On August 8, 2016, a Farm Labor Contractor (FLC’s) and a Farm labor Contractor Employee’s (FLCE’s) became Transportation Authorized to drive a CalVans vanpool. Included are FLC’s and FLCE’s paid by their employers to transport workers. This was a big change from previous years. Those with an FLC or FLCE registration card can amend with the Federal Department of Labor (DOL) to drive a CalVans vehicle. CalVans monitors all driver records, provides liability insurance, vehicle maintenance, and fuel.
CalVans staff interviewed Christina Shallenberger. Christina and her commitment to excellence stood out from the hundreds of other vanpools currently is use. Christina has been a pleasure to work with and is an excellent example of how simple the process between the DOL and CalVans can be, to help an employer comply with the current regulation. Christina was involved every step of the way during her DOL application process and was very well prepared. We would love to share who her employer is, but out of respect for their privacy, we will not divulge the company’s identity
Her employer applied to use their local vanpool program, Ride-On, as they had done previously and anticipated no problems using this program as they had used this farmworker vanpool program in the past. When they submitted their H-2A petitions, they were denied by the California Employment Development Department’s Workforce Services Division, citing “that CalVans was the only approved rideshare vanpool program” in the nation.
The employer immediately reached out to CalVans and was referred to her local Transit Coordinator. CalVans staff provided her with the information needed to get started, including links to the forms on the CalVans website and links to where she could get the paperwork to get drivers certified. This employer successfully registered drivers and several back-up drivers in less than 4 days! “Georgina explained the agreement with the Department of Labor, explained that all applications coming from CalVans would be processed within days, not months. It was so fast, really fast.”
The same process applies today. Both agencies, CalVans and the DOL, continuously strive to provide interested parties the tools to make this process as seamless as possible. Below are the steps to help get your employees into compliance, if you have not already done so. Unfortunately, an employer that has not already successfully processed or an amended an FLC card and received a valid FLCE certification for employees, specifically naming the FLC as the employer (on their registration card) or if the FLC is not using the CalVans Transit Voucher for employees, CalVans staff will stop further use of the vehicle.
In 2016 and pre-pandemic, several items had to be submitted, with original signatures, to the San Francisco address. Today, the DOL and CalVans have further simplified the process. Please review the steps below and call CalVans staff for questions and support. Toll-Free 1-866-655-5444
- CalVans receives a copy for the potential volunteer drivers’ license: https://calvans.org/driver-application
- When possible, a clear copy of the 1-page Medical Examiners Certificate (MEC) for a Class B may also be submitted.
- If a driver passes the DMV clearance, they are referred to a local clinic to take a Class B exam, if not already done.
- CalVans pay for the exams, but only once the driver clears the DMV vetting process on our end.
- CalVans obtains volunteer driver’s contact information.
-
- An email and cell phone are required.
- CalVans’ relationship is with the volunteer driver for the purposes of the CalVans program.
- CalVans will accept:
- Drivers over the age of 25, with 2 or fewer DMV points: https://calvans.org/qualifications
- Drivers may not have had a DUI, hit and run or reckless driving convictions in the 5 years prior to application
- Drivers must have the ability to pass a Class B Physical; no uncontrolled hypertension or diabetes mellitus; no bad vision
- If the driver passes the DMV and Class B exam, the employer is now ready to initiate the application process with the DOL.
- Please do not send applications to DOL until you have completed the CORRECT paperwork from CalVans.
- These forms can only be obtained from a Transit Coordinator after a driver has been through the New Driver ORIENTATION.
- If a returning CalVans driver, forms 2 & 3 must still be completed annually: https://calvans.org/ag-notices-forms
- CalVans Driver Agreement – signed by CalVans Executive Director for the correct year.
- CalVans Employer Acknowledgement Form – completed by employer & signed by volunteer driver, defining relationship.
- Complete DOL requests: https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/forms/wh530
- For CalVans applicants ONLY: the MEC (clear copy) of the signed Class B Medical Examiners Certificate replaces WH-515.
The employer can now send documents to the San Francisco office. If approved, the San Francisco will amend the FLC/FLCE registration card. Only then may the driver pick up their van. Response times vary, but DOL & CalVans staff are committed to a prompt turnaround.
Christina goes on to explain, that after getting everyone approved and her employees’ vehicles issued, she created a template with the driver and rider names in excel using the #2 CalVans form provided at this link: https://calvans.org/ag-notices-forms
For Christina to make the payment process more efficient, she prints the CalVans Passenger/Transit Voucher form weekly to provide to her employees in lieu of payment and for tracking trip mileage. This employer customizes the CalVans Passenger/ Transit Voucher Form, complete with dates and locations and forwards completed forms to CalVans accounting staff for processing.
Christina shared this with us towards the end of our visit, “This program is so helpful to us. Not only is it helpful for us as a farm labor contractor, to be able to supply labor, but it’s saving our growers money. We have a couple FLC vans out there and they’re expensive and with the volume that CalVans is able to provide, it keeps the rate lower. It saves us money. It saves our growers money. It’s a win win for everybody!” We definitely agree with this statement. With safe roads and safe vehicles everyone wins.