FREE CDL Permit Bus Training

CDL Passenger Endorsement

Before driving your bus, you must be sure it is safe. You must review the inspection report made by the previous driver. Only if defects reported earlier have been certified as repaired or not needing repair should you sign the previous driver's report. This is your certification that the defects reported earlier have been fixed.

Make sure the following items are in good working order before driving. Service brakes, including air hose cufflinks -- if your bus has a trailer or semi trailer -- parking brake, steering mechanism, lights and reflectors, tires -- front wheels must not have recapped or regrooved tires -- horn, windshield wiper or wipers, rear vision mirror or mirrors, cufflink devices if present, and emergency equipment. As you check the outside of the bus, close any open emergency exits. Also close any open access panels for baggage, restroom service, engine, et cetera before driving.

People sometimes damage unattended buses. Always check the interior of the bus before driving to ensure rider safety. Aisles and stairwells should always be clear. The following parts of your bus must be in safe working condition. Each hand-hold and railing, floor covering and emergency exit handles. The seats must be safe for riders. All seats must be securely fastened to the bus. Never drive with an open emergency exit door or window. The emergency exit sign on an emergency door must be clearly visible. If there is a red emergency door light, it must work. Turn it on at night or any other time you use your outside lights. You may lock some emergency roof hatches in a partly open position for fresh air. Do not leave them open as a regular practice. Keep in mind the bus' higher clearance while driving with them open. Make sure your bus has the fire extinguisher and emergency reflectors required by law. The bus must also have spare electrical fuses unless equipped with circuit breakers.

Use your seat belt. The driver seat should have a seat belt. Always use it for safety. Do not allow riders to leave carry-on baggage in a doorway or aisle. There should be nothing in the aisle that might trip up other riders. Secure baggage and freight in ways that avoid damage and allow the driver to move freely and easily, allow riders to exit by any window or door in an emergency, and protect riders from injury if carry-ons fall or shift.

Standee line - No rider may stand forward of the rear of the driver seat. Buses designed to allow standing must have a two-inch line on the floor, or some other means of showing riders where they cannot stand. This is called the standee line. All standing riders must stay behind it.

At your destination - When arriving at the destination or intermediate stops, announce the location, the reason for stopping, and the next departure time. Remind riders to take carry-ons with them if they get off the bus. If the aisle is on a lower level than the seats, remind riders of the step down. It is best to tell them before coming to a complete stop. Charter bus drivers should not allow riders on the bus until departure time. This will help prevent theft or vandalism of the bus.

Hazardous materials - watch for cargo or baggage containing hazardous materials. Most hazardous materials cannot be carried on a bus. The Federal Hazardous Materials table shows which materials are hazardous. They pose a risk to health, safety, and property during transportation. Rules require shippers to mark containers of hazardous material with the material's name, identification number, and hazard label. There are nine different four-inch diamond-shaped hazard labels like the example shown in figure 4.1. Watch for the diamond-shaped labels. Do not transport any hazardous material unless you're sure the rules allow it.

Forbidden hazardous materials - Buses may carry small arms ammunition labeled ORM-D, emergency hospital supplies, and drugs. You can carry small amounts of some other hazardous materials if the shipper cannot send them any other way. Buses must never carry Division 2.3 poison gas, Liquid Class 6 poison, Tear gas or irritating material, more than 100 pounds of solid Class 6 poisons, explosives in the space occupied by people, except small arms ammunition, labeled radioactive materials in the space occupied by people, more than 500 pounds total of allowed hazardous materials, and no more than 100 pounds of any one class. Riders sometimes board a bus with an unlabeled hazardous material. Do not allow riders to carry on common hazards such as car batteries or gasoline.

Many charter and intercity carriers have passenger comfort and safety rules. Mention rules about smoking, drinking, or use of radio and tape players at the start of the trip. Explaining the rules at the start will help to avoid trouble later on. While driving, scan the interior of your bus as well as the road ahead, to the sides and to the rear. You may have to remind riders about rules, or to keep arms and heads inside the bus. Riders can stumble when getting on or off, and when the bus starts or stops. Caution riders to watch their step when leaving the bus. Wait for them to sit down or brace themselves before starting. Starting and stopping should be as smooth as possible to avoid rider injury.

Occasionally, you may have a drunk or disruptive rider. You must ensure this rider's safety as well as that of others. Do not discharge such riders where it would be unsafe for them. It may be safer at the next scheduled stop, or a well-lighted area where there are other people. Many carriers have guidelines for handling disruptive riders.

The most common bus crashes - Bus crashes often happen at intersections. Use caution even if a signal or stop sign controls other traffic. School and mass transit buses sometimes scrape off mirrors or hit passing vehicles when pulling out from a bus stop. Remember the clearance of your bus needs and watch for poles and tree limbs at stops. Know the size of the gap your bus needs to accelerate and merge with traffic. Wait for the gap to open before leaving the stop. Never assume other drivers will brake to give you room when you signal or start to pull out. [inaudible] kill people and destroyed buses result from excessive speed often when rain or snow has made the roads slippery. Every banked curve has a safe design speed. In good weather, the posted speed is safe for cars, but it may be too high for many buses. With good traction, the bus may roll over. With poor traction, it might slide off the curve. Reduce speed for curves. If your bus leans towards the outside on a bank curve, you are driving too fast.

Stop at railroad crossings. Stop your bus between 15 and 50 feet before railroad crossings. Listen and look in both directions for trains. You should open your forward door if it improves your ability to see or hear any approaching train. Before crossing after a train has passed, make sure there is not another train coming in the other direction on the other track. If your bus has manual transmission, never change gears while crossing the tracks. Stop at railroad crossings. Stop your bus between 15 and 50 feet before railroad crossings. Listen and look in both directions for trains. You should open your forward door if it improves your ability to see or hear any approaching train. Before crossing after a train has passed, make sure there is not another train coming in the other direction on the other track. If your bus has manual transmission, never change gears while crossing the tracks. You do not have to stop, but must slow down and carefully check for other vehicles at street car crossings, at railroad tracks used only for industrial switching within a business district, where a policeman or a flagman is directing traffic, if a traffic signal shows green, or at crossings marked as exempt or abandon. Stop at drawbridges. Stop at drawbridges that do not have a signal light or traffic control attendant. Stop at least 50 feet before they draw the bridge. Look to make sure the draw is completely closed before crossing. You do not need to stop, but must slow down and make sure it is safe when there is a traffic light showing green, or the bridge has an attendant or traffic officer who controls traffic whenever the bridge opens.

Inspect your bus at the end of each shift. If you work for an interstate carrier, you must complete a written inspection report for each bus driven. The report must specify each bus and list any defect that would affect safety or result in a breakdown. If there are no defects, the report should say so. Riders sometimes damage safety related parts such as hand holds, seats, emergency exits and windows. If you report this damage at the end of a shift, mechanics can make repairs before the bus goes out again. Mass transit drivers should also make sure pass your signaling devices and brake door interlocks work properly. Avoid fueling your bus with riders onboard unless absolutely necessary. Never refuel in a closed building with riders onboard. Don't talk with riders or engage in any other distractive activity while driving. Do not tow or push a disabled bus with riders aboard the vehicle unless getting off would be unsafe. Only tow or push the bus to the nearest safe spot to discharge all passengers. Follow your employer's guidelines on towing or pushing disabled buses.