Fleet Beat: Winter 2025

Upcoming Fleet Services closures

Fleet Services Rental Dispatch operates Monday through Friday from 6:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. and closes on University holidays. Be sure to coordinate your travel around these upcoming closures to ensure that Fleet will be able to accommodate your vehicle needs. If you need a vehicle when Fleet is closed, the Rental Kiosk is available 24/7 for after-hours pickup.

• Closed (Christmas): 12/24 - 12/26
• Closed (New Years Day): 1/1
• Closed (Martin Luther King Jr. Day): 1/19

New accident reporting requirement

Fleet Services is now requiring photos of any damages incurred from an incident involving a University vehicle. Drivers must take photos of damages on the University vehicle, a third party vehicle, any property, etc. When submitting an accident report you will see a required checkbox near the end of the form that acknowledges your understanding of this new requirement. Questions about this change should be directed to [email protected].

Winter is coming!

As winter approaches, it's important to use caution when driving in snowy or icy conditions. Review these reminders to ensure a safe journey:

• Check the weather - Before driving, always check the weather forecast and road conditions. Plan extra time for your trip if snow or ice is expected.
• Drive slowly and smoothly - Reduce your speed in winter conditions. Sudden movements like hard braking, accelerating, or sharp turns can cause you to lose control on slippery roads. Drive smoothly and give yourself extra time to react.
• Increase following distance - Keep space between your vehicle and the one ahead. Stopping distances increase significantly on icy or snow-covered roads.
• Use your lights - Make sure your headlights are on, even during the day, to increase your visibility for other drivers.
• Clear snow and ice - Fully clear your windshield, windows, mirrors, lights, and roof of snow and ice before driving. Snow blowing off your car can impair your visibility and others' on the road.
• Stay in control on slippery roads - If you start to skid, stay calm. Ease off the gas and steer gently in the direction you want to go. Avoid slamming the brakes as you could slide or lose steering.
• Prepare for delays - Winter weather can lead to unexpected traffic delays. Make sure your phone is charged, and keep an emergency kit in the vehicle with warm clothes, a flashlight, and other essentials.
• Be cautious on bridges and overpasses - These surfaces freeze before other roadways, so reduce speed and use extra caution when crossing them.
• In case of emergency - If road conditions are too dangerous, find a safe place to pull over and wait for assistance. Do not continue driving if you feel unsafe.

Stay safe and drive cautiously in winter weather. If you have any concerns, please contact Fleet Services for assistance before your trip.

511 Road condition websites

Before heading out in your Fleet vehicle, check the road conditions to your destination! You can view road closures and reports, winter driving conditions, weather warnings, and much more using 511 travel websites.

• Minnesota: 511mn.org
• Wisconsin: 511wi.gov
• Iowa: 511ia.org
• North Dakota: travel.dot.nd.gov
• South Dakota: sd511.org

2026 Tab renewals: Department owned and leased vehicles

In order to receive new tabs in 2026, each vehicle must pass inspection. Tab renewals take place every two years. To ensure that each University licensed vehicle is safe for continued operation, Fleet requires that any vehicle that isn’t regularly maintained at the Twin Cities campus' Fleet Shop must be inspected by a local shop. This includes all Twin Cities department-owned vehicles and all off-campus leased and department-owned vehicles.

Important note: Condition Reports dated earlier than November 1, 2025 will not be accepted.

Twin Cities campus vehicles

Contact Shop Manager Rob Spector (5-7817) to schedule inspections at the Fleet Services shop.

Outstate vehicles

Please follow these steps:

1. Download and print the U of M Fleet Vehicle Condition Report.
2. Take your vehicle and the Condition Report form to an ASE-certified technician.
3. Ask the technician to perform the inspection and to send the signed and dated U of M Condition Report directly to Rob Spector by email ([email protected]) or by fax (612-624-5587).

If, after reviewing this form, you are not sure your vehicle will pass all line items noted in 2026, please plan ahead and submit a New Vehicle Request Form to [email protected] to begin the vehicle ordering process for a new vehicle.

Rental driver training

Fleet Services has created an all inclusive presentation outlining everything you need to know when renting a University vehicle. Beginning soon, information regarding driver eligibility, fueling, accidents, and more will be available for anyone!

Fleet Monitoring Program

Rental customers

University vehicles are highly visible symbols of the University and used to support the University’s mission statewide. Drivers should be mindful of University policy when behind the wheel of a university vehicle and follow state law. As part of ensuring your safety, our Telematics system installed in each rental vehicle and is set to alert our Fleet Team if a vehicle is excessively speeding for longer than 40 seconds.

From the start of our Fleet Monitoring Program until now, we have seen a significant decrease in speeding violations. Thank you for your feedback and flexibility with this program, keep up the good work!

Department owned and leased vehicles

The Fleet Monitoring Program is an opportunity for University departments to better understand their fleet. When enrolled, each vehicle is equipped with a Geotab device that can be used to improve driver safety, optimize fuel economy, help achieve sustainability goals, and much more.

Across 26 departments within the Twin Cities, 352 vehicles are equipped with Geotab telematics devices. This accounts for 60% of vehicles based in the Twin Cities!

Shoutout to FM Energy Water Utilities for being our #1 safest driving department! They had an average safety score of 100% across 4 vehicles.