25 realistic Passenger Transport practice questions for Indiana CDL applicants. Required for: Drivers of vehicles designed for 16+ passengers. Official test: 20 questions, 16 correct to pass.
Question 1 of 25 · Operation
How should drivers handle disturbances on a bus?
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A.
Stop in a safe area and address the disturbance, contacting authorities if needed
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B.
Ignore them
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C.
Confront passengers
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D.
Drive faster
Correct answer: A.
Address disturbances safely; involve police if needed.
Question 2 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 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 · 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 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 · 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 7 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 8 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 9 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 10 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 11 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 12 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 13 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 14 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 15 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 16 of 25 · Emergencies
What's the role of the bus driver in emergencies?
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A.
Lead passengers to safety and call for help
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B.
Drive away
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C.
Tell passengers to handle it
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D.
Stay in the bus
Correct answer: A.
Lead passengers to safety and contact emergency services.
Question 17 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 18 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 19 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 20 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 21 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 22 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 23 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.
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 · 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.
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 Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles administers this knowledge test as part of its commercial driver license program. To earn the Passenger Endorsement (P) on your Indiana 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: 4 questions
- CDL Rules: 3 questions
- Hours of Service: 2 questions
- Emergencies: 2 questions
- Boarding: 2 questions
- Communication: 2 questions
- Hazard Awareness: 1 question
- Driver Wellness: 1 question
- Rail Crossings: 1 question
- Following Distance: 1 question
- Mountain Driving: 1 question
- Adverse Conditions: 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 Indiana 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.