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School Bus CDL Practice Test

The School Bus endorsement allows operation of school buses transporting students. It builds on the Passenger endorsement and adds danger zones, mirror adjustment, loading and unloading procedures, the use of the eight-light warning system, evacuation drills, and emergency egress.

Why this test exists

Most fatal school bus incidents happen outside the bus, in the danger zones around it. This endorsement exists to make sure every driver can predict the behavior of children entering and exiting the loading zone.

How to study this section

Know the dimensions of the front, side, and rear danger zones, the proper eight-light activation sequence, and the emergency evacuation procedure including front-door, rear-door, and split evacuations.

61 practice questions

• Q1. The School Bus (S) endorsement requires the driver to also hold the:
• Q2. The 'danger zone' around a school bus is generally:
• Q3. The greatest danger zone is in front of the bus because:
• Q4. Crossover mirrors are designed to show:
• Q5. Before activating the loading lights, the driver should:
• Q6. The eight-light warning system on a school bus typically includes:
• Q7. Amber warning lights should be activated:
• Q8. The stop arm is deployed when:
• Q9. When loading students, the driver should:
• Q10. When students cross the road in front of the bus, the driver should:
• Q11. After unloading, the driver should:
• Q12. A 'student check' or 'walkthrough' at the end of a route ensures:
• Q13. When approaching a railroad crossing, the school bus driver must:
• Q14. When stopped at a railroad crossing, do not:
• Q15. The required distance from the curb when loading or unloading is:
• Q16. A 'red light running' incident is when:
• Q17. A safe loading practice is to have students:
• Q18. When making a right turn at an intersection, the school bus driver should:
• Q19. The driver must enforce student conduct because:
• Q20. A student fight on the bus should be:
• Q21. A bus driver who notices a defect during pre-trip should:
• Q22. The proper sequence for loading at a stop is:
• Q23. When backing a school bus, you should:
• Q24. The fire extinguisher and first aid kit on a school bus must be:
• Q25. When approaching a stop, the driver should look for:
• Q26. A loaded school bus on a long downgrade should:
• Q27. A driver who must evacuate the bus should:
• Q28. Front-door evacuation is appropriate when:
• Q29. A driver evacuating students for a fire should:
• Q30. Special needs students may require:
• Q31. A wheelchair on a school bus must be:
• Q32. The 'unloading procedure' at a stop where students cross the road in front of the bus is:
• Q33. A school bus driver should know the location of:
• Q34. At a railroad crossing, the bus must come to a complete stop and:
• Q35. When driving past a stopped school bus on a non-divided road, motorists must:
• Q36. The driver should adjust the inside rearview mirror so that:
• Q37. A backing maneuver in a parking lot with students nearby should:
• Q38. A school bus driver should perform a post-trip inspection that includes:
• Q39. A school bus driver should know to never:
• Q40. When backing the bus into the bus yard, the driver should:
• Q41. When discharging students at a stop, the driver should keep the door open until:
• Q42. A school bus driver who notices a vehicle following too closely should:
• Q43. When approaching railroad tracks with stalled traffic ahead, the driver should:
• Q44. When a student becomes ill during the route, the driver should:
• Q45. The driver of a school bus should always:
• Q46. A common cause of school bus stop arm violations by motorists is:
• Q47. When passing a parked or stopped school bus during off-hours (no lights flashing), motorists must:
• Q48. A school bus driver finding a student weapon should:
• Q49. For a route with frequent loading stops, the driver should:
• Q50. The driver must keep students seated:
• Q51. A driver should report any incident that:
• Q52. A 'safe loading zone' has:
• Q53. When approaching a hill crest, the driver should:
• Q54. The driver should secure the bus at the end of the day by:
• Q55. When transporting students, the driver should:
• Q56. A school bus driver should immediately notify dispatch when:
• Q57. The driver should know:
• Q58. Children should board the bus:
• Q59. A school bus must always:
• Q60. When students must walk to or from the bus along a road without sidewalks, the driver should:
• Q61. The most important rule of school bus driving is:

State-specific resources

Each U.S. state administers the CDL knowledge test through its own DMV. The federal questions are the same; the test scheduling, fees, and identification requirements vary. Start with your state's overview:

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