MS CDL Passenger study plan

Recite the full walk-around sequence from memory in this order: approach and overview, engine compartment, front axle and steering, driver's area and controls, fuel and battery area, side and rear of bus, then lights and reflectors.

Perform the three air-brake checks aloud with pass/fail numbers: static leak test (no more than 3 psi loss in one minute with brakes released, no more than 4 psi applied), low-air warning by 60 psi, and spring-brake pop-out between 20 and 45 psi.

Switch on every exterior light and reflector group while naming its function and the mirror or hand check used to confirm it, including four-way flashers, strobe if equipped, and amber/red passenger lights.

Inspect interior and emergency equipment: fire extinguisher gauge, pin and seal; three reflective triangles; first-aid kit seal; seat belts; standee line; and each emergency exit with its audible alarm.

State the out-of-service thresholds for tires, brakes, lights and exits so a defect can be judged on the spot rather than guessed at.

Calculate and hold a safe following gap using a 4-second rule, adding one second per 10 feet of vehicle length, and call the count aloud at 20, 40 and 55 mph.

Set speed for conditions: 10 mph below the posted limit in curves, construction zones, rain, fog and on downgrades, and explain why the posted number is a ceiling rather than a target.

Execute right and left turns using correct lane position, right-turn rear-tire tracking, left-turn off-tracking awareness, and mirror checks before, during and after the turn.

Walk through a railroad-highway crossing: stop 15 to 50 feet short, open the door or window, look and listen, cross in the appropriate gear without shifting, and never stop on the tracks.

Brief drawbridge, tunnel and low-clearance hazards, including reading clearance signs, turning on headlights in tunnels, and stopping for a raised drawbridge signal.

Load and board passengers correctly: take a headcount at the door, reconcile it before moving, respect seating and standee limits, secure baggage with four tie-downs rated to 1,100 lb working load, and keep the aisle and exits clear.

Reconcile passenger counts at boarding, mid-trip and alighting, and describe how to handle a mismatch before the bus moves.

Demonstrate baggage and cargo securement: four tie-downs for items over 5 feet or 1,100 lb, nothing in the aisle or in front of an exit, and a check that the emergency door opens fully.

Identify every exit on the vehicle, including side windows, roof hatches and rear door, and state the operating method and alarm behaviour for each.

Operate a fire extinguisher using PASS (pull, aim, squeeze, sweep) and choose the right extinguisher class for a brake, fuel or electrical fire.

Run a staged evacuation: announce, direct to the nearest usable exit, assist riders with disabilities, account for everyone at the assembly point and call dispatch.

Test the brake-door interlock by opening the door and attempting to release the parking brake, then repeat with the door closed, and explain the correct response when the interlock fails.

Approach and leave a bus stop with the right tires within 6 inches of the curb, using mirrors, a smooth stop, and the correct use of four-way flashers and the passenger light.

Apply loading-zone rules: no double parking, no blocking hydrants or crosswalks, and pull fully into the zone before opening the door.

Manage rider safety in motion: riders seated or behind the standee line, handholds in use, no one standing forward of the line, and a verbal check before the first brake application.

Re-run the week 3 evacuation drill and identify one improvement in exit selection or crowd flow.

List the prohibited practices and their consequences: handheld phone use, texting, smoking, alcohol at 0.04 or higher, and carrying unauthorized riders.

Describe the reporting chain and the difference between company policy, roadside inspection consequences and the CDL disqualification rules that follow a violation.

Recognize the nine hazard classes by placard and identify which packages are forbidden on a passenger-carrying vehicle, including leaking, damaged or unmarked containers.

Apply security awareness: notice unattended bags, odd smells, wires or visible batteries, and unusual rider behaviour, then report without touching or confronting.

State the exact reporting procedure: secure the area, notify the driver and dispatch, call 911 when warranted, and record time, location and description.

Complete a full post-trip walk-around covering the same points as the pre-trip, plus the passenger area, and note anything that changed during the run.

Write driver vehicle inspection reports with specific defect wording, such as 'right rear amber marker lamp inoperative', instead of vague entries like 'lights bad'.

Classify defects as out-of-service or monitor-and-report, and state who is notified, when the vehicle is pulled and how the report is closed out.

Describe between-run servicing: fueling, fluid checks, cleaning the aisle and floors, restocking first-aid and triangles, and recording the service.

Re-check brake-door interlock and exit alarms after any maintenance work before the bus returns to service.

Retake every missed checklist item and quiz question from weeks 1 through 6 and record the corrected answer in your own words.

Complete a full timed practice exam and chart the score by domain to surface any area still under 75%.

Rehearse the walk-around under 25 minutes and the evacuation drill under 90 seconds back to back.

Drill the memorized numbers: air-brake leak limits, low-air warning, spring-brake range, following-distance rule, clearance margins and alcohol limit.

Run two full pre-trip inspections and two short drives, focusing on the highest-weight domains: driving and pre-trip.

Rehearse the evacuation briefing aloud in under two minutes as you would give it to real riders.

Confirm test-day logistics: documents, vehicle, appointment time, and the order of the skills you will be asked to perform.

Rest rather than cram the day before, and read the weak-spot sheet once.