ND CDL Passenger key terms

A required walk-around check of the bus before driving, covering lights, brakes, tires, steering, mirrors, emergency exits, and passenger items, performed to catch defects that could cause a breakdown or crash.

A stationary test where the driver builds air pressure, checks the gauge for leakage, and confirms the low-pressure warning activates, verifying the air brake system will hold and stop the bus safely.

A buzzer and light that activate when air brake pressure drops below a safe level, warning the driver to stop and find the leak before the emergency spring brakes apply automatically.

Parking and emergency brakes held applied by heavy springs and released by air pressure; they clamp on automatically when air pressure falls too low, bringing the bus to a stop.

A test that the parking brake will hold the bus, usually done by applying it and gently pulling against it in gear to confirm the bus does not roll.

Checking that every marked emergency door, window, and roof hatch opens freely from the inside, is unobstructed, and has a readable operating instruction label and working alarm if equipped.

A written record the driver completes listing any mechanical or safety problem found during inspection or driving, so the carrier can repair it before the bus is used again.

A defect serious enough that the bus must not be driven until repaired, such as a non-working brake, steering problem, or broken emergency exit, and must be reported immediately.

Setting flat and convex mirrors so the driver can see both sides of the bus, the rear wheels, and blind spots before moving, since bus blind spots are large and hide pedestrians and cars.

An area around the bus the driver cannot see in the mirrors, including directly behind, alongside the rear wheels, and in front of the hood, where smaller vehicles and pedestrians can disappear.

A designated area where passengers board or exit, chosen so the bus is clear of traffic lanes, has firm level ground, and lets passengers reach a sidewalk or safe path without crossing traffic unexpectedly.

The ordered steps for stopping: signal early, pull in smoothly, set the parking brake, secure the bus, open the door, supervise boarding, close the door, check mirrors, and re-enter traffic only when clear.

A passenger who rides while standing, permitted only up to the bus's posted standing capacity and never in aisles marked closed or in front of the standee line.

A marked line on the floor near the driver that standing passengers may not cross, keeping the aisle and driver's area clear so the driver's view and control of the bus are not blocked.

The maximum number of seated and standing passengers a bus is designed and posted to carry, which the driver must never exceed because overloading harms braking, handling, and evacuation.

Counting passengers as they board and exit, or after a stop, to confirm no one is left behind and the number aboard matches the trip record, especially important with children or groups.

Walking the aisle at the end of a run or layover to wake and remove anyone still aboard, preventing a passenger from being locked in or left at a terminal.

Shutting off the engine, removing the key, and setting the parking brake whenever the driver leaves the seat, so the bus cannot roll or be moved by an unauthorized person.

A hazard where a bus turning right swings wide and then cuts back, trapping a cyclist or pedestrian between the bus and the curb; drivers must check mirrors and turn slowly.

The gap kept behind the vehicle ahead, longer than for a car because a loaded bus needs more room to stop; a common guide is at least one second per ten feet of bus length.

The steps at a crossing: stop if required, turn off noisy fans or radios, open the window, look and listen both ways, and proceed only when certain no train is coming.

Slowing before a curve or ramp to a safe speed, because a bus is tall and heavy and can roll over or drift into another lane if entered too fast.

Any activity that takes attention from the road, such as phone use, eating, or talking to passengers, which is especially risky in a bus carrying many people.

Physical or mental tiredness that slows reaction time and judgment; drivers must get rest, take breaks, and not drive when drowsy, since fatigue causes crashes.

Federal limits on driving and on-duty time for commercial drivers, including required rest breaks, designed to prevent fatigue-related crashes on passenger routes.

A record of driving and on-duty hours a commercial driver keeps as required, showing compliance with hours-of-service rules and available for inspection by enforcement.

A short talk or demonstration before departure telling passengers where emergency exits are, how to use them, and what to do in an emergency, required on many passenger trips.

Getting passengers off a bus quickly and safely after a crash, fire, or other danger, using the nearest exits and keeping people away from traffic and hazards.

The skill of using the onboard extinguisher with the PASS method: pull the pin, aim at the base, squeeze the handle, and sweep side to side, only if safe to fight a small fire.

A diamond-shaped sign on a vehicle warning of dangerous cargo; passenger drivers must recognize these and keep a safe distance, since buses must not carry such loads.

The steps after a collision: stop, protect the scene, check for injuries, call for help, move people to safety if needed, and exchange information without leaving the scene.

Notifying police and the carrier promptly after a collision, providing required details, and completing written reports, since leaving the scene or failing to report can be a crime.

Basic emergency care given before professionals arrive, such as controlling bleeding, keeping an injured person still, and not moving someone with a suspected neck or back injury.

A sudden tire failure; the driver should grip the wheel firmly, keep the bus straight, ease off the accelerator, and avoid hard braking so the bus does not swerve or roll.

Regaining control when tires lose traction by steering where you want to go, easing off the accelerator, and avoiding hard braking, which can worsen the skid.

The driver's response to a threat aboard: stay calm, avoid confrontation, follow company policy, and alert authorities when safe, putting passenger safety first.

Onboard equipment such as a fire extinguisher, first aid kit, reflective triangles, and fuses, checked before each trip so it is present and working when needed.