MT CDL Passenger cheat sheet

Pre-trip inspection items unique to passenger vehicles: passenger entry doors and emergency exits open/close and latch, stepwells and handrails secure, interior lighting, stop arm and crossing gate (school bus), fire extinguisher charged and mounted, first aid kit, emergency reflectors, and passenger seats anchored.

Brake check at low speed before carrying passengers: with the vehicle stationary, apply service brake and hold; check for air pressure loss exceeding 3 psi in one minute (air brake) or a spongy/soft pedal (hydraulic).

Steering control: keep both hands on the wheel, use push-pull (hand-over-hand is acceptable only when needed), and look 12-15 seconds ahead in city traffic; at 55 mph that is roughly 1/4 mile.

Mirror setup: adjust flat mirrors so a small part of the vehicle side is visible; convex mirrors show a wider field but make objects appear smaller and farther away, so do not rely on them alone for distance judgment.

Backing rule: back only when necessary, use a spotter, and if you lose sight of the spotter, stop immediately. Recheck both mirrors and the rear before moving.

Tire and wheel check: minimum tread depth 4/32 inch on front steering tires and 2/32 inch on other tires; look for cuts, bulges, and missing lug nuts.

Passenger compartment hazard scan: loose objects, spilled liquids, blocked aisles, and unsecured mobility devices become projectiles in a sudden stop; secure them before departure.

After any defect affecting safe operation (brakes, steering, lights, doors, horn), the vehicle is placed out of service until repaired; document the defect and notify dispatch.

Stop at least 10 feet from the nearest rail at a crossing and stop far enough from a bus stop sign that waiting passengers are not in the roadway; the safe approach is to stop with the front bumper even with or slightly past the sign.

Before opening the door, check mirrors and the blind spots on both sides; a passenger stepping into traffic is the highest-consequence unloading hazard.

Standing passengers: a passenger may stand only if handholds or stanchions are available; never move the vehicle until boarding passengers are seated or holding a secure handhold.

School bus unloading rule: students must cross at least 10 feet in front of the bus and wait for the driver's signal; the driver counts students off and confirms the count before moving.

Emergency exit operation: know how to release each exit type (rear door, roof hatch, side window) and how to instruct passengers to use them; exits must be unobstructed at all times.

Wheelchair securement: four-point tie-down plus occupant restraint (lap and shoulder belt) is the standard; the wheelchair brake is set and the device faces forward.

Aisle and exit clearance: no baggage, carts, or luggage may block the aisle, stepwells, or exits; cargo in the passenger compartment must be secured against shifting.

Stop announcement and hazard warning: activate hazard flashers when stopped in a traffic lane, and use the horn only to warn of immediate danger.

Stopping distance = perception distance + reaction distance + braking distance. At 55 mph, perception-reaction alone covers about 60 feet per second of delay; total stopping distance for a loaded bus can exceed 300 feet.

Brake fade on repeated stops: use engine braking and a lower gear on long descents; if the pedal goes soft or low, stop, cool the brakes, and do not continue the grade.

Skid recovery: steer in the direction you want the front of the vehicle to go, ease off the accelerator, and avoid hard braking; for a rear-wheel skid, steer into the skid (same direction as the rear is sliding).

ABS operation: maintain firm, continuous pressure and steer; do not pump the pedal. Expect pedal pulsation and noise, which are normal.

Hydroplaning: occurs when tires ride on a water film; it can begin at speeds as low as 35 mph with worn tires. Ease off the accelerator, do not brake hard, and hold the wheel straight.

Hazard response rule: identify an escape path before you need it; if a collision is unavoidable, choose the impact that minimizes harm (glancing blow, empty lane, or fixed object over a head-on with oncoming traffic).

Following distance: use the 4-second rule minimum for passenger vehicles, increasing to 6 or more seconds in rain, at night, or when loaded.

Emergency stop with passengers aboard: warn passengers, brake progressively, and move as far off the travel lane as possible before stopping.

Required stop: school buses, passenger buses carrying passengers, and vehicles carrying hazardous materials must stop at all railroad crossings, whether or not the crossing is marked with a stop sign.

Stop distance: stop no closer than 15 feet and no farther than 50 feet from the nearest rail; look and listen in both directions before proceeding.

Never stop on the tracks: a vehicle must not enter a crossing unless there is room to clear it completely on the far side; a train can take more than a mile to stop.

Crossing signals: flashing red lights, a lowered gate, or a flagger means stop and remain stopped; do not drive around a gate. If the gate lowers on your vehicle, drive through it.

Stalled on the tracks: evacuate passengers immediately and move them away from the tracks and toward the direction of the approaching train, then call 911 and report the crossing location.

Multiple tracks: after one train passes, wait; a second train may be approaching on another track in the opposite direction.

Night and fog: turn off interior lights that reflect in the windshield, open the window to listen, and use the crossing's lights and gates rather than relying on sight alone.

Report crossing hazards (malfunctioning signals, obstructed view, rough surface) to dispatch and the railroad's emergency number posted at the crossing.

Headlight rule: use low beams when following within 500 feet or meeting oncoming traffic within 500 feet; high beams are for open road only.

Overdriving headlights: low beams light about 160 feet ahead; at 40 mph you need about 190 feet to stop, so reduce speed at night regardless of the posted limit.

Fog and heavy rain: use low beams, not high beams, because high beams reflect off the moisture and reduce visibility; slow down and increase following distance.

Visibility loss: if you cannot see the road or its edge, pull completely off the roadway, stop, set the parking brake, and turn on hazard flashers; do not stop in a travel lane.

Winter driving: reduce speed before curves and bridges, which freeze first; avoid cruise control on wet or icy surfaces.

Wind: crosswinds affect high-profile passenger vehicles most; grip the wheel firmly and reduce speed when passing trucks or bridges.

Night passenger safety: keep interior lighting dim so the driver's night vision is preserved, and ensure stepwells are illuminated during boarding and unloading.

Wet brake recovery: after driving through deep water, test the brakes at low speed and apply light pressure to dry them.

Before descending a grade: check brakes, select a low gear, and confirm the grade's length and steepness from signs; a rule of thumb is to descend in the same gear you would use to climb.

Engine braking is the primary control on a downgrade; use a gear that holds a steady speed without continuous service braking.

Snub braking method: apply the brakes firmly to reduce speed by about 5-10 mph, then release and let the engine hold; repeated light continuous braking overheats brakes.

Brake fade warning: a soft or low pedal, a burning smell, or a decreasing ability to slow means stop immediately at a safe pullout and let the brakes cool; do not continue downhill.

Runaway ramp: if brakes fail, steer for the escape ramp, keep the vehicle straight, and do not attempt to turn around; the ramp's gravel bed is designed to stop the vehicle.

Turns on grades: slow down before the curve, not in it; a loaded passenger vehicle's center of gravity is high, raising rollover risk.

Speed management: obey posted truck/bus speed limits on grades; advisory speeds on curve signs are based on the curve radius and are not optional for a loaded bus.

Downshift before you need it; a fully loaded bus may not be able to downshift after speed has built up on a steep grade.

Passenger-carrying vehicles may not carry hazardous materials in the passenger compartment; the placarded hazmat endorsement is not a license to carry hazmat on a bus with passengers.

Prohibited items in the cabin: gasoline containers, propane cylinders, fireworks, and other flammables; carriers must screen or post notice and refuse boarding of such items.

Small quantities of personal items (perfume, aerosol toiletries, medical oxygen) are permitted under carrier policy; medical oxygen cylinders must be secured upright and not in an exit path.

Cargo in the passenger compartment must be secured so it cannot shift into the aisle or exits; luggage in the underfloor compartment must be latched and load-balanced.

Railroad crossing rule still applies: any vehicle required to be placarded for hazardous materials must stop at every crossing, even with no passengers aboard.

Manifest and shipping papers: if the carrier ever operates a placarded vehicle, shipping papers must be within reach of the driver and the placards must match the load.

Loading limits: never exceed the vehicle's gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) or axle ratings; passengers and baggage count toward the limit.

Report spills or leaks of any carried chemical to the carrier and emergency responders; do not attempt cleanup of an unknown substance.

Fire extinguisher: know its location and the PASS technique (Pull, Aim, Squeeze, Sweep); use it only on a small fire and keep an exit behind you.

Engine or wheel fire: stop, shut off the engine, evacuate passengers upwind and at least 100 feet away, then call 911; do not open the hood fully, as the rush of air feeds the fire.

Evacuation order: evacuate only when staying inside is more dangerous (fire, hazmat, vehicle in water or on tracks); otherwise keep passengers seated and belted.

Post-crash priorities: protect the scene (hazard flashers, reflectors), check for injuries, call 911, and account for all passengers before anything else.

Reflector placement: place warning triangles about 10 feet, 100 feet, and 200 feet behind the vehicle (farther on curves or hills) to warn traffic.

Do not move an injured passenger unless there is immediate danger (fire, traffic, water); wait for EMS and follow dispatcher instructions.

Documentation after a crash: record time, location, weather, road conditions, injuries, and witness information; report to the carrier and the state as required.

Passenger accountability: maintain a passenger count and seating chart on school and charter trips so all passengers can be accounted for after an evacuation.

Hours-of-service limits for property-carrying drivers: 11 hours driving after 10 consecutive hours off duty, 14-hour on-duty window, and a 30-minute break after 8 cumulative hours of driving.

Passenger-carrying drivers: 10 hours driving after 8 consecutive hours off duty, and 15 hours on duty after 8 consecutive hours off duty (follow the current 49 CFR 395 rules for your operation).

Weekly limits: 60 hours on duty in 7 consecutive days, or 70 hours in 8 consecutive days; a 34-hour restart resets the cycle.

Sleeper-berth split: two periods totaling 10 hours, with one at least 7 hours, can satisfy the 10-hour off-duty requirement under the split rule.

ELD rule: most interstate drivers must use an electronic logging device; paper logs are allowed only for short-term exceptions such as device malfunction (up to 8 days).

Fatigue signs: drifting between lanes, missing signs, heavy eyelids, and yawning. Countermeasures are a stop, a nap of 20-30 minutes, or caffeine; rolling down the window or loud music does not restore alertness.

Fitness for duty: a driver may not drive while ill, fatigued, or impaired by any substance; a driver who cannot safely operate the vehicle must be relieved.

Medical certification: interstate drivers need a valid DOT medical examiner's certificate, and the CDL holder must self-certify the type of driving.

Annual inspection: every commercial motor vehicle must pass a periodic (annual) inspection by a qualified inspector, and the report must be kept on file.

Driver vehicle inspection report (DVIR): required daily for vehicles operated by a motor carrier; the driver notes defects, and the carrier must certify the repair before the vehicle is used again.

Brake system standards: air-brake vehicles must have a warning device that activates before pressure drops below 60 psi, and the spring brakes must apply automatically at low pressure.

Lighting and reflectors: all required lamps must operate; red reflectors on the rear, amber on the sides, and reflective tape per the vehicle's length.

Emergency equipment required: fire extinguisher, spare fuses, and warning triangles (three) or bidirectional reflective triangles on commercial vehicles.

Tires: no recaps on the front steering axle, no visible cord or fabric, and tread depth at or above the minimums (4/32 inch steering, 2/32 inch other).

Records: the carrier must keep driver qualification files, inspection reports, and hours-of-service records for the periods required by 49 CFR Part 391 and 396.

Out-of-service criteria: brakes, steering, tires, lights, and coupling devices are the most common OOS defects; a vehicle with an OOS defect may not be driven until repaired.

CDL alcohol limit: 0.04% BAC or higher while on duty is prohibited; a commercial driver is also prohibited from driving within 4 hours of using alcohol.

Refusal to test: refusing a required alcohol or drug test is treated as a violation and carries the same consequences as a positive test.

Controlled substances: any positive drug test for marijuana, cocaine, amphetamines, opiates, or PCP is a violation, even in states where recreational use is legal.

Testing categories: pre-employment, random, reasonable suspicion, post-accident, return-to-duty, and follow-up testing are the six required types.

Post-accident testing: required after a fatality, or after an injury crash or a tow-away crash where the driver is cited; alcohol testing within 8 hours and drug testing within 32 hours.

Consequences: a first violation results in loss of CDL driving privileges for at least one year (three years for hazmat), and the driver must complete the return-to-duty process before driving again.

Prescription and OTC drugs: a driver may use them only if a medical examiner has cleared them; drowsiness or impairment from any drug is a violation.

Reasonable suspicion: requires a trained supervisor's observations of appearance, behavior, speech, or smell, documented before sending the driver for testing.