TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE NOTE
No. T-05-05
School Business Services
Contact:
School Transportation Management Section
Michael Starzinski
Department of Education
(850) 245-9795
John L. Winn, Commissioner
SC 205-9795
DATE:
March 23, 2005
TO:
School District Transportation Directors
School District Fleet Service Managers
FROM:
Bill Schroyer, Program Director, Fleet Management
SUBJECT:
School Bus Inspector Recertification Test Study Guide
Providing students with access to educational programs requires that school districts and charter
schools employ or contract for an adequate supply of trained, well qualified transportation
support personnel. Among the most critical of these persons are certified school bus safety
inspectors. In order to help inspectors study for the School Bus Inspectors Recertification Test,
the Department has assembled the attached study guide.
The majority of questions on this test are based upon cumulative changes and revisions made
from 1997 to 2003 within the Florida School Bus Safety Inspection Manual. A small number of
questions on this test are based upon material that has not been changed or revised since 1997.
The guide consists of a brief description of all substantive changes and revisions to the Florida
School Bus Safety Inspection Manual that may form the basis of recertification test questions.
Since some test questions are not based upon changes or revisions, it is recommended that re-
certification test candidates also study the 2003 Inspection Manual.
If you have any questions or concerns regarding the recertification process or program, please
contact Mr. Michael Starzinski at: Michael.Starzinski@fldoe.org or (850) 245-9795.
WRS/ms
Attachment
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School Bus Inspector Recertification Test Study Guide, 2004 Revised
cc:
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School District Superintendents
Selected School Transportation Industry Representatives
Charter Schools
Florida School Bus Safety Inspection Program
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School Bus Inspector Recertification Test Study Guide,
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2004 Revised
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(Revised 9/27/04)
Page One of Four
Suggested Study Procedure
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The main goal of the recertification test is to create an objective method of determining if
individual school bus inspectors possess good working knowledge of all changes that have been
made to the Florida School Bus Safety Inspection Manual since they last certified or recertified.
In order to accomplish this goal, the recertification test was written using information regarding
all substantial changes that have been made to the manual. No test questions are related to
revisions in the inspection manual that correct punctuation or spelling errors, or to changes
related to revisions in Florida Law or State Board Rule. This test is primarily based upon
cumulative changes made since 1997 that are incorporated into the 2003 version of the Florida
School Bus Safety Inspection Manual. The only reference that is absolutely necessary when
studying for this test is the 2003 version of the manual, as all changes are incorporated within it.
As described above, the recertification test is primarily based upon cumulative changes and
revisions made to the Inspection Manual from the 1997 version through the 2003 version. A few
recertification test questions are based upon unrevised critical safety-related inspection criteria.
Therefore, it is recommended that test candidates study the entire 2003 Inspection Manual, as
well as the specific areas indicated in the attached Table of Changes and Revisions (2004
revised).
Page Two of Four
Table of Cumulative Changes and Revisions
(2004 Revised)
ITEMS:
SECTION
PAGE
First Aid Kit, Body Fluid Cleanup Kit, and Reflector Box
A. 1. b. 1.
2
Tamper Proof Seals, from "Out of Service" to "Repair or Note"
A. 1. c.
4
(revised).
A. 1. d. 4.
5
Engine Controls: accelerator pedal must have dual springs
(external type). Electronically controlled engines can have
A. 4. c. 2.
10
springs located internally (revised).
Engine shutdown requirements and identification requirements
(Decal), (revised).
A. 4. d. 2.
10
Gauges, Indicators and Dash Lights, Engine Warning lights,
and Buzzers: indicator lights for Engine Shutdown (Bowden
Cable), Strobe light (Switch light bulb (illumination)
A. 5. b.
12
inoperative “Repair or Note”), and Shifter indicator, is
inoperative (added).
Engine Warning Lights and Buzzer: to include either the
A. 5. c. 1.
constant or momentary types of systems (added).
and
13
A. 5. c. 2.
ABS warning light and system check (moved/added).
A. 5. d.
13
Park Brake Test RPM for buses equipped with rear-mounted
A. 6. d.
diesel engine and Allison World Transmission inspection note
and
16
(added).
F.
1. a.
PP1 knob missing (added).
A. 6. h.
19
Service Door: door opening (minimum 24”); and/or requires
more than 25 lbs. of effort to operate the door (added).
A. 11. a.
39
Passenger Seats: Color requirement note (added to "Out of
Service"), (added).
A. 15. d.
50
Side Emergency Door flip-up type seat bottom: Inspection
Procedure and "Out of Service" criteria (added).
A. 15. e.
51
Passenger securement devices (added).
A. 15. h.
52
Webbing cutter (added).
A. 15. h.
52
Tinted window language (clarified).
A. 17. b.
57
Lift door and lift equipment condition (revised).
A. 18. 1.
59
Interior Wiring, Cab Hoses, and Firewall Seals: Interior
Wiring interference with driver’s controls moved to "Out of
A. 20. a.
63
Service" criteria (revised).
Grab Rails: “NHTSA String and Nut Test” inspection
procedure (Check for required modifications) and "Out of
A. 21. c.
65
Service" criteria (revised).
Non-aerosol chemical containers (clarified).
A. 21. f.
66
Corrected hazard lights wording (revised).
B. 1. c.
69
Corrected clearance and ID lights language (revised).
B. 2. a.
72
Page Three of Four
Table of Cumulative Changes and Revisions
(2004 Revised)
(Continued)
ITEMS:
SECTION
PAGE
General Condition, Bus Exterior: Bumper is significantly bent
or has protruding metal. Diagonal reflective striping (if
equipped) is missing, damaged, or not reflective, "Out of
Service" (revised).
B. 5. b.
79
Level of damage to reflective striping (clarified).
B. 5. b.
79
Bumper is not black. Bumper is equipped with any
unauthorized stickers or decals. Moved to "Repair or Note"
(revised).
B. 5. b.
79
Wheel color requirement (added).
B. 5. d.
80
Reflective marking requirements (clarified).
B. 5. e.
80
Lettering, "Out of Service" column: items 1), 2), 3), Any
required lettering (except handicapped symbol) is not black is
moved to "Repair or Note" column (revised).
B. 5. f.
81
Fuel Type Lettering: move to “Out of Service” column
(revised).
B. 5. f.
81
District Name Lettering: There is not a minimum of at least
one bus number or District name present (revised).
B. 5. f.
81
Fluid Levels and Condition: Transmission fluid above full
mark (overfilled). Dipstick is missing (added).
C. 3. d.
101
Front brake lining minimum thickness and measurement
procedures (revised).
D. 2. f.
123
Front brake adjustment language (clarified).
D. 2. j.
127
Engine/transmission Mounts, Starter Mounting: Heat shield is
loose or missing (revised).
D. 3. b.
130
Power steering reservoir cap and dipstick inspection procedure
(added).
D. 5. d.
135
Missing fuel tank cap inspection procedure (added).
D. 6. a.
136
Rear Suspension: Wetness around shock body due to leaking
shock fluid. Moved to "Out of Service" column (revised).
D. 9. f.
145
Rear brake measurement procedures (revised).
D. 10. f.
151
Rear brake adjustment language (clarified).
D. 10. j.
155
Tailpipe exiting to the left of the left frame rail inspection
criteria (added).
D. 12. d.
158
Type "D" Tailpipe inspection language (clarified).
D. 12. d.
158
Tire tread depth measurement language (clarified).
D. 13. a.
159
Wheel type and color requirements (added).
D. 13. f.
163
Page Four of Four
