The parties agree that under Act 346 of 1988 certain Unit employees may be required to obtain and retain a Commercial Driver License (CDL) to continue to perform certain duties for the State.

Whenever a CDL is referred to in this letter, it is understood to mean the CDL and any required endorsements.

In order to implement this provision, the parties agree to the following:

1. The Employer will reimburse the cost of the required CDL Group License and Endorsements for those employees in positions where such license and endorse­ments are required.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. Employees reassigned to a position requiring a CDL shall be eligible for reimburse­ment and administrative leave in accordance with paragraphs 1, 2 and 3 above.
5. Employees desiring to transfer, promote, bump, or be recalled to a position requiring a CDL are not eligible for reimbursement or administrative leave for obtaining the initial CDL, but shall be eligible for reimbursement for renewal.
6. Employees who fail to obtain, or retain, a required 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 their 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 to an available position for which the employee is qualified (but not requiring a CDL). 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 to an available position not requiring a CDL for which the employee qualifies.
7. Employees required to obtain a medical certification of fitness shall have the “Exami­nation To Determine Physical Condition of Drivers” form filed in their medical files. A copy of the Medical “Examiners Certificate” shall be filed in their personnel files. The Employer agrees to pay for the examination and to grant administrative leave for the time necessary to complete the examination.

This Letter of Understanding shall not apply to non-employees who may be required to have the CDL as a condition of employment, nor to employees whose license is suspended or revoked.