Summer Trip Checklist

It’s that time of year to take a summer trip!! So, if you are planning a car trip someplace to cool off, take a look at this guide from the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration for some summer safe driving tips. The guide includes things to consider before you go, a vehicle safety checklist, tips on how to stock your vehicle for a long trip, and other general safety items. Check out the summer safety driving guide.

DOT License Classification Update

As of July 1^st, a DOT policy change has gone into effect  removing the need for Class D-1 and D-2 chauffeur’s licenses. Drivers licensed in Iowa, operating vehicles with a GVWR of 26,000 pounds or less, no longer need to obtain a class D chauffeur license. A noncommercial class C license (a regular license) is now all that is required to operate these CDL exempt trucks. The state realized that the previous class D requirement created unnecessary barriers for businesses and employees, barriers that were not present in neighboring states. With that in mind, the legislature decided it was in the best interest of all parties to make this change. Now a class D license is only required for operation of small passenger-for-hire vehicles designed to carry 15 or fewer passengers. Remember, if the GVWR is more than 26,000 pounds, the vehicle requires hazardous material placards when carrying certain cargo, or if the vehicle is designed to carry 16 or more people, a CDL is required.

New year, new rates!

FY22 rates have gone into effect. Check out the daily rental and assigned vehicle rates for new year.

AAA Cost of Owning and Operating a Vehicle

A little late but always relevant. Every year AAA updates their annual study that looks at what it costs to own and operate a vehicle. In 2020 it cost $279 more to own a car than it did the year prior with the true annual costs of new vehicle ownership rising 5% to $9,561. That is the highest cost since AAA began tracking expenses in 1950. AAA included costs like registration, insurance, maintenance, repairs, and fuel. The cost per mile ranges from $0.5010 for a small sedan to $0.6691 per mile for a 4x4 SUV. Check out the full report or jump right to the report fact sheet.

Accident Reporting Procedures

Did you know that if you are ever in an accident in a university vehicle, what you need to do is printed step-by-step on the gold envelope in your vehicle’s glove box?  Simply follow the steps on the envelope to make sure you don’t miss anything. Once the appropriate forms are filled out, scan and email them to us, or drop them in campus mail.

Also, if you are ever involved in an accident in a University vehicle and the other party’s insurance company tries to contact you, refer them directly to Risk Management. They will answer all questions regarding University vehicle accidents. If Risk Management cannot answer a question, someone from that office will contact you for the answer. If it becomes necessary for you to talk to the other party’s insurance company, Risk Management or another University representative will attend this meeting with you. Your first resource is Risk Management at 319-335-0010.

Automatic Vehicle Location Devices

For those vehicles that are assigned to departments, Fleet Services can provide Automatic Vehicle Location devices to help you keep track of the vehicles you lease from us. These devices can give real time location information, real time actual speed compared to posted speed information and they have many other features. If you are interested in these devices or have questions, please call Mike at 319-384-0564.

Fleet Services Factoid

We did some number crunching over here at Fleet Services  and last fiscal year, diesel was $0.76/gallon cheaper, flex-fuel (E-85) was $0.98/gallon cheaper and E10 was $0.80/gallon cheaper if purchased on campus. So, please make every effort to purchase fuel at our pumps!!