Commercial Driver’s License As a result of recent Federal statutory requirements, the State of Michigan enacted Act 346 of 1988. The parties agree that as a result of these statutory requirements some employees within the Technical Bargaining Unit may be required to obtain and retain a Commercial Drivers License (CDL) to continue to perform certain duties for the State. Whenever a CDL is referred to in this Section, it is understood to mean the CDL and any required endorsements. In order to implement this provision, the parties agree to the following:
A. The Employer will reimburse the cost of obtaining and renewing the required CDL group license and endorsements for those employees in positions where such license and endorsements are required.
B. The Employer will reimburse, on a one time basis, the fee for the skills test, if required, provided the skills test is not being required because of the employee's poor driving record. In that case, the employee is responsible for the cost of the skills test. Where a skills test is required, the employee will be permitted to utilize the appropriate state vehicle.
C. Employees shall be eligible for one grant of administrative leave to take the test to obtain or renew the CDL. Should the employee fail the test initially, the employee shall complete the necessary requirements on non-work time.
D. Employees reassigned to a position requiring a CDL shall be eligible for reimbursement and administrative leave in accordance with paragraphs 1, 2, and 3 of this Section.
E. Employees desiring to transfer, promote, bump or be recalled to a position requiring a CDL are not eligible for reimbursement for obtaining the initial CDL but shall be eligible for reimbursement for renewals.
F. Employees who fail to obtain, or retain, a CDL may be subject to removal from their positions. Employees who fail required tests may seek a 90 day extension of their current license, during which the Employer will retain the employee in his or her current or equivalent position. The Employer shall not be responsible for any fees associated with such extensions. At the end of the 90 day extension, if the employee fails to pass all required tests, the employee may be reassigned at the Employer's discretion, in accordance with applicable contractual provisions, to an available position not requiring a CDL for which the employee is qualified, or, if no position is available the employee will be laid off without bumping rights and will be placed on the Departmental Recall List, subject to recall in accordance with this Agreement. Those employees not choosing to extend their license for the 90 day period will be removed from their positions at the expiration of their current license and may be reassigned at the Employer's discretion, in accordance with applicable contractual provisions, to an available position not requiring a CDL for which the employee qualifies, or if no position is available, he or she will be laid off without bumping rights and will be placed on the Departmental Recall list.
G. Employees required to obtain a medical certification of fitness shall have the "Examination to Determine Physical Condition of Drivers" form filed in their medical file. A copy of the medical "Examiners Certificate" shall be placed in their personnel file. The Employer agrees to pay for the examination and to grant administrative leave for the time necessary to complete the examination. The fitness standards for a CDL are unchanged from current Federal Department of Transportation Standards and Michigan Motor Carrier Standards.
H. Employees who do not meet the required physical standards but who are otherwise qualified for a CDL may apply for a waiver to the Motor Carrier Appeal Board.
I. Those employees employed by the State as intra-state drivers prior to June 10, 1984 shall be grandparented into the process and thereby be exempt from the medical certification requirement.