Alabama School Bus CDL Practice Test

This is a free 20-question practice test for the School Bus portion of the Alabama Commercial Driver's License knowledge exam. Questions are pulled from a pool of 55 drawn from the AAMVA CDL Manual, which is the source document the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency Driver License Division uses to write its actual exam.

How it works: Click an answer. The correct choice highlights in green, and you'll see a short explanation. Aim for 85% or better before you sit for the real test in Alabama.

Question 1 of 20

When the bus must stop because of crossing students, you should also:

Use the crossing-control arm (if equipped), signaling students to walk far enough in front of the bus to be seen
Skip the crossing arm
Have them walk behind
Have them run

Correct. The crossing-control arm extends in front of the bus, forcing students to walk where the driver can see them.

Question 2 of 20

When stopped to load or unload students, the bus driver should:

Set parking brake, place transmission in neutral, activate red lights and stop arm, count students, watch mirrors
Just open the door
Only honk the horn
Skip the parking brake

Correct. Standard procedure: parking brake set, neutral, red flashers and stop arm out, count students on/off, mirror check before resuming.

Question 3 of 20

When students must cross the road to reach or leave the bus, they should:

Cross at least 10 feet in front of the bus, where the driver can see them, only on the driver's signal
Cross behind the bus
Cross at any time
Cross at the rear

Correct. Crossing students walk at least 10 feet ahead of the bus, in clear view, after the driver signals it is safe.

Question 4 of 20

When a school bus is on a divided highway with a barrier or median:

Some states allow vehicles on the opposite side not to stop when the bus is stopped — verify state law
Always require stop
Always require pass
Are not regulated

Correct. Most states exempt opposing traffic on divided highways with a physical barrier. Some require all traffic to stop. Know your state law.

Question 5 of 20

School-bus driver disqualifications can include:

Felony involving the use of a CMV, controlled-substance offenses, certain crimes against children — varies by state
None
Only speeding
Only parking violations

Correct. School-bus drivers face additional background-check standards. Convictions can permanently disqualify a driver from the S endorsement.

Question 6 of 20

After delivering students to school in the morning:

Walk through the bus to verify no students remain
Lock and leave immediately
Only walk if requested
Skip the walk

Correct. Walk every aisle, every seat. Confirm bus is empty before leaving for the day or for the next trip.

Question 7 of 20

Speed limits in school zones apply to a school bus driver:

As they apply to all drivers — sometimes lower than posted highway limit
Do not apply to school buses
Are higher for buses
Are decorative

Correct. School-zone limits apply to school-bus operators just as to other drivers; observe posted reduced limits when in effect.

Question 8 of 20

A school bus stop in low-light or poor-visibility conditions:

Activate flashers earlier, use additional lights if equipped, allow extra time for traffic to react
Skip flashers
Move quickly
Drive past

Correct. Reduced visibility means earlier flashers, more conspicuous stop, more time for traffic to react.

Question 9 of 20

When stopped at a railroad crossing in a school bus, the driver should:

Open the entrance door and driver window, look and listen for trains
Skip the door
Only honk
Drive across without stopping

Correct. Open door and window, eliminate noise from the bus, look both ways, listen for whistles and bells. Cross only when clear.

Question 10 of 20

A school bus must have how many mirrors at minimum?

Standard side mirrors plus crossover mirrors that allow the driver to see the danger zone in front and on the right side
Just one
Just two
None

Correct. School buses have side mirrors plus crossover mirrors at the front so the driver can see the danger zone in front of the bus and on the right.

Question 11 of 20

When you cannot account for all students after unloading:

Stop the bus, set the brake, search the danger zone and surrounding area immediately
Drive on
Continue route
Wait until end of route

Correct. Missing student requires immediate search. Stop, brake, search the bus and the area around it before continuing.

Question 12 of 20

If you must evacuate students through the rear emergency exit:

Have a responsible older student or adult outside to assist others as they exit, maintain orderly evacuation
Throw them out
Skip the rear exit
Only use the front

Correct. Position helpers at exits to assist. Maintain orderly process. Account for all students at the safe area.

Question 13 of 20

When students are loading and approaching the bus from across the street:

They should wait for the driver's signal before crossing
Cross immediately
Ignore the lights
Run across

Correct. Crossing students wait for the driver's signal that the road is clear before crossing in front of the bus.

Question 14 of 20

Student management is important because:

Distracted driving by managing students causes crashes
It does not affect driving
Only the bus matters
Students never affect safety

Correct. Distracted driving from student-management issues is a leading cause of school-bus crashes. Pull off safely to address behavior.

Question 15 of 20

A pre-trip mirror adjustment should:

Allow the driver to see the right-rear and left-rear of the bus, the danger zone in front, and along both sides
Only show the rear
Only show the front
Not be necessary

Correct. Adjust mirrors to cover front danger zone, both sides, and the rear. Recheck adjustment after any seating-position change.

Question 16 of 20

A school-bus stop arm violation:

Carries heavy fines and is a major focus of state enforcement
Is unenforced
Is decorative
Has no consequence

Correct. Most states have substantial fines for passing a stopped school bus with red lights flashing. Many install on-bus cameras to capture violations.

Question 17 of 20

You see a student running back toward the bus after being unloaded. You should:

Wait until the student is clear, account for them, before moving
Continue moving
Honk and accelerate
Open the door while moving

Correct. Stop and account for the student. Many fatal incidents involve students returning for forgotten items in the danger zone.

Question 18 of 20

When loading students at the stop, the driver should:

Account for every student, watch for late students from nearby houses, count and recount
Just open the door
Skip the count
Move quickly

Correct. Count students before, during, and after loading. Late students may approach in your blind spot.

Question 19 of 20

Securing the bus at the end of the day:

Park in designated area, set parking brake, turn off engine and lights, secure all doors
Leave the engine running
Skip the parking brake
Leave doors unlocked

Correct. Standard end-of-day securement: parking, brake, engine off, lights off, doors secured. Walk through to ensure no children remain.

Question 20 of 20

During the loading process, students should:

Wait at the bus stop until the bus has fully stopped and the door is opened
Approach while the bus is moving
Cross before the bus stops
Run to the bus

Correct. Students wait until the bus has fully stopped, the parking brake is set, the door is opened, and the driver signals before approaching.

About the Alabama School Bus exam

Most states administer 20 School Bus questions and require 80% to pass. The exam emphasizes loading and unloading procedures, the danger zone around the bus, emergency exit and evacuation procedures, railroad-highway crossings, and student management.

The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency Driver License Division follows the federal CDL standards established by FMCSA. To earn the School Bus credential, you must answer at least 80% of the questions correctly. Many candidates score lower the first time because the test pulls from a large pool — refreshing this page will give you a different mix of questions, drawn from the same authoritative source.

Want more practice? Try the full School Bus question bank or browse all Alabama CDL practice tests.