10 degrees (about 2 inches at a 20-inch wheel) on a power-steering equipped bus.

When backing, use GOAL (Get Out And Look) when uncertain, and use a spotter; the spotter must be visible in the mirrors at all times or stop immediately.

The service brake check on a bus should confirm the bus stops without pulling to one side, unusual noises, or a spongy pedal.

Following distance for a school bus: at least one second per 10 feet of vehicle length at speeds under 40 mph, plus one additional second for speeds above 40 mph (a 40-foot bus = 4 seconds below 40 mph, 5 seconds above).

Total stopping distance = perception distance + reaction distance + brake lag distance + braking distance; brake lag for air brakes adds roughly 0.4-0.6 second at highway speed.

The most common bus crash causes are following too closely, backing, and lane-change/merge conflicts; scan 12-15 seconds ahead to identify hazards early.

When a bus is skidding, remove pressure from the brake and steer in the direction the rear of the bus is sliding; do not brake hard during the recovery.

Hydroplaning occurs when tires ride on a water film; it begins at roughly 35 mph on wet roads and is worse with under-inflated tires or worn tread.

The danger zone around a school bus is the area within 10 feet of the bus in all directions; students are most at risk there, so drivers count and account for every student.

When driving in high winds, reduce speed and grip the wheel firmly; a bus's large side area makes it vulnerable to crosswind push and rollover.

At night, use low beams when following within 200 feet or when meeting oncoming traffic within 500 feet.

The stop signal arm (stop paddle) must be extended and red flashing lights activated before students exit at a school bus stop, except when the bus is on a divided highway or at a location where students are not crossing the roadway.

Students must cross at least 10 feet in front of the bus so the driver can see them; the driver signals them to cross only after making eye contact and confirming traffic is stopped.

The driver counts students as they exit and again as they reach the safe area (usually the shoulder or sidewalk); the count must match before the bus moves.

Before moving after unloading, the driver must confirm all students are clear of the danger zone, retract the stop arm, and deactivate the red lights.

When unloading at a school, students should be directed to a safe area away from the bus, and the driver should not move until students are clear and accounted for.

At a railroad-highway grade crossing, the bus must stop, open the service door, and turn off noisy equipment (radio, fans) before crossing; the stop arm and red lights are not used at the crossing.

Loading: students board one at a time, use handrails, and go directly to a seat; the driver confirms all are seated before moving.

If a student drops something near the bus, the student must not retrieve it; the driver or another adult handles it after securing the area.

Evacuation is required when there is a fire, a hazardous-material spill, the bus is in danger of being struck, or the bus is in an unsafe position (e.g., on railroad tracks); otherwise, keeping students on the bus may be safer.

The evacuation sequence: stop the bus, set the parking brake, turn off the engine, activate hazard lights, then evacuate through the safest exit away from traffic or fire.

The driver must account for all students after evacuation by counting and, where possible, using a roster; the driver stays with students until released to a responsible authority.

Emergency exits on a school bus include the rear emergency door, side emergency windows, roof hatches, and the service door; drivers must know the operation of each on their assigned bus.

Students should evacuate to a point at least 100 feet from the bus and, if on a roadway, off the traveled way and upwind of any fire or spill.

For a fire, evacuate students upwind and away from the bus; for a hazardous-material spill, evacuate upwind and uphill.

The driver should assign student monitors/helpers only as a backup and must never leave the bus unattended with students aboard without following district policy.

In a bus hijacking or unruly-passenger emergency, the driver's priority is to stop safely, secure the bus, and notify dispatch/law enforcement; do not confront a violent passenger.

School buses must stop at all railroad-highway grade crossings, whether or not a train is visible, unless the crossing is exempted by law and clearly marked.

At the crossing: stop no closer than 15 feet and no farther than 50 feet from the nearest rail, open the service door, turn off the radio and fans, and listen and look both ways.

Never start across a crossing unless there is enough space on the far side to clear the tracks completely; a bus should not stop on the tracks.

If the bus stalls on the tracks, evacuate students immediately and move them at least 100 feet away and in the direction of an approaching train's path, then call for help.

A school bus must not shift gears while crossing the tracks; select the proper gear before the crossing and maintain speed through it.

Daily vehicle maintenance checks include tires (tread depth, pressure, cuts), lights and reflectors, brakes, mirrors, emergency exits, and the fire extinguisher and first-aid kit.

Tire tread minimum for school bus front tires is 4/32 inch and 2/32 inch for other tires; sidewall cuts or bulges require removal from service.

The fire extinguisher must be charged and mounted in an accessible location; the first-aid kit must be stocked and within reach of the driver.

Any defect affecting safe operation (brakes, steering, lights, tires, emergency exits) must be reported and the bus placed out of service until repaired.