2018 PARTICIPANT HANDBOOK Texas School Bus Driver Certification Course TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY Texas School Bus Driver Certification Course: Table of Contents Session 1—Preparing to Drive .......................................... 11 Chapter 1—Introduction and Overview ...................................................... 13 Overview ........................................................................................................................................ 13 Introduction .............................................................................................................................. 13 Chapter Objectives .................................................................................................................. 13 Topics Covered in This Chapter .............................................................................................. 13 Mission and Role of a School Bus Driver ....................................................................................... 13 Overall Mission of a School Bus Driver ................................................................................... 13 Your Role as a School Bus Driver ........................................................................................... 14 Subjects Covered by This Certification Course ....................................................................... 15 Review Questions .......................................................................................................................... 16 Chapter 2—Licensing and Certification ..................................................... 17 Overview ........................................................................................................................................ 17 Introduction .............................................................................................................................. 17 Chapter Objectives .................................................................................................................. 17 Topics Covered in This Chapter .............................................................................................. 17 Commercial Driver Licenses .......................................................................................................... 18 Definitions ................................................................................................................................ 18 Who Can Drive a School Bus? ...................................................................................................... 19 Who Can Drive ........................................................................................................................ 19 Continuing as a School Bus Driver ................................................................................................ 20 Penalty Point System ..................................................................................................................... 20 How It Works ........................................................................................................................... 20 Assessing Points ..................................................................................................................... 20 Driving Record Evaluation ....................................................................................................... 21 Mandatory Disqualifications ..................................................................................................... 22 Disqualification ........................................................................................................................ 22 Reporting Requirements .......................................................................................................... 23 Tobacco and Firearms ................................................................................................................... 23 Other Laws Impacting Bus Drivers ................................................................................................ 23 Review Questions .......................................................................................................................... 24 Chapter 3—Know the Bus: Equipment and Maintenance ............................ 27 Overview ........................................................................................................................................ 27 Introduction .............................................................................................................................. 27 Chapter Objectives .................................................................................................................. 27 Topics Covered in This Chapter .............................................................................................. 27 School Bus Classifications ............................................................................................................. 28 School Bus Types .................................................................................................................... 29 Required Equipment ...................................................................................................................... 29 Steps for Adjusting Your Seat ........................................................................................................ 30 Seat Belt Use ........................................................................................................................... 31 Using Mirrors .................................................................................................................................. 31 Depth Perception ........................................................................................................................... 35 Front Reference Point ............................................................................................................. 36 Texas School Bus Driver Certification Course: Participant Handbook Page 1 Table of Contents Warming Up the Engine and Shifting Transmission ...................................................................... 37 Gas Engines ............................................................................................................................ 37 Diesel Buses ............................................................................................................................ 37 Operating Procedures for Automatic Transmissions ..................................................................... 38 Gear Selection ......................................................................................................................... 38 Downshifting to Reduce Speed ............................................................................................... 38 Parking Brakes ............................................................................................................................... 39 Buses Equipped with Air Brakes ............................................................................................. 39 Review Questions .......................................................................................................................... 40 Chapter 4—Performing Vehicle Inspections .............................................. 43 Overview ........................................................................................................................................ 43 Introduction .............................................................................................................................. 43 Chapter Objectives .................................................................................................................. 43 Topics Covered in This Chapter .............................................................................................. 43 Pre-trip Vehicle Inspection ............................................................................................................. 44 Walking Inspection .................................................................................................................. 44 Under the Hood ....................................................................................................................... 45 Inside the Bus .......................................................................................................................... 45 Outside the Bus ....................................................................................................................... 46 Equipment Inspection .............................................................................................................. 46 Gauge Levels........................................................................................................................... 47 Brake System Inspection ......................................................................................................... 48 Parking Brakes ........................................................................................................................ 51 Anti-lock Brake Systems .......................................................................................................... 52 Post-trip Inspection ........................................................................................................................ 54 How to “Sense” Problems 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