Vehicle Inspection
What the exam tests
Vehicle inspection questions check whether you can perform a complete pre-trip and post-trip inspection and recognize school-bus-specific defects before they become passenger hazards.
Core rules
- Use a consistent walk-around sequence: overview, engine compartment, front and sides, rear, interior, then lights and brakes. A fixed order prevents skipped items.
- On a school bus, inspect the equipment students depend on: the stop arm, crossing control arm, amber and red warning lights, rear and side emergency exits, roof hatch, fire extinguisher, first aid kit, body-fluid cleanup kit, seats, and seat belts.
- Check tires for cuts, bulges, and tread depth; check wheels and lug nuts; test the parking brake; check steering play; verify brake and air pressure or hydraulic fluid.
- Test all lights with a helper: headlights, high beams, turn signals, four-way flashers, brake lights, backup lights, and the eight-light warning system.
- After every route, walk the bus and check for sleeping or left-behind students. Report any defect in writing.
Worked example
A driver extends the stop arm during pre-trip and it stops halfway. The driver tags the bus out of service. Reasoning: the stop arm is the legal signal that protects children crossing the road; a partially extended arm may not be seen by traffic, so the bus cannot safely load or unload students.
Traps that cost marks
Inspecting only the outside and skipping the interior; assuming a light works because it worked yesterday; checking the emergency door from outside only; forgetting the post-trip student check.