An example floor covering system in a passenger vehicle is described that includes a plurality of floor covering panels positioned adjacent to each other creating interfaces between respective floor covering panels of the plurality of floor covering panels, a plurality of joint panels positioned underneath one or more of the interfaces and the plurality of floor covering panels are rigidly coupled to at least one of the plurality of joint panels to prevent relative motion between the plurality of floor covering panels, and a plurality of attachment mounts attached to a structure of the passenger vehicle. Each of the plurality of floor covering panels is coupled to one or more of the plurality of attachment mounts, and the plurality of attachment mounts enable lateral movement relative to the structure of the passenger vehicle of the plurality of floor covering panels together in a joint manner.