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Loading riders, baggage and hazardous materials

Passenger (P)4 minManual section 4.2

What riders bring on board can trip them, hurt them in a sudden stop, block an exit, or even start a fire. This lesson covers baggage, the hazardous materials a bus may and may not carry, the standee line, and what to say at each stop.

Carry-on baggage and freight

Do not let riders leave carry-on bags in a doorway or the aisle. Nothing should be in the aisle that could trip someone.

Secure baggage and freight so it cannot be damaged and so that it:

  • Lets the driver move freely and easily.
  • Lets riders leave by any window or door in an emergency.
  • Protects riders from injury if carry-ons fall or shift.

Hazardous materials: how to spot them

Watch for cargo or baggage that contains hazardous materials (hazmat). Most hazardous materials cannot be carried on a bus.

The Hazardous Materials Table (a federal list) shows which materials are hazardous. They are a risk to health, safety and property while being moved.

Shippers must mark hazmat containers with the material's name, its identification number, and a hazard label. There are 9 different hazard labels, each 4 inches and diamond-shaped. Watch for the diamond-shaped labels. Do not carry any hazardous material unless you are sure the rules allow it.

The hazard classes, with examples:

  • Class 1 Explosives (ammunition, dynamite, fireworks) • Class 2 Gases (propane, oxygen, helium) • Class 3 Flammable liquids (gasoline, acetone)
  • Class 4 Flammable solids (matches, fuses) • Class 5 Oxidizers (ammonium nitrate, hydrogen peroxide) • Class 6 Poisons (pesticides, arsenic)
  • Class 7 Radioactive (uranium, plutonium) • Class 8 Corrosives (hydrochloric acid, battery acid) • Class 9 Miscellaneous hazmat (formaldehyde, asbestos)
  • No class number: ORM-D (Other Regulated Material–Domestic, such as hair spray or charcoal) and combustible liquids (fuel oils, lighter fluid).

What a bus may carry, and what it must never carry

Allowed: small-arms ammunition labeled ORM-D, emergency hospital supplies, and drugs (medicines). You may carry small amounts of some other hazmat only if the shipper cannot send them any other way.

A bus must never carry:

  • Division 2.3 poison gas, liquid Class 6 poison, tear gas, or irritating material.
  • More than 100 pounds of solid Class 6 poisons.
  • Explosives in the space where people ride, except small-arms ammunition.
  • Labeled radioactive materials in the space where people ride.
  • More than 500 pounds total of allowed hazmat, and no more than 100 pounds of any one class.

Riders sometimes bring unlabeled hazardous items on board. Do not let riders carry on common hazards such as car batteries or gasoline. A spilled battery can burn skin with acid, and gasoline vapor can explode.

The standee line

No rider may stand in front of the rear of the driver's seat. A standing rider there could block your view or mirrors, or fall onto you or the controls.

A bus designed for standing riders must have a 2-inch line on the floor (or another way to show riders where they cannot stand). This is the standee line. All standing riders must stay behind it.

At your destination and at stops

When you arrive at the destination or at a stop along the way, announce:

  • The location. • The reason for stopping. • The next departure time. • The bus number.

Remind riders to take their carry-ons with them when they get off. If the aisle is lower than the seats, warn riders about the step-down. It is best to tell them before you come to a complete stop.

Charter bus drivers should not let riders on the bus until departure time. This helps prevent theft or vandalism of the bus.

References and scope

The topic reference is listed below. Sources support verification; the lesson itself is here. The current content needs technical and language review before public launch.

Manual reference: 4.2

Official CDL handbook · Utah ↗StatesOur editorial approach

Put it into practice

Educational questions with explanations. The answer review also works without the interactive quiz.

Preparing your questions…

Review questions with answers

  1. Where may riders leave their carry-on baggage?
    1. Secured where it will not block the aisle or doors
    2. In the aisle if the bus is full
    3. In the stairwell
    4. Next to the driver's seat
    Show answer
    Secured where it will not block the aisle or doors

    Carry-ons must not be left in a doorway or aisle; nothing should be in the aisle to trip riders.

  2. Baggage and freight on a bus must be secured so that it does all of these EXCEPT:
    1. Lets the driver move freely
    2. Lets riders exit by any door or window in an emergency
    3. Protects riders if it falls or shifts
    4. Blocks the rear emergency door to keep it closed
    Show answer
    Blocks the rear emergency door to keep it closed

    Secured baggage must leave the driver free to move, allow exit from any window or door, and protect riders if it shifts.

  3. Hazardous materials labels are:
    1. Round, 6 inches wide
    2. Diamond-shaped, 4 inches
    3. Square, 10 inches
    4. Triangular, 2 inches
    Show answer
    Diamond-shaped, 4 inches

    There are 9 different 4-inch, diamond-shaped hazard labels.

  4. How many different hazard labels are there?
    1. 4
    2. 6
    3. 9
    4. 12
    Show answer
    9

    There are nine different diamond-shaped hazard labels.

  5. Shippers must mark hazmat containers with which information?
    1. Material name, identification number and hazard label
    2. Shipper's phone number only
    3. Weight and price
    4. Destination city and date
    Show answer
    Material name, identification number and hazard label

    Containers must show the material's name, identification number and hazard label.

  6. Which list tells you which materials are hazardous?
    1. The carrier's route map
    2. The bus owner's manual
    3. The state fuel tax table
    4. The Federal Hazardous Materials Table
    Show answer
    The Federal Hazardous Materials Table

    The Federal Hazardous Materials Table shows which materials are hazardous.

  7. Gasoline and acetone belong to which hazard class?
    1. Class 2 Gases
    2. Class 3 Flammable
    3. Class 5 Oxidizers
    4. Class 8 Corrosives
    Show answer
    Class 3 Flammable

    Gasoline and acetone are examples of Class 3 flammable liquids.

  8. Battery acid is an example of which hazard class?
    1. Class 1 Explosives
    2. Class 6 Poisons
    3. Class 8 Corrosives
    4. Class 9 Miscellaneous
    Show answer
    Class 8 Corrosives

    Hydrochloric acid and battery acid are Class 8 corrosives.

  9. Hair spray and charcoal are examples of:
    1. ORM-D (Other Regulated Material–Domestic)
    2. Class 1 Explosives
    3. Class 7 Radioactive
    4. Combustible liquids
    Show answer
    ORM-D (Other Regulated Material–Domestic)

    Hair spray and charcoal are listed as ORM-D examples.

  10. Propane, oxygen and helium are in which hazard class?
    1. Class 4 Flammable solids
    2. Class 5 Oxidizers
    3. Class 9 Miscellaneous
    4. Class 2 Gases
    Show answer
    Class 2 Gases

    Propane, oxygen and helium are Class 2 gases.

  11. Which of these may a bus carry?
    1. Tear gas
    2. Small-arms ammunition labeled ORM-D
    3. Division 2.3 poison gas
    4. Labeled radioactive material in the passenger area
    Show answer
    Small-arms ammunition labeled ORM-D

    Allowed items include ORM-D small-arms ammunition, emergency hospital supplies and drugs.

  12. What is the most total weight of allowed hazardous materials a bus may carry?
    1. 100 pounds
    2. 250 pounds
    3. 500 pounds
    4. 1,000 pounds
    Show answer
    500 pounds

    A bus must never carry more than 500 pounds total of allowed hazmat.

  13. Within the total limit, what is the most a bus may carry of any one hazard class?
    1. 100 pounds
    2. 50 pounds
    3. 200 pounds
    4. 500 pounds
    Show answer
    100 pounds

    No more than 100 pounds of any one class may be carried.

  14. Which is NEVER allowed on a bus?
    1. Prescription drugs
    2. Emergency hospital supplies
    3. 50 pounds of solid Class 6 poison
    4. Liquid Class 6 poison
    Show answer
    Liquid Class 6 poison

    Liquid Class 6 poison is forbidden; solid Class 6 poison is limited to 100 pounds.

  15. Explosives may be carried in the space occupied by people only if they are:
    1. Fireworks in their original box
    2. Small-arms ammunition
    3. Less than 10 pounds
    4. Placed under a seat
    Show answer
    Small-arms ammunition

    Explosives are banned from the passenger space except small-arms ammunition.

  16. A rider wants to bring a car battery and a can of gasoline on board. You should:
    1. Allow it if they are in a bag
    2. Allow it if the trip is short
    3. Not allow them to carry these on
    4. Put them in the aisle where you can watch them
    Show answer
    Not allow them to carry these on

    Car batteries and gasoline are common hazards; riders may not bring them on board.

  17. What is the standee line?
    1. A floor line showing that riders may not stand in front of it
    2. The line where riders wait outside the bus
    3. A painted line at railroad crossings
    4. The edge of the driver's work area for luggage
    Show answer
    A floor line showing that riders may not stand in front of it

    The standee line (2 inches wide or other marking) shows riders where they cannot stand; standing riders stay behind it.

  18. No rider may stand forward of:
    1. The front axle
    2. The first row of seats
    3. The front door
    4. The rear of the driver's seat
    Show answer
    The rear of the driver's seat

    No rider may stand in front of the rear of the driver's seat.

  19. How wide is the standee line painted on the floor?
    1. 1 inch
    2. 2 inches
    3. 4 inches
    4. 6 inches
    Show answer
    2 inches

    Buses designed for standing must have a 2-inch line or other marking.

  20. When arriving at a stop, which is NOT one of the things you should announce?
    1. The location
    2. The reason for stopping
    3. The weather forecast
    4. The next departure time
    Show answer
    The weather forecast

    Announce the location, reason for stopping, next departure time and bus number.

  21. When should you warn riders about a step-down where the aisle is lower than the seats?
    1. Before coming to a complete stop
    2. Only after they have fallen
    3. After all riders have left
    4. Only at the final destination
    Show answer
    Before coming to a complete stop

    It is best to remind riders of the step-down before you come to a complete stop.

  22. Why should charter bus drivers not let riders board before departure time?
    1. To save fuel
    2. To keep the bus cool
    3. Riders must buy tickets first
    4. To help prevent theft or vandalism of the bus
    Show answer
    To help prevent theft or vandalism of the bus

    Keeping riders off until departure helps prevent theft or vandalism.