Alaska CDL DMV Endorsement Bus 1

The top portion of the overhead inside rearview mirror should be positioned to display the top of the bus's rear window. This mirror positioning should allow the driver to see all of the students on the bus, including the heads of the students sitting immediately behind the driver.

You may be asked to complete a conventional parallel parking maneuver into a parking space that is to the right of your vehicle. You should drive past the parking space before backing into it while bringing the rear of your vehicle as close to the rear of the space as possible. Your vehicle should be completely within the boundaries of the space.

While students are boarding a school bus, if the driver cannot account for a student outside, they should secure the bus, take the key with them, and check around and underneath the bus for the missing student.

If you are stopped at a railroad crossing and a gate fails to return to its open position after a train passes, call your dispatcher. Do not attempt to drive around the lowered gate.

At a stop, a school bus should be stopped with the front bumper at least 10 feet away from the students. This forces the students to walk toward the bus, allowing the driver to keep an eye on their movements.

It is possible for students to be injured, or even killed, as a result of their clothing, accessories, or bodies getting caught on a handrail or door while exiting a school bus. The driver should closely watch students as they exit to ensure that they have all unloaded the bus successfully and have reached a safe location.

Do not shift gears while crossing railroad tracks. Your vehicle could stall and get stuck in the crossing.

When exiting your vehicle during the basic vehicle control skills test, you must face the vehicle and maintain three points of contact at all times. If your testing vehicle is a bus, you must maintain contact with the handrail. Exiting the vehicle incorrectly may result in automatic failure of the basic vehicle control skills test.

The adjustment of mirrors should be checked prior to the start of any trip.

The process of loading or unloading students from a school bus requires a driver's full concentration. If there is a behavioral issue on the bus, wait until the exiting students are safely off the bus and out of the way before you address the problem on the bus.

Students should not occupy the back row of a school bus unless the bus is full. The closer to the front of a bus that students are seated, the safer they will be in the event of a rear-end collision. Students with special needs should sit near the driver.

During the on-road driving test, if your route does not include a railroad crossing, the examiner may ask you to explain and demonstrate the necessary procedures at a simulated location.

A school bus's long sides are vulnerable to being pushed by winds. If you must drive in windy conditions, you should maintain a strong grip on the steering wheel, try to anticipate wind gusts, and slow down. If necessary, contact your dispatcher for instructions on how to proceed.

When exiting your vehicle during the basic vehicle control skills test, you must face the vehicle and maintain three points of contact at all times. If your testing vehicle is a bus, you must maintain contact with the handrail. Exiting the vehicle incorrectly may result in automatic failure of the basic vehicle control skills test.

After completing a trip, a school bus driver should do an inspection in which they check for sleeping students; belongings left on the bus; open windows or doors; any mechanical or operational issues with the bus; and damage or vandalism.

When picking up passengers, a school bus driver should park with the vehicle's front bumper at least 10 feet away from the students. This is the safest parking option because it forces the students to walk to the bus, making it possible for the driver to watch their movements.

When approaching a bus stop, a school bus driver should count the number of students waiting and ensure that they all board the bus. The driver should check their mirrors for any students who may be running to the stop. Students should board slowly in a single-file line.

A school bus driver should always approach bus stops slowly and cautiously.

More students are killed each year during loading or unloading of school buses than while riding on school buses. Therefore, it is critical that school bus drivers follow appropriate safety procedures during loading and unloading. This process should never take place without being properly supervised.

When exiting your vehicle during the basic vehicle control skills test, you must face the vehicle and maintain three points of contact at all times. If your testing vehicle is a bus, you must maintain contact with the handrail. Exiting the vehicle incorrectly may result in automatic failure of the basic control skills test.