Contact Occupational Safety

Email:
OcSafety​@nau.edu

Contact Authorized Driver Program

Email:
AuthorizedDriver​@nau.edu

Guide To Becoming An Authorized Driver

This NAU driver authorization troubleshooting guide offers solutions to common technical problems that users might encounter while trying to become authorized to drive, such as:

  • Online form malfunctions
  • Training access issues
  • Checking current driver authorization status

A. Steps To Becoming An Authorized Driver

NAU’s form/workflow system (OnBase) is used to initiate and control the Driver Authorization application process. The process is time sensitive, and steps must be completed in order.

The ordered steps are:

  1. Registration of driver license information
  2. Completion of the “Authorized Driver Request” form
  3. Completion of Basic Defensive Driver training (End of “Basic Driver” authorization process)
  4. Completion of online van driver training
  5. Completion of in-person Van Driver Skills check (End of “Van Driver” authorization)
  6. Completion of independent CDL training and authorization process (End of “CDL Driver” authorization process)

Tips & Things to Check:

Incoming staff and students Accordion Closed

Incoming employees or students may not have access to the driver authorization process until their first day of work or when their HR status or student credential/access privileges are updated. This has been an inconvenience for individuals who wish to complete their authorization early, but the best solution is to plan to authorize once your credential status is current.

Driver’s license information Accordion Closed

There’s a yellow bar across the Driver’s License section of the form with a link and an instruction to select to access the PeopleSoft driver’s license tool to register your license before proceeding. If your license information doesn’t auto-populate, look for the link directly below the Driver’s License information fields A lot of people miss that link and it can prevent the submit button from appearing. This will allow you to register your License in the HR system. When you come back to the form you will be able to manually enter your license expiration date, which is the only field you can manually complete in this section.

Check for typos Accordion Closed

The system is designed to detect obvious data errors such as future birth dates or past license expiration dates. Typos in some fields can prevent you from proceeding.

Clear your cache and cookies Accordion Closed

OnBase is very sensitive to browser related issues. For any OnBase form at NAU, if you don’t get the standard NAU blue and yellow section headers and NAU logo at the top, it’s an indicator that the form didn’t load properly due to interference from browser, cookies, or cache. In this case, close the form, clear your cache and cookies for all time, and reopen the form.

NAU OnBase forms should look like this:

The image shows an online form titled “Worksite Hazard Inspection/Hazard Communication (FS‑13) Request” from Northern Arizona University. The NAU logo appears at the top left. The form is divided into sections with blue headers and white input fields. The first section is “Inspection Request / Inspection Timeframes,” containing a paragraph explaining that the form is for requesting inspections of NAU building areas, outlining safety requirements, and mentioning that hazard conditions should be reported immediately. The next section is “Requestor Information,” with fields for Requestor First Name, Requestor Last Name, Requestor Email, and Submitted Date (displayed as 02/18/2021). Below that is the “Affected Facility/Area Information” section. It contains fields for: Project/Work Order Number Project Name Project Description A checkbox asking whether the request is for a new building or off‑campus‑related work Building Code Building Name Location or Room Number On the right side of this section is a field for Start Date of the disturbance. Below it is a checklist titled “Which of the following areas will be disturbed?” The listed options, shown with orange highlighting, are: Ceiling Wall Mechanical Systems Floor Exterior Other The layout of the form is organized in two columns with clearly separated sections.

And not this:

The image shows a webpage titled “Worksite Hazard Inspection/Hazard Communication (FS‑13) Request.” The Northern Arizona University logo appears at the top left. Beneath the title, the page states that after completing the form, the window should be closed so others may interact with it. There are also links labeled “Inspection Request” and “Inspection Timeframes.” The first section is labeled “Requestor Information.” It includes text fields for Requestor First Name, Requestor Last Name, Requestor Phone, Requestor Email, and a Submitted Date field showing 02/18/2021. The next section is labeled “Affected Facility/Area Information.” It contains fields for Project/Work Order Number, Project Name, Project Description, and a checkbox asking if the request is for a new building or off‑campus project. Additional fields include Building Code, Building Name, and Location Room Number. On the right side of the section is a field labeled Date Disturbance is Anticipated, followed by a checklist titled “Which of the following areas will be disturbed?” The items listed are Ceiling, Wall, Floor, Mechanical Systems, Exterior, and Other. Each item has an empty checkbox next to it. The webpage background is white, and the form fields are arranged in a simple left‑and‑right two‑column layout.

B. Training Access Issues

Training is primarily delivered through the NAU student training system, Canvas, and the applicant will receive an email with a self-enroll link shortly after submitting the authorization request form. If higher levels of authorization are being requested, additional training links will be sent as the prior training is completed.

Check your junk folders and trash Accordion Closed

Emails come from NoReply@nau.edu and are often misidentified as junk or trash, especially if you have very stringent junk mail settings.

 

Complete steps in proper order Accordion Closed

If you are waiting for van training, completion of the Basic-Defensive driver training prior to submittal of your application form will prevent release to take the next training. The solution for this is to simply access the training page and retake the test only (not the entire training) to reset your training time to so that it is after the application form submittal time.

If you have problems, do not submit a second request as this will reset your time stamp and force you to re-complete training. Some system functions may take hours to complete. Be patient and contact AuthorizedDriver@nau.edu for help.

Check your email address Accordion Closed

The responses and training links will go to your NAU email address, not your personal email address.

Read the training page carefully Accordion Closed

If you have selected the link more than once, or are retaking the test, you may see a plaintext message directing you to select a second link to return to your homepage and/or access the training.

C. Check Your Authorization Status

The Driver Authorization system does not issue physical “Certificates”, and it does not issue a final notice that your authorization process has been completed. It is incumbent on the applicant or supervisor to check their status prior to driving.

Any NAU employee or supervisor can check Driver Authorization status easily using the NAU Fleet services “Vehicle Rental Request” form, located on the fleet rental page: Vehicle Rental | University Transit Services.  Simply enter your information and follow the prompts. On page 2 there is a field to enter Driver information. Once filled out the driver’s current authorization status and expiration date will be shown.