§393.62 establishes requirements for emergency exits on buses and related occupant-protection components. Each emergency exit must be operative, marked, and free of obstruction. The rule is principally enforced on passenger-carrying CMVs, but the §393.62 reference is occasionally cited on multi-passenger CMVs configured for crew transport.
Severity weight
Severity weight 2 in the Vehicle Maintenance BASIC. Findings cluster on bus/passenger inspections rather than over-the-road freight.
What's commonly missing
- Emergency-exit markings worn or painted over.
- Push-bar mechanisms seized — exits open from the inside but not under the §393.62 force limits.
- Obstructed exits where cargo or seating has been added forward of the exit.
How to prevent it
- Pre-trip the emergency exits — open each one to ensure free motion.
- Re-paint markings on a schedule; they fade with sun exposure faster than operators expect.
- After any interior re-fit, re-verify exit clearance against the original passenger-capacity layout.
How Roadworthy HQ helps
§393.62 findings logged in Roadworthy HQ link to the vehicle, retain the §396.9(d)(3) repair certification, and surface in the audit binder for §385.337 corrective-action documentation.