NC CDL Passenger cheat sheet

Pre-trip inspection for a passenger vehicle covers the same items as any CDL vehicle plus: passenger doors, emergency exits, dome and step lights, aisle and handrails, and restroom/onboard equipment if fitted.

The 7-step inspection method is: vehicle overview, engine compartment, cab check and engine start, walk-around lights, brake check, in-cab inspection, and final air brake check.

Brake check rules: with the engine running and air pressure built up, the low-pressure warning must activate before pressure drops below 60 psi, and the spring brakes must apply when pressure falls to 20-45 psi.

Bus door check: doors must open and close smoothly from both the driver control and the emergency release; an inoperable passenger door is an out-of-service defect.

Emergency exit inspection: verify each exit opens from inside and outside as designed, the buzzer/alarm sounds when opened, and exit signs and instructions are legible.

Tire rule: minimum tread depth is 4/32 inch on front tires and 2/32 inch on all other tires; no recaps on front wheels of a passenger-carrying vehicle.

Load the bus within its posted gross vehicle weight rating and axle ratings; distribute baggage so no axle or side is overloaded and the aisle and exits stay clear.

Secure baggage and cargo against shifting; items in the passenger compartment must be stowed so they cannot block the aisle, cover exits, or become projectiles in a panic stop.

Standees are prohibited where the bus is not designed or rated for standing passengers; never exceed the seated-plus-standing capacity on the capacity plate.

Aisle, stairwell, and emergency exit areas must remain clear of bags, coolers, and luggage at all times; nothing may be stacked higher than the seat backs in the aisle.

Baggage must be stowed in the baggage compartment or secured overhead; heavy or sharp items never go in overhead racks.

Prohibited: carrying hazardous materials in the passenger compartment, fueling with passengers aboard (except approved situations), and smoking aboard.

Prohibited: allowing riders to stand forward of the standee line while the bus is moving, or riding on steps, fenders, or outside the bus.

Prohibited: picking up or discharging passengers at locations other than designated stops, except in an emergency.

Check that all passengers are seated or braced before moving; a passenger still standing in the aisle is a reason to delay departure.

Do not permit any passenger to operate the emergency door release or other controls except in an actual emergency.

Emergency exits on a bus typically include side windows (push-out or break-glass), roof hatches, rear door/window, and the main door; know the type and operation of each on your vehicle.

Evacuation decision rule: move passengers only when staying aboard is more dangerous (fire, smoke, hazardous spill, or vehicle in a hazardous position).

Evacuation order: engine off, parking brake set, hazard lights on, then direct passengers out the exit farthest from the hazard, then move them at least 100 feet from the vehicle and upwind of fire.

Fire rule: a small fire can be fought with the onboard extinguisher; a large fire or one involving the fuel system means evacuate immediately and move well away.

Break-glass exits require striking the marked corner with the hammer; push-out windows require lifting the release handle and pushing outward.

Roof hatches open by turning the release and pushing up; they are both an exit and a ventilation/escape route if the bus is on its side.

Assign or confirm helpers (school bus attendants, willing adults) to assist passengers with disabilities before an emergency, not during one.

After evacuation, account for every passenger, keep the group together, and call 911 with location, number of passengers, and injuries.

Common passenger vehicle types for CDL purposes: Class B straight bus (city/transit), Class C small bus or cutaway van, and Class A or B motorcoach (intercity).

Class B passenger vehicle: single vehicle with GVWR over 26,000 lb, or any such vehicle towing a trailer not over 10,000 lb.

Class C passenger vehicle: single vehicle under 26,000 lb GVWR designed to carry 16 or more passengers including the driver.

Interior equipment to verify: fire extinguisher (charged, mounted, rated BC or ABC), emergency triangles/fuses, first aid kit, seat belts, and passenger seats secured to the floor.

The standee line marks the forward limit for standing passengers; the driver must keep the aisle forward of it clear.

Instrument/controls to know: door open-close control, kneeling feature, wheelchair lift or ramp, interlock that prevents moving with the door open, and the emergency engine shutoff.

Know the location of the battery disconnect, the fuel shutoff, and the emergency door release for the specific bus you drive; they differ by manufacturer.

Mirror and visibility equipment: crossover mirrors, convex mirrors, and the front blind spot area in front of a flat-front bus extend roughly 10-12 feet ahead.

Speed rule: never drive faster than is safe for conditions; on a downgrade select a gear low enough that you do not need to ride the brakes.

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

Turning: a bus needs a wider turn because of rear-wheel off-tracking; swing wide but not so wide that you enter the opposing lane or sweep a curb.

Railroad crossing rule: stop 15 to 50 feet before the nearest rail, open the door and window to look and listen, cross only when you can clear the tracks completely, and never stop on the tracks.

Before crossing, check that the crossing has enough room on the far side for the entire bus; if traffic is backed up, wait.

Passengers must be seated or braced before the bus moves; do not start until the door is closed and the aisle is clear.

Use of the horn: sound it when approaching a railroad crossing, and when a passenger or pedestrian may not see you; do not use it to hurry traffic.

Space cushion rule: maintain at least one escape route; in heavy traffic keep enough gap ahead to stop without hitting the vehicle in front.

Scan 12-15 seconds ahead; for a bus, add attention to passenger movement, stop requests, and the door zone.

Stopping distance components: perception distance + reaction distance + brake lag + effective braking distance; total stopping distance at 55 mph for a loaded bus can exceed the length of a football field.

Brake fade on long downgrades: use engine braking and a lower gear; if brakes fade, do not pump, find a safe place to stop and let them cool.

Tire blowout response: hold the steering wheel firmly, keep the vehicle straight, ease off the accelerator, and brake gently once control is regained.

Skid recovery: steer in the direction you want to go, release the brakes if they caused the skid, and avoid hard acceleration.

Railroad crossing emergency: if the bus stalls on the tracks, evacuate passengers immediately and move them far from the tracks, then call for help.

Fire response: stop, shut off the engine, evacuate, and fight the fire only if it is small and you have a clear escape route.

If a hazard appears in the passenger compartment (fight, spill, smoke), stop safely before dealing with it; never leave the driver's seat while the bus is moving.

The driver is responsible for order aboard the bus; you may refuse to transport or may discharge a passenger who is disruptive, intoxicated, or a safety threat, following company policy.

Do not engage in argument or physical confrontation; stop the bus in a safe place and call dispatch or law enforcement.

Announce stops and check that passengers with disabilities or mobility devices are secured before moving.

Driver conduct: no cell phone use while driving except hands-free in permitted jurisdictions, no texting, no eating, no smoking, and no distracting conversation.

Never leave the driver's seat with passengers aboard unless the bus is secured (parking brake set, engine off, keys controlled) and company policy allows it.

Do not allow unauthorized persons in the driver's area or to operate the door, lift, or emergency controls.

Report incidents (falls, injuries, altercations, spills) to dispatch immediately and complete the required written report.

Fare and stop disputes are handled at the stop, not while driving; if a dispute escalates, secure the bus and call for assistance.

Passenger-carrying property-carrying rules differ from passenger rules: passenger-carrying drivers generally follow the 10-hour driving / 15-hour on-duty limits with 8 consecutive hours off duty.

The 60/70-hour rule: no driving after 60 hours on duty in 7 consecutive days or 70 hours in 8 consecutive days; reset with 34 consecutive hours off duty.

A 30-minute break is required after 8 cumulative hours of driving without at least a 30-minute interruption.

Passenger-carrying vehicles are generally not required to keep records of duty status for the same reasons as property carriers, but must comply with the underlying limits and retain supporting documents.

Sleeper berth and split-rest provisions apply only where the operation qualifies; do not assume they apply to a transit or motorcoach run.

Fatigue signs: repeated yawning, lane drift, heavy eyelids, missing exits or signs; the remedy is to stop and rest, not to open a window or turn up the radio.

Fitness for duty: no driving under the influence of alcohol (0.04% BAC or higher is prohibited for CDL holders) or any controlled substance.

Report to dispatch any condition (illness, medication, fatigue) that would impair your ability to drive safely before starting the trip.

Stop immediately, set the parking brake, turn off the engine, turn on hazard lights, and place warning devices if it is safe to do so.

Do not move an injured person unless there is immediate danger (fire, traffic, hazardous material).

Call 911 with location, number of vehicles, number of injured, and any hazards; then notify dispatch.

Exchange information with other drivers: name, address, license number, plate, insurance, and carrier.

Report any crash involving a fatality, bodily injury requiring immediate medical treatment away from the scene, or disabling damage to any vehicle to the state within the required time (often 24-48 hours).

The driver must not leave the scene of a crash involving injury or death until permitted by law enforcement.

Complete the carrier's accident report and any required drug and alcohol testing procedures after a crash meeting the testing criteria.

Preserve evidence: do not discuss fault, do not sign statements for other parties, and photograph the scene if it is safe.

A passenger (P) endorsement is required to drive a vehicle designed to carry 16 or more passengers including the driver; a school bus (S) endorsement is required in addition for school buses.

The P endorsement requires passing the passenger transport knowledge test and a skills test in a passenger vehicle of the appropriate class.

The P endorsement is added to the CDL and is subject to the same disqualification rules as the base CDL (serious traffic violations, major offenses).

CDL holders must self-certify their type of operation and provide a medical examiner's certificate when required; failure to do so can invalidate the CDL.

A CLP (commercial learner's permit) holder may drive a passenger vehicle only with a qualified CDL holder in the front seat and must hold the permit the required minimum period.

Disqualification: a first conviction for driving a CMV with a BAC of 0.04% or higher results in a one-year disqualification (three years if carrying hazardous materials).

Serious traffic violations (excessive speeding, reckless driving, improper lane change, following too closely) can disqualify a CDL holder for 60 days on a second offense within three years.

The driver must carry the CDL and any required endorsements while operating; operating without the proper endorsement is a violation.