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ATV – Transport

All-Terrain Vehicle (ATV) Loading/Unloading

Loading/unloading of ATVs has resulted in serious injury and even death to employees. Only those who have been fully trained in ATV operations should conduct loading/unloading procedures. The following safety measures are recommended:

  • Wear all personal protective equipment (including gloves, helmet, etc.) until ATV is either secured or unloaded.
  • Ensure header board (board placed in front of bed of truck or trailer) is in place and in good condition.
  • ATV tire ramps should be secured to trailer or tailgate and on level terrain.
  • If possible, use a tilt trailer to haul an ATV. If this is not feasible, try to lower back end of vehicle so slant of loading ramp is reduced. Back into a ditch, hillside, or anything else to try and lower back end of vehicle.
  • When loading ATV onto vehicle or trailer, keep seated, and lean body weight forward on ATV.
  • When unloading ATV, keep seated and keep weight forward. This helps keep ATV from flipping over backwards.
  • Never load or unload an ATV with a load on the racks. Load all ATVs empty.

Securing ATV for transport

Improperly loaded ATVs can be dangerous to you and other highway users. Steering can be affected if your load is not properly distributed. If not properly secured, the ATV can become dislodged during a quick stop or crash and damage equipment and cause injury or death.

  • Drivers are responsible for their load—regardless of who actually loads equipment. All drivers are responsible for:
    • Inspecting the ATV.
    • Recognizing overloads and poorly balanced weight.
    • Removing any gear loaded on the ATV.
  • Securing ATV’s:​
    • Secure ATV in its normal operating position, on all four wheels.
    • Set the parking brake and place transmission in gear.
    • Turn off fuel valve.
    • Use chocks (that fit snugly against wheels) in front and back of ATV. Front end header boards should also block forward movement of ATV.
    • Tie down ATV at each corner. Use tie downs made from one-inch nylon strap or greater, with hooks at each end and ratcheting buckles (ordinary rope should not be used due to stretching), or tie-down straps that will lock in place.
    •  ATVs should never be hauled with a load attached to the cargo racks. Hazards exist from losing the load from the ATV while in transit.

 

Category
Vehicles Roads
References
June 2014 Six Rivers National Forest Lessons
Cracker Box ATV Loading Accident RLS

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NWCG Latest Announcements

ETC/RMC Safety Bulletin: 25-001 New Guidance on Laundering Wildland Fire Clothing to Reduce Contamination

Date: Aug 8, 2025
Questions? Please contact:
Equipment Technology Committee
 Risk Management Committee

The Equipment Technology Committee (ETC) and the Risk Management Committee (RMC) have issued Safety Bulletin 25-001: Laundering to Decontaminate Wildland Fire Clothing. Recent research revealed that wildland fire flame-resistant pants and shirts can be contaminated with chemicals from combustion byproducts, including carcinogens, and that common laundering practices can effectively remove these harmful contaminants from wildland firefighter clothing more effectively than previously understood. It is recommended to decontaminate wildland fire clothing as frequently as possible. 

Frequently Asked Questions about this new information and how to implement recommendations can be found on the NWCG Alerts page. Read the complete ETC/RMC Safety Bulletin: 25-001 to learn more. 

References:

NWCG Alerts

ETC Safety Bulletin: 25-001

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) on Laundering to Decontaminate Wildland Fire Clothing

Equipment Technology Committee

Risk Management Committee

FAQ Now Available for Archiving Type 1 and Type 2 Incident Positions

Date: Aug 6, 2025
Questions? Please contact:
Incident and Position Standards Committee

To support the transition to Complex Incident Management (CIM), NWCG will archive all Type 1 and Type 2 Command and General Staff (C&G) position qualifications in January 2026, as outlined in NWCG Executive Board Memo 25-002. To assist with this transition, a new Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) document is now available.

This resource answers common questions about the status of Type 1 and Type 2 qualifications, impacts to incident qualification management, training requirements, and resource ordering considerations. Review the full FAQ to learn more.

For additional information on CIM and the transition of C&G positions, see NWCG Executive Board Memos 23-005, 24-005, and 25-002, as well as the Incident Workforce and Development Group webpage.

References:

NWCG Type 1 & Type 2 Position Archiving FAQ

NWCG Executive Board Correspondence

Incident Workforce Development Group

Incident and Position Standards Committee

Incident Position Standards and the Next Generation Position Task Books Now Available for UASD, UASM, UASL and UASP

Date: July 31, 2025
Questions?  Please contact:
Interagency Fire Unmanned Aircraft Systems Subcommittee
 

NWCG is excited to announce that Incident Position Standards and the Next Generation Position Task Books are now available for all four Unmanned Aircraft Systems positions:

  • Unmanned Aircraft Systems, Data Specialist (UASD)
  • Unmanned Aircraft Systems, Manager (UASM)
  • Unmanned Aircraft Systems, Module Leader (UASL)
  • Unmanned Aircraft Systems Pilot (UASP)

The Performance Support Packages for these positions were developed as part of the Incident Performance and Training Modernization effort. These resources support trainees, qualified personnel, and evaluators in their respective roles.

Any changes to qualification pathways will take effect with the next update of the NWCG Standards for Wildland Fire Position Qualifications, PMS 310-1, scheduled for January 2026.

References:

NWCG Unmanned Aircraft Systems, Data Specialist Position Page

NWCG Unmanned Aircraft Systems, Manager Position Page

NWCG Unmanned Aircraft Systems, Module Leader Position Page

NWCG Unmanned Aircraft Systems Pilot Position Page

Incident Position Standards and the Next Generation Position Task Books Now Available for RADO and INCM

Date: July 30, 2025
Questions?  Please contact:
Incident Logistics Subcommittee
 

NWCG is excited to announce that Incident Position Standards and the Next Generation Position Task Books are now available for Radio Operator (RADO) and Incident Communications Center Manager (INCM).

The Performance Support Packages for these positions were developed as part of the Incident Performance and Training Modernization effort. These resources support trainees, qualified personnel, and evaluators in their respective roles.

Any changes to qualification pathways will take effect with the next update of the NWCG Standards for Wildland Fire Position Qualifications, PMS 310-1, scheduled for January 2026.

References:

NWCG Radio Operator Position Page

NWCG Incident Communications Center Manager Position Page