Vermont Passenger CDL Practice Test

This is a free 20-question practice test for the Passenger portion of the Vermont 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 Vermont Department of Motor Vehicles 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 Vermont.

Question 1 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 2 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 3 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 4 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 5 of 20

You discover an emergency exit that does not function. You should:

Carry passengers anyway
Place the bus out of service until the exit is repaired
Tape it shut
Ignore it

Correct. A non-functional emergency exit puts passengers at risk. The bus is out of service until repaired.

Question 6 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 7 of 20

When fueling a bus:

Generally without passengers aboard; follow carrier policy if passengers must remain
Always with passengers
Always with smokers
Only at high speed

Correct. Most carriers require passengers to deboard during fueling for safety. Follow company policy.

Question 8 of 20

A passenger vehicle drove with people standing forward of the standee line. This is:

Acceptable
Prohibited — standees may not be forward of the line while the vehicle is in motion
Required
Encouraged

Correct. Standees forward of the line are at risk in emergency stops or sudden braking. Enforce the line.

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

Which of the following is part of the bus pre-trip inspection?

Passenger seat condition, emergency exits, signaling devices, kneeling mechanism, wheelchair lift if equipped
Only the engine
Only the brakes
Only the lights

Correct. Bus inspection includes all standard items plus passenger-area items: seats, emergency exits, signaling devices, kneeling/lift equipment, fire extinguisher.

Question 11 of 20

You may NOT carry which of the following on a passenger bus?

Small-arms ammunition, hospital supplies in emergency
Class 2.3 (poison gas) or Class 7 (radioactive) above small quantities, tear gas, explosives other than small arms ammunition
Driver's personal luggage
Mail

Correct. Buses cannot carry Class 2.3 poison gases, most Class 7 radioactive materials, tear gas, or most Class 1 explosives. Small-arms ammunition and certain emergency shipments may be allowed.

Question 12 of 20

You should report any safety concerns about the bus:

Immediately to the carrier — never delay
Only at the end of the day
Only weekly
Never

Correct. Report safety issues immediately. Document with the daily driver vehicle inspection report (DVIR).

Question 13 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 14 of 20

When carrying live animals (where allowed):

Comply with carrier rules; many carriers permit only service animals in the passenger area
Always allowed in any class
Always prohibited
Only at night

Correct. Service animals are required by ADA. Other animals depend on carrier policy and applicable regulations.

Question 15 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 16 of 20

Where must hazardous materials that are allowed on a bus be carried?

Inside the passenger area
Only in the baggage compartment, never in the passenger area
On the dashboard
In the cab with the driver

Correct. When allowed at all, the small quantities of hazmat permitted on buses must be in the baggage compartment, separated from passengers.

Question 17 of 20

Speed control on a long downgrade in a bus is critical because:

Brake fade can occur, and braking distance grows quickly with passenger load
Speed is irrelevant
Buses cannot go downhill
Speed is the same as a car

Correct. Heavy passenger load + long downgrade = brake fade risk. Select a lower gear before starting down and use intermittent firm braking.

Question 18 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 19 of 20

Bus brake systems require:

The same federal pre-trip air-system check as other commercial vehicles, with attention to bus-specific items (door interlocks, retarders if equipped)
No special check
Hydraulic checks only
Only the parking brake

Correct. Standard air-system check applies. Bus-specific: door safety interlock (door open = vehicle can't move), retarder/exhaust brake operation if equipped.

Question 20 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.

About the Vermont 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 Vermont Department of Motor Vehicles 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 Vermont CDL practice tests.