Driving district-owned vehicles, who is covered?

by Nicki Hess

It is stock show time and you need a driver to drive the show animals to the next event. So, who can drive the district’s pickup and trailer? The TASB Risk Management Fund will cover the driver of the district vehicle and trailer if they meet the definition of a “covered person”. A “covered person" is defined as the district, trustee, school board member, student teacher, volunteer, or employee of the program participant as acting within course and scope of their duties or direction of the district.

What if the district’s choir is going to competition and the choir director’s spouse is asked to chaperone and drive in case of an emergency? Would the spouse be covered? The district would need to give the chaperone (volunteer) permissive use to drive the district’s vehicle and the driver would then be considered a “covered person” acting under the direction of the district.

As you can see, there are many different scenarios that may occur. Please contact the TASB Risk Management Fund’s Property/Casualty underwriting department to determine actual coverage for drivers of district vehicles. You may reach us at 800.482.7276, ext. 6270.