Michigan CDL Passenger study plan

Recite the pre-trip inspection sequence for a passenger-carrying vehicle in the correct order, from walk-up and engine compartment through the final brake check.

Name each exterior inspection point (tires, wheels, lug nuts, brake and fuel lines, exhaust, lights, mirrors, emergency exits) and state the specific defect you look for at each.

Draw and label a bus diagram with at least 20 components, including the service door, emergency door, roof hatch, fire extinguisher, and first-aid kit locations.

Distinguish pre-trip, en-route, and post-trip inspections and state who performs each and what triggers an en-route check.

Walk through the in-cab inspection aloud: seat belt, seat adjustment, gauges, horn, wipers, defroster, mirror adjustment, and steering wheel play.

State the air-brake leakage and low-pressure warning tests step by step, including the acceptable pressure-loss limits your manual specifies.

Identify ten out-of-service defects that would sideline a bus and explain why each one is disqualifying.

Explain how antilock brakes work on a bus, what the dash ABS lamp means, and what to do if it stays lit after you start moving.

Compute total stopping distance at 20, 40, and 55 mph using perception-reaction plus braking distance, and list four conditions that lengthen it.

Describe correct ABS braking technique on a bus: firm steady pressure, no pumping, and steering while braking when a hazard appears.

Explain off-tracking, tail swing, and blind spots on a 40-foot bus, and name the mirror checks you make before every turn and lane change.

List five hazard-avoidance responses in priority order (escape route first, brake before steering, space cushion, communication, recovery) and give an example of each.

Describe the stop procedure for loading: stopping position, door operation, counting passengers aboard, and confirming each passenger is seated or positioned before moving.

State the standee rules: where standees may stand, how much aisle must stay clear, and what the standee line limits.

List the conditions for leaving the bus unattended (parking brake, key removal, securement) and the rules for re-boarding.

Deliver a verbal boarding briefing covering passenger rules, standee limits, and the location of emergency exits.

Identify every emergency exit on a typical bus and demonstrate the correct operation of each: service door, emergency door, roof hatch, side windows, and rear exit.

Sequence the evacuation procedure: stop safely, secure the vehicle, notify dispatch and emergency services, evacuate, assemble at a safe distance, and account for passengers.

Decide when to evacuate versus when to keep passengers aboard for fire, smoke, rollover, water immersion, and hazardous material spills, and justify each choice.

List the passenger behaviors that justify warning, removing, or refusing a rider, and the escalation steps before you involve law enforcement.

Describe fire response: extinguisher use with the PASS sequence, the difference between fuel and electrical fires, and when to fight a fire versus evacuate immediately.

Outline post-accident actions: protect the scene, assist the injured, report to dispatch and police, and exchange required information.

List prohibited practices for passenger carriers, including handheld phone use, texting, alcohol or drug use, and pushing or towing a bus with passengers aboard.

Recite the railroad-highway crossing procedure: stop distance, hazard lights on, window open, radio and fans off, listen and look, and confirm enough space beyond the tracks before crossing.

Repeat the railroad crossing steps in order and identify the conditions that require a full stop versus normal caution.

Explain what to do if the gates lower while you are crossing, if the bus stalls on the tracks, and how far past the tracks your vehicle must clear.

Re-run the full pre-trip inspection from memory without notes and within 15 minutes.

Retake a braking and ABS practice set and reach 90%, reviewing each missed item against the manual.

Complete three full-length practice tests covering all six domains and score at least 85% on each.

Convert every missed question into a one-sentence rule and group those rules by domain.

Rehearse the passenger briefing, evacuation flow, and railroad crossing procedure back to back without notes.

Assemble your appointment materials: CLP, medical certificate, proof of residency, and appointment confirmation.