25 realistic Passenger Transport practice questions for California CDL applicants. Required for: Drivers of vehicles designed for 16+ passengers. Official test: 20 questions, 16 correct to pass.
Question 1 of 25 · CDL Rules
Passenger transport drivers must:
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A.
Have a current Medical Examiner's Certificate
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B.
Have a CDL with Passenger endorsement
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C.
Pass a knowledge and skills test
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D.
All of the above
Correct answer: D.
Passenger drivers need a CDL with P endorsement, valid medical certificate, and skills test.
Question 2 of 25 · Driver Wellness
What's the safest way to handle a bus on a long trip?
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A.
Take regular breaks and stay alert
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B.
Drive without breaks
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C.
Use stimulants
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D.
Sleep while driving
Correct answer: A.
Take regular breaks to combat fatigue.
Question 3 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 4 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 5 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 6 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 7 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 8 of 25 · Operation
How should drivers handle passengers with special needs?
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A.
Provide assistance and ensure their safety
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B.
Refuse to transport them
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C.
Treat them like other passengers without help
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D.
Charge extra
Correct answer: A.
Provide appropriate assistance; passenger safety always comes first.
Question 9 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 10 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 11 of 25 · Hazard Awareness
How should drivers handle blind spots on a bus?
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A.
Use mirrors carefully and check before changing lanes
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B.
Ignore blind spots
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C.
Drive in the middle lane
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D.
Use only the driver's side mirror
Correct answer: A.
Buses have large blind spots; check both mirrors and look over your shoulder.
Question 12 of 25 · Operation
What is "brake-door interlock"?
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A.
A system that prevents the bus from moving when the door is open
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B.
A safety lock on the brakes
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C.
A type of door
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D.
A driver fatigue device
Correct answer: A.
Brake-door interlock keeps the brakes applied while the door is open.
Question 13 of 25 · Emergencies
What should a driver do if a passenger becomes ill?
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A.
Stop in a safe area and call for help
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B.
Continue to destination
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C.
Tell them to get off
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D.
Ignore them
Correct answer: A.
Stop safely, assess the situation, and contact emergency services if needed.
Question 14 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 15 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 16 of 25 · Adverse Conditions
How should drivers handle weather emergencies?
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A.
Stop in a safe area until conditions improve
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B.
Continue at normal speed
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C.
Drive faster to escape
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D.
Tell passengers to drive
Correct answer: A.
Pull off to safe parking and wait until conditions are safe.
Question 17 of 25 · Communication
What's the role of bus signals?
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A.
To communicate with other drivers and passengers
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B.
For decoration
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C.
To attract attention
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D.
To save fuel
Correct answer: A.
Signals communicate intentions to other drivers and passengers.
Question 18 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 19 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 20 of 25 · Emergencies
How should a driver handle a fire on a bus?
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A.
Pull over, evacuate passengers, attempt to extinguish
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B.
Continue to destination
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C.
Tell passengers to put it out
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D.
Drive faster
Correct answer: A.
Stop safely, evacuate, and try to put out the fire if it is safe.
Question 21 of 25 · Boarding
When passengers are exiting the bus:
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A.
Wait until they are clear before moving
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B.
Move slowly while they exit
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C.
Close the door immediately
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D.
Drive away
Correct answer: A.
Wait until passengers are clear of the door before moving.
Question 22 of 25 · Inspection
What is "after-trip inspection"?
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A.
An inspection done after the trip ends to identify defects and prepare for next trip
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B.
A passenger survey
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C.
A fuel check
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D.
A maintenance schedule
Correct answer: A.
After-trip inspections find defects so the bus is ready for the next driver.
Question 23 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 24 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 25 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.
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 California Department of Motor Vehicles administers this knowledge test as part of its commercial driver license program. To earn the Passenger Endorsement (P) on your California CDL, you need to score at least 16 out of 20 on the official version.
Topics covered on this practice test
- Operation: 4 questions
- Inspection: 3 questions
- Boarding: 3 questions
- Emergencies: 3 questions
- Hours of Service: 2 questions
- Adverse Conditions: 2 questions
- Communication: 2 questions
- CDL Rules: 1 question
- Driver Wellness: 1 question
- Mountain Driving: 1 question
- Hazard Awareness: 1 question
- Loading: 1 question
- Rail Crossings: 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 California 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.