VAN DRIVER NONCOMMERCIAL DRIVERS LICENSE (On-Call)

Duties & Responsibilities

• Drives a specially-equipped van to pick up and drop off elderly and/or physically or mentally-limited or ill persons to medical destinations.
• Affirms that lifts and tie down equipment are operational and that passengers are transported to appointments in a safe and timely manner.
• Pick up and drop off seniors to and from congregate meal sites and other central locations.
• Provides van service for other senior passenger activities as time permits.
• May drive for outside contracts.
• Provides out-of-county transportation services to qualified clients.
• Plans and/or cooperates in establishing schedules; follows established schedules; adjusts schedules to meet unanticipated changes; determines the safest and most efficient pick up and drop off routes.
• Assists both ambulatory and non-ambulatory passengers on and off the van in a safe and courteous manner, providing door to door service.
• Collects donations from clients and returns them to the administrative offices of Lift Line in a timely manner.
• Deals with sensitive medical, equipment, and potential emergencies that may arise, which includes the handling and securing of portable oxygen tanks.
• Notes visible changes in the physical or mental health of persons regularly transported; communicates this information to appropriate personnel for follow-up; may carry and deliver prescription drugs and medical documents not entrusted to passengers.
• Reports any client issues immediately to the Driver Supervisor and/or schedulers.
• Performs pre-trip procedures, including inspecting the van and maintaining it in a clean, orderly, and safe condition; reports the need for maintenance or servicing.
• Operates the van in a safe and courteous manner, following California driving laws and regulations, including seat belt regulations and cell phone regulations.
• Sets up and operates a two-way radio according to FCC regulations.
• Makes calls to schedule rides, dispatches, answers the telephone, files, prepares reports, or other tasks, as assigned.

Professional Conduct

• Fulfills the requirements of the Lift Line Driver Handbook.
• Attends all staff meetings.
• Participates in training programs.
• Participates in Accident, Health and Safety and Training Committee meetings.
• Develops and maintains effective working relationships with other agency staff members and others in regular contact with the program.
• Communicates effectively and respectfully with people from different racial, ethnic and cultural groups and from different backgrounds and lifestyles; demonstrates a knowledge of and sensitivity to their needs.

Qualifications

• Required: California driving laws and regulations; Safely and courteously transporting elderly, physically and/or mentally limited and ill passengers; Ability to identify significant changes in the physical and mental conditions of the passengers, and reporting them to the appropriate persons for follow-up; Safely driving a large passenger van; Ability to determine safe and efficient routes to be driven; Following oral and written directions; Reading street maps; Performing work independently and using sound judgment in emergency situations; Keeping standard records of work performed; Collecting, recording and depositing donations; Maintaining the vans in a clean, safe, and orderly condition; Communicating effectively with and being sensitive to the needs of the passenger population served; and Working cooperatively with co-workers and others contacted in the course of the work.
• Preferred: Bilingual English/Spanish preferred.
• Other: The safe and proper use of wheelchair lifts, tie downs, ramps and rails, and two-way radio Basic first aid and CPR techniques; The techniques involved in safely transporting elderly, frail, physically and/or mentally limited and ill passengers; The preventative measures important to the safe transport of passengers with communicable diseases; and The geographic location in which the van is to be driven.

Other Requirements

• This is a safety sensitive position. In accordance with US Department of Transportation requirements, must pass a pre-employment drug screening test and comply with periodic testing for drug use and alcohol misuse. Must be cleared by the Department of Justice through fingerprinting.
• Must possess a valid California Driver’s License.
• Must have and maintain a satisfactory driving record as demonstrated by current K-4 DMV printout.
• Must have and maintain current Red-Cross First Aid and CPR certificates, or be able to obtain them within 6 months of hire.
• Must have sufficient physical strength and stamina to assist disabled passengers.
• This work requires considerable and strenuous physical exertion, such as repeated reaching, lifting (50+ lbs) pulling and pushing.
• Must speak English.