New Mexico CDL DMV Endorsement Bus 1

During the on-road driving test, do not stop, change gears, pass another vehicle, or change lanes while any part of your vehicle is in a railroad crossing.

When asked to make a lane change during the on-road driving test, you should make the proper traffic checks, use your turn signal, and smoothly change lanes when it is safe to do so.

When stopping to load or unload students, a school bus should ideally be placed in park. If there is no park shift point, the bus should be placed in neutral and the parking brake should be set.

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.

Railroad crossings that do not display any traffic control devices are known as passive crossings. The decision to proceed across tracks at a passive crossing is entirely up to the driver.

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

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.

You should finish each exercise with your vehicle in the exact position described by the examiner. You can be penalized for failing to complete an exercise exactly in the manner described by the examiner, potentially resulting in failure of the basic control skills test.

An encroachment during the basic vehicle control skills test is when an exercise boundary line is touched or crossed by any portion of the applicant's vehicle. Every encroachment will be counted as an error.

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

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.

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.

During the pre-trip vehicle inspection test, you will be asked to check the power steering, water pump, alternator, and air compressor belts, if the vehicle is equipped.

During the pre-trip vehicle inspection test, you will be asked to indicate where the dipstick is located. You will need to show that the oil level is within a safe operating range and above the refill mark.

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.

In a school bus, the overhead rearview mirror is mounted directly above the windshield on the driver’s side.

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.

Crossover mirrors are used to help a driver see the danger zone area directly in front of a school bus. The mirrors should also display the danger zone areas to the left and right sides of the bus, including the area from the front of the bus to the service door.

Railroad crossings with control devices to regulate traffic are known as active crossings. Control devices may include regulators such as flashing red lights, warning bells, and gates. Drivers are required by law to follow instructions given by control devices.

During the on-road driving test, the examiner will be scoring you on specific driving maneuvers, as well as your general driving behavior.