LARGE PASSENGER VAN POLICY
This policy was approved by State
Fleet Services April 18, 2002, to become effective May 1, 2002.
1. This policy applies to operation
of state owned or leased large passenger vans.
2. “Large passenger vans”
means motor vehicles designed or intended to carry more than 10 but
less than 16 occupants, hereafter referred to as “LP vans”.
3. Operation of LP vans is limited
to authorized persons who currently have a valid driver’s license
and:
4. All occupants of LP vans must
use seat belts at all times when the vehicle is in motion.
5. Drivers of LP vans shall not
use a phone while the vehicle is in motion. Radios used for dispatch
are permitted.
6. Drivers of LP vans shall not
exceed posted speed limits and must exercise care required and reduce
speed accordingly when conditions dictate.
7. Drivers of LP vans are limited
to 10 consecutive hours and 14 total hours of operation in any given
24 hr period. Drivers who operate for 10 consecutive hours must be given
at least 8 consecutive hours off duty before resuming driving. For trips
requiring more than 10 consecutive or 14 total hours of operation in
any given 24 hr period, 2 or more qualified LP van drivers are required
to provide adequate relief. In addition to limits on hours of operation,
user entities need to be concerned about the danger of having people
that may be emotionally and/or physically exhausted from an event being
required to immediately drive back to home station, usually at night,
and often into the early morning hours. Therefore, when LP vans are
used to transport athletic teams, no participant shall drive for more
than two hours on the return trip. Participants are defined as the head
coach and assistant head coach and players who were active in the official
event. The non participant restriction applies to the return trip only
and then only if the trip has a duration of longer than 2 hours. In
addition, the non participant restriction shall not apply to driving
that takes place between sunrise and an hour after sunset. Return trips
shall be scheduled so that arrival at home station is no later than
2 a.m. This provision is not intended to prevent completion of a trip
that was unexpectedly delayed or slowed en route.
8. State Fleet Services Policy,
as stated in the Policy Manual, applies to LP van operation. If there
is duplication or conflict between this policy and the Policy Manual,
the stricter standard will apply to LP van operation.
IMPLEMENTATION
Implementation will be as follows:
Agencies and universities are to identify LP van drivers and arrange
for them to be trained as set forth below.
1. All LP van drivers are required to complete the classroom component.
User agencies may exempt certain individuals from the behind the wheel
component. These include Commercial Drivers License (CDL) holders, those
with experience driving LP vans carrying at least 11 passengers and
casual or occasional drivers that may move empty vehicles about one
time only or from time to time.
2. Implementation will be phased, with the classroom component first
and the behind-the-wheel component second. State Fleet will grant the
time necessary for users to implement this policy.
3. The classroom component will
be web-based training. Agencies and universities are to arrange for
computer access for the selected individuals. Cost for the license to
use the web based course for the classroom component will be paid by
State Fleet. Agencies/universities are responsible for monitoring their
own drivers and ensuring compliance with this policy. State Fleet will
establish and maintain review capability and will review compliance
from time to time.
4. The behind the wheel component
will be a course per State Fleet direction. The cost of LP van use in
completion of the BTW component will be paid by user agencies and institutions.
5. Incidental costs, such as transporting
students to training sites, will be borne by user agencies and universities.
6. For questions regarding
this policy contact, State Fleet Risk Manager, at 328-1472. Email
to statefleet@nd.gov.
