Driver Selection UPPS
No. 05.05.02
Issue No. 5
Effective Date: 05/30/2008
Review: October 1 E3Y
01.01 This UPPS establishes policy for determining
eligibility of employees (regular and student) to drive state-owned university
vehicles or vehicles rented to transport persons or property and the
responsibilities associated with the screening process for employees authorized
to operate these vehicles.
01.02 University employees who have not been
screened or who fail to meet the minimum criteria outlined in this policy may
not drive a state-owned university vehicle based on Section 521.459 of the
Transportation Code:
a. "Before employing a person as a driver
of a motor vehicle used to transport persons or property, an employer shall
request from the Department of Public Safety:
1) a
list of convictions for traffic violations contained in the department records
on the potential employee; and
2) a
verification that the person has a valid license."
b. A person may not employ a person as an operator
of a motor vehicle used to transport persons or property who does not hold the
appropriate driver's license to operate the vehicle as provided by this
Chapter.
01.03 “University vehicle” means a state-owned
vehicle belonging to Texas State or a vehicle rented to transport persons or
property. For the purpose of this policy, the term does not apply to a
vehicle rented by a Texas State employee in travel status primarily for the
convenience of the employee.
02.01 The University will review the driving records
of all prospective employees whose job duties will require driving university
vehicles. The University will reject an applicant who either (a) does not hold
a valid Texas driver's license, or (b) has ten or more penalty points under the
system set forth in Attachment
I.
02.02 When the University seeks to fill a position
that requires the operation of a university vehicle, it will so state in its
advertisements for that position as identified by the account manager
completing the Personnel Change Request (PCR).
02.03 The account manager will ask the applicant
during the interview about his or her driving record and explain the university
policy. The account manager will also tell the applicant that failure to meet
the driving selection requirements may result in termination.
02.04 Account managers may not hire an individual
whose driving record fails to meet the criteria stated in Section 02.01 and
whose duties may require driving a university vehicle.
02.05 Account managers will also check the driving
record of any employee that may occasionally operate a vehicle. If the
individual fails to pass the selection criteria, he or she may not drive a
university vehicle.
02.06 Account managers may formally appeal in
writing a Driver Selection Committee decision to deny driving privileges to a
job applicant. This appeal will be directed to the Vice President for Finance
and Support Services.
03.01 Account managers must request a motor vehicle
record check for student employees before allowing them to operate a university
vehicle.
03.02 The request will be sent to the Director,
Facilities Management who will request a copy of the driving records from the
Department of Public Safety.
03.03 The University will reject an applicant who
either (1) does not hold a valid Texas driver's license, or (2) accumulates ten
or more penalty points under the system set forth in Attachment
I.
03.04 Graduate assistants (Research, Teaching and
Instructional) holding an out-of-state license, who do not wish to get a Texas
license, may request a motor vehicle record check from their home state as
proof that they meet the criteria to operate a university vehicle.
04.01 A university employee or student employee may
not drive a university vehicle if he or she either (1) does not hold a valid
Texas Driver's license, or (2) has ten or more penalty points under the system
set forth in Attachment
I.
04.02 The University may discharge an employee or student
employee whose duties require driving a university vehicle if that employee
fails to maintain either of the criteria established in Section 02.01.
04.03 The Director, Facilities Management will
annually review the driving records of employees or student employees whose job
duties require driving university vehicles to determine that the employees are
eligible to drive under the standards outlined in Section 04.01. A list of
ineligible drivers will then be sent to the Director, Environmental Health,
Safety and Risk Management.
04.04 The Director, Facilities Management will
notify account managers, in writing, of the employees or student employees who
have reached the ten point limit.
04.05 Account managers may formally appeal in
writing a decision to deny driving privileges to a university employee. This
appeal will be directed to the Vice President for Finance and Support Services.
05.01 Account managers will request motor vehicle
record checks for applicants scheduled for job interviews when that position
has been designated to be driving intensive.
05.02 The Director, Facilities Management will:
a. request driving records from the Department
of Public Safety;
b. review employee driving records for
violations on an annual basis, and immediately notify the appropriate manager
of any employee who no longer meets the requirements of Section 04.01. The
annual records check will occur on the month following the birth month of the
employee.
c. send a memorandum, in May of each year, to
account managers, listing current approved drivers, summarizing the policy and
reminding them of their duties associated with employees who drive university
vehicles;
d. recommend driver approval or disapproval to
the Driver Selection Committee based on the point system described in Attachment
I;
e. maintain a current list of all employees
authorized to operate a university vehicle; and
f. verify eligibility of all drivers listed on
the Vehicle Reservation Form prior to issuing the vehicle to the drivers.
05.03 The Office of Human Resources will include the
following in job postings for positions requiring the driving of university
vehicles: "Must have a valid Texas driver's license and be a driver in good
standing with less than ten points deducted for driving infractions as
determined by the Texas State driving standards system. A driving record
check will be performed on the selected applicant."
05.04 The driver will notify his or her supervisor
immediately of any suspension of driving privileges by the State of Texas or a
court of this State and immediately cease driving university vehicles on or off
campus.
06.01 The Driver Selection Committee will be
composed of the Director of Environmental Health, Safety and Risk Management;
the University Attorney; and the Director of the University Police Department.
The committee will provide guidance for the program and make final
determinations of eligibility on drivers with questionable driving records.
07.01 Reviewers of this UPPS include the following:
Position Date
Director,
Facilities Management October
1 E3Y
This UPPS has been approved
by the following individuals in their official capacities and represents Texas
State policy and procedure from the date of this document until superseded.
Director, Facilities
Management; senior reviewer of this UPPS
Associate Vice President for
Facilities
Vice President for Finance
and Support Services
President