Environmental Health & Safety

Driver Authorization

All drivers of PSU vehicles must be authorized by the university prior to operating a university vehicle. PSU employees and students frequently driving personal vehicles on university business are also required to complete the Driver Authorization Form, and are subject to the same driving offense criteria described on the form. 

Information for obtaining university vehicle driver authorization and high occupancy van driver authorization is below. 

Basic Driver Qualifications

Basic driver qualifications include:

  • All drivers, including international faculty, are required to have a valid US driver’s license
  • Minimum of two (2) years driving experience
  • Must be at least 18 years of age to operate regular passenger vehicles
  • Must be at least 21 years of age to operate high occupancy vans

Motor Vehicle Record Criteria

The motor vehicle record criteria for approved use of university vehicles (owned, leased, or rented) is defined in Oregon Revised Statute (ORS) 811. 

To be an authorized driver, an employee shall have:

  • Not exceeded two (2) “at-fault” accidents or violations within the last 24 months. “At-fault” accidents are those resulting in bodily injury and/or property damage of more than $1,000, where the individual seeking driving authorization was more than 50% at fault (Oregon has a 51% liability law).
  • No traffic crimes in the past 24 months for driving under the influence of intoxicants, failure to perform the duties of a driver, criminal driving while license is suspended or revoked, and/or fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer
  • No felony suspension/revocation of driving privileges (Class B Felony) or misdemeanor driver’s license suspension (Class A Misdemeanor) within the last 24 months 
  • No more than two (2) traffic violations (Class B) within the last 12 months
  • No more than one (1) reckless driving convictions (Class A Misdemeanor) in the last 24 months
  • No more than one (1) careless driving convictions (Class A & B traffic violations) in the last 24 months
  • No more than one (1) Class A traffic violations in the last 12 months

Note: Traffic crime is any traffic offense punishable by jail sentence; traffic violation is any traffic offense punishable by fine

The employee/student is responsible for their honest representation of their driving record history as they complete the PSU Driver Authorization Form and any subsequent renewal. If it is later determined that the employee/student misrepresented their driving record history, they may permanently forfeit their driving privileges. 

Any additional traffic violations or accidents that occur while driving as an Authorized Driver of the university may result in suspension or revocation of driving privileges.

University Discretion

Notwithstanding the above criteria, the University reserves the right to revoke or deny (temporarily or permanently) authorization to any driver, at any time and in its sole discretion. This revocation must be in writing, noting any restrictions or specific conditions placed on the individual’s driving privileges. 

Department may enforce more stringent guidelines for student drivers if they wish. These more stringent guidelines must be in writing. Such home department approval may be revoked at any time. 

Departments are not required to check driver’ records, however, they may do so at their expense. 

Obtaining Authorization for Standard Vehicles

Self-register for and complete the PSU Safe Driving Training in Canvas.

  • FPM, CPC, and Materials Management employees will be automatically assigned the required courses in Safety Skills and should not self-register and complete the training in Canvas

Complete the PSU Driver Authorization Form.

  1. Verify driver’s license information
  2. Driver signs and department head approves
  3. Form is retained in department files
  4. Renew driver authorization every two years; consists of an interview between the supervisor and employee to confirm the information on the original authorization form

PSU Driver Authorization Forms should be retained by the employee's department. These do not need to be submitted to EHS. 

Obtaining Authorization for High Occupancy Vans

Employees seeking authorization to operate high occupancy vans (vans which hold more than nine passengers) must first complete the process to become an authorized univeristy vehicle driver. Once this process is complete there are additional requirements for obtaining high occupancy van driver authorization. 

Self-register for and complete the PSU High Occupancy Van Operator Safety Training in Canvas.

Complete the PSU High Occupancy Driver Authorization Form.

  1. Verify PSU Driver Authorization Form is completed
  2. Verify High Occupancy Van Operator Safety training is completed
  3. Driver and department approver signs and submits to Risk Management
  4. Risk Management approves and signs
    1. Forms may be submitted to Don Johansen (johansed@pdx.edu)
  5. Form is retained in department files
  6. Renew authorization form every two years; consists of an interview between the supervisor and employee to confirm the information on the original form

Employees may not operate a high occupancy van until Risk Management returns the approved form.