Vehicle Inspection
Vehicle Inspection
The Vehicle Inspection domain tests your pre-trip and school-bus-specific checks: whether you can verify the bus is safe and legally equipped before students board. Michigan school buses must pass an annual inspection, and your daily pre-trip is separate from that sticker check.
Core rules
- Use a systematic seven-step pre-trip: engine compartment, exterior walk-around, lights, steering, brakes, interior, and final checks.
- School-bus-specific items: red flashing lights, stop arm, crossing control arm, emergency exits, fire extinguisher, first-aid kit, reflectors/triangles, and child-reminder system if equipped.
- Test the brake system, including the parking brake and low-pressure warning.
- Check tires, wheels, fluids, belts, mirrors, horn, and wipers.
- Verify emergency exits open and close, alarms work, and aisles are clear.
Worked example
A driver extends the stop arm and it sticks halfway. Reasoning: this is a safety defect; students cannot be protected at loading zones, so the bus is out of service until repaired. The driver documents it and does not put the bus in service.
Traps
- Doing a quick walk-around but skipping interior emergency exits.
- Assuming the annual inspection sticker substitutes for the daily pre-trip.
- Forgetting to test the child-reminder alarm or stop arm.
- Moving the bus before completing the brake test.