NJ CDL Passenger cheat sheet
NJ CDL Passenger · Keep the key ideas within reach.
Passenger Vehicle Pre-Trip Inspection and Vehicle Safety
Walk-around order: start at driver door, move counterclockwise checking lights, tires, wheels, hubs, and body panels; finish inside the cab.
Tire rule: minimum tread depth 4/32 inch on front steering tires, 2/32 inch on all other tires; check with a gauge, not by eye.
Check for the following defects before driving: cracked or loose lug nuts, rust streaks around wheel nuts, and oil leaks at the hub seal.
Air brake check sequence: engine off, release parking brake, apply service brake and hold; leakage must not exceed 3 psi per minute for a single vehicle.
Low-air warning must activate before pressure drops below 60 psi; the spring (emergency) brakes must set between 20 and 45 psi.
Test the parking brake by applying it and gently pulling against it in a low gear; the vehicle must not move.
Inspect emergency exits: each door must open from inside and outside, and the audible/visible warning must sound when the exit is opened with the ignition on.
Check the passenger compartment for loose objects, sharp edges, and secure seats; report anything that could become a projectile in a stop.
Verify mirrors, windshield wipers, horn, defroster, and all interior lights work; a cracked mirror or dead wiper is an out-of-service item.
Loading, Unloading, and Passenger Safety
Never allow standees above the vehicle's posted seating/standing capacity; capacity limits are set by the manufacturer and shown on the placard.
Aisle and emergency exit paths must stay clear at all times; baggage goes in racks or under seats, never in the aisle.
Secure all cargo: a 30-pound object in a 30 mph crash can strike with roughly 900 pounds of force.
Before moving, confirm every passenger is seated or holding a handrail; signal the start with a brief announcement.
Stop within 12 inches of the curb at a bus stop where practical; deploy the wheelchair ramp only after the vehicle is fully stopped and the brake is set.
For wheelchair securement, use a four-point tie-down plus a lap and shoulder belt; the chair must not move more than 2 inches in any direction.
When unloading, watch the right mirror and door area for passengers, bicyclists, and pedestrians before opening the door and before pulling away.
Count passengers after every stop when carrying children or groups; never leave a passenger on the vehicle at the end of a run.
Do not allow passengers to board or exit while the vehicle is moving; the door interlock and driver attention are the primary controls.
Safe Driving Practices for Passenger Vehicles
Following distance: at least one second per 10 feet of vehicle length at speeds under 40 mph; add one second above 40 mph. A 40-foot bus needs 4 seconds under 40 mph and 5 seconds above.
Speed on curves: slow to the posted advisory speed before entering the curve; braking inside a curve risks a rollover because of the high center of gravity.
Space cushion: keep at least one car length of space to the front for each 10 mph of speed, and a lane to the side whenever possible.
Braking on air-brake vehicles requires a longer stopping distance; begin braking earlier and use a smooth, progressive pedal.
Railroad crossing approach: slow down, look and listen, and shift to a lower gear before the tracks; never shift while crossing.
At a crossing with a stop requirement, stop 15 to 50 feet before the nearest rail, then proceed only when the way is clear.
Never drive around a lowered gate or past flashing lights; if the gate lowers on your vehicle, stop and call for help, do not reverse.
Use the mirrors every 5 to 8 seconds and before every lane change; a passenger vehicle has large blind spots behind and beside it.
Downshift before long downgrades to control speed with engine braking; do not ride the brakes, which can fade and fail.
Emergency Procedures, Railroad-Highway Crossings, and Hours of Service
If a fire starts, stop, set the parking brake, shut off the engine, evacuate passengers upwind, and call 911; do not open the engine cover until the fire is out.
If the vehicle stalls on a railroad crossing, evacuate immediately and move at least 100 feet away at a 45-degree angle toward the approaching train.
Emergency exit use: roof hatches and side windows are secondary exits; instruct passengers on how to operate them before an emergency occurs.
Report a crash with injuries, a fatality, or a hazardous-material release immediately; a written report is due within 24 hours to the state.
Hours of service for property-carrying CMV drivers: 11-hour driving limit and 14-hour on-duty window after 10 consecutive hours off duty.
After 8 cumulative hours of driving, a 30-minute break is required; the break may be satisfied by on-duty-not-driving time.
The 60/70-hour limit applies over 7 or 8 consecutive days; a 34-hour restart resets the 60/70-hour cycle.
Keep a record of duty status for each 24-hour period and retain supporting documents for 6 months; falsifying logs is a disqualifying offense.
A driver must be medically certified and carry the card; a CDL is disqualified for a 0.04 percent or higher blood alcohol concentration while on duty.
Regulatory Requirements and CDL Rules for Passenger Carriers
CDL passenger endorsement (P) is required to drive a vehicle designed to carry 16 or more passengers, including the driver.
A school bus endorsement (S) is required in addition to the P endorsement to drive a school bus.
Passenger carriers must comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act: lift-equipped service and priority seating are required on fixed-route service.
Pre-trip and post-trip inspections must be documented; the driver signs the report and certifies that defects were corrected before the next trip.
Carry the CDL, medical examiner's certificate, and vehicle registration in the cab; present them on request to an inspector.
Out-of-service defects, such as a broken brake light or a defective tire, must be corrected before the vehicle is operated again.
Drug and alcohol testing is required for pre-employment, random, reasonable suspicion, post-accident, and return-to-duty situations.
A driver must report any traffic conviction to the employer within 30 days; disqualifying offenses must be reported immediately.
Passenger Vehicle Air Brakes and Inspection Details
Air brake test order: static leak test, applied leak test, low-air warning test, and spring brake test, performed in that sequence.
Static leak test: with the engine off and the system charged, the pressure should not drop more than 3 psi in one minute for a single vehicle.
Applied leak test: hold the service brake fully applied for one minute; leakage must not exceed 4 psi for a single vehicle.
Low-air warning: the buzzer and light must come on before pressure falls below 60 psi.
Spring brake test: with the engine off, fan the brakes to reduce pressure; the parking brake should apply between 20 and 45 psi.
Check the slack adjusters: with the brakes released, pull each slack adjuster by hand; movement of more than about 1 inch indicates a problem.
Drain the air tanks daily to remove moisture; a failed drain or excessive water indicates a compressor or dryer problem.
Check the brake chambers and hoses for cracks, cuts, and chafing; a leaking chamber is an out-of-service defect.
Passenger Safety and Emergency Evacuation
Evacuation order: stop the vehicle in a safe place, set the parking brake, shut off the engine, and open the primary exit.
Use the secondary exits only if the primary exit is blocked; roof hatches and rear doors are common secondary exits on buses.
Direct passengers to move at least 100 feet from the vehicle and upwind of any fire or spill.
Account for all passengers after evacuation; use the passenger count and seating chart to verify.
For a wheelchair passenger, remove the tie-downs only after the vehicle is stopped and the lift or ramp is deployed.
Carry a fire extinguisher rated for the vehicle and know its location; check the gauge monthly.
A first aid kit and a body-fluid cleanup kit are required equipment on passenger vehicles in most states.
If a passenger becomes ill or injured, stop the vehicle, render aid within your training, and call for emergency medical services.
Hours of Service and Recordkeeping for Passenger Drivers
Passenger-carrying drivers follow the 10-hour driving limit and 15-hour on-duty window after 8 consecutive hours off duty.
A 30-minute break is required after 8 cumulative hours of driving; the break can be on-duty-not-driving time.
The 60/70-hour limit applies over 7 or 8 consecutive days; a 34-hour restart resets the cycle.
Drivers must keep a record of duty status for each 24-hour period and retain supporting documents for 6 months.
The ELD rule applies to most interstate drivers; paper logs are allowed only under specific exceptions.
A driver may not drive after 60/70 hours on duty in 7/8 consecutive days until a restart is taken.
Sleeper berth splits allow two periods, one of at least 7 hours and one of at least 2 hours, to count toward the 10-hour off-duty requirement.
Falsifying a record of duty status is a serious violation that can result in disqualification and civil penalties.
Railroad-Highway Crossings for Passenger Vehicles
Approach every crossing prepared to stop; passenger vehicles need more stopping distance than cars.
Stop 15 to 50 feet before the nearest rail at a crossing with a stop sign or a posted stop requirement.
Look and listen in both directions before proceeding; open the window and turn off the radio and fan to hear a train.
Never shift gears while crossing the tracks; select the proper gear before the crossing.
If the gate lowers on your vehicle, stop and call for help; do not reverse or drive around the gate.
If the vehicle stalls on the tracks, evacuate passengers immediately and move at least 100 feet away at a 45-degree angle toward the approaching train.
Cross only when you can clear the tracks completely; never stop on the tracks in traffic.
Report any crossing malfunction, such as a stuck gate or dead lights, to the railroad and to local authorities.
Vehicle Safety Systems and Defect Reporting
Check the fire extinguisher gauge monthly and replace or recharge any unit that is low or damaged.
Test the backup alarm and the interior buzzer; a failed alarm is an out-of-service item on many passenger vehicles.
Inspect the emergency exit warning device: it must sound when an exit is opened with the ignition on.
Check the stop arm and crossing gate on school buses; both must deploy fully and retract completely.
Verify the first aid kit, body-fluid cleanup kit, and reflective triangles are present and complete.
Report defects in writing at the end of each shift; the next driver must know what is wrong before taking the vehicle.
Do not operate a vehicle with an out-of-service defect; the defect must be corrected and the correction documented.
Check the tires for cuts, bulges, and tread separation; a blown steer tire at highway speed is a leading cause of loss of control.
Passenger Loading and Unloading Procedures
Stop within 12 inches of the curb where practical; set the parking brake before opening the door.
Deploy the wheelchair ramp only after the vehicle is fully stopped and the brake is set.
Use a four-point tie-down plus a lap and shoulder belt for wheelchair passengers; the chair must not move more than 2 inches.
Count passengers after every stop when carrying children or groups; never leave a passenger on the vehicle at the end of a run.
Watch the right mirror and door area for passengers, bicyclists, and pedestrians before opening the door and before pulling away.
Never allow passengers to board or exit while the vehicle is moving.
Secure all cargo; baggage goes in racks or under seats, never in the aisle.
Announce the start of the trip and confirm every passenger is seated or holding a handrail before moving.
Safe Driving: Speed, Space, and Braking
Following distance: at least one second per 10 feet of vehicle length at speeds under 40 mph; add one second above 40 mph.
A 40-foot bus needs 4 seconds under 40 mph and 5 seconds above 40 mph.
Slow to the posted advisory speed before entering a curve; braking inside a curve risks a rollover.
Keep at least one car length of space to the front for each 10 mph of speed.
Use the mirrors every 5 to 8 seconds and before every lane change.
Air-brake vehicles need longer stopping distance; begin braking earlier and use a smooth, progressive pedal.
Downshift before long downgrades to control speed with engine braking; do not ride the brakes.
Never drive around a lowered gate or past flashing lights at a crossing.
Emergency Procedures for Passenger Vehicles
If a fire starts, stop, set the parking brake, shut off the engine, evacuate passengers upwind, and call 911.
Do not open the engine cover until the fire is out; opening it feeds oxygen to the fire.
If the vehicle stalls on a railroad crossing, evacuate immediately and move at least 100 feet away at a 45-degree angle toward the approaching train.
Report a crash with injuries, a fatality, or a hazardous-material release immediately; a written report is due within 24 hours.
Instruct passengers on how to operate emergency exits before an emergency occurs.
Use the secondary exits only if the primary exit is blocked; roof hatches and rear doors are common secondary exits.
Account for all passengers after evacuation; use the passenger count and seating chart to verify.
If a passenger becomes ill or injured, stop the vehicle, render aid within your training, and call for emergency medical services.
CDL and Regulatory Requirements
The CDL passenger endorsement (P) is required to drive a vehicle designed to carry 16 or more passengers, including the driver.
A school bus endorsement (S) is required in addition to the P endorsement to drive a school bus.
Carry the CDL, medical examiner's certificate, and vehicle registration in the cab.
Report any traffic conviction to the employer within 30 days; disqualifying offenses must be reported immediately.
A CDL is disqualified for a 0.04 percent or higher blood alcohol concentration while on duty.
Drug and alcohol testing is required for pre-employment, random, reasonable suspicion, post-accident, and return-to-duty situations.
Pre-trip and post-trip inspections must be documented; the driver signs the report and certifies that defects were corrected.
Out-of-service defects must be corrected before the vehicle is operated again.
Passenger Vehicle Inspection: Tires, Brakes, and Lights
Minimum tread depth: 4/32 inch on front steering tires, 2/32 inch on all other tires.
Check for cracked or loose lug nuts and rust streaks around wheel nuts.
Air brake static leak test: pressure should not drop more than 3 psi in one minute for a single vehicle.
Applied leak test: leakage must not exceed 4 psi in one minute.
Low-air warning must activate before pressure drops below 60 psi.
Spring brakes must set between 20 and 45 psi.
Slack adjuster movement of more than about 1 inch indicates a problem.
Drain the air tanks daily to remove moisture.
Passenger Vehicle Safety Equipment Checks
Check the fire extinguisher gauge monthly and replace or recharge any unit that is low or damaged.
Test the backup alarm and the interior buzzer; a failed alarm is an out-of-service item on many passenger vehicles.
The emergency exit warning device must sound when an exit is opened with the ignition on.
Verify the first aid kit, body-fluid cleanup kit, and reflective triangles are present and complete.
Inspect the emergency exits: each door must open from inside and outside.
Check the tires for cuts, bulges, and tread separation.
Report defects in writing at the end of each shift.
Do not operate a vehicle with an out-of-service defect.