North Carolina CDL: School Bus Practice Test

Not quite. The answer is In the rear of the bus

When you return your bus to the school bus facility or parking lot, you must walk through the entire bus to check for any students remaining on the bus, perhaps because they fell asleep. A "No Child Left Behind" system (if so equipped) will force you to walk through the bus. When you shut off the bus, an alarm will automatically go off. To disable the alarm, you must press the alarm deactivation button located at the very rear of the bus. (Note: This technology is too new for the CDL manual.)

Not quite. The answer is Secure the bus, take the key, and check around and underneath the bus for the student.

When approaching a stop, count the students, and count them again as they load onto the bus. If you're unable to account for a student, secure the bus to keep it from moving, take the ignition key with you, and check around and underneath the bus.

Not quite. The answer is Swaying your body to see around obstructions

A vehicle's pillars help hold up the roof and maintain structural integrity of the vehicle. The pillars on a bus can be quite wide. Together with the side mirrors, they create obstructions to your vision that can be at least a foot wide, resulting in blind spots. A pedestrian (or even a small vehicle) can seem to disappear completely behind a pillar, which can be especially dangerous if you turn into the pedestrian's path. For this reason, your bus driving instructor may teach you to "rock and roll" when turning your bus: sway your body forward and backward and from side to side to help you see around the pillars and mirrors.

Not quite. The answer is evacuate the students upwind of the bus.

If the bus is on fire, don't waste time trying to put the fire out. Quickly evacuate everyone from the bus, ideally within two minutes. Lead the students at least 100 feet upwind of the bus to avoid exposing them to smoke or toxic gases. If the bus caught fire from an accident in which hazardous materials were spilled, lead the students at least 300 feet upwind of the bus.

Not quite. The answer is Evacuate the bus and move the students away at an angle to the tracks.

If your bus stalls on or adjacent to a railroad track, you must evacuate the bus even if you don’t see or hear an approaching train. Don't take any chances. A train can't yield the right-of-way to you. Have everyone walk at about a 45-degree angle to the tracks in the direction from which you expect a train to approach. That way, if your vehicle is hit, none of you will be struck by flying debris. Once you've reached a safe location, call 911 or the telephone number on the railroad crossing sign.

Not quite. The answer is National School Bus Glossy Yellow

The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued guidelines to the states on pupil transportation safety. One of these guidelines is that all school buses should be painted National School Bus Glossy Yellow (AMS-STD-595a color 13432). In accordance with this guideline, all states now require school buses to be painted this color. National School Bus Glossy Yellow was originally chosen for ease of visibility.

Not quite. The answer is Type D

The Type D school bus is often called transit style, because it resembles a transit bus. The body is constructed upon a stripped chassis. The engine can be forward, next to the driver's seat; or it can be placed in the rear. Note that the passenger entrance door and the driver's position are forward of the front wheels. This can affect how you steer the bus.

Not quite. The answer is dirt or shoeprints on the floor.

As part of your post-trip inspection of your bus, look for sleeping students that are still on the bus (yes, really), personal belongings that students may have left on the bus, mechanical or operational problems, and signs of damage or vandalism. Your district may give you more specific instructions.

Not quite. The answer is an eight-light

Federal regulations require school buses to be equipped with a warning light system. Each bus must have two flashing red lights in front and two in the rear, and optionally two flashing amber lights in front and two in the rear. All these lights are positioned above the windshield, as near to the top of the bus as possible. The flashing amber lights warn drivers that your bus is slowing down for a stop. The flashing red lights warn drivers that you are stopping or have stopped. In North Carolina, every school bus is required to have an eight-light warning system (i.e., all four flashing red lights and all four flashing amber lights). [North Carolina Specifications for School and Activity Buses, North Carolina Department of Public Instruction, August 15, 2019],

Source: 49 CFR 571.108

Not quite. The answer is All of the above

Hydroplaning is a unique situation where your bus loses traction on a slippery surface. If your bus is traveling straight, it may begin to feel slightly loose. If there was a high level of road feel in normal conditions, it may suddenly diminish. If the drive wheels hydroplane, there may be a sudden audible rise in engine RPM and indicated speed as they begin to spin. In a broad highway turn, if the front wheels lose traction, the bus will suddenly begin to drift toward the outside of the bend. If the rear wheels lose traction, the back of the bus will begin to slide out sideways into a skid. If all four wheels hydroplane at once, the bus will slide in a straight line, again toward the outside of the bend if in a turn. When any or all of the wheels regain traction, there may be a sudden jerk in whatever direction that wheel is pointed.

Not quite. The answer is Evacuate the bus and move the students away from the tracks at an angle toward oncoming trains.

If your bus stalls on railroad tracks, you must evacuate the students from the bus. Have the students exit the bus. Then lead them at an angle to the tracks in the direction from which you think a train may approach. That way, if your bus is hit, neither you nor the students will be struck by flying debris.

Not quite. The answer is keep your wheels from locking during hard braking.

By preventing your wheels from locking up, ABS allows you to brake harder on slippery roadways. ABS does not significantly affect the rest of your driving. It does not affect your braking capability or necessarily shorten your stopping distance.

Not quite. The answer is 200 feet

According to the North Carolina Commercial Driver License Manual, when approaching a railroad crossing, you should activate your hazard lights (four-way flashers) about 200 feet before the crossing. However, according to the North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles, you should activate the hazard lights about 300 feet before the crossing.

Source: "North Carolina School Bus Driver Handout," 2nd ed., North Carolina Department of Transportation Division of Motor Vehicles, March 2018

Not quite. The answer is 85%

For most parents, the bus driver is the only representative of the school system that they ever meet. Always be courteous and willing to listen to the parents' concerns.

Not quite. The answer is document and report all incidents and allegations.

The following strategies can help combat bullying and harassment: seat who are susceptible to bullying or being victimized children close to the driver; separate children who are fighting or having difficulty and assign seats; be “aware of everything” and watch for the moods and signs of troubled kids; talk with bullies about being respectful on the bus; intervene before anything happens and discuss with students; maintain a good relationship with each child; try to engage potential bullies in positive conversations; and above all, talk to students with respect. In cases of bullying or harassment, you as the school bus operator must document and report all incidents and allegations. Take all your concerns to your supervisor, principal or other designated school personnel.

Not quite. The answer is 45 degrees

To secure a wheelchair inside a school bus, first lock the wheelchair brakes and turn off the wheelchair power (if so equipped). Then attach each of the four tie-downs to a different securement ring on the wheelchair, if the wheelchair is so equipped. If not, attach each tie-down to a different point on the metal frame of the wheelchair. (Never attach a tie-down to a movable part of the wheelchair, such as a wheel or a footrest.) Adjust each tie-down so that it makes an angle of approximately 45 degrees with the floor.

Not quite. The answer is the bus is stalled on a railroad track, even if there is no train in sight.

If your bus stalls on or adjacent to a railroad track, you must evacuate the bus even if you don’t see or hear an approaching train. Don't take any chances. A train can't yield the right-of-way to you.

Not quite. The answer is operates smoothly and closes securely from the inside.

During your vehicle inspection test, check that the entry door is free of damage, opens smoothly, and closes securely from the inside. Also check that the entry handrails are secure and the step light (if any) is working properly.

Not quite. The answer is Passenger safety

As a bus driver, always remember that when you drive a passenger vehicle, your first responsibility is to ensure the safety of the passengers you're transporting. Passenger comfort and prompt arrival at the destination are important but secondary concerns.

Not quite. The answer is drive through the gate.

Never stop on railroad tracks. Never shift gears on railroad tracks either because there is a chance that your vehicle might stall. If the gate comes down after you've already started to cross the tracks, keep going and cross the tracks even if you have to drive through the gate.