MS CDL Passenger cheat sheet

Begin by reviewing the last Driver Vehicle Inspection Report (DVIR); if a defect was noted, sign the report to certify the repair or that the defect does not affect safety before operating.

Walk-around: check tire tread (at least 4/32 inch on steering axle, 2/32 inch on other axles), sidewalls for cuts or bulges, lug nuts, hub oil seals, and brake components for leaks and cracks.

Air-brake test with a fully charged system and engine off: released-brake leakage no more than 2 psi per minute on a single vehicle (3 psi combination); applied-brake leakage no more than 3 psi per minute (4 psi combination).

Low-air warning must activate by 60 psi; spring brakes must apply between 20 and 45 psi; normal operating pressure is approximately 100 to 125 psi.

Lighting check: high and low headlights, turn signals, four-way flashers, brake lights, clearance and marker lights, backup lights, and interior lighting, verified from outside the bus.

Interior check: seats and seat belts secure, stanchions and handrails tight, aisle clear, stepwells clean, doors close and latch, and each emergency exit opens freely with its alarm sounding.

Emergency equipment: fire extinguisher (at least 5 BC on most CMVs, gauge in green, pin sealed, securely mounted), three reflective triangles, first aid kit, and body-fluid cleanup supplies.

Check windshield and wipers, adjust mirrors, test the horn, and check steering wheel free play; more than 10 degrees of free play is a defect.

Confirm the capacity placard and standee line are present and legible, glass in doors and windows is not cracked, and the wheelchair lift or ramp cycles through its full range.

Count passengers as they board and again after each stop; the total must never exceed the seated capacity plus the number of approved standee positions.

Standees are permitted only on buses designed and marked for them, and no passenger may stand forward of the standee line marked on the floor.

Keep the aisle, stepwells, and exit paths clear; baggage belongs in overhead racks, under seats, or in the baggage compartment, never in the aisle.

Secure baggage and cargo against shifting, and keep total load within the vehicle's GVWR and axle weight ratings.

Before releasing the parking brake, confirm the door is fully closed and latched and that the brake-door interlock permits movement.

Board and alight passengers only at authorized stops with the bus fully stopped, the parking brake set, and the door fully open.

Before departure, scan the interior and mirrors: all passengers seated or holding a handrail, no one in the stepwell, and the door-closed indicator illuminated.

Wheelchairs and mobility devices require a four-point tie-down and an occupant restraint per the manufacturer; another passenger must not hold the wheelchair in place.

Following distance: one second per 10 feet of vehicle length at speeds below 40 mph, plus one additional second above 40 mph; a 40-foot bus needs 4 seconds below 40 mph and 5 seconds above.

Buses carrying passengers must stop at railroad crossings 15 to 50 feet from the nearest rail, except where a police officer or flagman directs traffic, at streetcar crossings, industrial switching tracks, or tracks marked exempt.

At a railroad crossing: stop, look both ways, listen with a window or door open if needed, confirm the tracks are clear, then cross without shifting gears.

Drawbridges: stop before the bridge and confirm it is safe and fully closed before proceeding, unless a police officer, flagman, or traffic signal controls the movement.

Tunnels: turn on headlights, remove sunglasses, do not pass, maintain following distance, and watch for posted height and width restrictions.

Low clearance: know the vehicle's posted height; if the posted clearance is not clearly greater than the bus height, do not proceed and take the posted alternate route.

Turns: swing wide enough to keep rear wheels off the curb, check mirrors for tail swing, and watch for pedestrians and cyclists on the inside of the turn.

Lane use: keep right except to pass, hold a steady speed, and use four-way flashers when stopped or moving unusually slowly.

Speed: reduce for curves, rain, snow, fog, and passenger comfort; never exceed the posted limit or a speed safe for road and load conditions.

The brake-door interlock prevents the bus from moving while the door is open; never disable, bypass, or tape the interlock, and place the bus out of service if it fails.

Wait for the door-closed indicator before accelerating; if the interlock does not release or engage correctly, do not move the bus until it is repaired.

At a bus stop: signal early, stop as close to the right curb as practical, set the parking brake, and check mirrors for cyclists before opening the door.

Open the door only after the bus is fully stopped and close it before moving; never allow boarding or alighting while the vehicle is in motion.

While the bus is moving, passengers must be seated or holding a handrail or stanchion; enforce this before pulling away from a stop.

In passenger loading zones, obey posted restrictions, do not block fire hydrants or crosswalks, and watch for pedestrians stepping into the zone.

Deploy the wheelchair ramp or lift only on level ground with the area clear, and secure the device and occupant before the bus moves.

Any standing passenger must remain behind the standee line; no one may stand in the stepwell or forward of the line while the bus is in motion.

Holding a mobile phone while driving a commercial motor vehicle is prohibited under 49 CFR 392.82; a hands-free earpiece or voice-activated system is permitted but remains a distraction.

Texting while driving a CMV is prohibited under 49 CFR 392.80; reading, typing, or sending a message can disqualify the driver.

Alcohol: a 0.04 BAC or higher is prohibited for CMV drivers, and no alcohol may be consumed within 4 hours of coming on duty; refusing a required test is a violation.

Marijuana, including medical marijuana, and other Schedule I drugs are prohibited even where state law permits them; impairing prescription drugs are also prohibited.

Smoking is prohibited aboard the bus; if smoking outside the vehicle, stay away from fuel and never smoke during fueling.

Unauthorized riders: only authorized passengers may ride; friends, family members, and hitchhikers may not ride in the passenger area or driver's compartment.

Avoid distractions: no eating, grooming, reading, or adjusting devices while driving; preset the GPS, radio, and climate controls before moving.

Report any conviction for a traffic offense, other than a parking violation, to the employer within 30 days under 49 CFR 383.31.

Passengers may not carry hazardous materials aboard a bus, including explosives, fireworks, gasoline, propane, poisons, radioactive materials, and corrosives.

Prohibited items also include leaking or unlabeled packages, car batteries, and gasoline-powered equipment with fuel in the tank.

If a package leaks, smells, ticks, has protruding wires, or is otherwise suspicious: do not touch or move it; isolate the area and notify dispatch and law enforcement.

Security awareness: watch for unattended bags, unusual behavior, and anyone attempting to board with a forbidden item, and report concerns before departure.

Follow the carrier's security plan and know how to reach dispatch and 911; use the "See Something, Say Something" reporting approach.

Never accept a package or freight from a passenger for transport, and do not carry freight in a passenger-carrying vehicle unless the carrier authorizes it.

After the immediate threat is handled, document all security incidents and suspicious items in writing per company procedure.

Know the location and operation of every exit: front door, rear door, side emergency windows, and roof hatches; each must open freely and its alarm must sound.

Evacuation sequence: stop safely, set the parking brake, shut off the engine, turn on hazard lights, evacuate through the nearest safe exit, and move passengers at least 100 feet away and upwind of any fire.

Fire extinguisher use: PASS - Pull the pin, Aim at the base of the fire, Squeeze the handle, Sweep side to side; fight only a small fire with a clear escape path.

Emergency triangles: place one at the traffic side of the bus, one about 100 feet behind, and one about 100 feet ahead, or in the direction of approaching traffic on a divided highway.

First aid kit: know its location, use gloves and a barrier mask, and report all injuries and blood exposures.

Roof hatch: rotate the handle and push the hatch up and out; side emergency window: pull the release handle and push the window out; rear door: use the emergency release.

After evacuation, account for all passengers, call 911 and dispatch, and do not re-enter the bus until emergency personnel clear it.

Emergency exit signs must be illuminated and visible, and aisles and exits must remain unobstructed at all times.

Post-trip walk-around: check for new damage, fluid leaks, tire condition, and inoperative lights; check the interior for sleeping passengers, lost items, spills, and hazards.

Complete a written DVIR at the end of the day listing any defect; the carrier must certify repairs and retain the reports for 3 months under 49 CFR 396.11.

Report any safety-related defect immediately and do not operate an out-of-service vehicle until it is repaired and the repair is certified.

Between runs, check fluid levels, tire pressure, and fuel, and top off washer fluid and diesel exhaust fluid as needed.

Clean and sanitize the interior, restock first aid and body-fluid cleanup supplies, and secure loose equipment.

Verify the fire extinguisher gauge, reflective triangles, first aid kit, and exit alarms are present and serviceable before the next run.

Record odometer, fuel, and any incidents, and report accidents and injuries according to company policy.

If a defect is found on the road, stop in a safe location, assess the problem, use four-way flashers and triangles, and notify dispatch.