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CDL · Loading and Trip Start

After all passengers have disembarked at the final destination, what must the driver do before leaving the bus?

Reviewed by Jordan Morley, Editorial Lead at 247SimpleTests. Written by the 247SimpleTests Editorial Team from the official source material cited on every question.

Correct answer

Walk the entire bus from front to back checking under every seat and in overhead areas for remaining passengers — especially sleeping passengers, young children, or those with medical conditions who did not disembark

  1. A Only check the back row
  2. B Check only the seats nearest the door
  3. C Nothing — if passengers walked off, the bus is empty
  4. D Walk the entire bus from front to back checking under every seat and in overhead areas for remaining passengers — especially sleeping passengers, young children, or those with medical conditions who did not disembark

Why this is the answer

POST-ROUTE BUS SWEEP is a mandatory safety procedure preventing the tragedy of passengers left on an empty bus — which can become a death trap in extreme heat within minutes. Required sweep procedure: after ALL expected passengers have left, the driver physically walks the entire interior; checks UNDER seats (children hide; injured passengers collapse); checks overhead compartments; checks the lavatory (if equipped); verifies every person has departed. This is especially critical for: school buses (required by law in many states with sensors); charter buses returning from late-night events (sleeping passengers); any service carrying persons who may not be able to self-rescue.
Source: FMCSA CDL Manual, Chapter 11, Passenger Vehicles, Post-Route Bus Sweep

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About this topic: Loading and Trip Start

Loading and trip-start questions cover the pre-trip inspection items unique to buses — emergency exits, signalling devices, seats — plus standee rules, baggage placement, and which hazardous materials passengers may never bring aboard. This is one of 15 Passenger Transport questions on loading and trip start, each with a full explanation on a single study page.

New to this exam? Our CDL exam guide explains the format, scoring, and how to prepare.

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