Washington Passenger CDL Practice Test

This is a free 20-question practice test for the Passenger portion of the Washington 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 Washington State Department of 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 Washington.

Question 1 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 2 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 3 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 4 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 5 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 6 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 7 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 8 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 9 of 20

Brake retarders or "Jake" brakes on a bus:

Help control speed on long downgrades; some are noisy and locally regulated
Are illegal everywhere
Replace the foot valve
Are decorative

Correct. Engine brakes / retarders help slow the rig on downgrades. Some areas regulate noise from compression brakes.

Question 10 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 11 of 20

When approaching a stop where passengers will board, you should:

Slow gradually, signal, stop at the curb, set the parking brake, open the door
Stop suddenly
Drive past
Honk the horn

Correct. Plan the stop, signal, decelerate smoothly, stop at the curb, set the parking brake before opening the door — interlock should prevent door opening unless brake is set.

Question 12 of 20

When you are about to leave a stop with passengers aboard, you should:

Confirm doors are closed, mirror-check for late-boarding passengers and pedestrians, then proceed slowly
Move quickly
Use only the trailer brake
Skip the mirror check

Correct. Doors closed, mirrors check, slow gentle start. Late-boarders and pedestrians are common at busy stops.

Question 13 of 20

A bus driver should:

Refuse boarding to obviously intoxicated passengers if they pose a danger
Carry any passenger
Carry only adults
Only carry seated passengers

Correct. Carriers may refuse boarding for safety reasons (intoxication, weapons, threatening behavior). Document and report such refusals.

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

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 16 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 17 of 20

After accepting passengers, the driver should:

Verify all are seated or behind the standee line, doors closed, parking brake released, then proceed
Move immediately
Wait until all are standing
Use only the trailer brake

Correct. Verify safety: all seated or behind line, doors closed, brake released, then proceed.

Question 18 of 20

When you stop a bus, you should:

Stop smoothly to avoid throwing standing passengers off-balance
Stop suddenly
Use only the parking brake
Stop on a hill always

Correct. Smooth stops protect standing passengers and reduce surge for seated ones. Plan stops in advance.

Question 19 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 20 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.

About the Washington 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 Washington State Department of 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 Washington CDL practice tests.