That sticker is talking about occupants OTHER than the driver...you HAVE to have a driver otherwise the weight limits wouldn't matter....but you don't have to have any other occupants & cargo.
That is why is says what it does...maybe it should say 'additional occupants'.
Then why not say "Passengers".. I mean the sticker cannot be accurate then, as one driver may weigh 400 pounds, and another may weigh 120..
I do understand that a driver should be included, but i know for my last truck I bought new in 2013 it was not included, some said it was but upon diving deep it was found it wasn't. This is my first Ram and since I have way more payload than ill ever need, its not an issue for me, but it still leaves me curious.. I don't doubt that it might include driver, but the wording leaves me suspect.
Manual says this:
Here is what Ram's user manual says :
"Payload
The payload of a vehicle is defined as the allowable load
weight a truck can carry, including the weight of the
driver, all passengers, options and cargo".
So it would seem nothing but fuel is included in available payload?