MT CDL School Bus cheat sheet

A pre-trip inspection must be completed before every trip, not once per day; the driver signs a report certifying the inspection was performed.

Seven-step inspection method: (1) approach and check condition, (2) engine compartment, (3) driver's seat and controls, (4) lights and reflectors, (5) walk-around exterior, (6) signal lights and brake lights with a helper, (7) check the brake system (air brake test if equipped).

School bus-specific items: stop arm extends fully and red lights flash, crossing gate swings out and retracts, emergency exits open from inside and outside, and the bus is empty of students during inspection.

Air brake leakage test: with a full tank and engine off, pressure drop must not exceed 3 psi in one minute (single vehicle) or 4 psi (combination); a warning buzzer or light must activate before pressure falls below 60 psi.

Brake adjustment check: with the engine off and system drained, mark the push rod and apply the brake fully; push rod travel must not exceed the limit in the manufacturer's specification (commonly 2 inches for a type C bus with stroke-limited chambers).

Emergency equipment required: fire extinguisher (charged and secure), emergency reflective triangles, spare electrical fuses unless the bus has circuit breakers, and a first aid kit where required by the state.

Tire check: minimum tread depth 4/32 inch on the front steering axle and 2/32 inch on all other axles; check for cuts, bulges, and proper inflation with a gauge, not by kicking.

If a defect is found that affects safety, the bus must not be operated until it is repaired; the driver reports the defect to the carrier in writing.

The driver is responsible for student safety from the time students board until they are safely off the bus and, where required, across the street.

Before loading, activate the amber warning lights at the designated distance (commonly 100 to 300 feet depending on speed and state rule), stop the bus, then activate the red lights and stop arm.

Students must be outside the bus in a group far enough from the door that the driver can see them before the door opens; the driver counts students as they board.

At unloading, students cross in front of the bus only after the driver signals them to cross and the driver can see them at all times; students must walk, not run.

The driver performs a child-check walk through the bus after every unloading and at the end of every route to confirm no student remains on board.

Never leave students unattended on the bus, and never allow a student to exit through an emergency exit except in an emergency or approved drill.

Hand signals to students: palm forward means stop; a sweeping arm motion toward the bus means board or come to the door; a pointing motion toward the crossing area means cross.

When loading or unloading at a school or designated lot, follow the site plan for traffic flow and student staging; do not back the bus unless absolutely necessary and only with a spotter.

The driver may not use physical force to discipline a student except to protect the safety of students or the driver; corporal punishment is prohibited.

A written behavior report is submitted to the school administrator, who has authority to discipline the student; the driver documents date, time, location, and specific behavior.

Bullying and harassment are reported to the school under the district's anti-bullying policy, and the driver documents the incident the same day.

A student may be removed from the bus only by school officials following district policy; the driver does not remove a student or refuse transport without authorization.

Seating assignments and a seating chart help the driver manage behavior and identify students after an incident.

Students must remain seated and facing forward while the bus is in motion; standing is allowed only when the bus is stopped and the driver gives permission.

The driver speaks to students calmly and privately, uses a firm but respectful voice, and avoids arguing with a student while the bus is moving.

Evacuate only when staying on the bus is more dangerous than leaving: fire, visible smoke, a bus in a dangerous position, a hazardous material spill, or a bus that cannot be moved from a railroad track.

Evacuation commands: 'Stop' (students stop and listen), 'Evacuate' (students move out), 'Front door' or 'Rear door' (designated exit), and 'Remain in your seat' if waiting is safer.

The driver secures the bus first: set the parking brake, place the transmission in neutral or park, shut off the engine, and remove the key.

After evacuation, students assemble at least 100 feet from the bus and off the roadway, and the driver accounts for every student by name or count.

The driver takes the emergency radio and fire extinguisher if safe, and sends a responsible student to call 911 or notifies dispatch from the radio.

Rear door evacuation: the driver or a trained student opens the rear door, helps students down, and positions a spotter at the door; students move away from the bus, not across the road.

Emergency exit types include the rear door, side doors, roof hatches, and window exits; the driver teaches students how to operate each exit during the required evacuation drill.

A fire on the bus requires immediate evacuation and a call to 911; the driver does not attempt to fight a large fire and keeps students upwind and away from the bus.

Approach every crossing with the expectation of a train; stop at all crossings unless the bus is on a controlled access highway or the crossing is exempted by state or federal authority.

Stop no closer than 15 feet and no farther than 50 feet from the nearest rail; open the door and window to look and listen before proceeding.

Turn off all noise-producing equipment (radio, heater fan, and other accessories) and do not use the horn while checking for a train.

Look both ways and listen; if a train is approaching, remain stopped until the train has passed and the tracks are clear in both directions.

Do not shift gears while crossing the tracks; select a gear that lets the bus cross completely without shifting.

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

A school bus carrying passengers must stop at crossings even when the gate is up and the lights are not flashing, unless the crossing is officially exempt.

Crossings marked with a stop sign or a flashing signal require a complete stop; a passive crossbuck alone means yield, but the school bus stop rule still applies.

School bus speed limits are set by state law and are often lower than the general limit; a bus may not exceed the posted limit for the road or the bus-specific limit, whichever is lower.

Following distance: use at least one second for each 10 feet of vehicle length at speeds below 40 mph, and add one second for speeds above 40 mph; a 40-foot bus at highway speed needs at least 5 seconds.

The school bus must stop at least 10 feet from the nearest rail at a crossing and may not cross until the driver confirms the tracks are clear.

When a school bus stops to load or unload with red lights flashing, traffic in both directions must stop on an undivided road; on a divided highway, only traffic in the same direction must stop.

Use the mirrors: the flat mirrors show the road behind, the convex mirrors show the sides and blind spots, and the crossover mirrors show the area in front of the bus and the front wheels.

A bus must not be backed unless necessary; before backing, walk around the bus, use a spotter, and sound the horn.

Distracted driving rules apply: no texting or handheld phone use while driving, and the driver keeps both hands on the wheel and eyes on the road.

At night or in bad weather, reduce speed and increase following distance; headlights are required when visibility is reduced.

In fog, rain, or snow, reduce speed and increase following distance; do not use high-beam headlights in fog because the light reflects back and reduces visibility.

On ice or snow, brake gently and early, avoid sudden steering, and allow extra stopping distance; a bus can take many times the distance needed on dry pavement.

In high winds, reduce speed, keep both hands on the wheel, and watch for crosswinds on bridges and open stretches.

At a flooded road, do not drive through water of unknown depth; turn around and report the hazard to dispatch.

When a bus must be backed, use a spotter and check all mirrors; if the spotter is not visible, stop immediately.

At a crash scene, protect the students first, call 911, and do not move an injured person unless there is immediate danger such as fire.

When a hazardous material is spilled near the bus, move students upwind and uphill and keep them at least 1,500 feet away from the spill.

A bus with a mechanical problem must be taken out of service; the driver reports the problem and does not continue the route with a safety defect.

After every route, the driver walks the bus from front to rear, checks under and between the seats, and confirms no student remains on board.

The driver completes a written post-trip inspection report that lists any defects found and turns it in to the carrier.

A defect that affects safety must be reported immediately and the bus must not be used again until the defect is repaired.

The driver signs the inspection report certifying that the inspection was performed; falsifying a report is a violation of federal and state rules.

The post-trip check includes the emergency exits, fire extinguisher, first aid kit, and the stop arm and crossing gate.

The driver reports any student behavior incident to the school the same day, and keeps a copy of the report.

The driver reports any crash, injury, or property damage to the carrier and to the state as required by law, and completes the required forms.

The driver logs the trip and the inspection in the required record, and the carrier keeps the records for the period required by regulation.