OR CDL Passenger cheat sheet

Before every trip, walk the full length of the bus and check that all doors and emergency exits open and close smoothly, seats and stanchions are secure, and nothing blocks the aisles; Oregon requires this inspection before the vehicle is put into service.

Count passengers on loading and unloading; a driver is responsible for knowing whether anyone is still aboard, and a walk-through with a flashlight after the last stop is the standard check for sleeping or hidden passengers.

At railroad crossings, stop the bus no closer than 15 feet and no farther than 50 feet from the nearest rail, open the driver's window and door if needed to see and hear, then cross only when you can clear the tracks completely without stopping.

Never stop on tracks for traffic; if the crossing signals activate after you have started, keep moving if the path ahead is clear, and if you must stop, evacuate passengers away from the tracks and uphill of the crossing.

Approach crossings at a speed that lets you stop short of the rails; a bus is required to stop at all railroad crossings unless the crossing is marked exempt or a police officer or flagger directs traffic through.

Manage passengers by announcing stops in advance, requiring riders to remain seated or hold handrails until the bus stops, and refusing to move until boarding and alighting passengers are clear of the doors.

Distractions from passengers (conversation, disputes, moving in the aisle) are handled by pulling over safely first; do not turn around or take your eyes off the road to resolve a passenger issue while the bus is moving.

Secure wheelchairs and mobility devices with four-point tiedowns and use a lap and shoulder belt per the device and manufacturer instructions; a wheelchair must face forward and its brakes must be locked before you move.

Stop the bus so the rear door, when present, is just past the stop sign or marker, and set the parking brake before opening the door; open the door only after the bus is fully stopped.

Load and unload only at designated stops or safe locations; do not stop on railroad tracks, on a curve, on a hill crest, or where the bus would block a travel lane unnecessarily.

Standing passengers are allowed only when the bus is designed for standees and the aisle and handholds are clear; never let riders stand forward of the standee line beside the driver.

Passengers must not ride in the aisle steps, on the stairwell, or in front of the standee line; keep the aisle clear of luggage, strollers, and packages so riders can exit quickly in an emergency.

Carry-on baggage must be stowed so it cannot fall, block the aisle or exits, or become a projectile in a stop; large items go in the baggage compartment, not in the passenger area.

Hazardous materials are prohibited from the passenger compartment; do not accept gasoline cans, propane cylinders, fireworks, or other flammables, and check for leaking or smoking packages before departure.

Do not allow open containers of alcohol or riders who are clearly intoxicated or disorderly; refuse boarding and report the situation rather than arguing on the street.

After unloading, check the seats and aisle for sleeping passengers, lost children, and left items; a child left aboard is a life-threatening emergency, so walk the bus before securing it.

Emergency exits include side windows that open fully, roof hatches, and rear or side doors; know how each type opens on your bus and be able to explain it to passengers in an evacuation.

Inspect each emergency exit for free operation, a working release mechanism, and a buzzer or warning that sounds when the exit is unlatched; a disabled alarm is a defect that must be fixed before service.

Mark emergency exit instructions and controls so riders can find and operate them; keep exit paths clear of seats, stanchions, and baggage at all times.

A fire extinguisher must be mounted, charged, and within reach of the driver; know its location and how to use it, and check the gauge and pin during the pre-trip inspection.

Reflective triangles (or other warning devices) are carried to warn traffic when the bus is disabled; place them behind the bus, farther back on high-speed roads, and never in a live traffic lane where you could be struck.

Pre-trip inspection covers lights, turn signals, brake lights, horn, wipers, mirrors, tires, and fluid leaks; a defect in any safety item means the bus does not leave the yard.

Check that the fire extinguisher is the correct type for the vehicle and that the triangles are present, unbroken, and stored where they can be reached without moving passengers or cargo.

During the trip, watch for warning signs: a burning smell, smoke, a flat tire, or a brake warning light means stop safely, secure the bus, and decide whether to evacuate.

A loaded bus needs far more stopping distance than a car; increase following distance to at least one second per 10 feet of vehicle length plus one second, and more in rain, snow, or darkness.

Brake smoothly and early; passengers are injured most often by sudden stops, so scan ahead, ease off the accelerator, and use progressive brake pressure rather than slamming the pedal.

On a skid, take your foot off the brake or accelerator, steer in the direction you want the front of the bus to go, and avoid hard braking until the tires regain traction.

If the rear wheels skid, steer into the skid (toward the direction the rear is sliding) while looking and steering where you want to go, then correct back once traction returns.

Use engine braking and a lower gear on long downgrades; riding the brakes overheats them and can cause fade or complete loss of braking on a mountain grade.

Hazard perception means scanning 12 to 15 seconds ahead, checking mirrors every few seconds, and watching for riders moving in the aisle, vehicles merging, and pedestrians near stops.

In rain, the first minutes are the slickest as oil lifts from the pavement; reduce speed, increase following distance, and test brakes gently after driving through standing water.

Anticipate hazards at bus stops: a passenger may step into the street, a car may pass a stopped bus, or a child may run from between parked cars, so approach and leave stops slowly with your foot ready to brake.