Checking Buses Before and After Trips

Passenger Endorsements and the Pre-Trip Inspection Report

Operating a passenger vehicle carries an enormous responsibility because you are directly safeguarding the lives of your riders. Under commercial motor vehicle guidelines, a commercial driver license is required to drive any vehicle designed to seat 16 or more persons, including the driver. Bus drivers must also hold a passenger endorsement on their commercial driver license to operate legally. To earn this passenger endorsement, an applicant must pass a specialized knowledge test covering Sections 2 and 4 of the manual. In addition, if the bus you intend to operate has air brakes, you must also pass a knowledge test on Section 5. Beyond the written tests, drivers must pass the skills tests required for the specific class of vehicle they operate. Keep in mind that exact test lengths, passing scores, and local rules vary by state, and this study material does not represent any specific state licensing agency, the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators, or the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.

Before driving a bus, you must make sure it is safe. Before driving the bus, review the inspection report made by the previous driver and make sure the bus is safe. This document outlines any mechanical or safety issues identified during the bus's last run. You must review this record carefully to understand what concerns were found and what maintenance was addressed while the vehicle was parked.

You should sign the previous driver's report only if defects reported earlier have been certified as repaired or certified as not needing repair. Signing this record carries legal and operational significance: signing the previous driver's inspection report certifies that earlier reported defects have been fixed. Do not sign the previous driver's report unless earlier reported defects have been certified as repaired or as not needing repair; before driving, make sure the bus is safe.

Exterior Vehicle Walk-Around and Access Panels

A complete walk-around inspection confirms that critical operating components and exterior compartments are in a secure, roadworthy condition before driving. You must verify that your service brakes are in good working order before driving. If your bus pulls a trailer or semitrailer, your service brake checks must include inspecting the air hose couplings. The parking brake must also be in good working order before driving. Next, verify that the steering mechanism is in good working order, and confirm that all exterior lights and reflectors are fully functional and in good working order before heading out.

Wheels, rims, and tires require especially close scrutiny during your exterior walk-around. Wheels and rims must be in good working order before driving. Tires must be inspected and confirmed to be in good working order before driving as well. Pay close attention to tire construction and placement rules: front wheels on a bus must not have recapped tires, and front wheels on a bus must not have re-grooved tires. These restrictions on the front steering axle are vital for maintaining directional control under heavy passenger loads.

When checking the exterior of the bus, any open emergency exits must be closed. In addition, all open access panels must be closed before driving. Throughout a busy maintenance day, service personnel regularly open various panels around the exterior perimeter. You must physically check that baggage access panels are securely closed, restroom service access panels are closed, and engine access panels are closed before you pull away from the parking stall.

Interior Safety, Seating, and Emergency Exits

The interior of the bus must always be checked before driving to ensure rider safety. You cannot assume that an empty vehicle is in the same condition as when it was parked, because people sometimes damage unattended buses. When you walk down the passenger aisle, confirm that all passenger seats are safe for riders and that all seats are securely fastened to the bus. Loose seat frames can cause severe injuries during normal transit stops or unexpected swerves.

Passenger movement within the bus must be safe and unimpeded. Bus aisles must always be kept clear, and bus stairwells must always be kept clear. Trips and falls can happen in an instant, so each handhold must be in safe working condition, each railing must be in safe working condition, and the bus floor covering must be in safe working condition. Additionally, signaling devices must be in safe working condition before driving. If the bus is equipped with a passenger restroom, the restroom emergency buzzer must work properly before the bus departs.

Driver restraint and emergency egress systems require detailed pre-trip verification. The driver's seat should have a seat belt, and the driver must always use the seat belt for safety. Emergency exit handles must be in safe working condition, and a driver must never drive with an open emergency exit door or window. The 'Emergency Exit' sign on an emergency door must be clearly visible. If an emergency door is equipped with a red emergency door light, that light must work properly; you must turn this red light on at night and whenever outside lights are in use.

Roof hatches serve a unique role on modern passenger buses. Some emergency roof hatches may be locked in a partly open position for fresh air. However, roof hatches should not be left open as a regular practice. If you do choose to operate with them partly open, you must account for the bus's higher clearance when driving under bridges, overhead canopies, and low-hanging tree branches.

Required On-Board Emergency Equipment

Commercial buses must carry essential emergency gear to respond to roadside breakdowns or hazards safely. Emergency equipment must be in good working order before driving. As part of your interior and exterior preparation, confirm that the bus is equipped with the fire extinguisher required by law. You must also make sure that a bus carries spare electrical fuses, unless the bus is equipped with circuit breakers.

A bus must also be equipped with the emergency reflectors required by law. The excerpt lists three ways to meet the bus's emergency-reflector requirement: three reflective triangles, at least six fuses, or three liquid burning flares. Drivers must ensure their vehicle carries one of these legal emergency reflector sets before departure.

The three legal equipment options for emergency reflectors are: three reflective triangles, at least six fuses, or three liquid burning flares. Ensuring these warning devices are stored securely and functional protects both your passengers and approaching motorists if you ever need to stop along the roadway.

Post-Trip Inspection and Written Defect Reporting

Your safety obligations do not conclude when the last passenger steps off the bus. You must inspect your bus at the end of each shift. Inspect the bus at the end of each shift, including for damage to safety-related parts such as handholds, seats, emergency exits, and windows.

Reporting damage at the end of a shift allows mechanics to make repairs before the bus goes out again. For drivers working for an interstate carrier, there are formal documentation rules: drivers working for an interstate carrier must complete a written inspection report for each bus driven. This written after-trip inspection report must specify each bus and must list any defect that would affect safety or result in a breakdown. If no defects are found during the after-trip inspection, the report should say so.

Specific transit operations feature unique components that must be reviewed during post-trip checks. Mass transit drivers should also make sure passenger signaling devices work properly during the after-trip inspection. Furthermore, mass transit drivers should make sure brake-door interlocks work properly during their after-trip inspection routine.