CDL: After-Trip Vehicle Inspection, Prohibited Practices, and Use of Brake-Door Interlocks
Wrapping Up the Shift: After-Trip Inspections, Prohibited Practices, and Brake-Door Interlocks
Passenger safety doesn't end the moment the last rider steps off the bus. This article covers what's expected of a bus driver once a trip is finished, the specific practices that are off-limits while passengers are aboard, and a safety feature found on many urban transit coaches that's designed to prevent a very specific kind of accident.
After-Trip Vehicle Inspection
At the end of every shift, a bus needs to be inspected one more time. Drivers working for interstate carriers have an added requirement: a written inspection report must be completed for each bus they drove that day. This report needs to identify the specific bus and list any defect that could affect safety or lead to a breakdown. If the inspection doesn't turn up any problems, the report should state that clearly rather than being left blank.
Riders themselves are sometimes the source of damage to safety-related equipment — handholds, seats, emergency exits, and windows are all parts that can be affected by passenger wear and tear or, occasionally, vandalism. Reporting this kind of damage at the end of a shift gives mechanics the chance to make repairs before the bus goes back into service. Drivers working in mass transit have an additional item to verify: passenger signaling devices and brake-door interlocks need to be confirmed as working properly as well.
Prohibited Practices
Certain behaviors are specifically off-limits for bus drivers, largely because of the added risk they create when passengers are on board.
Refueling with riders present. Avoid fueling the bus while riders are on board unless it's absolutely unavoidable. Under no circumstances should refueling happen inside a closed building while riders are still on the bus — the combination of fuel vapors and an enclosed space creates a serious hazard.
Distracted driving. Don't engage in conversations with riders, or any other activity that could distract you, while the bus is moving. Your full attention needs to stay on the road and the vehicle.
Towing or pushing a disabled bus with riders aboard. This should be avoided unless having riders exit the vehicle would actually be less safe than keeping them on board. If towing or pushing genuinely is necessary, it should only be done far enough to reach the nearest safe location where passengers can be let off. Beyond this general guidance, drivers should also follow their employer's specific policies on handling a disabled bus.
Use of Brake-Door Interlocks
Urban mass transit coaches are sometimes equipped with a brake and accelerator interlock system. This system automatically applies the service brakes and holds the throttle in idle whenever the rear door of the bus is open, which helps prevent the bus from moving while riders are getting on or off through that door. The interlock releases automatically once the rear door is closed again.
Together, these three areas — thorough after-trip reporting, avoiding specific prohibited practices, and understanding the limits of safety systems like the brake-door interlock — round out a driver's responsibilities once passengers are involved. Each one exists to catch a problem, prevent a distraction, or close a safety gap before it turns into something more serious.