Long time No Newsletter

Sorry you have not heard from us since August, it has been a busy and hectic semester. We wanted to get an edition out before year end and provide some important updates and wish everyone a happy holiday season!

UI Fleet Services Updates and Changes

Fleet Services is implementing necessary changes to vehicle rates and the vehicle swapping program.

Lease vehicle rates

A mid-year rate change will take effect Thursday, Jan. 1 that is necessary due to the growing costs of vehicles, vehicle maintenance, and the department's inability to continue subsidizing rates. Admin Contacts will receive an email from the assigned vehicle portal with details about the new rates for your assigned vehicles.   

Vehicle swapping program 

The vehicle swapping program will be reduced this year, with a planned suspension of the practice in future years. After this year, departments will keep an assigned vehicle for the duration of the lease. This change in procedure will benefit customers by reducing and eventually eliminating the hassle of vehicle swaps and by allowing departments to retain more value in their vehicle.

Upcoming Holiday Hours Office Hours 

During the period between December 27th and January 16^th, our office will be closing at 5pm. With the holidays fast approaching, please be aware of our modified office hours during this time.

• The office is closed December 25^th and 26^th, January 1^st, and January 19^th for MLK
• Our office will be open from 7:00 AM – 5:00 PM from December 29^th through January 12^th.
• Regular hours will resume Tuesday, January 16^th. 

We are contemplating a permanent change of hours to 7:00am – 5:00pm Monday-Friday but no final decision has been made at this time. If you have a strong opinion about this proposed change please let us know.

How Do I Get a Fleet Vehicle over the Holidays?

If you need to start your trip over the Christmas or New Year's holiday you may pick up your keys after 4 pm on the  last business day before the University Holiday. You will not be charged until you use the vehicle. Please make sure to note on the requisition the day you will begin using your vehicle.

Rental Vehicle Re-Fueling

We are continuing to ask customers to re-fuel rental vehicles prior to returning them to the office. Thankfully the vast majority of our customers have been great about the new re-fueling policy so at this time there is no intention to administer a fee for rental vehicles not re-fueled. All rental fleet WEX fuel credit cards are turned on to work at gas stations in Iowa City and Coralville as well as out-of-town. All rental vehicles will also include a fuel ChipKey to refuel at the University Fuel Island if that is a convenient option. Check out the Maintenance and Fuel website for tutorial videos with instructions for using the WEX card as well as instructions for re-fueling at the Fuel Island.

Ice, Windshields, Scrapers, and Wipers, Oh My!

We wanted to remind customers to check their vehicles to make sure they have an ice scraper ready to go. If there is not one in the vehicle, stop by our office and we will get you a new one. Remember that windshield wipers are not the same thing as an ice scraper and can be damaged if used as such. Additionally, If the wiper blades are frozen to the windshield don’t use the ice scraper to free them, we have had to replace wipers in the past due folks damaging them in this manner. Also note that some vehicles have their washer nozzles on the hood, be careful not to break them off when clearing snow.

Honest Chris’ Used Cars

Vehicle sales season has really slowed down for us with only a handful more vehicles to be sold this cycle. Check out the link to our GovDeals auction page.