School Bus (S) Endorsement CDL Practice Test

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  1. Under 49 CFR 383.123(a), which of the following is a requirement a driver must satisfy to obtain the S (school bus) endorsement, alongside the school-bus-specific knowledge and skills tests?
  2. Under 49 CFR 383.123(a)(2), the S-endorsement knowledge test must demonstrate the applicant's knowledge of exactly how many required topic areas?
  3. Which of the following is explicitly one of the four required topics on the S-endorsement knowledge test under 49 CFR 383.123(a)(2)?
  4. Per 49 CFR 383.123(b), a knowledge and skills test administered and FMCSA-approved before September 30, 2002 has what effect on the current S-endorsement requirements?
  5. Per 49 CFR 383.5, a commercial motor vehicle qualifies as a "school bus" for CDL purposes when it is used to transport students in which of the following ways?
  6. The S (school bus) endorsement can be added to which CDL license classes?
  7. A Commercial Learner's Permit (CLP) holder who has obtained the S endorsement but does not yet hold full CDL privileges must also carry which restriction?
  8. Which mirror type is mounted below the flat mirror and provides a wide-angle, intentionally distorted view of the entire side of the bus up to the mirror mounts and the front of the rear tires?
  9. Crossover mirrors, mounted at the front corners of a school bus, are specifically designed to show the driver which area?
  10. The overhead inside rearview mirror on a school bus primarily helps the driver monitor which of the following?
  11. ELDT training curriculum under 49 CFR Part 380, Appendix D requires school bus driver training to cover mirror types and use in connection with which federal motor vehicle safety standard?
  12. In the context of school bus danger-zone training, what is a "dart-out"?
  13. Per ELDT Unit D1.1 training requirements, why is instruction on "dart-outs" specifically paired with mirror system training?
  14. According to the AAMVA CDL Manual, when should a driver activate the alternating flashing amber warning lights (if the bus is so equipped) when approaching a school bus stop?
  15. Per the AAMVA CDL Manual, approximately how far from the stop (or how many seconds before pulling over) should a school bus driver turn on the right turn signal when approaching an official stop?
  16. Which of the following correctly orders a school bus driver's actions, from earliest to latest, while approaching an official school bus stop per the AAMVA CDL Manual?
  17. Why does the AAMVA CDL Manual direct drivers to stop with the bus's front bumper at least 10 feet away from students at the designated stop?
  18. What must a school bus driver do with the transmission and parking brake at every single stop made to load or unload students?
  19. When should a school bus driver activate the alternating red warning lights once stopped at a designated school bus stop?
  20. Per the AAMVA CDL Manual, how should students board the school bus at a designated route stop?
  21. A student who was waiting at the stop cannot be seen or accounted for after the other students have boarded. What does the AAMVA CDL Manual direct the driver to do?
  22. Once all students are accounted for and seated at a route stop, which of the following correctly reflects part of the departure sequence described in the AAMVA CDL Manual before re-entering traffic?
  23. What must be true before a school bus driver loading students at a route stop begins moving the bus?
  24. How does the loading procedure differ when students are boarding at the school campus, according to the AAMVA CDL Manual, compared to a loading stop along the route?
  25. At the school campus, when may a school bus driver leave the driver's compartment while students are loading?
  26. According to the AAMVA CDL Manual's route unloading procedure, what must students do when the bus stops at a designated unloading area?
  27. While students are unloading at a stop on the route, what must the driver do before pulling away to confirm everyone who should have gotten off actually did?
  28. A school bus driver realizes they drove past a student's scheduled unloading stop on the route without letting them off. What does the AAMVA CDL Manual say to do?
  29. A student exits the bus and must cross the roadway in front of it, where are they instructed to stop and wait for the driver's signal?
  30. Before a student may begin crossing the roadway in front of the school bus, what must they do while waiting at the edge of the road?
  31. After a student begins crossing on the driver's first signal, what must they do upon reaching the left edge of the school bus?
  32. What must a school bus driver do to secure the bus when unloading students at the school, that is NOT part of the on-route unloading procedure?
  33. When preparing to leave after unloading students at the school, what must the driver do that is not part of the departure sequence after a route stop?
  34. After telling students to exit at the school, what is the driver's responsibility while the students are stepping off the bus?
  35. If a student drops an object near the bus during loading or unloading, what are they instructed to do?
  36. Why does the AAMVA CDL Manual instruct students not to stop or go back for a dropped object near the bus?
  37. What does "handrail hang-up" refer to in the AAMVA CDL Manual, and what must the driver do about it?
  38. A school bus driver has just completed the final stop on today's route or activity trip. According to the AAMVA CDL Manual, which of the following is NOT one of the items the driver should check during the required post-trip inspection walk-through?
  39. During the post-trip inspection, the AAMVA CDL Manual says drivers should give special attention to a group of items that are unique to school buses. Which group is this?
  40. While conducting a post-trip inspection, a driver finds that a seat has been damaged, apparently from vandalism during the route. What does the AAMVA CDL Manual say the driver should do?
  41. According to the AAMVA CDL Manual, what is the general rule about keeping students on a school bus during an emergency or impending crisis?
  42. A bus is stopped near a hazardous materials spill from a nearby accident but is not in immediate danger of fire or collision. Per the CDL Manual's evacuation risk-assessment guidance, what must the driver weigh before deciding whether to evacuate?
  43. After a collision, downed power lines are near the bus. Which consideration should factor into the driver's decision on whether to evacuate, according to the AAMVA CDL Manual?
  44. Under the AAMVA CDL Manual, in which of these situations MUST a driver evacuate the school bus?
  45. Which of the following is NOT one of the mandatory evacuation triggers listed in the AAMVA CDL Manual?
  46. After a crash, the bus is resting on an unstable embankment where its position could shift and increase the danger to the occupants. This situation matches which mandatory evacuation trigger from the AAMVA CDL Manual?
  47. A school bus stalls directly on top of railroad tracks and will not restart. What does the AAMVA CDL Manual require the driver to do?
  48. When possible, the AAMVA CDL Manual recommends assigning two responsible, older student assistants to each emergency exit before an emergency ever happens. What is their role?
  49. Beyond the two student assistants assigned to each emergency exit, the AAMVA CDL Manual recommends assigning another student assistant to do what?
  50. Why does the AAMVA CDL Manual say that ALL students, not just the designated assistants, must know how to operate the emergency exits and must follow the driver's instructions?
  51. During a school bus emergency evacuation, how far off the road must a "safe place" be, and in what direction, to protect students from debris if another vehicle collides with the bus?
  52. If a school bus catches fire during an evacuation, in what direction should the driver lead students to reach a safe place?
  53. During an evacuation near railroad tracks, how should the driver lead students to reach a safe place?
  54. When there is a risk of a hazardous-materials spill during a school bus evacuation, how far upwind of the bus should the driver lead students?
  55. A school bus is in the direct path of a sighted tornado and evacuation is ordered, but no building shelter is available nearby. What should the driver do?
  56. When students shelter in a ditch or culvert during a tornado evacuation, how should they position their bodies?
  57. Besides ensuring students are far enough from the bus that it cannot topple on them, what other hazard should a driver avoid when choosing a tornado-evacuation shelter site?
  58. What is the correct sequence of actions for securing a school bus before ordering an emergency evacuation?
  59. According to the AAMVA manual, what should a school bus driver do with a radio microphone or cell phone before evacuating, if it is still operable?
  60. A school bus driver has no working radio during an emergency and needs outside help. According to the manual, what should the driver try before considering sending students for help?
  61. Which of the following is NOT one of the evacuation types the AAMVA manual lists for a driver to consider during a school bus emergency?
  62. During an evacuation, a driver believes a student may have suffered a neck or spinal injury. What does the AAMVA manual instruct?
  63. After all students have left the bus during an evacuation, what should the driver do before leaving the immediate area?
  64. Once all students are accounted for after an evacuation, what should the driver do regarding the scene itself?
  65. Per the AAMVA manual's evacuation planning guidance, what role is a designated student assistant meant to perform, separate from the driver's own duties?
  66. Under the federal ELDT curriculum for the school bus endorsement, which of the following is a required instructional topic within the Post-Crash Procedures unit?
  67. After a school bus crash, which of the following is specifically listed as a required Post-Crash Procedures training topic under the federal ELDT curriculum?
  68. Which topic is part of the required Post-Crash Procedures instruction under the school bus ELDT curriculum?
  69. Post-Crash Procedures (Unit D1.4) and Emergency Exit and Evacuation (Unit D1.5) are two separate required units in the school bus ELDT curriculum. Which topic belongs to Unit D1.4 rather than Unit D1.5?
  70. At a passive railroad-highway crossing, who is responsible for deciding whether it is safe to cross the tracks?
  71. Which combination of markings identifies a passive railroad-highway crossing?
  72. What distinguishes an active railroad-highway crossing from a passive one?
  73. What does the round, black-on-yellow advance warning sign placed ahead of a railroad-highway crossing tell a school bus driver to do?
  74. What do the pavement markings at a railroad-highway crossing consist of, and what do they convey?
  75. If a white stop line is painted on the pavement before a railroad crossing, where must the front of the school bus remain while stopped?
  76. What does the cross-buck sign at a railroad-highway crossing require a school bus driver to do?
  77. At a crossing with no painted stop line, where must the driver stop the school bus?
  78. When a road crosses more than one set of railroad tracks, what indicates the number of tracks to the driver, and what must the driver confirm before crossing?
  79. When the flashing red lights mounted on a cross-buck sign begin to flash as a school bus approaches a railroad crossing, what must the driver do?
  80. At a railroad crossing equipped with automatic gates, when is a school bus driver required to stop?
  81. After stopping for a lowered gate, when may a school bus driver proceed across the tracks?
  82. A train has passed, but the crossing gate stays down and the lights continue flashing. What should the school bus driver do?
  83. Approximately how far before a railroad crossing should a school bus driver activate the hazard warning lights?
  84. Which of the following describes the correct actions a school bus driver should take while approaching a railroad crossing?
  85. While approaching and stopping at a railroad crossing, where should the school bus driver position the vehicle, if possible?
  86. When stopping at a railroad crossing, within what distance range from the nearest rail should a school bus driver stop?
  87. After stopping at the required distance from a railroad crossing, what should the driver do before looking and listening for a train?
  88. When actually crossing the tracks after stopping, what is the correct technique, including at a crossing with multiple tracks?
  89. The gate arms begin to lower while the school bus is already in the process of crossing the tracks. What should the driver do?
  90. A school bus stalls and becomes trapped on the railroad tracks. What should the driver do?
  91. A police officer is present at a railroad crossing and is directing traffic. What should the school bus driver do?
  92. No police officer is present, and the driver suspects the crossing signal is malfunctioning. What should the driver do, and what must the driver confirm before crossing a passive crossing with no signal at all?
  93. A school bus driver approaches a railroad crossing that has a traffic signal or stop sign positioned on the far side, beyond the tracks. Before committing to the crossing, what must the driver confirm?
  94. What rule of thumb does the AAMVA CDL Manual give for judging whether the containment or storage area beyond a railroad crossing is big enough for a school bus to fully clear the tracks?
  95. Applying the AAMVA manual's "If it won't fit, don't commit!" guidance, what should a school bus driver do when there is not enough containment area beyond a railroad crossing to fully clear the tracks?
  96. Which vehicles does the Department of Transportation require to have antilock braking systems (ABS), per the AAMVA manual, and as of what dates?
  97. A school bus's yellow ABS malfunction lamp performs a bulb check and turns off at start-up, but then stays illuminated after that, or comes on while driving. What does this indicate, and what should the driver do?
  98. The AAMVA manual lists several safety reminders about what ABS will and will not do. Which of the following statements is NOT one of the manual's stated ABS limitations?
  99. During an emergency stop in a school bus equipped with ABS, what braking technique does the AAMVA manual direct the driver to use?
  100. Per the AAMVA manual, when should a school bus's roof-mounted white strobe lights be used, if the bus is equipped with them?
  101. Why does the AAMVA manual warn that strong winds are a particular hazard for school buses?
  102. If a school bus driver is caught in strong winds while driving, what does the AAMVA manual direct the driver to do?
  103. According to the AAMVA manual, under what circumstances is a school bus driver permitted to back the bus?
  104. When a school bus driver posts a lookout before backing, what is the lookout's job according to the AAMVA manual?
  105. If no lookout is available and a school bus driver must back the bus, what procedure does the AAMVA manual require before backing?
  106. At a student pick-up point where the school bus must back up to reposition, what sequence does the AAMVA manual require regarding students and backing?
  107. What is the maximum tail swing distance a school bus can have when making a turn?
  108. To monitor tail swing and avoid a tail-swing crash, when should a school bus driver check the mirrors?
  109. Why must a school bus driver specifically watch the mirrors during a turn, even after the front of the bus has already cleared an obstacle?
  110. A student starts misbehaving while other students are still unloading from the bus. What should the driver do?
  111. When handling a serious student discipline problem on the bus, what does the AAMVA CDL Manual list as the first recommended tip?
  112. If a school bus driver must leave the driver's seat to address a serious behavior problem, what must they do?
  113. Under AAMVA CDL Manual guidance, when may a school bus driver put a student off the bus?
  114. Under federal ELDT theory training requirements, which topic must school bus security instruction include?
  115. Federal ELDT theory training for school bus security specifically requires drivers to be trained on what to do in the event of which situation?
  116. Besides recognizing suspicious behavior, what else must school bus security training address under Unit D1.10?
  117. Why does federal ELDT theory training require school bus drivers to plan their routes before beginning to drive?
  118. In addition to route planning, what must Unit D1.11 training also cover regarding bus stops?
  119. If a school bus driver identifies a hazard along a route or at a bus stop, what does Unit D1.11 require training on?
  120. During a school-bus-specific pre-trip inspection, what must a driver verify about the stop arm and safety arm (if equipped)?
  121. A school bus driver has just finished the afternoon route. According to the required post-trip inspection procedure, what should the driver specifically check for, in addition to general mechanical problems?
  122. As part of the school-bus-specific vehicle inspection, what must a driver verify about the emergency exits and the first-aid/body-fluid cleanup kits?
  123. During the school-bus-only portion of the vehicle inspection, what must a driver inspect and demonstrate regarding the student lights?
  124. As part of understanding a school bus's physical characteristics and controls, why must a driver check and adjust each exterior mirror system, flat, convex, and crossover, before operating the bus?
  125. As part of a driver's knowledge of a school bus's physical/operational characteristics, what is the minimum tire tread depth that must be verified during inspection?
  126. As a basic physical/operational characteristic a CDL holder must understand, what passenger-capacity threshold makes a vehicle, including a school bus, subject to CDL requirements regardless of its weight?
Other practice categories:
General Knowledge Air Brakes Combination Vehicles Hazmat (H) Endorsement Tanker (N) Endorsement Doubles/Triples (T) Endorsement Passenger (P) Endorsement