CDL School Bus Endorsement Practice Test 2025

CDL School Bus Endorsement Practice Test 2025: Commercial Driver’s License Permit Test (CDL) in the USA: Try our free School Bus Endorsement question answers with explanation, you can also download a printable PDF for free.

You should be thoroughly familiar with your state and local school district laws and regulations. A CLP holder with a passenger (P) and/or a school bus (S) endorsement is prohibited from operating a CMV with passengers, other than federal/ state auditors and inspectors, test examiners, other trainees, and the accompanying CDL holder (CFR, Title 49 §383.25).

CDL School Bus Endorsement Practice Test

What Does the Test Cover?

Danger Zones and Use of Mirrors
Loading and Unloading
Emergency Exit and Evacuation
Railroad-highway Grade Crossing
Student Management
Antilock Braking Systems
Special Safety Situations

School Bus Drivers must have a commercial driver’s license if they drive a vehicle designed to transport 16 or more persons, including the driver. They must have a school bus endorsement in addition to a passenger endorsement, therefore the endorsement on their license will be a PS endorsement.

Test Name	CDL Practice Test 2025
Language	English
License	Endorsements Permit
Total Questions	50 Knowledge Practice Test
Test For	Commercial Driver License
Test Preparation	School Bus Endorsement
Country	USA
Explanation	Yes

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CDL School Bus Endorsement Practice Test

1 / 50

What clues tell you are at an active railroad crossing?

A) C) An empty set of railroad tracks.

B) B) All railroad crossings are active.

C) D) Active crossings require no markings.

D) A) Flashing red lights with bells and gates.

2 / 50

The CDL manual recommend evacuating students in the event of a hazardous spill?

A) D) It doesn’t , keep them on the bus.

B) C) 200’downwind.

C) B) 300’ upwind.

D) A) 30’ upwind.

3 / 50

By law, the warning lights must only be used when approaching a:

A) Busy intersection

B) Stop to load or unload students

C) Sharp turns

4 / 50

What can you see out of the passenger rearview mirror?

A) D) All the above.

B) B) Limited traffic behind the bus.

C) C) The top of the rear window in the top of the mirror.

D) A) What is going on inside of the bus.

5 / 50

When are students in the greatest danger involving school buses?

A) D) Never, they are immortal.

B) B) As passengers inside of the bus.

C) A) Getting on and off the bus.

D) C) When parents bring their children to school.

6 / 50

A battery box check is important. The battery must be secure, connection must be tight, and cell caps must be present. In addition these items should be checked:

A) Battery connections should not show signs of excessive corrosion, but the battery box and cover or door is unimportant

B) Battery connection should show signs of excessive wear

C) Battery connections should not show signs of excessive corrosion, and the battery box and cover or door should not be damaged and should be secure

7 / 50

Passive railroad crossings are dangerous because:

A) C) It is hard to know if a train is coming.

B) B) Are very seldom used.

C) A) They have no active crossing devices.

D) D) All the above.

8 / 50

When should a student approach the bus to get on?

A) A) When you signal them.

B) B) As they want to.

C) D) Before you stop.

D) C) When you stop.

9 / 50

When crossing railroad tracks, what gear must you be in before crossing in an automatic?

A) B) Highest gear.

B) A) Lowest gear.

C) C) Drive

D) D) Whatever gear I feel like

10 / 50

What is the most important reason for doing a school bus inspection?

A) To give the mechanic something to do

B) To assist the principal with their report

C) For safety required by Federal, Sate and Local laws

11 / 50

Where are the cross-over mirrors located?

A) A) Under the front bumper.

B) C) Under the west coast Mirrors.

C) D) Buses don’t have cross over mirrors.

D) B) On both left and right front corners of the bus.

12 / 50

The properly adjusted outside left and right side CONVEX mirrors allow visibility in what area?

A) The area directly in front of the bus

B) The entire side of the bus up to the front tires at ground level, front of the rear tires touching the ground, and at least one traffic lane on either side of the bus

C) Front of the rear tires touching the ground, the entire side of the bus up to the mirror mounts, and at least one traffic lane on either side of the bus

13 / 50

The bus driver must accept responsibility for supervising and controlling students while on the bus route. Who is the person in charge?

A) Bus driver

B) Parents of the students on the bus

C) Students on the bus

14 / 50

How far does the danger zone extend to the front of the bus according to the CDL manual?

A) A) 21’

B) D) 50’

C) C) 30’

D) B) 10’

15 / 50

According to the CDL manual, the flat mirrors on the bus should be able to see how many feet behind the sides of the bus?

A) C) 50’

B) B) 1000’

C) A) 200’

D) D) 100’

16 / 50

When should you back at a stop where you are preparing to load?

A) D) It doesn’t matter, students should know to get out of your way.

B) C) Upon approach to the stop.

C) A) After the students are on board.

D) B) Before you load your students.

17 / 50

According to the CDL manual, how far away should the student be from the bus upon arrival?

A) C)100’

B) D) 2’

C) B)10’

D) A) 20’

18 / 50

How should you handle serious student problems on the bus?

A) B) Scream at the student and tell them to sit down and shut up.

B) D) Tell the parent when you reach the stop that the student can not ride anymore.

C) A) Stop the bus. Park in a safe location off the road, perhaps a parking lot or driveway.

D) C) Stop the bus where you are at and handle the situation.

19 / 50

If evacuating a bus is necessary, how far should you move the students away from the bus?

A) A) 100’ downwind.

B) D) ¼ mile.

C) B) 200’ upwind

D) C)100’ in direction of oncoming traffic.

20 / 50

The driver who misses the child to unload at a bus stop should

A) Discharge the child on the next stop

B) Back up to the missed stop

C) Radio the dispatcher for direction and follow the local procedure

21 / 50

Where is the passenger mirror located on the bus?

A) A) Inside the bus, above the drivers head and windshield.

B) B) At the rear corner of the bus.

C) C) By the service door.

D) D) Buses don’t have one.

22 / 50

If while crossing the track, the gates and lights begin to operate:

A) D) Flip a coin.

B) B) Bust through the gate.

C) C) Stay put.

D) A) Back off the track.

23 / 50

According to the CDL manual, what are the danger zone dimensions around the school bus?

A) C) There is no such thing as a danger zone.

B) B) 15’ front, 11’ at rear, 50’ on sides.

C) A) 30’ front, 24’ on sides, 8’ to the rear.

D) D) 30’ to the front, 10’ on each side, & 10’ to the rear.

24 / 50

At the end of the route or trip, what do you look for while doing a walk through?

A) C) Any damage done to the bus.

B) D) All of the above.

C) B) Articles left on the bus.

D) A) Sleeping students.

25 / 50

What is the stopping distance at a railroad crossing for a school bus?

A) C) 20’ to 30’

B) B) 15’ to 20’

C) A) 15’ to 50’

D) D) At the crossing gate

26 / 50

If you cannot account for any/all students outside the bus, you should:

A) C) Check under the bus.

B) D) All the above.

C) A) Secure the bus by setting the parking brake.

D) B) Check around the bus.

27 / 50

A school bus has how many feet of tail swing?

A) A) 6’

B) C) 3’

C) D) 2’

D) B) 10’

28 / 50

Before leaving the bus, what is the first thing that you should do

A) C) Take key out of the ignition.

B) D) Nothing

C) B) Leave the bus in gear and turn it off.

D) A) Set the park brake.

29 / 50

How far does the danger zone cover to the sides of the bus?

A) C) 10’ - 15’

B) A) 23’ -25’

C) D) There are no danger zones.

D) B) 50’ -75’

30 / 50

What endorsements must a driver have to drive a school bus:

A) B) PS

B) A) PMS

C) C) NP

D) D) XP

31 / 50

When approaching the stop , you should

A) B) Continuously check your mirrors.

B) A) Approach slowly and cautiously

C) C) Bring your bus to a complete stop with the front bumper at least 10’ away from the students.

D) D) All the above.

32 / 50

When you are unloading students on your route, where should they walk to before crossing the road?

A) C) Behind the bus.

B) D) It doesn’t matter, they have eyes of there own

C) B) At the very front of the bus close to the bumper.

D) A) At the right front corner of the bumper where you can see them, 10’ away.

33 / 50

In what position should the students be when the bus approaches for pick-up?

A) C) In the middle of the road.

B) D) Who cares, they are not mine.

C) A) Facing the bus.

D) B) Running to the bus.

34 / 50

What is the safest way to back up in an area where visibility is poor?

A) B) Back slowly and smoothly.

B) C) Ask a student or aid to lookout if possible.

C) D) All the above.

D) A) Constantly check all mirrors.

35 / 50

What should you do when you are driving in high winds?

A) B) Slow down to lessen the effect of the wind.

B) C) Try to anticipate gust and adjust your driving accordingly.

C) A) Keep a strong grip on the steering wheel.

D) D) All the above.

36 / 50

According to the CDL manual, How far can the blind spot exist from the passenger rearview mirror?

A) D) It is only an imaginary thought.

B) B) Directly behind the drivers seat and as much as 400’ or more behind the bus.

C) A) 100’

D) C) There is no such thing as a blind spot.

37 / 50

When should you put a student off the bus?

A) A) Never

B) B) If you have had all you can stand.

C) D) Only if an administrator tells you where to let them off.

D) C) Only at school .

38 / 50

What is the danger zone defined as according to the CDL section on School Buses?

A) A) It is the area outside of the bus where children are in the most danger of being hit by an automobile or their own bus.

B) D) The result of having to take this test.

C) B) It is a space that has been invaded by unhappy children

D) C) There are no such terms.

39 / 50

If your bus is equipped with a strobe light, when should it be used?

A) A) Only when visibility is poor.

B) B) All the time.

C) C) When you feel like it.

D) D) Never

40 / 50

When students reach the edge of the roadway, they should:

A) C) Wait for your signal to cross

B) A) Stop and look in all directions making sure it is safe to cross.

C) B) Check to make sure the red lamps are still flashing

D) D) All the above

41 / 50

What are some reasons for evacuating the bus?

A) B) Do I have a fuel leak?

B) A) Is there a danger of a fire?

C) D) All the above

D) C) Is there a chance that I may be hit by another vehicle?

42 / 50

Who is the last person off the bus during an evacuation?

A) B) Monitor

B) C) Driver

C) D) The ugliest one

D) A) Youngest student

43 / 50

Where are the convex mirrors located, according to the CDL manual?

A) C) At the rear of the bus.

B) D) Don’t ask me, I’ve never seen them.

C) A) Below the outside flat mirrors.

D) B) Inside the Bus

44 / 50

With an ABS Braking system, how do you use your brakes?

A) A) Pumping the pedal for all it is worth.

B) D) All of the above.

C) B) Firm pressure on the brake pedal as usual.

D) C) Stomp the pedal as if you would stomp your foot to music.

45 / 50

How many different exits does a school bus have for evacuations?

A) 7

B) 9

C) 4

D) 8

46 / 50

What sign tells you that a railroad crossing is passive?

A) C) A peace sign painted on the roadway.

B) D) None of the above.

C) A) A round yellow on black sign with R&R on both sides

D) B)A cross buck sign.

47 / 50

As a general rule where are the students best protected during an emergency?

A) D) None of the above.

B) A) On the bus.

C) C) Hanging out the windows.

D) B) Outside the bus.

48 / 50

According to the CDL manual, how far away do you activate your hazard lamps from a railroad crossing?

A) B) 200’ ( tap brake)

B) A) 100’

C) D) Zero

D) C) 300’

49 / 50

If your bus stalls while crossing the track at a railroad crossing you should:

A) D) All the above.

B) C) Move toward oncoming train.

C) B) Move away from tracks at an angle.

D) A) Get everyone off immediately.

50 / 50

After making the initial stop to pick up a child, what two things are to be done before allowing a child to enter the bus?

A) A) Gear selector in D and foot on brake pedal.

B) B) Gear selector in R and foot on brake pedal.

C) C) Gear selector in N and parking brake set.

D) D) Gear selector in 1 and parking brake set.

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