North Dakota CDL DMV Endorsement Bus 1

To alert drivers behind you that you plan to slow down, tap your brake pedal lightly a few times to make the brake lights flash.

To maintain proper control of your vehicle, the steering wheel should be held firmly with both hands. Your hands should be positioned on opposite sides of the wheel.

You may be able to tell that another driver is distracted if you can see them drifting within a lane or across lane dividers; traveling at inconsistent speeds; being preoccupied with a cell phone, a map, food, or other items; or engaging in conversation with passengers.

In bad weather, particularly when visibility is poor, it is common for automobile drivers to follow closely behind trucks. Open up the distance between your vehicle and the vehicle in front of you if you are being followed too closely.

In general, school bus drivers should stop before any railroad crossings to check the tracks for approaching trains. Drivers should stop no closer than 15 feet, and no farther than 50 feet, from the nearest rail in order to have the best view of the tracks. They should look and listen for approaching trains before proceeding through the crossing.

For safety, most heavy-duty vehicles are equipped with dual air brake systems.

People sometimes damage unattended buses. Before operating a bus that has been unattended, the driver should always check the interior to make sure that everything is in proper condition for passenger safety.

When stopping your CMV on the side of a highway, warning devices must be placed 10 feet, 100 feet, and 200 feet behind the vehicle.

During the vehicle inspection test, you must be able to indicate where the oil dipstick is located; show that the oil level is within a safe operating range; and show that the oil level is above the refill mark.

If your hydraulic bakes fail, shifting into a lower gear can help slow your vehicle down.

You should slow down when driving a school bus in high winds. Keep a strong grip on the steering wheel and try to anticipate gusts.

If you are asked to alley dock, you should first pull past the alley and stop your vehicle in a position that is parallel to the outer boundary. From there, you should back your vehicle entirely into the alley parking area. Your vehicle should be parked in a straight position within the boundaries of the parking space.

People sometimes damage unattended buses. When inspecting a bus that has been left unattended, you should do a walkthrough to check the interior for damage.

Driving in fog is always dangerous. If possible, you should always avoid driving under foggy conditions.

Being properly rested is essential to the safe operation of a CMV. To maintain alertness, most people need seven to eight hours of sleep per night.

You should approach every railroad crossing with the expectation that a train is coming. Do not rely on signals or your hearing to reliably tell you if a train is present. Always slow down when approaching a crossing. Never try to race a train.

If a bus leans to the outside when being driven on a banked curve, it is going too fast. Slow down when entering a curve.

Good drivers look down the road at least 12 to 15 seconds ahead of their vehicles. This makes it possible to identify hazards early, when drivers are more likely to have time to respond appropriately.

Vehicles with Anti-Lock Braking Systems (ABS) have yellow malfunction lights to alert the driver if something is wrong with the braking system. If these lights activate, the driver may have lost ABS on one or more wheels.

Always signal well ahead of a turn or lane change. Signal continuously until you have completed the turn or lane change, then be sure to cancel the signal so you do not confuse other drivers.