POLICY STATEMENT #74
STATE-OWNED VEHICLES
Policy:
The University of North Carolina at Charlotte has available a fleet of State-owned vehicles
to provide necessary transportation for the conduct of official business. Certain vehicles in
the fleet are operated by the State Motor Fleet Management Division and assigned to the
University; other vehicles are operated directly by the University and are not subject to
Motor Fleet Management control. Regulations that govern use of the two sets of vehicles
differ in some respects.
The following policies define eligible drivers and conditions for use of State-owned
vehicles at UNC Charlotte. State-owned vehicles are those that bear a "State-owned"
license plate.
All Vehicles: Vehicles may be used only for official business that is sanctioned
and sponsored by the University.
Vehicles may be operated only by a driver who is an employee of UNC Charlotte or a
student who is also an employee of the University.
The driver to whom a State-owned vehicle is issued has responsibility for the vehicle
at all times. An accompanying passenger may assist with driving only if he or she satisfies
the eligibility requirements applicable to the vehicle in use.
The driver must have a valid, current driver's license appropriate to the type of vehicle
driven and observe any restrictions applied to his/her license.
Use of State-owned vehicles by students who are also UNC Charlotte employees requires
authorization as follows: for academic and administrative support areas, by the appropriate
department chairperson, dean, or vice chancellor; for student activities, by the Vice
Chancellor for Student Affairs or designate; and for athletics-related activities, by the
Director of Athletics.
Motor Fleet Management Vehicles: These vehicles (usually sedans or station wagons)
may be driven only by faculty, staff and student employees of the University, or by drivers
of blind or permanently disabled state employees. In addition, these vehicles may be driven
by graduate students whose educational training requires the use of such vehicles.
An accompanying passenger may assist with driving these vehicles only if he or she is a
faculty, staff, or student employee of the University.
University Vehicles not Subject to Motor Fleet Management Control: These vehicles
(usually vans) may be driven by faculty, staff, and student employees. An accompanying
passenger may assist with driving these vehicles only if he or she is a faculty, staff, or
student employee of the University.
Special Rules for Operator of University Vans: An accompanying passenger may
assist with driving these vehicles only if he or she is either a UNC Charlotte employee
or student employee of the University who has a valid license of the appropriate class
for the size of the vehicle, and has appropriate University authorization to drive.
Any person who wishes to drive a University van or Motor Fleet Management van must
have on file with the Safety Office a UNC Charlotte Van Driver Authorization Form signed
by the appropriate University official. After January 1, 1999, no person may be authorized
to drive such a van without first having passed a written test based on UNC Charlotte's
"Guidelines for Van Drivers," and successfully completing a brief van driving test
conducted by a University-authorized tester. Van keys will be issued only to those persons
who have successfully completed the written and driving tests and have a signed UNC
Charlotte Van Driver Authorization Form on file with the Safety Office. The University
Safety Office administers the van safety program, and may be contacted at ext. 4291 for
further information.
Drivers of vehicles designed to transport at least sixteen persons, including the driver,
must also possess a valid North Carolina Class C Commercial Driver License (CDL).
Special Rules for Trucks: These vehicles are assigned to particular University
departments and are not generally available for use by other departments. If loaned to
another department, they must be operated in accordance with the policies cited above
for all vehicles and such additional rules as the lending department may impose.
(Initially approved January 14, 1986; revised January 25, 1988; revised October 13, 1997;
revised August 24, 1998; revised April 5, 1999.)
