Operator's Guide

Driver's Requirements

If you are a new driver please contact:

Jorge Jimenez
[email protected]
Tel: (801)863-8720

Risk Management Defensive Driver Training (DDT) - required every 2 years.

If you have any questions please call 801-863-8720.

Additional training is required to operate large vans.

Be familiar with the Current Guidelines

Involved in an Accident

Instructions
  • Notify the Police, Sheriff or Highway Patrol immediately.
  • Obtain an accident report from the police.
  • Submit copies of the accident report and description of accident to:
    • Compliance & Risk Management, Browning Administration, MS308
    • Melisa Zobell, Facilities Complex, MS156 [email protected]
  • Obtain from each of the other drivers involved:
    • Name
    • Drivers license number
    • Insurance carrier and agent
    • Year, make, and model of the vehicle
    • License number
    • Home address
    • Home and work telephone numbers
  • Obtain from all witnesses:
    • Name
    • Home address
    • Home and work telephone numbers
  • Report all accidents immediately to:

Fees & Restrictions

NO SHOW FEE

Same as daily minimum charge for vehicle will be imposed if a vehicle is not picked up or cancelled according to the schedule time. Please call ext. 8720 if the car will not be used as scheduled.

LATE RETURN FEE

Same as daily minimum charge for vehicle will be imposed if a vehicle is not returned on time. Please don't assume that you may keep the vehicle overnight and turn the vehicle in the next day. The vehicle may be scheduled to go out the next morning as early as 7 am. If a vehicle is scheduled for Friday only and the employee keeps the vehicle and returns it Monday they will receive the minimum daily charge for Saturday and Sunday. When returning a vehicle after hours the vehicle needs to be parked in its designated stall and the keys and packet need to be dropped in the key drop box located outside the Motor Pool door.

FUEL FEE

$50.00 fee will be imposed if a vehicle is returned with less than a full tank of gas. We provide a gas card with each vehicle. Please use regular unleaded fuel. 

CLEANING FEE

$100 fee will be imposed if a vehicle is not returned in a reasonably clean condition: personal trash and belongings, excess dirt/mud removed.

INCORRECT ODOMETER FEE

$50.00 will be imposed by the State of Utah for entering an incorrect reading when fueling. If an incorrect odometer reading is submitted call ext. 8720 and report it. You will need to report the incorrect reading and the correct reading.

FOR YOUR INFORMATION:

  1. UVU's motor vehicles are to be used exclusively by authorized persons on official University Business. Only an authorized individual is allowed to drive a University vehicle.
  2. All overnight travel - both in-state and out - needs to be booked through the UVU Travel Office.
  3. The posted mile per hour speed limit is strictly enforced. Any University employee who is found guilty of violating the speed limit in a University vehicle may have their driving privileges revoked.
  4. Smoking is not allowed in the Fleet vehicles.

Gas card Information

  1. The gas card provided for each vehicle is accepted at WEX sites. A Pin (Personal Identification Number) is required for use with the gas card. The Pin is located on the rental card form. You will find the gas card attached to the key chain.
  2. The gas card is to be used for all fuel purchases. If it is impossible to use the gas card you must record the quantity of gas bought, the odometer reading at the time of fueling, and the receipt must be returned to Fleet Operations within 2 days of your return in order to be reimbursed.
  3. Gas cards are assigned to a particular vehicle and are not interchangeable.
  4. You must enter the correct odometer when fueling the vehicle. If you enter an incorrect odometer you must report the correct and incorrect reading to 801-863-8720. If you fail to report the error, the State of Utah will assess a $50 fee, to be charged to the department.

Travel Planning & Authorization

GENERAL

The review measures taken in the planning and authorization of automobile travel provide the best opportunity for management of certain travel risks. It is important that sound travel authorization procedures be established in each department to avoid costs and other losses associated with accidents. The following information is intended to assist in planning and authorizing University-related vehicle travel.
Management of automobile travel includes consideration of the following:
  • Purpose to be accomplished.
  • Cost and efficiency (practicality) of automobile mode.
  • Driver's competency and legitimacy.
  • Liabilities involved.
  • Life safety considerations in automobile condition and operations.
  • Insurance coverage.
The first two considerations, purpose and practicality, are subjective to the department involved. The remaining four considerations are addressed here.

DRIVER'S REQUIREMENTS
Driving Record

The University's automobile liability insurance imposes a $50,000 deductible on any accident involving a University vehicle in which the driver had received a citation within the 12 months prior to the accident for any of the following reasons:
  1. Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
  2. Reckless driving.
This deduction is not operative if the driver has completed an approved Safe Driving Course subsequent to receiving the citation.
As any uninsured liability loss will be the department's responsibility, it is important that the person authorizing automobile travel determine the prospective driver's record through fleet operations to avoid this loss.

Competency

In addition to a valid driver's license and appropriate driving record status, a University driver should be experienced and competent in the type of driving required.
Care should be extended in the selection of any driver to ascertain that she or he is physically and mentally capable of driving safely. Any faculty, staff or student may be a driver providing the requirements above have been met.

Driver's Training

All employees who operate University vehicles or Enterprise rental vehicles during University business as an essential function of their job, must complete the defensive driving course every two years.

These requirements are in accordance with State Administrative Rule R-37.

Licenses

Drivers of University vehicles must posses a valid Utah driver's license.
 
A commercial Driver License is required for:
  1. A vehicle designed to transport more than 15 persons (including the driver).
  2. A single vehicle with a gross automobile weight rate (GVWR) or more than 26,000 pounds.
  3. A trailer with a GVWR of more than 10,000 pounds if the gross combination weight is more than 26,000 pounds.
  4. Any size vehicle which requires hazardous materials placards.
  5. Any size vehicle used as a school bus.
LIABILITY
The Travel Authorization (TA) form, if required for the travel involved, documents the purpose of the trip and can be a key element in determining the assignment of liability when necessary.
In order to assure that the trip's authorization is complete and properly documented, each person authorizing the travel should:
  1. Determine and fully identify all certain and probable destinations of travel.
  2. Identify all drivers and passengers involved.
Field Trips and Excursions

Field trips or other excursions should be carefully managed to be sure that due diligence is exercised to provide safe conditions for all participants.

The most preferable situation is to arrange for commercial transportation. If this approach is not practical University vehicles can be used.

Waivers and Representations
Before leaving on any student related travel, a waiver form must be obtained.

SAFETY
Vehicle Operation
Basic safe operation of a vehicle is obeying all traffic laws, including the wearing of seat belts by the driver and all passengers. This precludes passengers from riding in the back of pick-ups and vans even around the campus.

Most accidents in which University drivers are involved occur in backing and turning situations. Care and concentration should be exercised whenever one is entering a different traffic flow pattern.
When it is necessary to drive for long periods of time, it is important to rotate drivers and/or take rest stops every 90 to 120 minutes. Such stops should include getting out of the car and stretching.

Vans
Vans represent one of the greatest driving risks to the University. This is because the driving dynamics are different than other vehicles particularly in high winds, sudden stops and on slick road conditions which can surprise drivers unaccustomed to vans. Also the interactions that can occur between the driver and the passengers can be a distraction to the driver.
Special care should be exercised in the selection and authorization of van drivers. In addition to proper licenses and completion of the required van training, a prospective van driver should have a mature and responsible attitude and have experience driving vans.

Long Distance Travel
Long distance trips should not extend the driving day beyond ten hours, and this duration should only be achieved by alternating drivers at least every two hours. Drivers cannot operate a vehicle after 11 pm. Initiating trips in actual inclement weather should be avoided particularly if vans are planned to be used.

INSURANCE
Automobile Liability Insurance
The University's automobile liability insurance covers any person authorized to drive a University owned automobile provided the actual use is within the scope of such authorization. It also provides secondary coverage for any employee driving her or his personal automobile with in the scope of employment. The employee's personal automobile liability insurance is primary to the extent it is available.
There is a $10,000 per accident deductible if the driver involved does not have a valid driver's license and a record clear of citations for the past 12 months. Any losses, that are applicable to such deductible, are the responsibility of the driver's (employee's) department.

RENTAL VEHICLES
Rented Automobile Coverage
The State of Utah periodically contracts with certain car rental agencies to provide cars at rates that include liability coverage for damage to rented vehicles as well as damages and injuries of third parties. To obtain a rental car, the UVU Travel Office must book the vehicle with the state contracted vendor.
Payment of any daily rate other than the negotiated contract rate nullifies the liability coverage.
There is a $10,000 deductible in liability coverage for use of any non-contracted rental agency's vehicle unless it can be verified that a reasonable attempt was made to use the state contracts, but no automobile was available either at the time or at the place or of the type needed. If these conditions are not met, but use of a non-contracted agency vehicle is still desirable, the liability insurance offered by such agency should be procured.

Use of Personal Vehicles for College Use
When using personal vehicles for University business, the personal vehicle insurance becomes the primary insurance. The University insurance is secondary only after the limits of the personal insurance are exhausted.


If your vehicle is disabled (breaks down)

Customer Care & Roadside Assistance:

For Motor Pool Vehicles call: 855-358-8824
Please refer to vehicle packet.