CDL School Bus Sample Questions

Questions from each area of the CDL School Bus test. Pick an answer to see whether you're right, how everyone else did, and why.

CDL School Bus Test exam guide

1 Loading and unloading children

A student standing off the right side of a stopped school bus is inside the danger zone at each of these distances EXCEPT:

  1. 3 feet from the bus.
  2. 8 feet from the bus.
  3. 15 feet from the bus.

Answer: C, 15 feet from the bus.. On each side, the danger zone stretches 10 feet out from the bus. A student 15 feet away is past that edge, but a student 3 or 8 feet away is still inside it. (CDL manual 10.1.1)

Before you open the door fully and signal students to come to the bus, you should:

  1. sound the horn so the students know to come.
  2. check the inside mirror to see your seated riders.
  3. look once more to be sure every vehicle has stopped.

Answer: C, look once more to be sure every vehicle has stopped.. A car may still be moving even with the red lights on. Check one last time that all traffic has stopped before students start toward the bus. (CDL manual 10.2.1)

After a crash, some students on your school bus may have back injuries or broken bones. As you decide whether to evacuate, remember that:

  1. injured students are easier to treat off the bus.
  2. moving them could make their injuries worse.
  3. injured students should get off the bus first.

Answer: B, moving them could make their injuries worse.. Moving a student with a neck or back injury or a broken bone can make the injury worse. Weigh this before you decide to evacuate. (CDL manual 10.3.1)

When a hazmat spill makes it unsafe near the bus, take evacuated students upwind to a spot no closer than:

  1. 500 feet.
  2. 100 feet.
  3. 300 feet.

Answer: C, 300 feet.. Fumes from a hazardous materials spill can travel far. Take students at least 300 feet away, upwind, so the wind carries fumes away from them. (CDL manual 10.3.2)

A police officer is directing traffic at a railroad crossing. As a school bus driver, you should:

  1. follow your usual routine, not the officer.
  2. follow the officer's directions.
  3. follow the crossing lights, not the officer.

Answer: B, follow the officer's directions.. A police officer at a crossing is in charge of traffic there, so do what the officer says. Federal rules also drop the stop rule when an officer waves traffic on. (49 CFR 392.10(b)(2))

There is a stop sign just past the tracks. Before crossing, what must you be sure of?

  1. No traffic is waiting at the stop sign right now.
  2. There is room to stop the whole bus past the tracks.
  3. The stop sign is at least 15 feet past the far rail.

Answer: B, There is room to stop the whole bus past the tracks.. If a stop sign or signal is past the tracks, you may have to stop there. Make sure there is room for the whole bus beyond the tracks. Plan on the bus length plus 15 feet. (CDL manual 10.4.4)

If the ABS lamp on your bus comes on while you are driving, it means:

  1. the service brakes may be low on air pressure.
  2. the ABS may be working to stop a wheel from locking.
  3. the ABS may not be working at some of the wheels.

Answer: C, the ABS may not be working at some of the wheels.. The yellow lamp is a malfunction lamp. If it lights while you drive, ABS control may be lost at one or more wheels. (CDL manual 10.6.4)

You are driving your school bus route when strong winds start pushing the bus around. Who should you contact for advice on what to do next?

  1. The school office
  2. Your dispatcher
  3. The local police

Answer: B, Your dispatcher. Your dispatcher can tell you about weather and road conditions and how your route should go on. They can also say whether to wait. (CDL manual 10.7.2)

2 Emergency exits and procedures for safely evacuating passengers in an emergency

After a crash, some students on your school bus may have back injuries or broken bones. As you decide whether to evacuate, remember that:

  1. injured students are easier to treat off the bus.
  2. moving them could make their injuries worse.
  3. injured students should get off the bus first.

Answer: B, moving them could make their injuries worse.. Moving a student with a neck or back injury or a broken bone can make the injury worse. Weigh this before you decide to evacuate. (CDL manual 10.3.1)

When a hazmat spill makes it unsafe near the bus, take evacuated students upwind to a spot no closer than:

  1. 500 feet.
  2. 100 feet.
  3. 300 feet.

Answer: C, 300 feet.. Fumes from a hazardous materials spill can travel far. Take students at least 300 feet away, upwind, so the wind carries fumes away from them. (CDL manual 10.3.2)

A police officer is directing traffic at a railroad crossing. As a school bus driver, you should:

  1. follow your usual routine, not the officer.
  2. follow the officer's directions.
  3. follow the crossing lights, not the officer.

Answer: B, follow the officer's directions.. A police officer at a crossing is in charge of traffic there, so do what the officer says. Federal rules also drop the stop rule when an officer waves traffic on. (49 CFR 392.10(b)(2))

There is a stop sign just past the tracks. Before crossing, what must you be sure of?

  1. No traffic is waiting at the stop sign right now.
  2. There is room to stop the whole bus past the tracks.
  3. The stop sign is at least 15 feet past the far rail.

Answer: B, There is room to stop the whole bus past the tracks.. If a stop sign or signal is past the tracks, you may have to stop there. Make sure there is room for the whole bus beyond the tracks. Plan on the bus length plus 15 feet. (CDL manual 10.4.4)

3 State and Federal laws and regulations related to safely traversing railroad-highway grade crossings

A police officer is directing traffic at a railroad crossing. As a school bus driver, you should:

  1. follow your usual routine, not the officer.
  2. follow the officer's directions.
  3. follow the crossing lights, not the officer.

Answer: B, follow the officer's directions.. A police officer at a crossing is in charge of traffic there, so do what the officer says. Federal rules also drop the stop rule when an officer waves traffic on. (49 CFR 392.10(b)(2))

There is a stop sign just past the tracks. Before crossing, what must you be sure of?

  1. No traffic is waiting at the stop sign right now.
  2. There is room to stop the whole bus past the tracks.
  3. The stop sign is at least 15 feet past the far rail.

Answer: B, There is room to stop the whole bus past the tracks.. If a stop sign or signal is past the tracks, you may have to stop there. Make sure there is room for the whole bus beyond the tracks. Plan on the bus length plus 15 feet. (CDL manual 10.4.4)

4 Operating practices and procedures not otherwise specified

If the ABS lamp on your bus comes on while you are driving, it means:

  1. the service brakes may be low on air pressure.
  2. the ABS may be working to stop a wheel from locking.
  3. the ABS may not be working at some of the wheels.

Answer: C, the ABS may not be working at some of the wheels.. The yellow lamp is a malfunction lamp. If it lights while you drive, ABS control may be lost at one or more wheels. (CDL manual 10.6.4)

You are driving your school bus route when strong winds start pushing the bus around. Who should you contact for advice on what to do next?

  1. The school office
  2. Your dispatcher
  3. The local police

Answer: B, Your dispatcher. Your dispatcher can tell you about weather and road conditions and how your route should go on. They can also say whether to wait. (CDL manual 10.7.2)