Guide · Updated Oct 23, 2026
Passenger Endorsement Test Questions: 10 Answers Explained
The passenger (P) endorsement test is a written knowledge test. It covers Section 4 of the CDL manual, Transporting Passengers Safely, plus Section 2, General Knowledge. Below are 10 passenger endorsement test questions and answers, each with the reason and the manual section, so you can see how the questions work.
These are exam-style questions built from the official CDL manual. Read the question, pick your answer, then check it. For the full study plan, see the passenger endorsement test guide.
10 passenger endorsement test questions and answers
1. What must you do before you drive a bus that another driver used?
- A. Wash the bus
- B. Fill the fuel tank
- C. Count the riders from the last trip
- D. Review the previous driver's inspection report
Answer: D. The manual says you must review the report the previous driver made. Do it before you drive. Manual section: 4.1 Vehicle Inspection.
2. You walk around your bus and see an open emergency exit. What should you do?
- A. Leave it open for air
- B. Report it after the trip
- C. Block it with luggage
- D. Close it before driving
Answer: D. The manual says to close any open emergency exits as you check the outside of the bus. Do not leave one open for air. Manual section: 4.1.2 Access Doors and Panels.
3. According to the CDL manual, what is the most total weight of allowed hazardous materials a bus may carry?
- A. 100 pounds
- B. 250 pounds
- C. 500 pounds
- D. 1,000 pounds
Answer: C. A bus never carries more than 500 pounds total of allowed hazardous materials. No more than 100 pounds of any one class. Manual section: 4.2.2 Forbidden Hazardous Materials.
4. A rider puts a bag in the aisle. What should you do?
- A. Let it stay if it is small
- B. Let it stay on short trips
- C. Let it stay if the rider watches it
- D. Not allow carry-on baggage in the aisle or doorway
Answer: D. The manual says not to let riders leave carry-on baggage in a doorway or aisle. Size and trip length do not change the rule. Manual section: 4.2 Loading and Trip Start.
5. Where is a standing rider never allowed to stand on a bus?
- A. Behind the driver's seat
- B. At the back of the bus
- C. Forward of the rear of the driver's seat
- D. Beside a rear seat
Answer: C. Standing riders stay behind the standee line. No rider stands forward of the rear of the driver's seat. Manual section: 4.2.3 Standee Line.
6. On a banked curve, your bus leans toward the outside. What does this tell you?
- A. You are driving too fast
- B. You are driving too slowly
- C. The curve is flat
- D. Your tires are cold
Answer: A. If your bus leans toward the outside on a banked curve, the manual says you are driving too fast. Manual section: 4.3.4 Speed on Curves.
7. Where should you stop your bus before a railroad crossing?
- A. Between 15 and 50 feet
- B. Between 5 and 15 feet
- C. Between 50 and 100 feet
- D. Right at the first rail
Answer: A. The manual gives a range, 15 to 50 feet before the crossing. Manual section: 4.3.5 Railroad-highway Crossing/ Stops.
8. At a drawbridge with no signal light or attendant, how far before the draw must you stop?
- A. At least 15 feet
- B. At least 50 feet
- C. At least 5 feet
- D. At least 10 feet
Answer: B. Drawbridges use "at least 50 feet." Railroad crossings use a range. Keep the two numbers apart. Manual section: 4.3.6 Drawbridges.
9. Where must you never refuel with riders on board?
- A. At an open fuel pump
- B. At a truck stop in daylight
- C. In a closed building
- D. Beside a road
Answer: C. The manual bans refueling in a closed building when riders are on board. Manual section: 4.5 Prohibited Practices.
10. Your bus has a brake-door interlock. Can you use it instead of the parking brake?
- A. Yes, it works the same
- B. Yes, but only on hills
- C. No, never use it in place of the parking brake
- D. Yes, if the engine is off
Answer: C. The manual calls the interlock a safety feature, but says not to use it in place of the parking brake. Manual section: 4.6 Use of Brake-door Interlocks.
What the manual says on each topic
| Topic | What the manual says | Manual section |
|---|---|---|
| Before you drive | "You must review the inspection report made by the previous driver." | 4.1 |
| Emergency exits | "As you check the outside of the bus, close any open emergency exits." | 4.1.2 |
| Hazmat weight | "More than 500 pounds total of allowed hazardous materials, and no more than 100 pounds of any one class." This is on the list of what a bus must never carry. | 4.2.2 |
| Carry-on bags | "Do not allow riders to leave carry-on baggage in a doorway or aisle." | 4.2 |
| Standee line | "No rider may stand forward of the rear of the driver's seat." | 4.2.3 |
| Curves | "If your bus leans toward the outside on a banked curve, you are driving too fast." | 4.3.4 |
| Railroad crossings | "Stop your bus between 15 and 50 feet before railroad crossings." | 4.3.5 |
| Drawbridges | "Stop at least 50 feet before the draw of the bridge." | 4.3.6 |
| Fueling | "Never refuel in a closed building with riders on board." | 4.5 |
| Brake-door interlock | "Do not use this safety feature in place of the parking brake." | 4.6 |
Try 10 more passenger questions
Now test yourself. Each answer shows why it is right and why the others are wrong.
FirstTry CDL is a CDL permit test prep site by Hive Asset Group, LLC. It offers free exam-style practice tests built from the official CDL manual. FirstTry CDL is not affiliated with any DMV, FMCSA or government agency. Practice questions are exam-style questions built from the official CDL manual, not actual test questions.
How to use these questions
Cover the answer and say yours out loud. If you miss one, read the manual section listed under it. Then go back to the passenger endorsement practice test and keep going until the numbers feel easy.
School bus drivers need the passenger test too. See the school bus endorsement guide. Not sure which tests you need? Read every CDL endorsement test and what each one needs.
Practice next
Rules, fees and test details differ by state. Pick yours:
Common questions
What is on the passenger endorsement test?
The manual says you must pass a knowledge test on Sections 2 and 4. Section 4 is Transporting Passengers Safely. Section 2 is General Knowledge. If your bus has air brakes, the manual says you must also pass a knowledge test on Section 5.
How far from a railroad crossing do I stop a bus, and how far from a drawbridge?
The manual says to stop your bus between 15 and 50 feet before railroad crossings. At a drawbridge with no signal light or attendant, stop at least 50 feet before the draw of the bridge. Do not mix up the two.
Do I have to pass anything besides the knowledge test?
Yes. The manual says you must also pass the skills tests required for the class of vehicle you drive. Federal rule 49 CFR 383.117 says you take the passenger skills test in a passenger vehicle.
Sources
- Massachusetts CDL Manual (AAMVA model manual, 2014 edition), Section 4 Transporting Passengers Safely
- Virginia CDL Manual (AAMVA model manual, 2026 edition), Section 4 Transporting Passengers Safely
- 49 CFR 383.93 Endorsements (eCFR)
- 49 CFR 383.117 Requirements for passenger endorsement (eCFR)
Rules and numbers can differ by state. See how we source facts.