Vanpool

Salinas 1

(includes Castroville pickup location)
Arrives UCSC: 6:00 a.m.   
Departs UCSC: 2:30 p.m.  
Pickup Location: McKinnon School (Salinas)/Merritt & Sanchez (Castroville)
Monthly Fee: $118/$94

Salinas 2

Arrives UCSC: 7:00 a.m.
Departs UCSC: 3:30 p.m.
Pickup Location: FoodMaxx at Santa Rita Plaza
Monthly Fee: $118

Salinas 3

Arrives UCSC: 5:30 p.m.
Departs UCSC: 2:00 a.m.
Pickup Location: Natividad/Los Coches Avenue
Monthly Fee: $118

Monterey

Arrives UCSC: 7:00 a.m.
Departs UCSC: 3:30 p.m.
Pickup Location: Marina Target
Monthly Fee: $118

Castroville

Arrives UCSC: 5:30 p.m.   
Departs UCSC: 2:00 a.m.
Pickup Location: Richard Hall, 11140 Preston St, Castroville, CA
Monthly Fee: $94

Driver Benefits

Vanpool drivers volunteer their services and, in exchange, get a number of benefits including:

• Reduced fees*
• Mileage allotment for limited personal use of the van (with a few restrictions)

*Drivers can be a Primary, Co-Driver, or Back-up Driver and receive reduced monthly vanpool fares. Primary Drivers do not pay a monthly fee, Co-Drivers split a regular monthly fee, and Back Up Drivers receive a 25% discount on the regular monthly fee.

Eligibility

To be eligible to become a vanpool driver, a person must have all of the following:

• A minimum of five years of general driving experience
• No at-fault accidents in the last three years
• No more than one at-fault accident during any three years while performing vanpool driver responsibilities
• Have no more than one moving violation in the previous three years
• No more than two moving violations during any three years while performing vanpool driver responsibilities
• No more than two moving violations during any three years while performing vanpool driver responsibilities
• Have no Driving Under the Influence (DUI) offenses in the last five years
• Have no DUI’s while performing vanpool driver responsibilities
• Has no disqualifying action taken against his/her driving license or certificate (i.e., Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) suspension or revocation) at any time

Duties & Responsibilities

Vanpool Drivers are responsible for all of the following:

• Ensuring the daily operation of the vanpool with the assistance of back-up drivers according to the University’s annual calendar
• Completing a daily safety check before operating the van
• Always using seatbelts when operating the van, and advising all passengers to use seatbelts
• Maintaining a list of all passengers and only allowing passengers who have paid and have clearance from the Vanpool Coordinator to board the van
• Keeping a daily log of riders, mileage, and other records as required by the University
• Providing a secure (preferably off-street) overnight parking place for the van
• Locking the van and removing the keys when unattended
• Taking the van to Fleet Services weekly for fueling
• Submitting a mileage log and daily passenger ridership roster from the previous month to the Vanpool Coordinator by the 5th of the month
• Scheduling and making the van available for monthly cleaning

Additional periodic duties:

• Taking the van to Fleet Services every 6,000 miles for preventative maintenance
• Taking the van to Fleet Services immediately for safety-related issues or mechanical problems
• Contacting passengers and the Vanpool Coordinator as soon as possible in case of any breaks needed for vanpool service
• Attending driver meetings as scheduled
• Training passengers to use the bike rack and ensuring that racks are secure before the van is in motion (note: driver is not responsible for loading or unloading passenger bikes)

Initial Training Requirements

New vanpool drivers are required to complete approximately 4 to 5 hours of training

Each potential driver must submit and complete the following:

• Vanpoool driver application
• Fill out all required additional paperwork
• Obtaining and submit a current Department of Motor Vehicles driver’s record report
• Reading the selected sections of the Commercial Driver’s Handbook
• Taking an at-home or in-office open-book test.

Each candidate must complete a medical exam and have a medical professional complete the Medical Examination Report DL 51 to certify that a person meets the medical standards to operate a commercial motor vehicle. TAPS supplies a recharge form to pay for exams done at SCOMC. Each completed medical exam certification is valid for up to 2 years.

Candidates must schedule and complete a training session with the TAPS Trainer. The driver training takes a minimum of 2 hours (maximum of 3 hours) and can be completed in one session or split into two. Training sessions consist of instruction in:

• Vehicle checkout/components and defensive driving (1 hour)
• Skills assessment and training in vehicle maneuvering, including backing, alley dock, forward stop, and measured right turns (1/2 hour)
• driving in a variety of locations that include on-campus, Westside Santa Cruz, in town, on highway, and mountain driving (1+ hours)

The training is conducted in the same type of vehicle that the driver will be driving as a vanpool driver. If a potential driver cannot demonstrate competency after 3 hours of training, TAPS will conduct additional training. If the drive still does not demonstrate competency, TAPS may determine that the candidate is ineligible to become a vanpool driver.

Refresher Training

Drivers must complete the following once every two years, in alternating years:

• Watch a one-hour take-home video and respond to a series of written questions
• Participate in a one-hour group training session that covers safety techniques, program issues that have come up during the year, and presentations from Risk Services and Campus Police. In-person sessions are offered at least twice yearly