2011 Minnesota Statutes

221.0255 MOTOR CARRIER OF RAILROAD EMPLOYEES.

(a) A motor carrier of railroad employees must meet the requirements specified in this section, is subject to section 221.291, and is otherwise exempt from the provisions of this chapter.

(b) A vehicle operator for a motor carrier of railroad employees who transports passengers must:

(1) have a valid driver's license under chapter 171; and

(2) submit to a physical examination.

(c) The carrier must implement a policy that provides for annual training and certification of the operator in:

(1) safe operation of the vehicle transporting railroad employees;

(2) knowing and understanding relevant laws, rules of the road, and safety policies;

(3) handling emergency situations;

(4) proper use of seat belts;

(5) performance of pretrip and posttrip vehicle inspections, and inspection record keeping; and

(6) proper maintenance of required records.

(d) The carrier must:

(1) perform a background check or background investigation of the operator;

(2) annually verify the operator's driver's license;

(3) document meeting the requirements in this subdivision, and maintain the file at the carrier's business location;

(4) maintain liability insurance in a minimum amount of $5,000,000 regardless of the seating capacity of the vehicle; and

(5) maintain uninsured and underinsured coverage in a minimum amount of $1,000,000.

If a party contracts with the motor carrier on behalf of the railroad to transport the railroad employees, then the insurance requirements may be satisfied by either that party or the motor carrier, so long as the motor carrier is a named insured or additional insured under any policy.

(e) A person who sustains a conviction of violating section 169A.25, 169A.26, 169A.27, or 169A.31, or whose driver's license is revoked under sections 169A.50 to 169A.53 of the implied consent law, or who is convicted of or has their driver's license revoked under a similar statute or ordinance of another state, may not operate a vehicle under this subdivision for five years from the date of conviction. A person who sustains a conviction of a moving offense in violation of chapter 169 within three years of the first of three other moving offenses may not operate a vehicle under this subdivision for one year from the date of the last conviction. A person who has ever been convicted of a disqualifying offense as defined in section 171.3215, subdivision 1, paragraph (c), may not operate a vehicle under this subdivision.

(f) An operator who sustains a conviction as described in paragraph (e) while employed by the carrier shall report the conviction to the carrier within ten days of the date of the conviction.

(g) A carrier must implement a mandatory alcohol and controlled substance testing program as provided under sections 181.950 to 181.957 that consists of preemployment testing, postaccident testing, random testing, reasonable suspicion testing, return-to-duty testing, and follow-up testing.

(h) A motor carrier of railroad employees shall not allow or require a driver to drive or remain on duty for more than: ten hours after eight consecutive hours off duty; 15 hours of combined on-duty time and drive time since last obtaining eight consecutive hours of off-duty time; or 70 hours of on-duty and drive time in any period of eight consecutive days. After 24 hours off duty, a driver begins a new seven consecutive day period and on-duty time is reset to zero.

(i) An operator who encounters an emergency and cannot, because of that emergency, safely complete a transportation assignment within the ten-hour maximum driving time permitted under paragraph (h), may drive for not more than two additional hours in order to complete that transportation assignment or to reach a place offering safety for the occupants of the vehicle and security for the transport motor vehicle, if the transportation assignment reasonably could have been completed within the ten-hour period absent the emergency.

(j) A carrier shall maintain and retain for a period of six months accurate time records that show the time the driver reports for duty each day; the total number of hours of on-duty time for each driver for each day; the time the driver is released from duty each day; and the total number of hours driven each day.

(k) For purposes of this subdivision, the following terms have the meanings given:

(1) "conviction" has the meaning given in section 609.02; and

(2) "on-duty time" means all time at a terminal, facility, or other property of a contract carrier or on any public property waiting to be dispatched. On-duty time includes time spent inspecting, servicing, or conditioning the vehicle.

History:

2010 c 351 s 57

NOTE: Paragraph (d), clause (5), as added by Laws 2010, chapter 351, section 57, is effective July 1, 2011. Laws 2010, chapter 351, section 57, the effective date.