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Unloading at school, special dangers and post-trip inspection

School Bus (S)3 minManual section 10.2.4–10.2.6

At school the bus is often in a parking lot instead of on the road, so the steps change a little. This lesson also covers two hidden killers, dropped objects and handrail hang-ups, and the walk-through you do when the route is done.

Unloading at school

Rules for unloading at school, especially in a parking lot or another place off the road, are often different from unloading on the route. Know and obey your state and local rules. In general:

  • Make a safe stop at the set unloading area.
  • Secure the bus: turn off the ignition and remove the key if you leave the driver's compartment.
  • Students stay seated until told to exit. Stand where you can supervise as your state or district requires.
  • Have students exit in an orderly way. Watch each one step off and move promptly away from the unloading area.
  • Walk through the bus to check for hiding or sleeping students and items left behind.
  • Check all mirrors. Be sure nobody is coming back to the bus. If a student outside is unaccounted for, secure the bus, then look around and beneath it.

When all are accounted for, leave in this order: close the door → fasten your safety belt → start the engine → engage the transmission → release the parking brake → turn off the alternating red lights → turn on the left signal → check all mirrors again → let congested traffic clear. Pull away when safe.

Special dangers: dropped objects and handrail hang-ups

Dropped or forgotten objects: always focus on students as they come to the bus and watch for anyone who disappears from sight. A student who stops to pick up a dropped item, or comes back for it, can vanish from your view at the worst moment.

Teach students to leave a dropped object, move to a safe place out of the danger zones, and get the driver's attention to get it back.

Handrail hang-ups: students have been hurt or killed when clothing, accessories (such as backpack straps or drawstrings), or even body parts got caught in the handrail or door as they got off. Watch every student exiting and confirm each one is in a safe place before you move the bus.

Post-trip inspection

When your route or school activity trip is finished, do a post-trip inspection. Walk through and around the bus looking for:

  • Articles left on the bus and sleeping students.
  • Open windows and doors.
  • Mechanical or operating problems, with special attention to school-bus-only items: mirror systems, flashing warning lamps and stop signal arms.
  • Damage or vandalism.

Report any problem or special situation right away to your supervisor or school authorities. A child left asleep on a parked bus is a real and preventable danger.

Check your state

School bus rules are set mostly by state and local law, so the exact steps can differ where you live. This lesson teaches the national manual procedure. Check your state manual and your school district rules too.

References and scope

The topic reference is listed below. Sources support verification; the lesson itself is here. The current content needs technical and language review before public launch.

Manual reference: 10.2.4–10.2.6

Official CDL handbook · Utah ↗StatesOur editorial approach

Put it into practice

Educational questions with explanations. The answer review also works without the interactive quiz.

Preparing your questions…

Review questions with answers

  1. When unloading at school, how do you secure the bus?
    1. Leave the engine running with the brake on
    2. Put it in Drive and hold the brake
    3. Turn off the ignition and remove the key if leaving the driver's compartment
    4. Turn on the amber lights
    Show answer
    Turn off the ignition and remove the key if leaving the driver's compartment

    Secure the bus by turning off the ignition and removing the key if you leave the driver's compartment.

  2. After unloading at school, why should you walk through the bus?
    1. To check for hiding or sleeping students and items left behind
    2. To clean the windows
    3. To count the seats
    4. To check the fuel level
    Show answer
    To check for hiding or sleeping students and items left behind

    Walk through the bus to check for hiding or sleeping students and items left by students.

  3. When leaving after unloading at school, which step comes right after closing the door?
    1. Turning on the left signal
    2. Releasing the parking brake
    3. Engaging the transmission
    4. Fastening your safety belt
    Show answer
    Fastening your safety belt

    At school: close door, fasten belt, start engine, engage transmission, release parking brake, red lights off, left signal, mirrors, let traffic clear.

  4. Rules for unloading at school, especially in a parking lot off the road, are:
    1. Always identical to route rules
    2. Often different from unloading on the route
    3. Not covered by any law
    4. Set by the parents
    Show answer
    Often different from unloading on the route

    State and local rules for unloading at school often differ from those on the route; know and obey them.

  5. A student drops a book near the bus while unloading. What should the student be taught to do?
    1. Pick it up quickly
    2. Crawl under the bus to get it
    3. Leave it, move to a safe place, and get the driver's attention
    4. Ask a friend to get it
    Show answer
    Leave it, move to a safe place, and get the driver's attention

    Students should leave dropped objects, move out of the danger zones, and get the driver's attention.

  6. Why is a dropped object so dangerous during loading or unloading?
    1. The student may disappear from the driver's sight while picking it up
    2. It may damage the tires
    3. It slows down the route
    4. It may break the door
    Show answer
    The student may disappear from the driver's sight while picking it up

    Stopping to pick up an object can make a student vanish from the driver's view at a very dangerous moment.

  7. What is a handrail hang-up?
    1. A broken handrail
    2. A student refusing to let go of the rail
    3. A loose seat
    4. Clothing, accessories or body parts caught in the handrail or door as a student exits
    Show answer
    Clothing, accessories or body parts caught in the handrail or door as a student exits

    Students have been injured or killed when clothing, accessories or body parts caught in the handrail or door.

  8. To prevent handrail hang-up injuries, you should:
    1. Tell students to run off the bus
    2. Watch every student exiting and confirm they are safe before moving
    3. Open the door only halfway
    4. Move the bus slowly while students exit
    Show answer
    Watch every student exiting and confirm they are safe before moving

    Closely observe all students exiting and confirm they are in a safe place before moving the bus.

  9. During a school bus post-trip inspection, which items need special attention because they are unique to school buses?
    1. Cargo doors and tie-downs
    2. Air hose glad hands
    3. Mirror systems, flashing warning lamps and stop signal arms
    4. Fifth wheel and kingpin
    Show answer
    Mirror systems, flashing warning lamps and stop signal arms

    Give special attention to school-bus-only items: mirror systems, flashing warning lamps and stop signal arms.

  10. During the post-trip inspection you find vandalism damage. You should:
    1. Report it right away to your supervisor or school authorities
    2. Fix it yourself next week
    3. Ignore it if the bus still runs
    4. Mention it at the end of the school year
    Show answer
    Report it right away to your supervisor or school authorities

    Report any problems or special situations immediately to your supervisor or school authorities.

  11. Which is NOT on the list of things to look for during a school bus post-trip inspection?
    1. Articles left on the bus
    2. Sleeping students
    3. Open windows and doors
    4. The students' homework
    Show answer
    The students' homework

    Look for left articles, sleeping students, open windows/doors, mechanical problems and damage or vandalism.