School Bus Pre-Trip Inspection

A step-by-step checklist based on the Ohio Preservice School Bus Inspection Form.

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Safe Start & Air Brake System

Step 1 of 13

Driver Seat and Seat Belt

Say: The seat is secure, and the cover is not torn. The belt is securely mounted to the floor and adjusted for me (fasten seat belt)

Check: Fasten seat belt.

Safe Start

Say: I am doing a safe start, Parking Brake is set and gear is in Neutral. Turn key to the ON position, wait for ALL dash lights to go out saying: The ABS light on the dash comes on and goes off, and I’m listening for the 8 clicks to know that the ABS is working. Turn on the Headlights to illuminate the gauges, and with your foot on the service brake, turn ON Engine

Check: Listen for 8 clicks. Ensure parking brake set and gear in neutral.

Air Pressure Build

Say: Make sure the door is closed at this point, air tanks should be below 120 PSI, if needed pump foot brake once or twice to lower it. Front And Rear Air tanks - Will rise to 120-140 psi to the governed cut-out pressure which it just did at approximately ____ psi for this bus (listen for the air release psht)

Check: Tanks must rise to 120-140 psi.

Air Brake Test Setup

Say: Once governed out, go into air brake test by turning the engine off, turn key to the far left to the auxiliary to keep the gauges in working order. If the air brake test needs to be restarted, you may redo it as many times as you feel the need to

Check: Engine OFF, Key to AUX.

Applied Pressure Test (Leak Test)

Say: With my foot on the brake, I will release the parking brake. After the initial pressure drop, I should not lose more than 3 psi in one minute as I could have an air leak. (pause and wait 1 minute until the examiner tells you to proceed)

Check: Max loss 3 psi in 1 minute.

Low-Pressure Warning

Say: Begin to fan off air pressure by pumping the foot brake. The warning light and buzzer will activate by 55 PSI. Which it did at approximately ___ psi.

Check: Must activate by 55 PSI.

Spring Brake (Pop-Out)

Say: Continue pumping until the parking brake will set between 20-40 psi. As it did at approximately ___ psi.

Check: Parking brake must set between 20-40 PSI.

Second Safe Start

Say: Ensure the bus has parking brake set, bus is in neutral and turn the bus on with another safe start. While the air tank pressure is building continue with pre-trip

Check: Restart engine to build pressure.