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Loading and Managing Passengers
Carrying people is different from carrying freight, and a passenger driver's first job is keeping riders safe from the moment they board until they are safely off the bus. This chapter covers what may and may not be carried aboard, how to use the standee line, how to load and unload safely, and how to keep order among passengers. Mastering these habits prevents most passenger injuries.
Hazardous Materials on Buses
Buses are meant to carry people, not dangerous cargo, so the rules on hazardous materials are strict. Only a short list of materials is allowed, and even those are limited by weight. Riders sometimes try to bring dangerous items aboard without labels, so you must stay alert and refuse anything unsafe.
Know what is allowed
A bus may carry small-arms ammunition labeled ORM-D, emergency shipments of drugs or hospital supplies, and small amounts of certain other hazardous materials.
Respect the weight limits
Allowed hazardous materials may total no more than 500 pounds, with no more than 100 pounds of any single class.
Prohibited materials stay off
Explosives, poison gas, tear gas, and most flammable or corrosive materials such as gasoline and car batteries must never be carried on a bus.
Watch riders' belongings
Passengers may bring hazardous items aboard without a label; refuse anything you are not sure is allowed.
The Standee Line
To keep the driver's view clear and riders away from the door, buses limit where standing passengers may be. The standee line marks that boundary. Keeping standees behind it is one of the simplest and most important safety habits.
Stay behind the line
No standing passenger may be forward of the standee line while the bus is moving.
No line, use the seat
If the bus has no standee line, no rider may stand forward of a line even with the back of the driver's seat.
Keep the front clear
Standees at the front can block your vision and controls and fall against the door in a sudden stop.
Hold on
Standing riders should hold grab rails or seat backs and must never sit or stand on the steps.
Loading and Unloading Safely
Most passenger injuries happen while boarding or leaving the bus. Careful loading and unloading, at complete stops and with full attention to riders, prevents slips, falls, and traffic injuries. Announcing stops in advance gives riders time to move safely.
Stop completely first
Bring the bus to a full stop before opening the door, and set the parking brake when needed, such as on a grade.
Announce stops early
Announce major stops, destinations, and transfer points far enough ahead that riders can get ready to exit.
Watch every rider
Be alert as passengers get on and off, especially children and the elderly, and never close the door on someone.
Guard crossing riders
If passengers must cross the road, watch until they cross safely before you pull away.
Managing Passengers and Disruptions
A calm, well-informed group of riders is safer and easier to manage. Setting expectations at the start of a trip and handling problems professionally keeps small issues from becoming hazards. Sometimes a driver must remove a disruptive rider, and that must be done safely.
Explain the rules early
At the start of a trip, cover rules on smoking, radios, and safety so riders know what is expected.
Handle problems calmly
Address rule-breaking early and professionally rather than waiting until it becomes dangerous.
Discharge disruptive riders safely
Remove a drunk or disruptive passenger at a safe, well-lit place such as a scheduled stop, never at a dangerous or isolated spot.
Keep aisles and exits clear
Secure baggage so it cannot fall on riders or block the aisle, doorway, or any emergency exit.
Charter and Tour Passenger Duties
Charter and tour work adds extra responsibilities because riders leave and reboard the bus throughout the trip. The driver must control who boards and keep track of the group. Good passenger management keeps everyone accounted for and safe.
Board at departure time
Do not allow charter passengers on the bus until it is time to leave, to help account for the group.
Keep a head count
Track passengers at rest, meal, and attraction stops so no one is left behind when the bus departs.
Brief on safety features
Tell riders where the emergency exits and safety equipment are and how to use them.
Keep order en route
Enforce the trip rules consistently so the group stays calm and safe throughout the journey.
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