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TRANSPORTATION UPDATE

BY STEPHANIE ARBAUGH

White Fleet Vehicle Program: Are You Prepared?

Stephanie Arbaugh

White fl eet vehicles are being used more and more at school administrator is an effective and admired leader doesn’t
districts across the state. In some cases, users of these mean he or she is a great driver – regardless of job status.
vehicles haven’t received appropriate training, which may
lead to an increase in claims. So, what to do? Staff members who will be driving district
vehicles should at the very least be able to show that they
So, what exactly is a white fl eet vehicle? It’s any non- have a safe driving record and are insurable. This means a
school bus vehicle owned by a school district and operated school district should check for a current and valid Arizona
by school district staff or volunteers. White fl eet vehicles state driver’s license and proof of personal insurance. Plus,
include everything from a staff-assigned car or SUV, to a the district should pull a motor vehicle record for each person
custodial or maintenance vehicle, to a passenger van or who drives a white fl eet vehicle.
activity bus.
Additionally, the district should train and certify anyone
Why are these vehicles particularly problematic when it who will be driving a district vehicle. Proper training means
comes to claims? First, it’s relatively rare for a school district time spent in the classroom and time behind the wheel of
to offer training to drivers of white fl eet vehicles. Second, the specifi c vehicle the driver will be operating. Certifi cation
it’s even rarer for a school district to check the qualifi cations means a certifi cate, card, or other proof showing that drivers
or credentials of white fl eet drivers. are current on their training and have taken the proper steps
to remain certifi ed white fl eet drivers.
But all vehicles that are owned and operated by a district
should be part of a comprehensive qualifi cation, training, Finally, a comprehensive white fl eet program should include
and recordkeeping program. Furthermore, just because an conscientious recordkeeping. After all, how will you know
if staff members have a valid driver’s
license or have taken training if you
don’t diligently monitor and record
this information?

The perfect place to start or upgrade
a white fl eet program is your very
own Transportation Department.
Transportation driver trainers are
already experts in these areas, and
they know how to make a program
like this work.

For more information on best practices
regarding white fl eet vehicle programs,
contact the Trust transportation
manager, Stephanie Arbaugh, at
sarbaugh@the-trust.org, or call
(602) 200-2471.

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