Cargo that blocks emergency exits

NJ · P Endorsement

New Jersey Passenger CDL Practice Test

Below are 25 exam-style questions for the New Jersey Passenger CDL knowledge test, modeled on the FMCSA-aligned content used by the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission. Try to answer each question on your own before reading the answer key directly under it. The questions and answer choices are shuffled deterministically per state and endorsement, so the order will stay the same on repeat visits — that lets you genuinely measure your improvement.

Heads up: this is a study tool, not a graded exam. Cover the answer with your hand or a sheet of paper for an honest practice run, then re-read the explanations for any questions you missed. Aim for 22 out of 25 or better, three times in a row, before scheduling the real exam.

Question 1 of 25

Items prohibited from a bus include:

A Items that block emergency exits
B Tear-gas canisters and other irritating materials
C All of the above
D Improperly packaged hazmat

Correct answer: C

All three are restricted from passenger-carrying buses.

Question 2 of 25

When you stop at a railroad crossing in a bus, you should:

A Honk and proceed
B Cross immediately
C Open the door, listen, and look both directions
D Pump the horn

Correct answer: C

Open the door, turn off radio and noisy fans, and look and listen before proceeding.

Question 3 of 25

A bus driver may NOT operate a bus with:

A Working emergency exits
B A current medical card
C An out-of-service brake or other safety defect
D A pre-trip inspection completed

Correct answer: C

Out-of-service safety defects make any CMV — including a bus — illegal to operate.

Question 4 of 25

A driver must monitor for fatigue because:

A Passengers depend on the driver's alertness
B All of the above
C Federal HOS rules apply to passenger-carriers as well
D Even short trips can be tiring with frequent stops and passenger interactions

Correct answer: B

All three reasons apply to bus drivers.

Question 5 of 25

An "intercity bus" usually:

A Allows standees
B Has a baggage section open to passengers
C Does not allow standees and is configured for longer trips
D Has no driver

Correct answer: C

Intercity (over-the-road) buses are seated only and configured for long trips.

Question 6 of 25

A bus may NOT carry:

A Wheelchair passengers
B Bicycles in approved racks
C Cargo that blocks emergency exits
D Luggage in the overhead racks

Correct answer: C

Cargo blocking emergency exits is prohibited; passenger safety in evacuation is paramount.

Question 7 of 25

When you must back the bus:

A Have a passenger guide you
B Back without help to save time
C GOAL — Get Out And Look — and use a helper if available
D Honk and back rapidly

Correct answer: C

Backing in a bus is high-risk; check first and use a helper.

Question 8 of 25

A bus driver involved in a crash must:

A Wait for passengers to call
B Notify the carrier and applicable authorities, render aid, and follow company emergency procedures
C Tell only the dispatcher
D Continue the trip

Correct answer: B

Standard emergency procedures and reporting apply.

Question 9 of 25

A bus must be inspected at the end of the trip for:

A Sleeping passengers, items left behind, damage to seats and emergency exits
B Fuel only
C Headlights only
D Tire pressure

Correct answer: A

Post-trip walk-through includes a search for forgotten items and any damage to be reported.

Question 10 of 25

When passengers are loading or unloading at a stop, the bus must:

A Be parked at any angle
B Be in neutral with brakes off
C Be at a complete stop with the parking brake set or service brakes firmly applied
D Be moving slowly

Correct answer: C

Bus is fully stopped and braked while doors are open.

Question 11 of 25

In a long downhill, a bus driver should:

A Apply brakes heavily
B Use a low gear and steady moderate brake application to control speed
C Increase speed
D Coast in neutral

Correct answer: B

Same long-downgrade rule as other heavy vehicles, with extra concern for passenger comfort and safety.

Question 12 of 25

A bus driver should know the location of:

A Fuel gauge only
B Emergency exits, fire extinguishers, first-aid kits, and reflective triangles
C Bus depot phone
D Passenger seat numbers only

Correct answer: B

Knowing emergency equipment locations is essential to fast response.

Question 13 of 25

A bus driver may NOT carry on the bus:

A Walking aids for passengers
B Carry-on luggage in approved overhead racks
C Class 6 (poison) liquids in passenger areas
D Service animals

Correct answer: C

Poison and other prohibited materials cannot ride in the passenger area.

Question 14 of 25

A bus with disabled passengers should:

A Charge extra fees
B Refuse to carry them
C Use only the rear door
D Have working lifts/ramps and securements

Correct answer: D

Federal accessibility rules require working lifts and securement for wheelchair users.

Question 15 of 25

During night driving, a bus driver should:

A Disable the dome lights
B Speed up because traffic is lighter
C Reduce speed enough to stop within range of low-beam headlights
D Drive with high beams in oncoming traffic

Correct answer: C

Distance you can see at night is shorter; speed must match.

Question 16 of 25

When stopping at a designated bus stop:

A Stop at the rear of the stop area
B Allow space for passengers to board safely
C Park in the bicycle lane
D Block the crosswalk

Correct answer: B

Pull to the curb at the designated stop area; do not block crosswalks.

Question 17 of 25

When evacuating a bus in an emergency, you should:

A Use the door away from the danger
B Use the rear door for everyone
C Wait for help to arrive
D Open all windows first

Correct answer: A

Evacuate from the door safest from the danger and account for every passenger.

Question 18 of 25

A driver should never start moving until:

A The bus is full
B All passengers have a seat or are properly braced behind the standee line
C The dispatcher says so
D The bus is empty

Correct answer: B

Move only when passengers are seated or properly positioned for safety.

Question 19 of 25

A "kneeling" feature on a bus:

A Reduces fuel use
B Tilts the bus for cornering
C Engages the parking brake
D Lowers the entry to make boarding easier for passengers

Correct answer: D

Kneeling lowers the front of the bus to ease boarding; check that it raises again before driving.

Question 20 of 25

When you can't see clearly out the rear window:

A Drive only forward
B Don't worry about it
C Use the side mirrors and add extra caution before backing or moving
D Tape over the mirrors

Correct answer: C

Bus mirror systems are designed for limited rear vision; use them carefully.

Question 21 of 25

Passengers may NOT ride:

A In the rear seats
B In areas not designed for passengers (e.g., baggage area)
C In the aisle
D In the front seats

Correct answer: B

Riders must be in passenger seats; aisles, baggage areas, and other non-passenger spots are restricted.

Question 22 of 25

A tour bus driver carrying passengers across state lines must:

A Have a current medical card
B Be in safety compliance
C All of the above
D Comply with FMCSA hours-of-service rules for passenger-carrying vehicles

Correct answer: C

All three apply to interstate passenger drivers.

Question 23 of 25

A bus may NOT be operated with:

A Damaged or missing seat belts where installed
B A current inspection
C Working signaling devices
D Properly working emergency lighting

Correct answer: A

Damaged equipment makes the bus unsafe and out-of-service.

Question 24 of 25

On a bus, all passengers must:

A Be seated or in standee positions, with no one in the doorway when bus is in motion
B Be seated only at night
C Wear hard hats
D Be standing

Correct answer: A

Doorway must be clear when bus is moving so emergency exit is unobstructed.

Question 25 of 25

A bus passing through a tunnel marked "No hazardous materials":

A Can carry hazmat at off-peak times
B Can carry only Class 9 hazmat
C Must not carry placarded hazmat
D Can carry placarded hazmat anyway

Correct answer: C

Tunnel restrictions apply; rerouting is required.

Study tips for the New Jersey Passenger exam

The Passenger portion of the New Jersey CDL exam is graded out of the bank of questions the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission draws from each year. While the exact bank is not published, every question is sourced from the Passenger chapter of the New Jersey CDL handbook, which itself is derived from the FMCSA Model Commercial Driver's License Manual. That means studying our practice tests, reading the corresponding handbook chapter, and re-reading the parts you got wrong is genuinely the most efficient route to a first-time pass.

Most successful applicants follow a simple cycle: take the practice test cold, write down every question you missed, open the matching chapter of the official New Jersey handbook, re-read the section that contains the right answer, then re-take the practice test 24 to 48 hours later. The 24-hour delay matters — sleep is when your brain commits new information to long-term memory, and CDL knowledge questions reward that kind of consolidated learning rather than cramming.

Pay particular attention to questions that include qualifier words like always, never, only, primary, or most. CDL test writers love to flip the right answer with a single qualifier. When two answer choices look almost identical, pay attention to the verb (is it must, should, or may?) and to any numbers (14 days, 100 air miles, 8 hours, 70/8 split). On endorsement tests in particular, watch for trick framing where a true statement about a different endorsement is offered as the "correct" answer to a question that is actually about Passenger.

Test-day logistics matter too. Bring photo ID, your Social Security card or birth certificate, your medical examiner's certificate (DOT card), and proof of state residency if you haven't already submitted those documents. The New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission will not let you sit for the knowledge exam without your documentation, and most offices charge an additional fee for re-attempts. Arrive early — the wait at most CDL testing offices runs 30 to 60 minutes — and silence your phone before the exam begins.

Finally, keep your General Knowledge fundamentals sharp even when you're focused on the Passenger exam. Many states administer multiple knowledge tests in a single sitting, and questions on weight definitions (GVWR, GCWR, GAWR), stopping distance, and the pre-trip inspection routine show up across endorsements. If you're unsure on the basics, sit a fresh New Jersey General Knowledge practice test before scheduling the real exam.

Next steps

Missed more than four questions? Re-read the Passenger study guide and the matching chapter in the official New Jersey CDL handbook. Then come back and re-take the test. Once you can score 22 of 25 or higher on three runs in a row, you're in good shape to schedule the real exam at your local New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission office.

Already comfortable with this endorsement? Drill another: NJ General Knowledge · NJ Air Brakes · NJ Combination Vehicles · NJ Hazardous Materials · NJ School Bus · NJ Tank Vehicle · NJ Doubles / Triples

New to the CDL process in New Jersey? Read How to apply for a CDL in New Jersey for the document checklist and step-by-step timeline.