Winter Break Hours

During the period between December 28 and January 13, our office will close at 5pm. With the winter break fast approaching, please be aware of our modified office hours during this time.

• The office is closed November 24-25, December 26-27, January 2, and January 16 for MLK
• Our office will be open from 7:00 AM – 5:00 PM from December 28 through January 13
• Regular hours will resume Tuesday, January 17

If you need a vehicle during a winter break closure, you may pick up the vehicle on the last business day before your trip begins, after 4:00 PM. Please make a note of when the charges should begin in the “Remarks/Notes” field when submitting the requisition.

First Female Proportioned Crash Test Dummy

In the early 1970s, GM created the Hybrid I, the first crash test dummy designed to represent the average male in height, weight, and proportions. Can you believe that it has taken until this year for someone to create a female proportioned dummy? A research team in Sweden has finally created a dummy to correct this decades-long oversight. The new tester is 5' 3" and weighs 137 pounds with chest and hips that better represent the average woman's physiology. According to the NHTSA, women are 73% more likely than men to be seriously injured in a car crash and the new female proportioned dummy will return better data on airbag crashes and allow for vehicle’s to better protect female drivers and passengers in the future. Read the full article from autoblog.com.  

Unreported Damage, You Could be on the Hook

If you have an accident in a University vehicle, or there is other damage, please make sure Fleet Services is notified.  In instances where damage is not reported in a timely manner or when unreported damage is found by Fleet Services, the department may be responsible for the first $1,000 of the repair cost.

Ice, Ice Baby

It is that time a year again.  Snowmen, sledding, and scraping that *%!@ windshield!  Check under your seats, and in your trunk to make sure your State vehicle has our custom designed, limited edition ice scraper.  If you do not have one, stop by our office the next time you get fuel, and we will give you one.

Permanent Daylight-Saving Time’s Effect on Deer Strikes

According to a new study from Current Biology, US drivers would kill 37,000 fewer deer each year if we stuck to daylight saving time year-round by reducing the amount of  rush-hour traffic that occurs during darkness. In addition to saving deer lives, the study predicts that it would prevent 33 human deaths and some 2,000 injuries among people and save about $1.2 billion in collision costs. For details on the Sunshine Protection Act read the full article from NBC News.

Real ID is coming for real this time!

We have teased this before in past newsletters but we really mean it this time, the effective date for REAL ID (gold star) is set for May 3, 2023. That means If you fly commercially or need access to federal facilities, you’ll want a REAL ID license or you’re going to be subject to additional screening and potential delays. Check out the IA DOT’s page about REAL ID for more information on what you will need and what you will need to do to get that gold star on your license.

Long Lead Times for Dealership Appointments

Just a general FYI, dealership staffing shortages and supply chain issues have made it more and more difficult for us to schedule timely appointments when vehicles need to be sent to dealerships for warranty and other repairs. This has been frustrating for both Fleet Services and our customers whose vehicles have been affected. Just know that we always do our best to get vehicles serviced and back to customers as quickly possible and we will do our best to keep customers informed.

Fleet Factoid

According to the US Department of Transportation, over 70 percent of the nation's roads are in snowy regions, which receive more than five inches (or 13 cm) average snowfall annually.