Pennsylvania Passenger CDL Practice Test

This is a free 20-question practice test for the Passenger portion of the Pennsylvania Commercial Driver's License knowledge exam. Questions are pulled from a pool of 58 drawn from the AAMVA CDL Manual, which is the source document the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation Driver Licensing 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 Pennsylvania.

Question 1 of 20

When a passenger is disorderly:

Pull over at a safe location, follow the carrier's procedure, request assistance from law enforcement if needed
Argue with them
Speed up
Drive faster

Correct. Driver safety first: pull off safely, follow company policy, request help from authorities if the situation warrants.

Question 2 of 20

A "passenger vehicle" requiring a P endorsement is generally:

Any commercial vehicle
A vehicle designed to transport 16 or more people, including the driver
A vehicle that carries cargo
A school bus only

Correct. The P endorsement is required for any commercial motor vehicle designed to carry 16 or more passengers including the driver.

Question 3 of 20

A bus driver who picks up a passenger between scheduled stops:

Is permitted in all cases
Must follow the carrier's policy and applicable regulations — many companies prohibit unscheduled pickups
Should always accept
Should always refuse

Correct. Carrier policy and regulations govern unscheduled stops. Most companies prohibit them for safety and liability reasons.

Question 4 of 20

A bus driver who is convicted of using the bus to commit a felony or driving under the influence with passengers aboard faces:

No penalty
Permanent disqualification or extended disqualification
A fine only
A warning

Correct. Federal rule: certain offenses (using the CMV in a felony, DUI with passengers) bring extended or permanent disqualification.

Question 5 of 20

After a trip, you should leave the bus:

Clean and ready for the next driver
Untouched
With trash everywhere
With doors open

Correct. Sweep, check for lost items, secure the bus, and complete the post-trip inspection report.

Question 6 of 20

Buses must stop at every railroad crossing:

Yes, with limited exceptions (industrial switching tracks in city traffic, abandoned tracks, streetcar tracks)
No, never
Only at night
Only if a train is in sight

Correct. Buses, school buses, and placarded hazmat vehicles must stop at every railroad crossing 15 to 50 feet from the nearest rail, with narrow exceptions.

Question 7 of 20

When stopping at a railroad crossing, the bus must stop:

On the rails
Between 15 and 50 feet from the nearest rail
Anywhere within 100 feet
Only if a train is heard

Correct. Stop 15 to 50 feet from the nearest rail. Look both ways and listen before proceeding.

Question 8 of 20

When approaching a drawbridge, a bus must:

Stop at least 50 feet before the draw — unless there is a traffic light or attendant — and proceed only when you can do so safely
Cross at full speed
Honk the horn
Reverse

Correct. Stop at least 50 feet before any drawbridge. The exception is if there is a traffic-signal light or an attendant directing traffic, or the bridge has been closed and locked.

Question 9 of 20

After every trip, the bus driver should:

Walk through the bus to check for sleeping passengers, lost items, damage
Lock the doors and leave
Only check the driver area
Skip the inspection

Correct. Always do a post-trip walkthrough — check every seat for sleeping passengers, lost items, and damage. Many news-worthy incidents involve passengers left aboard.

Question 10 of 20

A bus driver must never:

Refuse to allow standees forward of the standee line
Use turn signals
Honk the horn
Wear a uniform

Correct. You should always enforce the standee line and prohibit standing or sitting in stairwells where they could be ejected in an emergency stop.

Question 11 of 20

Carry-on baggage on a bus may be:

Stored anywhere
Stored in overhead racks or under seats — never blocking aisles or emergency exits
Stored in the aisle
Held in your lap

Correct. Carry-on must not block the aisle, the emergency exit, or the doorway. Use overhead racks or under-seat space.

Question 12 of 20

When backing a bus, you should:

Sound the horn before moving and use a helper outside the bus when available
Back without warning
Back only at night
Back only with passengers

Correct. Sound the horn before backing. Use a helper to guide whenever possible — bus blind spots are large.

Question 13 of 20

Discharging passengers should be done:

Only at safe locations — paved curb, off the road, away from traffic
Anywhere
In the middle of an intersection
Only on highways

Correct. Stop at designated stops or safe pull-offs. Never discharge into a travel lane.

Question 14 of 20

Stops requiring extra caution:

School zones, construction zones, intersections, slick roads
None of the above
Empty highways
Long straightaways

Correct. Anywhere with pedestrians, reduced visibility, or reduced control demands extra attention.

Question 15 of 20

On highway travel:

Maintain steady speed, avoid abrupt lane changes, signal early
Accelerate hard
Tailgate
Lane-weave to make time

Correct. Smooth, predictable driving keeps passengers comfortable and safe.

Question 16 of 20

Driver fatigue on a bus operation:

Is a major cause of bus crashes; HOS rules apply, plus carrier policies
Is no concern
Affects only night drivers
Is the same as a car driver

Correct. Bus operators have demanding schedules. HOS rules and carrier policy combine to manage fatigue. Sleep before driving.

Question 17 of 20

When a bus has standees, the driver should:

Drive smoothly, accelerate and brake gently, take corners with care
Drive aggressively
Brake hard at every stop
Ignore standees

Correct. Standees can fall in any sudden movement. Drive smoothly to keep them safe.

Question 18 of 20

When you transport passengers across state lines:

You must be at least 21 years old
You can be any age
You only need a state license
You need a CDL endorsement other than P

Correct. Federal interstate minimum age is 21. Drivers under 21 may operate intrastate (within their state) only.

Question 19 of 20

A driver may transport ___, in addition to passengers, if the carrier permits:

Express small parcels under most circumstances; the carrier sets policy
Live explosives
Tear gas
Class 7 radioactives without limit

Correct. Many bus operators permit small express packages under company policy. The hazmat rules above still apply.

Question 20 of 20

When approaching a school bus that has its red flashing lights on:

Stop and wait until the lights are turned off and the school bus moves
Pass on the left
Pass on the right
Continue at speed

Correct. When a school bus is loading or unloading children with red flashers on, all approaching vehicles (with limited exceptions for divided highways) must stop.

About the Pennsylvania Passenger exam

Most states administer 20 Passenger questions and require 80% to pass. The exam covers passenger safety, vehicle inspection, loading and unloading, prohibited cargo, emergency exits, and conduct expected of a passenger-vehicle operator. A separate skills test in a representative passenger vehicle is also required.

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation Driver Licensing follows the federal CDL standards established by FMCSA. To earn the Passenger 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 Passenger question bank or browse all Pennsylvania CDL practice tests.