Motor Pool/Fleet Safety
Fleet Safety
Lander Fleet Safety Program
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Purpose: This policy is set forth to establish the Fleet Safety Program at Lander University and to ensure compliance with the State Fleet Safety Program.
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Driver Qualifications: All operators of Lander owned vehicles or vehicles leased by Lander University must have a valid driver’s license appropriate to the vehicle type. A copy of the operator's driver’s license must be provided to Lander Physical Plant Office prior to using the vehicle.
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New Employee Driver Qualifications: Prior to being offered a state position that requires driving a Lander owned or leased vehicle, applicants shall provide Lander’s Office of Human Resources a copy of their motor vehicle record (MVR) at the applicant’s expense. Human Resources will provide the Director, Safety and Compliance with a copy of the applicant’s MVR. If the MVR shows more than three accidents in the past three years or more than eight current violation points, the applicant will not qualify for the position. If the applicant qualifies, he/she must attend the full eight-session driver-training course within ninety days of employment.
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Current Employees: Current employees that drive a Lander owned or leased vehicle will be required to attend an 8-hour Defensive Driving Course and a 4-hour refresher course every 3 years thereafter. Newly identified drivers will have 90 days to attend this training.
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Transporting of Students: Any staff or faculty member who transports students to a University sponsored event will be subject to annual MVR screening and must attend an 8-hour Defensive Driving Course. In addition, these employees must attend a 4-hour refresher course every 3 years.
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Student Drivers: The following guidelines apply to students driving Lander owned or leased vehicles.
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Most students will never have an occasion to drive a Lander vehicle while a student at our university. However, if a staff or faculty member asks a student to drive one of our vehicles, the Director, Safety and Compliance must first approve them. If it does not involve transporting other students, the request will routinely be approved provided a copy of the student's license is on file at the Physical Plant Office.
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We discourage students transporting other students to University sponsored events. Many times this involves the use of 15 passenger vans, which have a much higher risk of rollover crashes than other vehicles. With this in mind, very strict requirements will be set for students transporting other students as follows:
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Must be 20 years old or older.
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Must have attended an approved 8-hour Defensive Driving Course
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Must have received a Motor Vehicle Records (MVR) screening from the state in which they are licensed.
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Must be individually approved by the Director, Safety & Compliance
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Work Study Students : Most work-study jobs do not require students to drive a vehicle; however, several jobs such as the Purchasing Warehouse do require the students to drive a vehicle. Students being offered these type jobs must have a valid driver's license and must present an MVR screening before going to work. In addition, within 90 days of hire, the supervisor must insure the student attends an 8-hour Defensive Driving Course.
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As with most policies and guidelines, situations will arise which are not specifically covered. Please contact the Director, Safety and Compliance so these situations can be discussed.
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Screenings: Lander's Director, Safety and Compliance, will perform an annual MVR screening for all drivers of Lander owned or leased vehicles. He will review the reports generated by the annual MVR screening and will ensure corrective action is taken for employees discovered to have a history of traffic violations or vehicle accidents in accordance with the South Carolina Fleet Safety Program. Corrective actions are summarized in Appendix B of the South Carolina Fleet Safety Program .
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Suspended Licenses: Drivers of Lander owned or leased vehicles whose drivers' licenses are suspended are required to notify their supervisor on the first working day following notice of suspension. Individuals whose licenses are suspended will not operate Lander owned or a leased vehicle until the Department of Highways and Public Transportation lifts their suspension.
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Driver Education: Drivers of Lander owned or leased vehicles will attend a full eight-session driver-training course. These individuals must attend a four-hour refresher course every third year. The Director, Safety and Compliance, will schedule the driver training courses and ensure individuals are notified to attend.
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Required Driving Practices: Lander employees and passengers shall wear a safety belt at all times when operating or being transported as a passenger in a Lander owned or leased vehicle equipped with safety belts. It is each occupant’s responsibility to ensure compliance with the State’s Safety Belt Law. Lander vehicles will be locked when they are unoccupied and the driver will shut off engine prior to exiting the vehicle. The use of tobacco products is prohibited in state owned or leased vehicles.
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Safety Maintenance: The Director, Safety and Compliance will inspect Lander owned vehicles in accordance with the State Vehicle Maintenance Program.
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Accident Reporting: A copy of Lander Vehicle Accident Procedures will be place in each Lander owned vehicle. Lander’s Motor Pool Manager will submit quarterly Summary of Motor Vehicle Accidents Reports to State Fleet Management.
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Accident Review Procedures: Lander’s Accident Review Board will consist of the following members: Director, Safety and Compliance who will serve as chairman, Chief of University Police, Facilities Services Coordinator, one member of Athletics’ staff appointed by the Director of Athletics, and an additional University Representative at large appointed by the Director, Safety and Compliance. This board will review all accidents involving Lander owned or leased vehicles in accordance with the State Accident Review Board guidelines.
Contact Rodney Boyter with any questions concerning the above policy. You may reach him via email at rbboyter@lander.edu or via phone at 388-8009.
