Maryland CDL DMV Endorsement Bus 1

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.

Students should always board a school bus in a single-file line.

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.

If students are evacuated due to a school bus being in the direct path of a sighted tornado, the driver should lead them to shelter in a nearby building. If no such shelter is available, the driver should escort them to a nearby ditch or culvert. They should avoid areas that may be subject to flash flooding and should be far enough from the bus that it would not fall on them if it tipped over.

A school bus driver should load and unload students only at designated stops that have been approved by appropriate school district officials.

A school bus has blind spots immediately below the side flat mirrors, immediately in front of the side flat mirrors, and directly behind the rear bumper. Rear blind spots typically extend 50 to 150 feet behind a bus but can sometimes extend up to 400 feet, depending on the length of the vehicle.

When stopping to pick up students, a school bus driver should ensure that all surrounding traffic has stopped before opening the door and signaling for the students to approach the bus.

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.

When checking the oil pressure gauge as part of a vehicle inspection test, you must ensure that it is working. The gauge should show increasing or normal oil pressure, or the oil pressure warning light should turn off. If equipped with one, the oil temperature gauge should begin a gradual rise to the normal operating range.

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 left and right side flat mirrors on the outside of a school bus should be adjusted so that the driver can see 200 feet (or four bus lengths) behind the bus.

When inspecting a tractor/trailer coupling, look into the fifth wheel gap and make sure the locking jaws are fully closed around the kingpin.

If you are asked to complete an offset back/left parking maneuver, you should first pull straight forward, then back up to the left. Your vehicle must be parked completely within the boundaries of the parking space.

You may be asked to complete a parallel parking maneuver into a parking space that is to the left 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.

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.

When asked to make a turn during the on-road driving test, you must check traffic in all directions and use your turn signal.

During the vehicle inspection test, you must check the power steering belt, water pump belt, alternator belt, and air compressor belt for snugness, cracks, or frays. If any of these components are not belt-driven, you must tell the examiner which one(s), and verify that they are operating properly, mounted securely, and not damaged or leaking.

When checking the engine compartment during the vehicle inspection test, you must check the power steering, water pump, alternator, and air compressor belts. In addition to cracks and frays, you should check the belts for snugness, allowing up to three-quarters of an inch of play at the center of each belt. If any of these items are not belt-driven, you must identify them and ensure that their components are operating properly, are not damaged or leaking, and are mounted securely.

During the on-road driving skills test, you may be asked to enter an expressway. Before doing so, you must check traffic, use proper signals, and merge smoothly into the proper lane.

The examiner will score the number of times your vehicle touches or crosses an exercise boundary line. Each encroachment will count as an error, resulting in points against your skills test score.