**184.1 PURPOSE** To provide information, requirements, and procedures
involving the operation of motor vehicles while on official business for
BPA. Combined with relevant law, regulations, and case law, this
issuance governs management's conduct of BPA's motor vehicle driver
authorization program. Consistent with Delegation Order No. 0204-161,
signed by the Secretary of Energy on October 7, 1996, this issuance also
exempts BPA from the provisions of any related Department of Energy
issuance, including DOE O 440.1, Worker Protection.

**184.2 DEFINITIONS**

**A. Motor Vehicle:** Any vehicle that is licensed and can legally
operate on a public roadway will be considered a motor vehicle. The
following types of vehicles will not be included: vehicles operated on
rails, forklifts, road building machinery, ATVs, snowmobiles, farm
tractors, mowers, carts, bicycles, or similar equipment.

**B. Authorized Driver:** An employee who possesses a valid state
driver\'s license for the state in which they reside and has a current
BPA Motor Vehicle Authorization form ([BPA F
5480.13e](../../../../../../../../apps/EFORMS97/Templates/5480_13E.DOT))
on file with their supervisor. Supervisors will ensure that the employee
is licensed for the appropriate vehicle groups that the employee may be
required to operate.

**C. Commercial Driver's License (CDL):** A license, issued by the
state, that is required in order to operate large, commercial-type
vehicles.

**D. Reportable Motor Vehicle Accident:** Any occurrence involving a
Federal, leased, or private motor vehicle being operated for the benefit
of BPA that results in death, injury, or property damage.

**E. Motor Vehicle Tort Claims Investigator:** An employee, designated
by the Safety Office, who is responsible for the investigation of motor
vehicle accidents involving BPA employees while on official business.

**184.3 POLICY** Each employee who operates a motor vehicle on official
business is required to have in their possession a valid driver\'s
license issued by the state in which they reside. In addition, a current
BPA Motor Vehicle Driver's Authorization Form ([BPA F
5480.13e](../../../../../../../../apps/EFORMS97/Templates/5480_13E.DOT))
must be on file with the employee's supervisor.

**184.4 RESPONSIBILITIES**

**A.** The Safety Manager is BPA\'s Motor Vehicle Operator Program
Officer and establishes criteria for

> 1\. administration of the BPA Motor Vehicle Driver Program, and
>
> 2\. compliance directives pertaining to all applicable motor vehicle
> codes, rules, and regulations

**B. Supervisors** are responsible for

> 1\. determining the driving requirements of positions to be filled
>
> 2\. assuring, in conjunction with the performance evaluation process,
> that employees hold a valid state driver\'s license, with all
> necessary endorsements, for type of vehicle operated, and
>
> 3\. authorizing (in accordance with [BPA F
> 5480.13](../../../../../../../../apps/EFORMS97/Templates/5480_13E.DOT))
> employees to operate government owned, leased, rented, or private
> vehicles on official business

**C. Employees who operate vehicles on Government business** are
responsible for

> 1\. having a valid driver\'s license issued by the state in which they
> reside, including all appropriate endorsements for type of vehicles
> they may be required to operate, and
>
> 2\. promptly notifying their supervisor of any traffic accident
> involvement, citation, or arrest resulting from operation of a motor
> vehicle on official business; suspension or cancellation of a state
> driver\'s license; a physical condition that might affect driving
> abilities; or any other factor that would affect operation of a motor
> vehicle as described in Section 184.6

**184.5 ESTABLISHING AUTHORIZED DRIVER STATUS**

**A. BPA's Motor Vehicle Authorization form** ([BPA F
5480.13](../../../../../../../../apps/EFORMS97/Templates/5480_13E.DOT))
is required to be completed by any employee whose duties may include
operating a motor vehicle for official use. This would include
Government-owned vehicles and leased or private vehicles being used for
the benefit of the Government.

**B. It is the employee's supervisor's** responsibility to ensure that
this form is completed for all new employees who may operate a vehicle
for official use, and a copy furnished to the Safety Office for the
purpose of obtaining their complete driver's record abstract. This form
is required to be completed on an annual basis by each employee and then
signed by the supervisor at the time the employee receives their annual
performance appraisal. The completed form will be kept on file by the
supervisor.

**C. This form meets all the basic requirements necessary** to authorize
an employee to operate a motor vehicle for official use. The supervisor
and employee are responsible to ensure proper training and/or
familiarization is given to assure the safe operation of the motor
vehicle.

**184.6 SUSPENSION OF AUTHORIZATION**

**A. Authorization to operate a government owned, leased, rented or
private motor vehicle on official business will be withdrawn** under the
following situations:

> 1\. the employee plead guilty to, judgment was withheld or has been
> convicted of operating a motor vehicle under the influence of
> intoxicants (DWI, DUI) in the last 3 years
>
> 2\. a designated physician determines that the employee fails to meet
> required physical standards
>
> 3\. the employee\'s state license is suspended or revoked
>
> 4\. the employee improperly operates the motor vehicle assigned and/or
> fails to comply with administrative orders relating to motor vehicle
> operations, or

5.  any recurrent record of auto accidents/incidents, traffic
    violations, arrests or convictions which demonstrates a lack of
    responsible motor vehicle operation

**B. Temporary removal from operating duties should be considered** if
the employee, upon medical examination, fails required physical
standards but the condition is considered by the designated physician to
be of a temporary or remediable nature.

BPA employees whose authorization to operate a motor vehicle is
withdrawn or temporarily removed may be provided an opportunity to
re-establish their driving competence and thereby be re-instated to
operate a motor vehicle. The action required to re-establish driving
competence will be determined by the employee's supervisor in
consultation with the Safety Office and Employee/Labor Relations.

**C. When authorization is suspended, employees should not be permitted
to operate motor vehicles** on official business until their driving
competence has been reestablished.

**184.7 REFERENCES**

**A. CFR 41, Chapter 109, Transportation and Motor Vehicles**

## BPA Safety and Health Handbook Section E {#bpa-safety-and-health-handbook-section-e .unnumbered}

# BPA Personal Property Manual

**D. BPA Motor Vehicle User's Handbook**