CDL Passenger Endorsement Practice Test

All 35 questions with answers

For reading through. Tap "Show answer" under a question to see the answer and the reason.

1. Which endorsement letter do you need to drive a bus?

   1. P
   2. B
   3. T
   4. S
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   A. P P is passenger. S is school bus, which is added on top of P for school bus drivers. (49 CFR 383.153)

2. You need a passenger endorsement to drive a vehicle designed to carry at least how many people?

   1. 24, not counting the driver
   2. 8, not counting the driver
   3. 16, including the driver
   4. 10, including the driver
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   C. 16, including the driver A vehicle designed to transport 16 or more passengers, counting the driver, is a commercial motor vehicle and needs the P endorsement. (49 CFR 383.5)

3. To get the passenger endorsement you must pass:

   1. A skills test only
   2. A knowledge test and a skills test in a passenger vehicle
   3. A knowledge test only
   4. A medical exam only
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   B. A knowledge test and a skills test in a passenger vehicle Federal rules require both for P. If the bus has air brakes you also need the air brakes knowledge test. (49 CFR 383.93(c)(2))

4. Before driving, you review the previous driver’s inspection report. You should sign it only if:

   1. You have read it
   2. The bus starts
   3. The defects reported were certified as repaired or not needing repair
   4. Your supervisor tells you to
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   C. The defects reported were certified as repaired or not needing repair Your signature certifies that the defects reported earlier have been fixed or did not need fixing. (CDL manual: Transporting Passengers)

5. Which tires must never be used on the front wheels of a bus?

   1. Recapped, retreaded or regrooved tires
   2. Tires under two years old
   3. Tubeless tires
   4. Radial tires
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   A. Recapped, retreaded or regrooved tires No bus may run with regrooved, recapped or retreaded tires on its front wheels. (49 CFR 393.75(d))

6. Which set of warning devices meets the emergency equipment rule for a bus?

   1. Four road cones
   2. One triangle and a flashlight
   3. Three reflective triangles
   4. Two flares
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   C. Three reflective triangles Three reflective triangles, or at least six fuses or three liquid-burning flares, plus a fire extinguisher. (CDL manual: Transporting Passengers)

7. A bus must carry spare electrical fuses unless:

   1. It runs only in daylight
   2. It is equipped with circuit breakers
   3. It is under 5 years old
   4. It has a restroom
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   B. It is equipped with circuit breakers Spare fuses are part of the required equipment unless the bus uses circuit breakers instead. (CDL manual: Transporting Passengers)

8. If an emergency exit door has a red emergency door light, it must work and be on:

   1. Only when the door is open
   2. At night or any other time you use your outside lights
   3. Only in a crash
   4. Only at stops
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   B. At night or any other time you use your outside lights The "Emergency Exit" sign must be clearly visible, and never drive with an emergency door or window open. (CDL manual: Transporting Passengers)

9. Can you lock an emergency roof hatch partly open for fresh air?

   1. Yes, at all times
   2. Only with no riders aboard
   3. Yes, but not as a regular practice, and remember the higher clearance
   4. Never
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   C. Yes, but not as a regular practice, and remember the higher clearance Some hatches may be locked partly open. Do not make a habit of it, and allow for the extra height. (CDL manual: Transporting Passengers)

10. Where may riders leave their carry-on baggage?

    1. In the doorway
    2. In the aisle if it is small
    3. On the driver’s dashboard
    4. Anywhere that does not block the aisle or doorways
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    D. Anywhere that does not block the aisle or doorways Nothing that could trip riders may be in the aisle or doorways. (CDL manual: Transporting Passengers)

11. Baggage and freight on a bus must be secured so that it:

    1. Is next to the driver
    2. Can be reached by every rider
    3. Is out of sight
    4. Lets the driver move freely, leaves every exit usable and cannot fall on riders
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    D. Lets the driver move freely, leaves every exit usable and cannot fall on riders The driver must be able to move freely, riders must be able to get out any door or window in an emergency, and they must be protected from falling or shifting items. (49 CFR 392.62(c))

12. How many different diamond-shaped hazard labels are there?

    1. Four
    2. Twelve
    3. Six
    4. Nine
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    D. Nine Nine four-inch, diamond-shaped labels. Watch for them on riders’ packages and freight. (CDL manual: Transporting Passengers)

13. Which of these may a bus carry?

    1. Division 2.3 poison gas
    2. Tear gas
    3. Labeled radioactive material in the passenger area
    4. Small-arms ammunition labeled ORM-D
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    D. Small-arms ammunition labeled ORM-D Small-arms ammunition labeled ORM-D, emergency hospital supplies and drugs are allowed. The others are forbidden on buses. (CDL manual: Transporting Passengers)

14. A bus must never carry more than how much solid Class 6 poison?

    1. 500 pounds
    2. 10 pounds
    3. 50 pounds
    4. 100 pounds
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    D. 100 pounds Never more than 100 pounds of solid Class 6 poisons. Liquid Class 6 poison is not allowed at all. (CDL manual: Transporting Passengers)

15. What is the most allowed hazardous material a bus may carry in total?

    1. 250 pounds
    2. 100 pounds
    3. 1,000 pounds
    4. 500 pounds, with no more than 100 pounds of any one class
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    D. 500 pounds, with no more than 100 pounds of any one class Never more than 500 pounds of allowed hazardous materials in total, and not more than 100 pounds of any one class. (CDL manual: Transporting Passengers)

16. Explosives may be carried in the space occupied by passengers:

    1. If under 100 pounds
    2. On charter trips only
    3. If they are labeled
    4. Never, except small-arms ammunition
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    D. Never, except small-arms ammunition No explosives in the passenger space except small-arms ammunition. (49 CFR 177.870(c))

17. A rider wants to bring a car battery and a can of gasoline aboard. You should:

    1. Put them in the aisle
    2. Allow it if they are in a bag
    3. Allow it on short trips
    4. Not allow them on the bus
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    D. Not allow them on the bus Riders sometimes bring unlabeled hazardous materials. Do not let them carry on common hazards such as car batteries or gasoline. (CDL manual: Transporting Passengers)

18. What does the standee line show?

    1. Where the emergency exit is
    2. Where riders line up outside
    3. Where wheelchairs go
    4. That no rider may stand forward of the rear of the driver’s seat
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    D. That no rider may stand forward of the rear of the driver’s seat All standing riders must stay behind it. A bus built for standees must have it or some other way of showing the limit. (49 CFR 392.62(a); 393.90)

19. A standee line painted on the floor must be at least how wide?

    1. 4 inches
    2. Half an inch
    3. 1 inch
    4. 2 inches
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    D. 2 inches A line of contrasting color at least 2 inches wide, or some other means of showing riders where they may not stand. (49 CFR 393.90)

20. When arriving at a destination or intermediate stop, you should announce:

    1. The weather
    2. The location, the reason for stopping, the next departure time and the bus number
    3. Nothing unless asked
    4. Only the location
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    B. The location, the reason for stopping, the next departure time and the bus number Also remind riders to take their carry-ons, and warn them of any step-down, preferably before the bus comes to a complete stop. (CDL manual: Transporting Passengers)

21. Why should a charter bus driver keep riders off the bus until departure time?

    1. To help prevent theft or vandalism of the bus
    2. To save fuel
    3. So the driver can take a break
    4. Because it is a federal rule
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    A. To help prevent theft or vandalism of the bus An unattended bus with people aboard is open to theft and damage. (CDL manual: Transporting Passengers)

22. You have a drunk or disruptive rider. Where should you have the rider get off?

    1. On the highway shoulder
    2. Wherever the problem starts
    3. At a safe place, such as the next scheduled stop or a well-lit area with other people
    4. Never; they must stay aboard
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    C. At a safe place, such as the next scheduled stop or a well-lit area with other people You are responsible for that rider’s safety as well as everyone else’s. Do not put them off where it would be unsafe. (CDL manual: Transporting Passengers)

23. Where do bus crashes often happen?

    1. On bridges
    2. At intersections
    3. In parking lots
    4. On straight highways
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    B. At intersections Use caution at intersections even when a signal or stop sign controls the other traffic. (CDL manual: Transporting Passengers)

24. Pulling out from a bus stop, you should:

    1. Sound the horn and go
    2. Pull out quickly before a gap closes
    3. Wait for a big enough gap to open
    4. Signal and pull out; traffic will brake for you
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    C. Wait for a big enough gap to open Know the gap your bus needs to accelerate and merge. Never assume other drivers will brake to let you in. Watch mirrors, poles and branches at the stop. (CDL manual: Transporting Passengers)

25. Your bus leans toward the outside on a banked curve. This means:

    1. It is normal at the posted speed
    2. The suspension is broken
    3. You are driving too fast
    4. The load is too light
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    C. You are driving too fast Posted curve speeds are safe for cars but may be too high for a bus. With good traction a bus can roll; with poor traction it can slide off. (CDL manual: Transporting Passengers)

26. A bus carrying passengers must stop at a railroad crossing:

    1. Between 15 and 50 feet from the tracks
    2. Within 10 feet of the tracks
    3. Only if a train is visible
    4. More than 100 feet from the tracks
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    A. Between 15 and 50 feet from the tracks Then look and listen both ways and cross in a gear that needs no shift on the tracks. (49 CFR 392.10(a)(1))

27. At a railroad crossing, you should open the forward door if:

    1. A rider asks
    2. It is raining
    3. It helps you see or hear an approaching train
    4. The bus is too hot
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    C. It helps you see or hear an approaching train Also, after a train passes, make sure no other train is coming the other way on another track before you cross. (CDL manual: Transporting Passengers)

28. Where may a bus slow down and check carefully instead of stopping at a railroad crossing?

    1. When running late
    2. At night
    3. At a crossing marked "exempt"
    4. At any crossing without gates
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    C. At a crossing marked "exempt" Also at streetcar crossings, where a police officer or flagman directs traffic, and where a traffic signal is green. (CDL manual: Transporting Passengers)

29. At a drawbridge with no signal light or attendant, you must stop at least:

    1. 300 feet before the draw
    2. 15 feet before the draw
    3. 50 feet before the draw
    4. 100 feet before the draw
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    C. 50 feet before the draw Stop at least 50 feet before the draw and look to be sure it is completely closed before crossing. (CDL manual: Transporting Passengers)

30. At the end of a shift for an interstate carrier, the written inspection report must:

    1. Identify each bus and list any defect, or say there are none
    2. Be sent to the state DMV
    3. Cover only the brakes
    4. Be filed only if a defect was found
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    A. Identify each bus and list any defect, or say there are none Riders often damage handholds, seats, exits and windows, so report it and let mechanics fix it before the bus goes out again. (CDL manual: Transporting Passengers)

31. When may you refuel a bus in a closed building with riders on board?

    1. Never
    2. When the riders agree
    3. When it is raining
    4. When the trip is long
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    A. Never Avoid fueling with riders on board unless absolutely necessary, and never do it in a closed building. (CDL manual: Transporting Passengers)

32. A bus with riders on board breaks down. May it be towed or pushed?

    1. Yes, to the garage
    2. Only if getting off would be more dangerous, and only to the nearest safe place
    3. Never, under any circumstances
    4. Yes, at under 20 mph
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    B. Only if getting off would be more dangerous, and only to the nearest safe place No towing or pushing with passengers aboard unless unloading them would be less safe, and then only to the nearest point where they can get off safely. (49 CFR 392.63)

33. What does a brake-door interlock on a transit bus do?

    1. Opens the doors when the bus stops
    2. Locks the doors while moving
    3. Applies the brakes and holds the throttle at idle while the rear door is open
    4. Sets the parking brake at every stop
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    C. Applies the brakes and holds the throttle at idle while the rear door is open It releases when the rear door closes. It is not a substitute for the parking brake. (CDL manual: Transporting Passengers)

34. Can you use the brake-door interlock in place of the parking brake?

    1. Yes, for short stops
    2. No
    3. Only at the end of the route
    4. Yes, on level ground
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    B. No The interlock is a safety feature for the rear door, not a parking brake. (CDL manual: Transporting Passengers)

35. While driving a bus, which of these should you avoid?

    1. Talking with riders
    2. Checking mirrors
    3. Scanning the interior
    4. Reminding riders to keep arms inside
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    A. Talking with riders Talking with riders or any other distracting activity while driving is a prohibited practice. Scanning the interior and reminding riders of the rules are part of the job. (CDL manual: Transporting Passengers)