Ill or Fatigued Operator Policy


Employee Name:   

Allowing ill or fatigued drivers to operate a commercial vehicle is dangerous and illegal.  Management and all Windstar Lines employees have a duty to our employees, customers, and the traveling public to monitor the health and well-being of our drivers at all times.  We need to take the following steps to ensure that we are not allowing an ill or fatigued driver to operate a company owned vehicle.

  1. Identify

We should look for signs that a driver is ill or fatigued.  Is he or she acting outside of their normal self?  Are they exhibiting any signs that something is “not right”?

  1. Ask

We need to ask the driver how they are doing and how they are feeling.  But we must always ask and be very specific.  “Do you feel safe to drive?”  If the driver waivers, we cannot talk a driver into doing something if they do not feel safe.  This conversation should be made in person or over the phone, not in a text message.  Text messages cannot be relied on in these situations.

  1. Collaborate

If you have any indication that we may have a situation where a driver is ill or fatigued and driving or about ready to drive, or on a trip, we need to collaborate with the Safety Director AND one of the following:  Jeff Greteman, Scott Greteman, Pat Greteman or Todd Hackfort.  Each person should speak with the driver so that they can independently assess the driver and come up with a solution.

  1. Decide

Cost or inconvenience should not be a factor. The only factors should be the safety of our employee, the passengers on the motorcoach, and the general public.

  1. Document

Document each conversation, specifically any and all discussion with the driver and as close to a verbatim statement from the driver as possible.  If the decision is made that the driver is ok to operate, state the basis and enumerate any factors relied upon to reach that decision.

Leave this empty:

Signature arrow sign here

Signed by Windstar Lines
Signed On: January 5, 2023


Signature Certificate
Document name: Ill or Fatigued Operator Policy
lock iconUnique Document ID: 5dd428696d79a6c306f62b86f491f8c95d6a3fdc
Timestamp Audit
January 3, 2023 3:19 pm CSTIll or Fatigued Operator Policy Uploaded by Windstar Lines - admin@gowindstarsafety.com IP 209.50.8.111
January 5, 2023 8:37 am CSTKevin Ertz - kevin@gowindstar.com added by Windstar Lines - admin@gowindstarsafety.com as a CC'd Recipient Ip: 209.50.8.111