Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Training / Qualification; Confusion; Situational Awareness
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Weight And Balance; Ground Event / Encounter Other / Unknown
Flight Crew Became Reoriented
Human Factors; Procedure
We were approximately 2 hours delayed due to late arrival of the aircraft. Crew scheduling called us while we were at the hotel to reschedule our report time. We arrived at the gate shortly before our revised report time. The aircraft was delayed but had arrived a bit earlier than expected. The ground crew had completed most of their duties by the time we arrived at the gate. When I began my preflight duties; I saw that only the nose gear was chocked. I asked a ground crewmember in person to chock the main gear. He proceeded to chock only the right main and then walked back to the tug; sat down; and waited. I then asked him to chock the left main gear; which he then did. When I completed my walk-around; a ground crew member advised me in person that they were adding one more gate check bag and that the total number of bags on board was now 38. I asked to which compartment they were adding the bag; and he stated aft; without providing a CP number. When I returned to the cockpit; the load sheet had already been delivered. It stated 2 gate checks in CP4 and 41 standard bags in CP4. My understanding was that we now had 3 gate checks in CP4; so I edited the form. I was confused; because I understood we now had 44 total bags; but the ground crewmember said 38.We asked the ground crew via the intercom how many total bags we had on board. The ground crewmember said 38. We asked the ground crew how many gate checks we had in CP4. He said 3. We asked how many standard bags there were in CP4. He said 41; and immediately stated that there were therefore 38 total bags. We explained that we were confused and asked why he was subtracting numbers. The ground crewmember reiterated that we previously had 39 total bags; he added 1 gate check; and now we had 38 total bags. This continued for one more round. The captain and I concluded that the ground crewmember was confusing the information we needed with the Bag Count Reconciliation at the bottom of the load sheet. The Reconciliation is not relevant to the flight crew; and the form specifically states that it is not required on the crew copy. However; the captain and I believed the Reconciliation was not completed properly. As best we could determine; Total Bags (line A) read 41 but should have read 44. Gate checks (line B) read 2 and was now really 3. Line C read 39 but should have read 41. The Bag Count to which line C should be compared was not written on our copy of the form (nor was it required to be). We entered 44 standard bags in CP4 into ACARS for weight & balance calculations. Both we and the ground crew remained professional during the conversation. The ground crewmember seemed just as confused with our questions as we were with his statements.Ground crew; especially at new/contract stations; must be properly trained so that they can comply with policies and procedures. Not chocking the main gear was likely done in an effort to expedite departure. Improper understanding of the Bag Count and Reconciliation led to an incorrect completion of that section and confusing/contradictory information being provided to the flight crew.
A319 First Officer believes that rampers are not being properly trained at some stations to chock all gear and how to complete a baggage count form.