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

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

B) To give the mechanic something to do

C) To assist the principal with their report

2 / 50

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

A) D) None of the above.

B) C) Hanging out the windows.

C) B) Outside the bus.

D) A) On the bus.

3 / 50

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

A) 4

B) 9

C) 7

D) 8

4 / 50

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

A) B) All the time.

B) D) Never

C) A) Only when visibility is poor.

D) C) When you feel like it.

5 / 50

A school bus has how many feet of tail swing?

A) B) 10’

B) C) 3’

C) D) 2’

D) A) 6’

6 / 50

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

A) A) After the students are on board.

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

C) B) Before you load your students.

D) C) Upon approach to the stop.

7 / 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

8 / 50

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

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

B) C) Behind the bus.

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

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

9 / 50

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

A) D) All the above.

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

C) A) Constantly check all mirrors.

D) B) Back slowly and smoothly.

10 / 50

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

A) D) All the above.

B) C) Check under the bus.

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

D) B) Check around the bus.

11 / 50

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

A) B)10’

B) D) 2’

C) C)100’

D) A) 20’

12 / 50

Passive railroad crossings are dangerous because:

A) B) Are very seldom used.

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

C) D) All the above.

D) A) They have no active crossing devices.

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

D) D) All the above

14 / 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) B) Articles left on the bus.

C) A) Sleeping students.

D) D) All of the above.

15 / 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 connection should show signs of excessive wear

B) 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

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

16 / 50

What clues tell you are at an active railroad crossing?

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

B) B) All railroad crossings are active.

C) C) An empty set of railroad tracks.

D) D) Active crossings require no markings.

17 / 50

What can you see out of the passenger rearview mirror?

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

B) D) All the above.

C) B) Limited traffic behind the bus.

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

18 / 50

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

A) C) Drive

B) A) Lowest gear.

C) D) Whatever gear I feel like

D) B) Highest gear.

19 / 50

When should you put a student off the bus?

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

B) C) Only at school .

C) A) Never

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

20 / 50

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

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

B) D) All of the above.

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

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

21 / 50

Where is the passenger mirror located on the bus?

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

B) D) Buses don’t have one.

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

D) C) By the service door.

22 / 50

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

A) D) ¼ mile.

B) B) 200’ upwind

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

D) A) 100’ downwind.

23 / 50

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

A) A) Facing the bus.

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

C) B) Running to the bus.

D) C) In the middle of the road.

24 / 50

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

A) B) 300’ upwind.

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

C) C) 200’downwind.

D) A) 30’ upwind.

25 / 50

When are students in the greatest danger involving school buses?

A) B) As passengers inside of the bus.

B) D) Never, they are immortal.

C) A) Getting on and off the bus.

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

26 / 50

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

A) C) NP

B) A) PMS

C) B) PS

D) D) XP

27 / 50

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

A) C) 300’

B) D) Zero

C) B) 200’ ( tap brake)

D) A) 100’

28 / 50

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

A) Sharp turns

B) Stop to load or unload students

C) Busy intersection

29 / 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) Students on the bus

C) Parents of the students on the bus

30 / 50

Where are the cross-over mirrors located?

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

B) C) Under the west coast Mirrors.

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

D) A) Under the front bumper.

31 / 50

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

A) A) 100’

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

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

D) D) It is only an imaginary thought.

32 / 50

What sign tells you that a railroad crossing is passive?

A) D) None of the above.

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

C) B)A cross buck sign.

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

33 / 50

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

A) Discharge the child on the next stop

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

C) Back up to the missed stop

34 / 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) A) 200’

C) D) 100’

D) B) 1000’

35 / 50

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

A) A) Back off the track.

B) B) Bust through the gate.

C) D) Flip a coin.

D) C) Stay put.

36 / 50

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

A) 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

B) The area directly in front of the bus

C) 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

37 / 50

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

A) C) Move toward oncoming train.

B) D) All the above.

C) A) Get everyone off immediately.

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

38 / 50

When should a student approach the bus to get on?

A) B) As they want to.

B) A) When you signal them.

C) C) When you stop.

D) D) Before you stop.

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

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

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

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

40 / 50

How should you handle serious student problems on the bus?

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

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

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

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

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

C) C) There are no such terms.

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

42 / 50

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

A) D) At the crossing gate

B) A) 15’ to 50’

C) C) 20’ to 30’

D) B) 15’ to 20’

43 / 50

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

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

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

C) D) All the above.

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

44 / 50

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

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

B) A) Below the outside flat mirrors.

C) B) Inside the Bus

D) C) At the rear of the bus.

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

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

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

46 / 50

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

A) A) Set the park brake.

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

C) D) Nothing

D) C) Take key out of the ignition.

47 / 50

When approaching the stop , you should

A) B) Continuously check your mirrors.

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

C) D) All the above.

D) A) Approach slowly and cautiously

48 / 50

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

A) A) Youngest student

B) C) Driver

C) B) Monitor

D) D) The ugliest one

49 / 50

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

A) B) 10’

B) D) 50’

C) C) 30’

D) A) 21’

50 / 50

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

A) C) 10’ - 15’

B) D) There are no danger zones.

C) A) 23’ -25’

D) B) 50’ -75’

Your score is

The average score is 77%

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