2. Ground Guide
Procedures

3. GROUND GUIDE SAFETY PROCEDURES
Ground guides must be trained in standard arm and hand
signals and flashlight signals before guiding a wheeled vehicle
Arm and hand signals are the basic method used for ground
guiding
Drivers and ground guides (2) will coordinate signals before
ground guide operations
Voice signals between the ground guides and driver can be
misunderstood and should not be used except in an emergencies

4. GROUND GUIDING - Only one ground guide gives signals to the driver.
- Be sure that everyone involved (the driver and the ground
Guides) understand who will give the signal and who will
receive it before any movement is done.
- If sight between the driver and the ground guide making the
signal is lost, the driver must stop the vehicle until sight and signal
is again visible or the confusion is cleared up.

5. CAUTION The ground guides should keep 10-15 yards between themselves
and the vehicle to the front, rear and flanks.
They should never be directly behind the vehicle.
Ground guides will not position themselves between the
vehicle being guided and another object where and inadvertent
engine surge or momentary loss of vehicle control could cause
Injury.
Drivers of vehicles will immediately stop their vehicles if they
lose sight of ground guides or note that the guide is dangerously
positioned between the vehicle and another object.

6. CAUTION CONT’D
Drivers of vehicles in such cases will secure their vehicle,
dismount and make an on-the-spot correction before
commencing operations
The ground guide will at no time walk or run in front of or
backwards while ground guiding
The driver will at no time while moving the vehicle open the
door to look behind the vehicle

7. NIGHT GROUND GUIDE
-The best method to ground guide a vehicle into the area
is to use a screened flashlight
- Ground Guides move forward to make sure the way is clear
then turn around to face the vehicle, and give the proper
signal with the flashlight
- The driver moves the vehicle forward until the flashlight
signal goes out. Then he/she stops the vehicle. This process is
repeated as the vehicle is moved forward to its final stop

8. GROUND GUIDE PROCEDURE
Use this procedure when there is only one ground guide or
when a ground guide is not available, such as in the civilian domain.
The ground guide or the vehicle driver will dismount and walk completely around the vehicle to:
Verify clearance
Determine visual clear distance with a ground reference
point from the cab of the vehicle.
Mount the vehicle, sound the horn, and back to the rear
of the pre-selected ground reference point. Stop and repeat
the process as necessary until the desired vehicle position
is obtained.

9. GROUND GUIDES
Ground guides are required when wheeled vehicles are backed.
However, the number of ground guides used is determined by
visibility restrictions ( cargo, darkness, and so forth). The horn
will be sounded before any backing operation is done. When
backing at night, use the same flashlight procedures to safely
back the vehicle.

10. 5 BASIC RULES TO STOP BACKING ACCIDENTS
1. GET THE WHOLE PICTURE
2. BACK FROM THE DRIVER’S SIDE
3. BACK SLOWLY
4. CHECK BOTH SIDES AS YOU BACK
5. USE A RELIABLE GUIDE

11. GET OUT AND GET THE PICTURE
GET THE COMPLETE PICTURE BEFORE YOU BACK-UP.
WALK AROUND YOUR VEHICLE TO EXAMINE THE
AREA INTO WHICH YOU MUST BACK IN. DON’T JUST
LOOK, APPLY REAL CALCULATED ATTENTION TO
THE SITUATION.
CHECK TOP CLEARANCES
CHECK SIDE CLEARANCES
AFTER GETTING THE COMPLETE PICTURE, GET
INTO YOUR VEHICLE AND START BACKING
IMMEDIATELY-BEFORE THE SITUATION HAS A
CHANCE TO CHANGE

12. SIDE BACK FROM THE DRIVER’S
POSITION IS EVERYTHING IN SAFE BACKING. A SAFE
POSITION TO BACK FROM IS ONE THAT PERMITS
BACKING FROM THE DRIVER’S SIDE, AND ONE THAT
STARTS BACKING MOVEMENT AS CLOSE TO THE
AREA AS POSSIBLE.
BACKING FROM THE DRIVER’S SIDE REDUCES
SOME OF THE GUESSWORK AND GIVES THE DRIVER
BETTER CONTROL.

13. BACK SLOWLY BACK SLOWLY, NEVER ATTEMPT TO BACK IN
RAPIDLY. YOUR VEHICLE WILL BEHAVE
AWKWARDLY WHEN DRIVEN IN REVERSE AND MAY
QUICKLY VEER OUT OF CONTROL AND COLLIDE
WITH OBJECTS ON EITHER SIDE.
WHEN YOU BACK SLOWLY, YOU KEEP CONTROL
OF YOUR VEHICLE AND CAN EASE UP TO A DOCK
WITH A FEATHER TOUCH.

14. CHECK BOTH SIDES AS YOU BACK DON’T DEPEND ENTIRELY ON MIRRORS TO JUDGE
IF YOU HAVE CORRECTLY GAUGED YOUR
CLEARANCE TO THE RIGHT AND THE TOP, YOU
ONLY HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT THE LEFT SIDE OF
YOUR VEHICLE.
USE YOUR OUTSIDE MIRRORS, BOTH LEFT AND
RIGHT AS OFTEN AS IT IS NECESSARY DURING THE
BACKING MOVEMENT.
DON’T DEPEND ENTIRELY ON MIRRORS TO JUDGE
DISTANCE TO REAR MIRRORS HELP YOU CHECK
CLEARANCES AND ENABLE YOU TO SPOT PERSONS
THAT MAY UNEXPECTEDLY MOVE INTO YOUR PATH.

15. USE A RELIABLE GUIDE NEVER HESITATE TO ASK SOMEONE TO HELP YOU
BACK. EXPERT DRIVERS UNDERSTAND AND
RESPECT THE HAZARDS OF BACKING AND USE ALL
THE HELP THEY CAN GET TO AVOID ACCIDENTS.
A GUIDE (2) IS SUPPOSED TO WATCH THE AREA INTO
WHICH YOU WILL BE MOVING AND KEEP AN EYE ON
YOUR BLIND ZONE.
THE GUIDE SHOULD STAND WHERE HE CAN
CLEARLY SEE YOU REAR GUIDE AND THE AREA TO THE REAR OF YOUR VEHICLE.

16. USE A RELIABLE GUIDE CONT’D MAKE SURE YOU HAVE A RELIABLE PERSON
FOR A GUIDE AND ALSO MAKE SURE THEY
UNDERSTANDS WHAT YOU WANT THEM TO DO
AND AGREE ON THE SIGNALS.

17. ARM AND HAND
SIGNALS

26. REVIEW Ground Guide Safety Procedures Ground Guide Caution
Ground Guiding at night
When Ground Guides are required
Using one Ground Guide
Five Basic Rules to prevent Backing Accidents
Basic Arm and Hand Signals