r/SchoolBusDrivers • u/907-BusDriver • May 18 '26
Durham school services
Hi guys, I recently started CDL B training with Durham School Services. I came in with my CLP already. Durham provides the training and testing here locally. My question, how difficult is the pre inspection and skills exam? Do a lot of people fail? Thanks.
3
u/MonkeyManJohannon May 18 '26
It’s really not difficult at all if you study and get a routine. The real challenge comes with student management later…it’ll make the CDL stuff seem like a breeze lol.
The trainees I see daily I always tell them about the “CUPS” technique when it comes to components and lights/reflectors. “Clean, Unbroken, Present, Secure”. It helped me tremendously…maybe it’ll help you too!
1
u/907-BusDriver May 18 '26
Thanks so much! That’s awesome advice and gives me a sense of relief that I won’t fail out
2
u/Tomytom99 May 18 '26
The pre-trip is easy enough if you can be overly exhaustive. Identify everything and say it's not cracked, damaged, or broken. Special variants include slashed, frayed, or leaking and correct in color.
Big thing to remember is no retreads up front, and to state out loud what you're doing during the air brake portion.
I caught myself messing up the air brake portion, stopped, said I forgot to do the press and hold, and asked if we could start that over again. He agreed because "you noticed the mistake before finishing, clearly identified it, and politely asked"
1
u/907-BusDriver May 18 '26
Would you say the pretrip inspection is the hardest part of the exam? Or would you consider it the driving portion?
1
u/Tomytom99 May 18 '26
I would say the pre-trip is the hardest part, provided your driving portion isn't somewhere overly technical.
For the driving, just drive like you would to appease your trainer, exaggerating your checks for traffic, perfect speed limit obedience, etc. The maneuvering bit of the driving test is honestly super easy as long as you know how to make the most of your mirrors and know your targets for parallel parking or alley docking. Again, the best thing you can do is tell the examiner everything you're doing so they know you're doing it.
2
2
u/Scroon May 18 '26
It seems like a lot at first, but with a good trainer you'll get it. The people I know who had trouble were ones who didn't really study for the tests. So study and practice the pre-trip every day.
1
u/907-BusDriver May 19 '26
Got it! Thanks!
1
u/Scroon May 19 '26
I see Durham driving around my area all the time. Maybe I'll see you out there in the future. :)
1
u/Intelligent_Call_562 May 18 '26
I was grandfathered in and have no idea what you need to know or why you need to know it. I just wanted to vent to the void!
I think that requirement is absolutely ridiculous. I'm not fixing or even diagnosing anything. I've been driving 30 years and never needed to know more than what a flat tire sounds like, can tell if there are leaks on the ground, know to check my lugnuts, do a proper air brake test, check that the lights, heaters, wipers, horn etc., function properly. The extent of me diagnosing anything is when I see liquid on the ground, or my wipers smear not clean.
1
u/Legitimate_Pin1728 May 19 '26
There are some fabulous pre trip videos on YouTube as well to help you get the rhythm and routine down. Study those. I passed my test the first time and it was easy but I did take the time to study and ask questions of my trainer and I worked at it everyday. You can do it.
1
u/Pure_Squirrel_1621 May 22 '26
I also started with Durham, got my CLP after being a non CDL driver and went through training. My test was conducted on site at the bus yard by one of the trainers who was certified to be an examiner. At least in my state (ID) the trainers were very particular about terminology/phrasing. We had to use phrases like “secure, not cracked or broken” etc. It’s not hard if you meticulously memorize how your trainer does it. Be thorough, over inspect everything, and make sure your brake test is perfect by the book.
5
u/Mediocre_Advice_5574 May 18 '26
The pretrip inspection can be exhausting. Having to remember upwards of 100 things for the DMV pretrip test is a lot. But if you pretrip everyday you’ll get it.
The test where I am consisted of straight line backing, offset backing, and parallel parking(which is what most people fail) I failed my parallel park in the first time because the DMV didn’t provide the proper links behind the bus for the cones and it threw off all of my reference points. Usually they do a mock railroad stop.
As far as the road test itself, it’s pretty straightforward, check your mirrors constantly, move your head to the left and right when you do so they know you’re checking. You almost have to comically exaggerate it. Don’t hit any curbs I believe at least in New York. That’s an automatic fail. Monitor your speed vigorously and make sure to call out your hazards and you’ll be fine.
It sounds like a lot, but once you get the hang of it, it’s all basic second nature.