Loading and Securing Passengers, Baggage, and Cargo; Prohibited Practices
What the exam tests
Questions test whether you can load a bus so that passengers, baggage, and cargo do not create unsafe movement, block escape, or violate operating rules.
Core rules
- Never exceed the vehicle's rated passenger capacity. Standees are allowed only in a bus designed and equipped for standing passengers; keep standees behind the driver's area and out of the aisle.
- Stow baggage and cargo in racks, bins, or cargo holds. Secure items that could shift. Do not stack baggage in aisles, stairwells, or in front of exits.
- Keep the aisle, entry and exit doors, and emergency exits clear at all times. Do not let cargo block the driver's view or access to controls.
- Do not carry hazardous materials unless properly authorized, placarded, and packaged. Passengers may not carry gasoline, propane, or other prohibited hazardous items in the cabin.
- Do not allow passengers in a trailer, cargo area, or any space not designed for passengers. Do not permit anyone to ride in a position that interferes with the driver.
- Close and secure doors before moving. Ensure luggage compartment doors are latched.
Worked example
A passenger boards with a large suitcase and places it in the aisle because the overhead rack is full. The driver should stop boarding, find secure stowage in the cargo hold or another approved space, and refuse to move until the aisle is clear. An aisle obstruction is both a tripping hazard and an evacuation blockage.
Traps
Treating one bag in the aisle as acceptable. Forgetting standee limits. Allowing a passenger to hold a hazardous container. Moving with a luggage door unlatched.