Michigan CDL Passenger cheat sheet

A passenger-vehicle walk-around adds these items to the general inspection: entry and service doors, emergency exits, seats, standee line, handholds and handrails, steps and stairwells, baggage compartment doors, fire extinguisher, and emergency kit.

Each emergency exit must be marked with a red 'Emergency Exit' sign, must open from both inside and outside, must be unlocked, and must sound a buzzer at the driver's seat when opened.

The fire extinguisher must be fully charged, mounted, and within easy reach of the driver; the emergency kit carries first aid supplies, fuses, and warning devices.

Air-brake static leak check: engine off, parking brake released, service brake held one minute - air loss may not exceed 3 psi on a bus alone or 4 psi on a combination vehicle (tractor-trailer).

Low-air warning must activate by 60 psi; with the engine at fast idle, the compressor should raise pressure from 85 to 100 psi within 45 seconds.

Interior check: seats and handrails secure, aisle and stairwells clear, floor clean, doors close and seal, windows and roof hatches operate, and nothing blocks an exit path.

The standee line is a 2-inch-wide line across the floor just behind the driver's seat; a bus must have one before it may legally carry standees, and no rider may stand forward of it.

Inspect the bus in a fixed sequence: driver's seat and gauges first, then a single circle around the vehicle checking wheels, tires, lights, reflectors, glass, mirrors, horn, exhaust, and compartment doors.

Riders may board or leave only at authorized stops; at any other location riders may exit only in an emergency, and never into a traffic lane.

Stop close to the curb, set the parking brake, and only then open the doors; the bus does not move again until riders are seated or behind the standee line and the doors are closed and sealed.

Before closing the doors, check both mirrors and the step area for a rider still on the steps, then confirm the doors seal with no clothing, strap, or limb caught.

Count riders each time they load or unload; if the count does not match, stop the bus in a safe place and search it before continuing.

Watch the rear door in the mirrors during unloading; riders with children, packages, or mobility devices need extra time and often move unpredictably.

Do not let riders off on the left side of the road, in traffic, on a shoulder next to moving lanes, or anywhere they would have to cross lanes to reach safety.

At the end of the run, walk the entire bus - including the rear seats and under-seat area - for sleeping riders, children, and lost articles; never leave anyone locked inside.

Keep the bus running no longer than needed at a stop; if the driver leaves the seat, secure the bus (parking brake set, transmission in neutral or park, key controlled) and keep riders accounted for.

Standees are permitted only on a bus equipped with a standee line, and only behind that line; no rider may stand in the stairwell, on the steps, or forward of the driver's seat area.

Aisles, stairwells, and exit paths must stay clear at all times; baggage, strollers, and riders may not block access to the service door or any emergency exit.

Standees should face forward and hold a handhold or handrail; passengers seated at doors or in front rows must not extend legs or bags into the aisle.

The bus does not move until every rider is seated or standing behind the line and all doors are closed; a driver who moves early is responsible for injuries from a fall.

Unruly rider procedure: stop at a safe, well-lit location, secure the bus, notify dispatch and police, and do not physically confront or restrain the rider.

Riders may not open emergency exits, hang out of windows, throw objects, smoke, drink alcohol, or ride in a baggage compartment; stop the bus if the behavior continues.

Refuse or remove riders who are seriously ill, intoxicated, carrying hazardous materials or weapons, or who threaten others; use dispatch and law enforcement rather than physical force.

Wheelchairs must be secured with the tie-downs and the occupant's belt fastened before the bus moves, and the tiedown position must not narrow the aisle below the exit access requirement.

Evacuation sequence: stop off the roadway, set the parking brake, shut off the engine, take the keys, call 911 and dispatch, then move riders away from traffic and fire.

Lead evacuated riders at least 100 feet from the bus and the roadway, farther from fire, upwind of smoke, and keep the group together; count riders at the assembly point against the load count.

If a door will not open, use the emergency release or door-emergency control; if that fails, break the marked corner of an emergency window with the escape tool and help riders down.

Riders who cannot use windows or steps must be helped out first - ambulatory riders exit first when possible so they can assist others from outside.

Fire: evacuation comes before firefighting; use the extinguisher only on a small fire that is not spreading, aiming at the base of the flames, and never pour water or extinguisher agent on a fuel fire.

Crash protection: place warning devices within 10 minutes, about 10 feet from the vehicle and 100 and 200 feet toward approaching traffic, and turn on hazard flashers and clearance lights.

Do not move a seriously injured rider unless fire, traffic, or another life-threatening hazard forces it; give first aid within your training and wait for EMS.

Railroad evacuation with a stalled bus: get everyone out and at least 100 feet from the tracks, moving away from the tracks and toward the approaching train at an angle to avoid flying debris.

Following distance: allow at least one second per 10 feet of vehicle length, plus one second when speed exceeds 40 mph - a 40-foot bus at 55 mph needs about 6 seconds.

Look ahead 12–15 seconds and scan mirrors frequently; on a passenger bus, check mirrors before every lane change, stop, and door operation, because riders and traffic can change fast.

ABS prevents wheel lockup so the driver keeps steering control while braking hard; hold firm, steady pedal pressure and do not pump the brakes, even on slick pavement.

An ABS lamp that stays on means the antilock feature may be disabled, but normal brakes still work; report the fault and continue only if the brake system otherwise performs normally.

Total stopping distance is perception distance (about 1 second) plus reaction distance plus brake lag (roughly 0.4–0.6 second for air brakes) plus actual braking distance.

On a long downgrade, select a low gear before the grade and use snub braking - brake firmly until speed drops about 5 mph, then release - instead of riding the brakes.

Back only when necessary; check behind the bus before moving, use both mirrors or a spotter, and never back where riders are standing or where the path is not clear.

Curves and ramps: slow to a safe speed before the curve entry; a bus has a high center of gravity and heavy roof load, so excess entry speed converts directly into rollover risk.

Hazard avoidance: brake hard with ABS and stay in your lane rather than swerve into unseen traffic; if a collision is unavoidable, choose the least dangerous of the available options.

Prohibited: towing a bus with riders aboard, pushing another vehicle with riders aboard, and fueling a bus while riders are on board.

Prohibited: carrying riders forward of the standee line, in stairwells, in baggage compartments, or in numbers exceeding the bus's rated seating and standing capacity.

Prohibited: using alcohol within 4 hours of coming on duty and using any controlled substance except as cleared; these apply to the full time the driver is on duty.

Prohibited: texting and any hand-held use of a phone while driving a commercial vehicle; hands-free features are allowed but must not take attention from the road.

A bus carrying passengers must stop 15 to 50 feet from the nearest rail before crossing, unless an exemption is officially posted at that crossing.

At the stop, turn off radio and fans, open the driver's window, look both ways along the tracks, and listen before moving.

Cross only when the bus can clear both tracks without stopping, in a gear low enough to cross without shifting; never shift gears while any part of the bus is on the tracks.

Never drive around a lowered gate or past flashing lights; if a gate lowers onto the bus, drive through the gate rather than stopping on the tracks.

If the bus stalls or is stuck on the tracks: evacuate everyone at least 100 feet away and toward the approaching train at an angle, then call 911 and give the crossing number.