25 realistic Passenger Transport practice questions for Alabama CDL applicants. Required for: Drivers of vehicles designed for 16+ passengers. Official test: 20 questions, 16 correct to pass.
Question 1 of 25 · Mountain Driving
What's the safest way to handle a bus on a steep downgrade?
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A.
Use lower gears and engine braking
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B.
Coast in neutral
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C.
Brake hard
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D.
Use parking brake
Correct answer: A.
Lower gears and engine braking; service brakes only intermittently.
Question 2 of 25 · Rail Crossings
When approaching an unmarked railroad crossing with a bus, you should:
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A.
Stop within 15-50 feet of nearest rail and look and listen
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B.
Drive across without stopping
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C.
Speed up
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D.
Sound the horn
Correct answer: A.
Stop and check before crossing — required for buses by federal rule.
Question 3 of 25 · Inspection
What's the importance of the driver's pre-trip inspection?
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A.
To identify defects before driving
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B.
To ensure passenger safety
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C.
To comply with regulations
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D.
All of the above
Correct answer: D.
Pre-trip inspection finds defects, ensures safety, and meets legal requirements.
Question 4 of 25 · Loading
What's the safest way to load luggage?
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A.
Securely in compartments to prevent shifting
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B.
On passenger seats
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C.
In the aisle
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D.
On the roof
Correct answer: A.
Stow luggage in compartments to keep it from shifting and blocking the aisle.
Question 5 of 25 · Adverse Conditions
What's the safest way to handle a bus on a wet road?
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A.
Reduce speed and increase following distance
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B.
Drive at posted speed
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C.
Use engine retarder constantly
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D.
Lock the brakes
Correct answer: A.
Wet roads need slower speeds and longer following distances.
Question 6 of 25 · Hours of Service
What's the legal limit for hours of service for bus drivers?
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A.
10 hours of driving after 8 consecutive hours off duty
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B.
12 hours of driving with 8 hours off
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C.
15 hours of driving
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D.
No limit
Correct answer: A.
Bus drivers typically follow 10/8/15 rules: 10 driving, 8 off, 15 on duty.
Question 7 of 25 · Communication
What's the proper way to communicate with passengers?
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A.
Clear announcements about stops, safety, and any issues
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B.
Don't communicate
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C.
Yell at passengers
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D.
Use only hand signals
Correct answer: A.
Clear announcements keep passengers informed and improve safety.
Question 8 of 25 · Rail Crossings
What does the driver do at a railroad crossing?
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A.
Stop within 15-50 feet of the nearest rail and look and listen
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B.
Speed up to clear quickly
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C.
Stop on the tracks
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D.
Drive across without stopping
Correct answer: A.
Stop 15 to 50 feet from nearest rail. Open the door and listen.
Question 9 of 25 · Emergencies
What's the role of the emergency exits?
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A.
To provide alternate evacuation routes in emergencies
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B.
For luggage
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C.
For ventilation
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D.
For maintenance
Correct answer: A.
Emergency exits provide additional ways out in case of fire or crash.
Question 10 of 25 · CDL Rules
What's the maximum number of standees allowed on a bus?
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A.
Same as seated passengers
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B.
No standees allowed in some buses; check the rules for your vehicle
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C.
Always 10
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D.
Unlimited
Correct answer: B.
Rules vary; some buses allow standees, others don't. Follow your vehicle's rules.
Question 11 of 25 · Adverse Conditions
What's the safest way to handle a bus in fog?
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A.
Use low beams and slow down
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B.
Use high beams
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C.
Speed up to escape fog
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D.
Stop on the highway
Correct answer: A.
Slow down and use low beams; high beams reflect off fog.
Question 12 of 25 · Operation
How should drivers handle disruptive passengers?
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A.
Stop in a safe area and ask them to leave
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B.
Engage in argument
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C.
Speed up to scare them
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D.
Ignore them
Correct answer: A.
Stop safely; remove disruptive passengers if necessary, with help from authorities.
Question 13 of 25 · Emergencies
What's the safest way to handle a bus emergency?
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A.
Stop in a safe area, evacuate if needed, call for help
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B.
Continue driving
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C.
Tell passengers to stay seated
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D.
Drive faster
Correct answer: A.
Safety first: stop, assess, evacuate if needed, and contact emergency services.
Question 14 of 25 · Emergencies
What's the safest way to handle a bus in a crash?
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A.
Evacuate passengers safely and call emergency services
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B.
Continue driving
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C.
Tell passengers to stay seated
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D.
Drive away from the scene
Correct answer: A.
Evacuate to a safe area and call for help; never leave the scene.
Question 15 of 25 · Operation
How often should a bus driver check passenger safety?
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A.
Continuously throughout the trip
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B.
Only at the start
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C.
Only at stops
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D.
Once per hour
Correct answer: A.
Stay aware of passenger conduct, baggage, and safety throughout the trip.
Question 16 of 25 · Following Distance
What's the safest way to handle a bus in heavy traffic?
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A.
Maintain extra following distance and signal early
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B.
Speed up to keep with traffic
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C.
Drive aggressively
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D.
Use the shoulder
Correct answer: A.
Buses need extra space and clear signaling in heavy traffic.
Question 17 of 25 · Inspection
What's the importance of regular maintenance for a bus?
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A.
Prevents breakdowns
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B.
Ensures safety for passengers
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C.
Reduces costs in the long run
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D.
All of the above
Correct answer: D.
Maintenance prevents breakdowns and keeps passengers safe.
Question 18 of 25 · Hours of Service
What's the importance of the driver's log book?
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A.
To track hours of service
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B.
To prove compliance with regulations
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C.
To identify rest periods
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D.
All of the above
Correct answer: D.
Logs document compliance with hours of service and rest requirements.
Question 19 of 25 · Inspection
What's the proper way to check tires on a bus?
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A.
Visual inspection and proper inflation pressure
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B.
Skip tires if in a hurry
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C.
Only check at end of trip
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D.
Check only at maintenance
Correct answer: A.
Inspect tires every pre-trip for damage, wear, and proper inflation.
Question 20 of 25 · Inspection
Before driving a bus, you must inspect:
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A.
Passenger seats and aisles
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B.
Emergency exits and signals
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C.
Wheelchair lifts if equipped
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D.
All of the above
Correct answer: D.
Inspect seats, aisles, exits, signals, and any specialized equipment.
Question 21 of 25 · Operation
When is it acceptable to refuel a bus with passengers aboard?
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A.
Never — passengers must be off the bus during refueling
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B.
Always
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C.
Only when bus is in motion
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D.
Only at night
Correct answer: A.
Never refuel with passengers on board; require everyone to disembark.
Question 22 of 25 · Boarding
When passengers are boarding, the bus must be:
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A.
Stopped with parking brake set and engine off if extended boarding
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B.
Idling in neutral
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C.
Moving slowly
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D.
In gear
Correct answer: A.
Set parking brake; turn off engine for extended stops to ensure safety.
Question 23 of 25 · Boarding
How should drivers handle wheelchair-bound passengers?
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A.
Use the wheelchair lift safely and secure the wheelchair properly
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B.
Refuse to transport them
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C.
Use the lift quickly
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D.
Don't secure the wheelchair
Correct answer: A.
Use the lift correctly and secure the wheelchair before driving.
Question 24 of 25 · Operation
What's the role of the driver in passenger safety?
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A.
To maintain a safe environment and respond to emergencies
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B.
To collect fares only
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C.
To drive without regard to passengers
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D.
To enforce the law
Correct answer: A.
Drivers maintain safety, communicate, and respond to emergencies.
Question 25 of 25 · CDL Rules
What's the maximum weight a bus driver can transport without special permits?
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A.
Limits depend on vehicle and state regulations
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B.
Always 10,000 lbs
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C.
No limit
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D.
Always 50,000 lbs
Correct answer: A.
Weight limits depend on vehicle type and state law.
About the Passenger Transport Test
The Passenger Transport test covers the safe operation of buses and other vehicles designed to transport 16 or more passengers including the driver. Topics include vehicle inspection, loading and trip start, on the road, after-trip vehicle inspection, prohibited practices, and use of brake-door interlocks.
The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency — Driver License Division administers this knowledge test as part of its commercial driver license program. To earn the Passenger Endorsement (P) on your Alabama CDL, you need to score at least 16 out of 20 on the official version.
Topics covered on this practice test
- Inspection: 4 questions
- Operation: 4 questions
- Emergencies: 3 questions
- Rail Crossings: 2 questions
- Adverse Conditions: 2 questions
- Hours of Service: 2 questions
- CDL Rules: 2 questions
- Boarding: 2 questions
- Mountain Driving: 1 question
- Loading: 1 question
- Communication: 1 question
- Following Distance: 1 question
How to use this practice test
- Read each question carefully. CDL questions are written precisely — small wording differences matter.
- Click "Show Answers & Explanations" only after answering every question. Don't peek mid-test.
- Read the explanation for every question, even ones you got right. The reasoning is more important than the answer.
- Repeat the test until you score 100%. The questions are deterministic per state, so you can track your improvement over multiple sessions.
- Move on to the other endorsement tests for Alabama until you're ready for the official exam.
Tips specific to the Passenger Transport test
Passenger Transport questions cover bus inspection, loading and trip start, on-road driving, after-trip inspection, and the brake-door interlock. The official test is 20 questions; pay close attention to railroad crossing procedures and the prohibited practices list.