PLU Vehicle Safety Policy

Pacific Lutheran University strives to protect the safety of all community members by authorizing qualified drivers to operate university owned, leased or rented vehicles. The purpose of the PLU Vehicle Safety Policy is to ensure that our drivers have the skills and information that they need to be effective and safe vehicle operators; to communicate driver responsibilities; reduce vehicle accidents, and implement corrective actions for poor driving or repetitive unsafe incidents.

This policy applies to all individuals who operate university owned, leased or rented vehicles, as well as any individuals who are authorized to use personal vehicles on institution business.

Policy Highlights

  • Authorized driver requirements.
    • Motor vehicle record (MVR) checks on all faculty, staff, and student employees where driving is part of their job description or who drive regularly (five or more times a year) on university business.
    • MVR Checks are required on all student volunteer drivers(clubs, field trips, athletic teams, etc. )
    • Completion of assigned driving training modules.
  • Vehicle operations.
    • On-campus speed limit 5 mph.
    • Pedestrians have the right-of-way on campus.
    • Safe backing and parking.
    • Adherence to all State and Local laws regarding traffic movement and vehicle operations.
  • Insurance requirements
  • Trip safety.
  • Golf cart operations.
  • Vehicle incident response requirements.

ALL DRIVERS MUST REVIEW THE VEHICLE SAFETY POLICY PRIOR TO DRIVING ON PLU BUSINESS. (By becoming authorized to drive, you are agreeing to fully abide by these policies). 

Obtaining a PLU Driver Authorization

The Driver Authorization process is administered and tracked in a joint effort between Risk Services, Human Resources and Student Employment, Athletics, and Facilities Management. It is required that the following steps are completed, depending on your role at PLU, prior to operating any vehicle on university business, to include PLU Owned Vehicles and vehicles rented from outside vendors like Enterprise. Before requesting authorization, be sure to read the driver qualifications in the PLU Vehicle Safety Policy linked above. Authorizations are good for 3 years and must be renewed by completing all steps again upon expiration.

**Please plan ahead, a minimum of 2 weeks in advance. Driver Authorization is a multi-step process and last minute requests may not be accommodated.**

Student Volunteers

Student Volunteers:

Students volunteering to drive for activities like class field trips, club events, extracurricular events, athletic competitions, etc. must have a staff or faculty member in charge of the activity planning email risk@plu.edu to request the student become authorized to drive. Following this request, these steps need to be completed before driving:

  • Schedule a time to complete a Motor Vehicle Record (MVR) Check Release of Interest form (This form allows PLU to check your driving history).
  • Visit the Administrative Services office in Hauge 124 at the scheduled time to complete the MVR form in person and verify drivers license. A wet signature is required on this form. These forms should NOT be submitted by Email as they contain personal information (Full name, DOB, and Drivers License Number).
  • Risk Services conducts the MVR check, then notifies the driver whether the check was passed.
  • Risk Services assigns the two training modules in the SafeColleges/Vector Solutions platform.
  • Student completes the training modules, then notifies Risk Services. Student Training Link
  • Risk Services adds student driver to the PLU Authorized Driver List.

Student Workers

Student Workers

Student workers are identified as needing driver authorization through the position job posting. Students must meet the minimum driver qualifications to be considered for any position where driving is required. The Authorization process is completed at the time of hire:

  • Student Workers will complete a Motor Vehicle Record (MVR) Check Release of Interest form (This form allows PLU to check your driving history) at the same time other employment documents are completed through the Student Employment Office in Human Resources.
  • Student Employment conducts the MVR Check and notified the student and Risk Services of whether the check was passed.
  • Risk Services assigns the two training modules in the SafeColleges/Vector Solutions platform.
  • Student Worker completes the training modules, then notifies Risk Services. Student Training Link
  • Risk Services adds student driver to the PLU Authorized Driver List.

**If the student is employed for more than 3 years and the authorization expires, Risk Services administers the renewal process and will coordinate with the student worker and their supervisor to complete the renewal process

Employees

Employees

There are two classifications of employee drivers; Regular Drivers and Occasional Drivers

Employees identified as needing driver authorization through their position job posting, or who have been identified by their department as needing to drive on university business more than 5 times per year are considered Regular Drivers. Employees must meet the minimum driver qualifications to be considered for any position where driving is required. The Authorization process is completed at the time of hire:

  • Employees will complete a Motor Vehicle Record (MVR) Check Release of Interest form (This form allows PLU to check your driving history) at the same time other employment documents are completed through Human Resources.
  • Human Resources conducts the MVR Check and notifies Risk Services.
  • Risk Services assigns the two training modules in the SafeColleges/Vector Solutions platform (this can only occur after a new employee has established their PLU email address, usually the first day on the job).
  • Employee completes the training modules, then notifies Risk Services. Staff/Faculty Training Link
  • Risk Services adds Employee “regular” driver to the PLU Authorized Driver List.
  • **After 3 years the authorization expires, Risk Services administers the renewal process and will coordinate with the employee and their supervisor to complete the renewal process.

Employee Occasional Drivers – These are staff and faculty who drive on occasion, usually for a specific event, less than 5 times in a year. MVR checks are NOT required for this classification. Students (both workers and volunteers) are NOT eligible to be considered occasional drivers.

  • Employees needing to be authorized to occasionally drive should contact risk@plu.edu and cc their supervisor, requesting to be assigned the driver training modules and explaining the event that driving will be required.
  • Risk Services assigns the two training modules in the SafeColleges/Vector Solutions platform.
  • Employee completes the training modules, then notifies Risk Services. Staff/Faculty Training Link
  • Risk Services adds Employee driver to the PLU Occasional Authorized Driver List.
  • **After 3 years the occasional authorization expires, Risk Services administers the renewal process and will coordinate with the employee and their supervisor to complete the renewal process.
  • **An MVR check can be completed at any time and upon request from a supervisor if it is determined that driving is needed for business more than 5 times per year.

Athletics

Athletics Drivers

This includes staff, student workers, student volunteers, and volunteer coaches who fall under the Athletics Division.

The Athletics Division manages completion of MVR checks in-house due to their large amount of drivers and logistical needs. Please contact Julie Mix (mixjl@plu.edu) to initiate the MVR Process or the Occasional Driver Authorization Process. Risk Services will assign trainings upon receiving notification from Athletics/Julie Mix.