NER has implemented a process to advance students to their next run group. This has been done to standardize the evaluation criteria used to advance drivers. It utilizes a check & balance approach that ensures a driver advances only when the driver and the NER DE Instructor staff agree that the move is appropriate and safe.
In summary, here's how it works:
Advancement through the run groups is self-paced based on each driver’s abilities and comfort level. Moving to the next higher run group is achieved by a driver successfully completing a checkout ride in which he/she is evaluated against a defined set of parameters that the NER Track Committee feels is appropriate for each run group.
A checklist has been developed for advancing into each run group (Green to Yellow, Yellow to Blue, Blue to White, White to Black). The NER instructor performing the checkout ride must evaluate the driver on each item listed on the appropriate checklist.
The checklists are available on this website or at the track from the NER Chief Instructor. The appropriate checklist should be obtained before the checkout ride so the driver and instructor are aware of what needs to be evaluated.
Following a checkout ride, the instructor must complete and sign the checklist, and return it to the NER Chief Instructor. Once this is done, the instructor's role in the checkout process is completed. It is the responsibility of both the driver and the Instructor to ensure that the appropriate checklist is completed and signed by the NER Instructor, and submitted to the NER Chief Instructor for further action.
Advancement to Yellow
All drivers new to NER's Driver Education events are placed in the Green run group. Each Green run group driver is assigned a NER-approved Instructor for the event. Upon the NER Chief Instructor receiving a completed checklist from the driver's Instructor recommending that the driver be moved into Yellow, the Chief Instructor will notify the student and the DE registrar that the driver will advance to Yellow at his/her next NER DE event.
Advancement to Blue, White or Black
For advancement into Blue, White or Black, the student will be required to take a final checkout ride (i.e. a second opinion) with the NER Chief Instructor or their designee. Upon receiving the completed checklist from the Instructor recommending advancement, the NER Chief Instructor will contact the driver to schedule this final checkout.
If the final checkout ride is successful, the NER Chief Instructor will notify the DE registrar and the student that the driver has been moved up. In almost all cases, a driver will NOT be moved during an event due to run group size and/or worker assignments.
If the Instructor recommends against advancement or if the final checkout ride is unsuccessful, the student will be notified and will remain in their current run group. The driver may request another checkout at a future NER DE event.
Important Notes
Drivers will not be moved to the next higher run group unless the appropriate checklist is completed and signed by a NER-approved instructor.
Advancement into Yellow only requires a single checkout ride with the driver's Instructor.
Advancement into Blue, White and Black requires two checkout rides — one with any NER Instructor, the second with the NER Chief Instructor or the CI's designee.
Run group advancements will not take effect until the driver's next NER DE event. Exceptions may be made on a case by case basis if the advancement will not have an adverse effect on run group size or worker assignments.
