Spring Break Vehicle Reservations

Spring break will be here before we know it and we have already received many vehicle requests. If your department or group is planning on going somewhere over break and you need vehicles, please share your plans with us as early as possible. Even if you aren’t yet prepared to submit requisitions, communicating to us potential dates, type of vehicles needed, and how many vehicles will be requested well in advance will help us with our planning. Also, keep in mind that the SUV’s available to haul trailers go quickly and we try to spread those around to meet customer’s needs. It is never too early to begin student driver certification process to give students the maximum amount of time to complete required training.

What the Heck is Up with My Tires?

Understanding the tires on your vehicle and keeping an eye on their age is crucial for safe driving. There is a lot of information printed right on the sidewall of the tire to help you understand what’s going on. There's a four-digit code on the sidewall that tells you the date of manufacture so you can determine the age of the tires, you don’t want to buy tires that are already a year old. There will also be a letter code denoting the speed rating for example a rating of “L” means the tire can handle highway speed over 130 mph. There is also size information including width, aspect ratio, and rim diameter. In short, your tires' speed rating and age matter! By checking the sidewall info and getting regular inspections, you can avoid accidents and keep yourself and others safe. Check out the full article from MSN.

Of Mold, Mildew and Other Stinky Stuff

It can certainly be a sloppy time of year outside with the winter weather upon us. A time when a lot of snow and other muck can be carried into our vehicles on the shoes and boots of the driver and passengers. Please take a second or two to knock the snow, slush and other gunk off your shoes before you get into our vehicles. This is particularly important in those vehicles that have carpeted floors. The problem is that the excess moisture will build up and the vehicle will begin to have a "mildewy" smell. There is nothing better than a 6 hour trip to Omaha in a car smelling like an old wet dog.

Spicy Electrical Tape

Some automakers use plant-based biodegradable materials, such as soy, in the wire coatings on vehicles that can attract  rodents. Rodents also have a biological need to constantly gnaw on things to keep their teeth trimmed. We have seen rodent damage on wires cause ABS and Stability control problems, and even damage to the engine wiring harness which can be costly to replace. Rodents hanging out and eating wires can also nest in the vehicle which can cause even more of a mess. This is something we see occasionally on our vehicles and is never fun to deal with. Thankfully Honda has recently come out with a special electrical tape that is treated with capsaicin, which is one of the active components that gives chili peppers their heat. The idea is that the spicy tape will be enough to keep the rodents from chewing. Check out the article from Jalopnik on spicy electrical tape.

Vehicle Data – Do you Know What is Being Collected?

Personal data security is crucial in today's digital age and vehicle data security is becoming increasingly important as vehicles become more connected. A bipartisan group of U.S. legislators hope to help vehicle owners gain clarity on what vehicle data can be stored and shared with manufacturers. The Auto Data Privacy and Autonomy Act lays out what data manufacturers can collect, what they can and cannot do with that data, and requires them to allow vehicle owners to opt out of data collection. Greater transparency and understanding of the issue should help ally consumer confusion about how vehicle data is treated going forward. View the full article from Automotive Fleet on vehicle data.

*Reminder* -  Shop Appointment Dropoff

If you have a service appointment scheduled at the shop, please let us know directly that the vehicle has been dropped off and is ready to be serviced. Just simply give us a call at the shop or office, send us an email, or stop into one of the offices to let us know. 

Fleet Factoid

First day of Spring is Thursday, March 20. That means there are 52 days of winter left, depending on when you read this.