Passenger Endorsement Study Guide
The Passenger endorsement (P) is required for any commercial vehicle designed to transport 16 or more passengers, including the driver. That covers transit buses, charter buses, intercity coaches, airport shuttles, and tour buses. Passenger driving is fundamentally different from cargo hauling — your cargo can move, talk, complain, get sick, fall down, and have emergencies — and the test reflects those differences.
What the P endorsement covers
About 20 questions on the written test, with topics including loading and unloading, emergency exits and evacuation, prohibited practices, post-trip inspection, after-stop procedures, and special situations like rail crossings and drawbridges. The passing score is 80%.
Pre-trip inspection: passenger-specific items
Before any passenger trip, you need to inspect items that don't appear on a freight pre-trip:
- Passenger compartment cleanliness — aisles clear, seats secured, no trash blocking emergency exits.
- Emergency exits operate correctly. Doors, windows, roof hatches — all of them.
- Emergency exit warning system functional (the buzzer or alarm that sounds when an exit is opened).
- Fire extinguisher properly mounted and charged.
- First aid kit present and complete.
- Spare fuses (if equipped with non-resettable fuses).
- Reflective triangles or other warning devices.
- All seats firmly attached. No torn upholstery exposing sharp edges.
- Handrails secure. Steps in good condition with no damaged edges.
Loading passengers safely
Passengers should board only at designated stops. Standees behind the standee line (the marked line near the front of the bus) are forbidden. Aisles must be clear before the bus moves. Carry-on items must be small enough to fit in overhead racks or under seats — items in the aisle are a hazard during sudden braking.
Specific items that are never allowed on a passenger bus:
- Class 1 explosives (other than small-arms ammunition in limited quantities).
- Class 6 toxic and infectious substances.
- Class 7 radioactive materials.
- Class 2.3 poison gases.
- More than 100 pounds total of allowed hazmat.
- Tear gas, irritants, or anesthetic materials.
Common-carrier passenger buses can carry small parcels of certain non-hazardous items in the baggage compartment, but the driver is responsible for ensuring nothing prohibited is loaded.
Driving with passengers
Smooth driving is more important on a passenger bus than on any other commercial vehicle. Passengers can be standing, walking to a seat, or holding a cup of coffee — sudden braking, sharp turns, or lane changes hurt people. Specific techniques:
- Brake gently and early. Plan stops well in advance.
- Accelerate smoothly. No sudden bursts.
- Take corners well below truck-posted speeds.
- Watch for passengers walking in the aisle. Wait for them to be seated before moving from a stop.
- Announce stops when required by company policy.
- Never make change while driving. Stop at a safe location first.
Disorderly passengers
Disorderly or intoxicated passengers must not be allowed to board. If a passenger becomes disorderly while in transit, the driver should not put them off the bus where they would be in danger — even if they're being a problem. The proper procedure is to drive to a safe location, stop, and remove them there. Bus stations, well-lit public areas, or places with security personnel are appropriate. A dark unfamiliar street is not.
Rail crossings and drawbridges
Buses (and HAZMAT vehicles) must stop at every public railroad crossing whether or not warning devices are present. Stop between 15 and 50 feet from the nearest rail. Look both ways. Listen with the windows down. If clear, proceed without shifting gears while in the crossing.
Buses must also stop at drawbridges where there is no traffic light or no attendant on duty, looking and listening for an open span before proceeding. If the bridge has a traffic light or an attendant, normal traffic rules apply.
Brake-door interlocks
Most modern transit and intercity buses have a brake-door interlock system. When the passenger door is open, the brakes are automatically applied — meaning the bus cannot move with the door open. This is a safety feature that prevents drivers from accidentally pulling away while passengers are stepping off. The interlock should be tested as part of pre-trip inspection.
However: the interlock is not a substitute for setting the parking brake. Always set the parking brake when stopped, regardless of whether the door is open. Relying solely on the interlock has caused fatal accidents.
Post-trip inspection
After the last passenger has departed, walk the entire bus. Check every seat for items left behind, sleeping passengers, or anything else that doesn't belong. Check the bathroom (if equipped). Check overhead bins. Some intercity buses have had children sleeping in unexpected places — drivers have a legal obligation to ensure no passenger has been left behind.
Submit a post-trip inspection report identifying any defects discovered during the trip. Defects affecting safety must be repaired before the next trip.
Standee and stop limits
On urban transit buses, standees behind the standee line are typically allowed. On intercity buses with bathroom facilities, standees are usually prohibited. Each operator has a posted maximum capacity that includes standees if applicable; never exceed it.
How to study
Focus on emergency exit procedures, prohibited cargo, brake-door interlock function, and the rail-crossing rule. Take our practice test below repeatedly until you're scoring 90%+ on consecutive attempts.