Passenger endorsement practice test
The passenger vehicles test earns the P endorsement for buses and coaches. It covers the pre-trip inspection of a bus, loading and the standee line, dealing with riders, railroad crossings and drawbridges, and the after-trip checks. The sample questions below come from Section 4 of the FMCSA CDL manual.
- 20questions on the real test
- 80%pass mark, 16 correct answers
- 40questions in the PassRig bank
- S4of the FMCSA CDL manual
Free passenger practice quiz
Ten questions from the PassRig bank. Tap an answer to lock it in and read why it is right, with the manual section it comes from. The score keeps count; 80% is the pass mark. The full bank, timed mock exams and mistake review live in the app.
0 of 10 right0 of 10 answered
Besides the usual pre-trip items, a bus driver must check that the rider area has:
Answer: B. Safe handholds and railings, floor covering, signaling devices and emergency exitsBefore driving, check the inside of the bus: every handhold and railing, the floor covering, the signaling devices (including the restroom emergency buzzer if there is a restroom) and the emergency exit handles must be in safe working condition. Aisles and stairwells must be clear.
Source: FMCSA CDL Manual, Section 4.1.3 (Bus Interior)
At a railroad crossing, a bus must stop:
Answer: B. 15 to 50 feet before the nearest railStop your bus between 15 and 50 feet before the crossing. Listen and look in both directions for trains, and open your forward door if it improves your ability to see or hear an approaching train. If the bus has a manual transmission, never change gears while crossing the tracks.
Source: FMCSA CDL Manual, Section 4.3.5 (Railroad-Highway Crossing/Stops)
Which of these is a prohibited practice for a bus driver?
Answer: C. Refueling with riders on board when it is not neededAvoid fueling your bus with riders on board unless absolutely necessary, and never refuel in a closed building with riders on board. Also do not talk with riders or engage in any other distracting activity while driving.
Source: FMCSA CDL Manual, Section 4.5 (Prohibited Practices)
A roof-mounted emergency hatch that is locked partly open for fresh air:
Answer: B. Raises the height of the bus, so watch for low clearancesYou may lock some emergency roof hatches in a partly open position for fresh air, but do not leave them open as a regular practice. Keep in mind the bus's higher clearance while driving with them open.
Source: FMCSA CDL Manual, Section 4.1.4 (Roof Hatches)
Recapped or regrooved tires on a bus:
Answer: C. Must not be used on the front wheelsTires are on the list of systems to check before driving, and the manual states that the front wheels must not have recapped or regrooved tires.
Source: FMCSA CDL Manual, Section 4.1.1 (Vehicle Systems: Tires)
On the pre-trip inspection, emergency exits should be checked to be sure they:
Answer: C. Operate easily, are marked correctly and their buzzers or lights workCheck the emergency exits for ease of operation and correct markings, and make sure any required buzzers or devices work. Never drive with an open emergency exit door or window. The Emergency Exit sign must be clearly visible, and if there is a red emergency door light it must work; turn it on at night or whenever you use your outside lights.
Source: FMCSA CDL Manual, Section 4.1.3 (Bus Interior: Emergency Exits)
A bus may carry no more than how much of allowed hazardous materials in total?
Answer: A. 500 pounds total, and no more than 100 pounds of any one classBuses must never carry more than 500 pounds total of allowed hazardous materials, and no more than 100 pounds of any one class. There is also a separate limit of 100 pounds of solid Class 6 poisons.
Source: FMCSA CDL Manual, Section 4.2.2 (Forbidden Hazardous Materials)
On a charter or intercity trip, company rules about smoking, drinking and electronic devices should be:
Answer: D. Explained to riders at the start of the tripMany charter and intercity carriers have passenger comfort and safety rules. Mention rules about smoking, drinking or electronic devices at the start of the trip. Explaining the rules at the start helps avoid trouble later on.
Source: FMCSA CDL Manual, Section 4.3.1 (Passenger Supervision)
Bus crashes on curves are usually caused by:
Answer: A. Excessive speed, often when the road is wet or icyCrashes on curves that kill people and destroy buses result from excessive speed, often when rain or snow has made the road slippery. With good traction the bus may roll over; with poor traction it may slide off the curve. Reduce speed for curves.
Source: FMCSA CDL Manual, Section 4.3.4 (Speed on Curves)
You need not stop, but must slow down and check, at a drawbridge when:
Answer: D. A traffic light shows green or an attendant or traffic officer is controlling trafficStop at drawbridges that do not have a signal light or traffic control attendant, at least 50 feet before the draw, and look to make sure the draw is completely closed. You do not need to stop, but must slow down and make sure it is safe, when a traffic light shows green or the bridge has an attendant or traffic officer who controls traffic whenever the bridge opens.
Source: FMCSA CDL Manual, Section 4.3.6 (Drawbridges)
What the passenger test covers
- Vehicle inspection for buses
- Loading, trip start and the standee line
- Passenger safety and prohibited cargo
- Railroad crossings, drawbridges and stops
- Driving a bus safely: speed, curves and brakes
- After-trip inspection
Who needs it
Bus, coach and shuttle drivers carrying 16 or more people including the driver. School bus drivers need it too.
The test has 20 multiple-choice questions and the passing score is 80%, so you can miss 4. Your state DMV or DOT administers it; the federal rules are on the FMCSA CDL page. Study Section 4 of the CDL manual alongside these questions.
More CDL practice tests
Guides for this test
Passenger test questions
How many questions are on the passenger endorsement test?
20 questions. 16 correct answers reach the 80% pass mark.
Does the passenger endorsement include a driving test?
Yes. The P endorsement needs the written knowledge test and a skills test in a representative bus. PassRig covers the written part.
What is the standee line?
A line on the floor two feet behind the driver. Riders must stand behind it while the bus moves, and the test usually asks about it.