25 realistic Passenger Transport practice questions for South Carolina CDL applicants. Required for: Drivers of vehicles designed for 16+ passengers. Official test: 20 questions, 16 correct to pass.
Question 1 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 2 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 3 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 4 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 5 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 6 of 25 · Adverse Conditions
What's the safest way to handle a bus on icy roads?
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A.
Slow down and increase following distance
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B.
Drive at posted speed
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C.
Use chains
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D.
All of the above
Correct answer: D.
Reduced speed, more space, and chains where required minimize ice risk.
Question 7 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 8 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 9 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 10 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 11 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 12 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 13 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 14 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 15 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 16 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 17 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 18 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 19 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 20 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 21 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 22 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 23 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 24 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 25 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.
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 South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles administers this knowledge test as part of its commercial driver license program. To earn the Passenger Endorsement (P) on your South Carolina CDL, you need to score at least 16 out of 20 on the official version.
Topics covered on this practice test
- Emergencies: 6 questions
- Adverse Conditions: 3 questions
- CDL Rules: 2 questions
- Rail Crossings: 2 questions
- Inspection: 2 questions
- Communication: 2 questions
- Operation: 2 questions
- Hours of Service: 1 question
- Driver Wellness: 1 question
- Loading: 1 question
- Hazard Awareness: 1 question
- Following Distance: 1 question
- Boarding: 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 South Carolina 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.