NC CDL School Bus Test cheat sheet

The danger zone is the area within 10 feet of the school bus; students in this zone are at greatest risk because they are closest to the wheels and least visible to the driver.

The most dangerous point in loading/unloading is directly in front of the bus: the driver loses sight of a student who crosses in front once the student is within roughly 10 feet of the bumper.

Mirror setup for a conventional bus: the flat mirrors show the rear tires, the convex mirrors show the danger zone along both sides and in front, and the crossover mirrors show the front bumper area and the first 6 feet ahead.

When loading: stop with the front bumper at least 6 feet past the student's waiting point, set the parking brake, place the transmission in neutral (or park), and open the door only after traffic has been checked.

Students must wait at least 10 feet from the roadway edge until the bus has stopped and the driver signals them to board.

When unloading, students who must cross the road cross only in front of the bus, at a point at least 10 feet ahead of the bumper, and only after the driver signals.

The driver counts students as they exit and again after they clear the danger zone; a missing count means stop and search before moving.

A student dropped off must move directly away from the bus; if a dropped item rolls under the bus, the student must stop and ask the driver rather than retrieve it.

Typical exits: the service door, the rear emergency door, side emergency doors or windows, and roof hatches; each exit has a specific opening method and must be checked during the pre-trip inspection.

Rear emergency door operation: release the latch, push the door open, and secure it so it does not swing back; the door must open fully and the buzzer must sound when the door is unlatched.

Evacuation order by risk: fire at the rear means evacuate through the front service door; fire at the front means use the rear door.

Evacuation sequence: stop the bus in a safe location, set the parking brake, shut off the engine, remove the key, activate hazard lights, and radio for help before opening exits.

Students evacuate in a controlled manner, one at a time or in pairs, moving at least 100 feet from the bus and upwind of a fire, then assemble at a designated point for a head count.

The driver is the last person off the bus and takes the emergency kit, first aid kit, and roster; a head count is taken immediately after assembly and again after moving to the safe zone.

Drill practice: students should be trained to evacuate through the front door, rear door, and at least one side exit, and the driver should time the drill and critique it.

If the rear door is blocked, roof hatches are opened by pushing up on the hatch and rotating the release; students are assisted out and down from the roof.

At every crossing, the driver stops the bus between 15 and 50 feet from the nearest rail, sets the parking brake, opens the service door, and turns off noisy equipment (radio, fan) to listen.

Before proceeding, the driver looks and listens in both directions, then rechecks after opening the door; a second look is required because a train may have been hidden by the first look.

Never stop on the tracks: if traffic or signals would force a stop with the rear of the bus still on the crossing, wait before entering the crossing.

Cross only in a gear low enough that shifting is not needed while on the tracks; do not shift gears while crossing.

A flashing red light, a lowered gate, or a sounding bell means stop and remain stopped; never drive around a lowered gate, even if no train is visible.

If the bus stalls on the tracks, evacuate students immediately, move them at least 100 feet away and in the direction of the approaching train's expected path away from the tracks, then call 911 and the railroad emergency number posted at the crossing.

Passenger trains can be quieter and faster than expected; a train at 60 mph covers about 88 feet per second, so a visible train may reach the crossing in seconds.

School buses must stop at all railroad crossings, including those with active warning devices and those marked exempt, unless a state or local authority has specifically exempted the crossing for school buses.

The driver's authority begins when a student boards and ends when the student exits; the driver is responsible for order on the bus and at the stop.

Standing rules: students remain seated, facing forward, while the bus is moving; the aisle and emergency exits must stay clear at all times.

A progressive discipline approach: a verbal warning, then a seat change, then a written referral to the school administrator, then suspension of riding privileges.

The driver should not physically discipline a student; physical intervention is limited to preventing imminent harm and must be reported immediately.

Bullying and harassment on the bus are reported to the administrator the same day, with names, times, and descriptions documented.

A driver who must stop the bus to deal with a serious disturbance should pull off the roadway, set the parking brake, and radio dispatch before leaving the driver's seat.

Students must not be left unattended on the bus at the end of a route; the driver walks the bus and checks every seat and the rear before securing the vehicle.

Confiscated items and weapons are handled per district policy; the driver does not search a student's person.

Pre-trip inspection covers the exterior (tires, lights, mirrors, stop arm, exits, crossing gate, fluid leaks), the engine compartment (oil, coolant, belts, power steering, washer fluid), and the interior (brakes, horn, gauges, emergency equipment).

The brake check includes a static air-leak test (loss of no more than 3 psi per minute with the engine off and brakes released, and no more than 4 psi per minute with the brakes applied) and a low-air warning that activates by 60 psi.

The build-up test: with the engine at operating rpm, pressure should rise from 85 to 100 psi within 45 seconds; the governor cut-out should occur by about 130 psi and cut-in by about 100 psi.

The parking brake test: with the parking brake set, place the bus in a low gear and gently pull against the brake; the bus must not move.

The stop arm must extend fully and the red lights must flash when the door is opened; the crossing gate, if equipped, must lower and retract.

Any defect affecting safe operation (brakes, steering, lights, tires, exits, horn) means the bus is out of service until repaired; the driver reports it in writing to the carrier.

Post-trip inspection: walk the bus for sleeping students, check for damage or new defects, secure the bus, and complete the written report.

A driver who finds a defect during a trip reports it to dispatch immediately and follows the carrier's instructions for continuing, transferring students, or stopping.

Approach the stop with the turn signal on, stop with the front bumper even with or slightly past the students' waiting point, and set the parking brake before opening the door.

Activate the flashing red lights and stop arm only when students are actually loading or unloading; amber warning lights are used before the stop.

Students board and exit one at a time; the driver watches each student enter or leave and counts them at the door.

Before moving, the driver checks both mirrors, confirms all students are seated and clear of the danger zone, closes the door, cancels the red lights, and checks traffic again.

At a stop where students must cross, the driver signals the crossing students only after traffic in both directions has stopped and the driver has confirmed it is safe.

Never load or unload on a curve, hill crest, or where traffic cannot see the bus; choose a stop location with good sight distance.

If a student fails to appear at a stop, do not wait beyond the schedule; note it and continue, following district policy for reporting.

When backing is unavoidable, use a spotter and sound the horn; backing a school bus with students aboard is prohibited in most districts except in an emergency.

ABS prevents wheel lock-up during braking, which helps maintain steering control; it does not shorten stopping distance on all surfaces and does not replace safe following distance.

With ABS, apply firm, steady pressure to the brake pedal and hold it; do not pump the brakes.

The ABS warning light should come on briefly at start-up and then go out; if it stays on, ABS is disabled and the bus has normal (non-ABS) braking, so the driver reports the defect.

If the ABS light stays on, the driver should still drive with normal braking but allow extra stopping distance and report the fault before the next trip.

Brake lag on air-braked buses is about 0.3 to 0.4 seconds; total stopping distance equals perception distance plus reaction distance plus brake lag plus effective braking distance.

Following distance: use at least one second per 10 feet of vehicle length plus one second; for a 40-foot bus at speeds under 40 mph that is about 5 seconds, and add a second for speeds above 40 mph.

The stopping distance formula: at 55 mph a bus travels about 81 feet per second, so a 4-second gap covers roughly 324 feet before braking begins.

On slippery roads, reduce speed, increase following distance, and brake gently; ABS may activate and pulsing in the pedal is normal.

Railroad crossings, bridges, tunnels, and narrow roads require reduced speed and increased scanning; school buses are restricted from some tunnels and parkways, so check route restrictions.

In fog, rain, or snow, use low-beam headlights, reduce speed, and increase following distance; do not use high beams in fog because they reflect light back.

On ice or snow, start in a higher gear, brake gently, and steer smoothly; avoid sudden movements that break traction.

When a school bus is skidding, steer in the direction you want the front of the bus to go and do not brake hard.

At night, scan farther ahead and watch for students in dark clothing; the danger zone is harder to see, so use the mirrors and slow down near stops.

Strong wind affects a high-profile school bus; grip the wheel firmly, reduce speed, and be alert for students blown toward the roadway.

At intersections, look left, right, and left again before proceeding; a school bus needs more time to clear an intersection than a car.

When a hazard appears, the safest first action is usually to slow down and increase space, not to swerve; swerving a loaded bus risks a rollover.

After a crash: stop, set the parking brake, turn off the engine, activate hazard lights, and check for injuries before moving anyone.

Protect the scene: place warning triangles or flares behind the bus if it is safe to do so, and keep students on the bus unless there is fire, a hazardous material spill, or the bus is in a dangerous position.

Call 911 and dispatch with location, number of students, injuries, and hazards; do not move an injured student unless there is immediate danger.

Evacuate only when necessary, using the exit farthest from the hazard, and move students at least 100 feet away and upwind of fire or spills.

Account for every student with a head count at the assembly point and again after moving; report missing students to responders immediately.

Do not discuss fault or make statements about liability at the scene; provide facts to police and the carrier only.

Post-crash: complete the written crash report, preserve the scene and vehicle, and submit to drug and alcohol testing as required by the carrier and federal rules.

First aid and bloodborne pathogen precautions: use gloves from the emergency kit and avoid contact with blood; report exposure to the carrier.

A school bus endorsement (S) requires a CDL with passenger (P) endorsement, a knowledge test, and a skills test in a school bus; the driver must also meet the medical certification requirements.

Eligibility: be at least 18 for intrastate driving and 21 for interstate, hold a valid CDL or CLP, pass the school bus knowledge test, and pass a background check and fingerprint clearance where required.

The school bus knowledge test covers danger zones, loading and unloading, railroad crossings, emergency exits, student management, and inspection.

The S endorsement requires the P endorsement; a driver cannot hold S without P, and the skills test must be taken in a school bus of the appropriate class.

Disqualifying offenses: DUI, leaving the scene of a crash, and using a vehicle to commit a felony disqualify a driver; serious traffic violations can lead to suspension.

The driver must have a valid medical examiner's certificate and carry it, and must self-certify the type of driving (interstate or intrastate).

Annual requirements include a driving record check and, for many carriers, a refresher training and physical performance test.

The CDL is issued by the state; the driver must carry the CDL and medical certificate while driving and must report address changes and medical status changes.