Page 28 - May-June2022 Vol 40 No 1

that employee may resume duties that These inspections can also be KNOXVILLE 2022
CDL from page 27 require a CDL performed by qualified programs and

When a Public Works Employee Tests Public Works stepping up in Tennessee personnel in-house, or by a commercial
provider.
Some cities in Tennessee have
Positive developed their own in-house program Periodic inspection requirements:
Assuming the employee is not https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/regulations/ NOVEMBER 8-10
terminated for violating city/county for Entry Level Driver Training, including title49/section/396.17
Pigeon Forge, Maryville, Morristown,
drug policies; when that employee has a Sevierville, and Knoxville. Very likely, Inspector qualifications:
violation recorded with the clearinghouse, there are others of which the author is not https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/regulations/
the employee must cease performing job aware. title49/section/396.19
duties that require a CDL. The requirements for such a program Additional information
Should the Public Works agency retain
The University of Tennessee’s Municipal
the employee, there is a remedy. The are rigorous and extensive (https:// Technical Advisory Service (MTAS) is
tpr.fmcsa.dot.gov/content/Resources/
employee must go through the Return To TPR-Training-Provider-Factsheet_508. working on additional guidance and
Driving (RTD) process: pdf). It is very impressive for a local training on these requirements.
• They must enter a program administered government to take the initiative to meet UT-MTAS is working with the
by a substance abuse professional (SAP), the requirements to qualify and to register Tennessee Transportation Assistance
who has access to the clearinghouse as a training provider. Program (TTAP) and the Tennessee
and reports on whether the driver is According to Scott Jenkins, City of Chapter of the American Public Works
following counseling requirements and a Knoxville Planning and Safety Manager, Association to find joint training
testing schedule. the City of Knoxville plans on starting opportunities to better serve the Public
• The SAP decides how long a driver their first class immediately after Easter. Works community in Tennessee.
must be tested (up to five years). Federally Required Annual Periodic For free assistance with either this
- The SAP determines how often and Inspections topic or with other areas in Public Works,
for what substances the driver is tested In discussions with Bryon Fortner, contact:
(at least six times in the year after the City of Sevierville Public Works Director, John C. Chlarson, P.E.
violation and for which substances). the topic of federally required annual Public Works & Utilities Consultant
If the SAP finds a driver has periodic inspections for large equipment (731) 425-4785
satisfactorily completed the RTD process, also came up. john.chlarson@tennessee.edu

28 TPW May/June 2022