Minnesota CDL School Bus Test cheat sheet

Activate amber warning lights at least 100 feet before the school bus stop when approaching to load or unload students.

Stop the bus so students do not have to cross the roadway whenever the road layout and stop location allow; if crossing is unavoidable, the driver signals the crossing.

Students must cross at least 10 feet in front of the bus and wait for the driver's hand signal before entering the roadway.

Red lights and the stop arm are activated only when students are actually loading or unloading, not during a stop with no student movement.

Count students as they exit and again after they clear the danger zone; the driver confirms no student remains before moving.

The danger zone extends 10 feet around the bus on all sides; students inside it must be visible to the driver at all times.

Deactivate red lights and stop arm, then verify all students are seated or clear of the bus, before releasing the parking brake.

On multi-lane roads, drivers should not use the stop arm and red lights to halt traffic when students do not need to cross and a safer curbside stop exists.

Minnesota requires school bus drivers to ensure students are seated before the bus moves; the driver is responsible for safe loading and unloading at each stop.

Driver authority over students exists while students are on the bus and while they are boarding or leaving; discipline is limited to reasonable, non-physical measures.

A driver may not use physical force except to protect students or others from imminent harm; corporal punishment is prohibited.

Report serious misconduct to the school district in writing; districts maintain the authority to suspend a student's bus-riding privileges.

Assign seats when behavior problems persist; documented seating assignments support later discipline decisions.

Distractions from passengers are a leading cause of crashes; the driver stops the bus in a safe location to address serious disruptions rather than managing them while moving.

Threats, weapons, or fighting require stopping the bus, securing students, and notifying dispatch and law enforcement.

Explain rules at the start of the year and reinforce them consistently; documented rule explanations support enforcement.

Bullying and harassment on the bus fall under school district policy and Minnesota anti-bullying requirements; the driver documents and reports incidents.

Stop the school bus at every railroad-highway grade crossing, whether or not a train is visible, unless the crossing is exempted and posted.

Stop no closer than 15 feet and no farther than 50 feet from the nearest rail.

Turn off all radios and fans, open the service door and driver's window, and listen before crossing.

Look and listen in both directions; if a train is approaching, remain stopped and do not attempt to cross.

Cross in a gear that allows completing the crossing without shifting; never shift gears while on the tracks.

Check that the bus has enough space and clearance on the far side to fully clear the crossing before proceeding.

If the bus stalls on the tracks, evacuate students immediately and move them at least 100 feet away from the tracks, then call 911.

Report any crossing signal malfunction or blocked view to dispatch and the railroad; do not cross if signals are activated.

Evacuate only when staying aboard is more dangerous than leaving: fire, fuel leak, hazardous material, or a bus in a dangerous position.

Front door evacuation is used for most emergencies; rear door is used when the front door is blocked or a fire is near the front.

Rear door evacuation requires the driver to exit first and assist students as they come down; two students may exit side by side.

Evacuation drills must be conducted at least twice per school year in Minnesota, with one drill in the first weeks of school.

Students evacuate at least 100 feet from the bus and upwind of a fire or spill, then assemble at a designated point for a head count.

The driver takes the emergency kit, fire extinguisher, and first aid kit if safe to do so, and leaves the bus in neutral with parking brake set.

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

After evacuation, account for every student by name and report missing students to responding emergency personnel.

A pre-trip inspection covers brakes, steering, lights, tires, mirrors, emergency exits, stop arm, crossing gate, and horn before every trip.

Check tire tread depth and inflation; Minnesota requires at least 4/32 inch tread on front tires and 2/32 inch on other tires for commercial vehicles.

Test brake system with a static air-brake check if equipped; check for air pressure loss and low-pressure warning.

Verify all required lights work: headlights, taillights, brake lights, turn signals, hazard lights, clearance lights, and the eight-way warning lamp system.

Confirm emergency equipment is present and charged: fire extinguisher, first aid kit, body fluid cleanup kit, and emergency triangles.

Check mirrors are adjusted for the driver's seating position and provide a clear view of the danger zone around the bus.

Inspect the stop arm and crossing gate for full extension and retraction; a defective stop arm removes the bus from service.

Post-trip inspection is required at the end of each route to check for sleeping or left-behind students and to report defects.

Use the eight-way warning light system: amber lights warn of an approaching stop, red lights and the stop arm require traffic to stop.

Maintain a following distance of at least one second per 10 feet of vehicle length plus one second; for a 40-foot bus at 40 mph, that is at least 5 seconds.

Reduce speed in rain, snow, and ice; stopping distance on ice can be many times longer than on dry pavement.

Use the crossover and convex mirrors to monitor the danger zone; adjust and check mirrors before each stop.

Back only when necessary; use a spotter if available, and if not, check all mirrors and the rear area before backing.

Do not tow or push a school bus; do not allow students to stand or move while the bus is in motion.

At intersections, look left-right-left and yield to traffic already in the intersection; school buses are not exempt from right-of-way rules.

Use engine braking and lower gears on downgrades; avoid continuous service brake use that can cause brake fade.

Load and unload only at designated stops; avoid stopping on curves, hill crests, or where visibility is limited.

At a school bus stop, activate amber lights, slow down, and stop so the bus is visible to approaching traffic in both directions.

On a divided highway with a median or barrier, a school bus stopping to load or unload does not require traffic on the opposite side to stop.

At an intersection, stop before the crosswalk and activate red lights only when students are actually crossing or loading.

When stopping at a railroad crossing, do not activate the stop arm; use hazard lights if needed to warn traffic.

For stops at a student's home, pull as far off the roadway as practical and ensure students can reach the door without entering traffic.

Never stop on a railroad track, bridge, or in an intersection; choose a safe location even if it means walking students a short distance.

At a bus stop on a curve or hill, use a spotter or an alternate location; visibility is critical to preventing rear-end crashes.

When a student is late, do not wait beyond the scheduled time; report the missed stop to dispatch.

Scan 12 to 15 seconds ahead of the bus and check mirrors every 5 to 8 seconds while driving.

Identify hazards early: pedestrians, cyclists, parked cars, driveways, and school zones with children present.

Children are unpredictable; reduce speed in school zones and near playgrounds and be ready to stop.

At intersections, scan for vehicles running red lights or stop signs before entering the intersection.

In fog, rain, or snow, reduce speed and increase following distance; use low-beam headlights, not high beams, in fog.

Watch for ice on bridges, overpasses, and shaded areas; these freeze before the surrounding roadway.

When a vehicle passes a stopped school bus illegally, do not pursue; record the plate and report to law enforcement.

Use the danger zone concept: children within 10 feet of the bus are at highest risk, especially during loading and unloading.

Stop immediately after a crash, protect the scene, and check students for injuries before moving anyone unless there is fire or other danger.

Call 911 and report location, number of students, injuries, and whether the bus is blocking traffic.

Do not move injured students unless they are in immediate danger; wait for emergency medical personnel.

Set out warning triangles or flares when safe to do so, and turn on hazard lights.

Exchange information with other drivers and notify dispatch and the school district immediately.

Document the scene: photographs, witness names, and a written account of what happened.

Evacuate the bus only if there is fire, hazardous material, or a dangerous position; otherwise keep students aboard until responders arrive.

After any crash, the driver is subject to post-crash testing requirements under federal and state rules, including alcohol and drug testing when applicable.

Minnesota law requires vehicles to stop for a school bus with red lights flashing and stop arm extended on undivided roads; violators face criminal penalties.

On a divided highway with a median or physical barrier, traffic on the opposite side of the median is not required to stop.

School bus drivers must hold a valid CDL with passenger and school bus endorsements and meet Minnesota physical qualification requirements.

Minnesota school bus drivers must complete pre-service training and annual in-service training, including emergency evacuation drills.

School buses must stop at all railroad crossings except where exempted and posted by the state or local authority.

The school bus stop arm may be used only when students are loading or unloading; misuse is a violation of state rules.

Minnesota requires school bus drivers to report certain convictions and disqualifying offenses to the employer and the state.

Districts must adopt and enforce student transportation policies, including bus conduct rules and consequences.