Policy number: 2601
Subject: University Owned, Leased, Loaned, Rented, and Privately Owned
Vehicles
Date issued: Revised/January 2008
Authority: Ohio Revised Code, Sections 124.71 and 2913.03; Ohio Revised Code, Chapter 4506; Ohio Revised Code, Sections 4513.263 and 4513.99; Administrative Memorandum, May 16, 1986; Vice President for Business and Fiscal Affairs; Vice President for Student Affairs and Enrollment Services
References: Department of Parking and Transportation
2601.1 General Policy
The purpose of this policy is to establish the official university policy for procurement, operation, usage, maintenance, replacement, insurance, and driving of university owned, leased, loaned, or rented vehicles and the use of privately owned vehicles for authorized university business. Because of the nature of the duties and responsibilities of certain positions, some university employees are required to drive university owned, leased, loaned, or rented vehicles or privately owned vehicles while conducting authorized university business. For the purpose of the policy, the term university employee includes faculty, staff, contracted staff, and student employees. Students who are not employees, but on occasion drive university vehicles while conducting authorized university business, also are subject to this policy.
2601.2 Services Provided by the Department of Parking and Transportation
Purchase or lease of automobiles, trucks, and vans for university departmental use.
Maintenance of university owned and leased vehicles.
Disposal and return of unused or replaced university owned or leased vehicles.
Rentals of wheelchair accessible vans for local use under 200 miles one-way.
Assistance in selecting a charter company.
2601.3 Use of University owned, leased, loaned or rented vehicles
Owned, Leased, or Loaned Vehicles
The Enterprise Rent-a-Car rates are good nationally and for personal use as well. The corporate ID# for nationwide official business use is NA38WSU and the rates include the liability insurance coverage mentioned above. The corporate ID# for personal use is NA38WSP and the rates do not include the liability insurance coverage.
Travelers should initial for the denial of liability coverage on the rental form because the cost of the liability coverage is already included in the daily rental rate. Travelers should also initial for the denial of Collision Damage coverage since it is provided through WSU’s Auto Physical Damage insurance policy.
Liability Insurance – Purchase the minimum amount of insurance required by the host country. Additional coverage is provided by the University’s foreign liability insurance policy.
Collision Insurance – Purchase. The department is responsible for any deductible.
Inside the United States
Method of Payment |
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University Procurement Card |
Other form of Payment |
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| Rental Agency | WSU Prefered Provider (Currently Enterprise) | Liability – Not Required. Included in Contract with Preferred Provider. Collision – Covered by University policy. Visa pays deductible
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Liability – Not Required. Included in Contract with Preferred Provider. Collision – Covered by University policy. Department pays deductible |
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| Other Provider | Liability – Must elect to purchase 100k/300k/50k coverage. Collision – Covered by University policy. Visa pays deductible |
Liability – Must elect to purchase 100k/300k/50k coverage. Collision – Covered by University policy. Department pays deductible |
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2601.4 Charters
The Department of Parking and Transportation maintains a list of local charter bus companies that departments may contact. The charter operator must provide a Certificate of Insurance providing automobile liability insurance a limit of at least $5 million dollars, naming WSU as an additional insured, coverage provided by a carrier authorized to write insurance in the State of Ohio, and coverage written on a primary, non-contributory basis by any insurance/self-insurance maintained by WSU. Any change in the limits mentioned above must be approved by the Offices of Risk Management and Parking and Transportation.
2601.5 Purchase or Lease of University Vehicles for Assignment to Departments or Individuals
If the transportation needs of a department cannot be met adequately by the occasional rental of a vehicle, the Department of Parking and Transportation will recommend a vehicle for purchase or lease.
Parking and Transportation will ask the requesting department to assist in developing specifications, including the manufacturer and model desired. If multiple vehicles are known to be required during the same time frame, all requirements should be discussed.
A department is not permitted to go to vehicle dealers and shop for a vehicle, whether for purchase or lease. Parking and Transportation can provide information on various models and State of Ohio Vehicle Contract prices.
The Department of Parking and Transportation will determine if the estimated cost of the vehicle required is in excess of the university bid limit threshold [refer to Purchasing Policy 5401.4 c)]. In addition, Parking and Transportation will work with the Purchasing department to perform a formal bid process if the total purchase price or lease amount of all vehicles required by the department during the same time frame is estimated to be in excess of $25,000.
If a vehicle is to be purchased and is available from the State of Ohio Vehicle Contract, no bid process will be required, since the vehicle was already bid by the state on behalf of state agencies, colleges, and universities. Lease cars are not available from state contracts.
If the total cost for the purchase or lease of a vehicle is less than $25,000, the Purchasing department has empowered the Department of Parking and Transportation to contact dealers and request written offers for a vehicle to be leased, or to be purchased, if not available from state contracts. Written pricing shall accompany any requisitions forwarded to Purchasing for processing.
The Director of Purchasing will execute multiple leasing documents as an authorized agent for the university. Parking and Transportation will not pick up a vehicle until all paperwork has been completed.
A department with assigned vehicles is responsible for the full cost of the initial purchase, as well as the operating expenses of the vehicles. The department must transfer payment for the entire initial purchase price at the time of the transaction. The department typically will be billed quarterly or at least once a year for each assigned vehicle. The annual charge will be based on fuel and maintenance costs (based on expected mileage per year), insurance costs, and indirect overhead expenses incurred during the year. Charges will vary depending on the number and type of vehicles assigned, the method of purchase, and the number of miles driven each year per vehicle. The department also will be billed 10 percent or more of the purchase price each year, based on a seven-year replacement cycle.
Fifteen-passenger vans are not permitted for university purchase, lease, loan, or rental. Vehicles that require a driver to posses a commercial driver license (CDL) for operation are not permitted for university purchase, lease, loan, or rental without approval by the provost or a vice president.
Service and repairs for all university owned and leased vehicles must be performed by or under contract with Parking and Transportation.
Vehicles assigned to a department normally will be replaced at least every seven years or prior to 100,000 miles, whichever occurs first.
As of July 1, 2003, the University will no longer obtain leased vehicles for the purpose of assigning them to specific individuals, with the exception of the president. Should transportation compensation for an employee be necessary, arrangements can be made for a car allowance to be included in an employee's paycheck.
An employee who has been assigned a leased or loaned vehicle must report monthly mileage usage to the Payroll department. Payroll will calculate a taxable benefit based on Internal Revenue Service Guidelines. An employee who has been assigned one of these vehicles should contact the Payroll department for additional information.
An employee who has been assigned a loaned vehicle must report any change in vehicle assignment to his/her supervisor and to Parking and Transportation.
2601.6 Vehicle Operation
University owned, leased, loaned, and rented vehicles will be used for official university business only and, when not in use, will be kept on university premises. Unless a vehicle is specifically assigned to an individual, the vehicle may not be used for any personal activities such as shopping trips, lunch breaks, or running errands without approval by the president, provost, or appropriate vice president. If a driver is found to be using a vehicle in such a manner, his/her driving privileges may be revoked.
A driver will observe all traffic laws applying to the locality in which the vehicle is being driven. The university is not responsible for traffic violations, fines, etc., that are incurred by the driver of a university owned, leased, loaned, rented, or privately owned vehicle.
The driver to whom a university owned, leased, loaned, or rented vehicle has been released is fully responsible for security, safety checks, and operation of the vehicle.
Only those drivers who have completed a DAF and have been approved as a driver will be permitted to drive university owned, leased, loaned, or rented vehicles. (see 2601.3) Only drivers with a current and valid United States driver license will be permitted to drive these categories of university vehicles.
No physical alterations, either temporary or permanent, will be made to any university owned, leased, loaned, or rented vehicle without permission from the director of Parking and Transportation. Parking and Transportation personnel must perform all approved alterations.
The unauthorized use of a university vehicle by an employee or by an employee who is accompanying a student or student group may result in disciplinary action by the university and/or prosecution under Section 124.71 and Section 2913.03 of the Ohio Revised Code.
A university department or organization utilizing university owned, leased, loaned, or rented vehicles (including chartered buses/vans) is responsible for any damage to the vehicles, including but not limited to any applicable insurance deductible.
Travel by privately owned automobile while conducting university business is authorized only if the owner of the vehicle is insured. Wright State University's recommended policy limits are $100,000 for bodily injury or death of one person in any one accident, $300,000 for bodily injury or death of two or more persons in any one accident, and $50,000 for property damage in any one accident.
When an employee is traveling by privately owned automobile, the vehicle’s owner is responsible for liability and collision insurance and any applicable deductibles. [refer to Wright Way Policy 5601.5].
If reserved parking passes (including van passes) are required, it is the responsibility of the requesting department or organization to order such passes.
Driving should be limited to ten hours within a twenty-four hour period.
The driver is required to use his/her seat belt in addition to other occupant restraint systems (air bags) while occupying the vehicle. The driver is responsible for ensuring that all passengers are properly secured before the vehicle is put in motion.
No alcoholic beverages, illegal drugs, or controlled substances are to be used or consumed by the driver or passengers at any time while in the possession of a university owned, leased, loaned, or rented vehicle, including privately owned vehicles used for authorized university business.
Smoking is not permitted in university owned or leased vehicles.
No decals such as bumper stickers are to be placed on university owned, leased, loaned, or rented vehicles.
Hand-held cell phones should not be used by the driver of any university owned, leased, loaned, or rented vehicle while the vehicle is in motion. It is recommended that individuals using privately owned vehicles for authorized university business not use cell phones while the vehicle is in motion.
The number of passengers in a vehicle should never exceed the official vehicle passenger capacity.
Towing procedures for trailers, boats, etc., must comply and be in accordance with the vehicle manufacturer's recommendations.
2601.7 Vehicle and Service Charges
Vehicle charges are estimated on an annual basis by the Department of Parking and Transportation.
All tolls, parking, and other incidental charges are the responsibility of the assigned department or organization.
All parking and moving violations are the responsibility of the assigned department or organization.
A department or an organization will be charged for any damage that occurs to a university owned, leased, loaned, or rented vehicle while the department or the organization is using the vehicle, including insurance deductibles.
Lost vehicle and fuel keys must be reported immediately to Parking and Transportation.
2601.8 Qualifications for Driving University Owned, Leased, Loaned, or Rented Vehicles
A potential driver must be at least 18 years of age to drive university owned, leased, and loaned vehicles and must be 21 years of age to drive a rental vehicle.
A potential driver must possess a valid United States driver license.
A potential driver must complete a Driver Application Form (DAF) and submit it to the Property/Casualty Insurance office.
A potential driver must be approved by the Risk Management office. Written approval is granted upon completion of a DAF and a positive review of the driver's MVR. MVRs will be run annually on all university approved drivers.
A potential driver must successfully complete the Defensive Driving Training course if required in section 2601.13.
The Vehicle Operator 2 and Automotive Mechanic job classifications currently require the commercial driver license (CDL). Classifications may be added as needed by the university. Employees in these classifications are required to possess the CDL. In addition, certain other positions may require obtaining and maintaining an Ohio CDL because of specific job requirements, regardless of the classification or title of the position. The required endorsements for a CDL will be determined by the Ohio Department of Motor Vehicles, dependent upon the type of vehicle to be driven.
A potential driver must read and understand all university vehicle policies.
2601.9 Driver Disqualifications
The driver of a university owned, leased, loaned, or rented vehicle may lose his/her driving privileges for the following but not inclusive reasons:
2601.10 Violations and License Suspensions
2601.11 Mechanical Failure of University Owned, Leased, Loaned, or Rented Vehicles
2601.12 Accident Reporting
2601.13 Defensive Driving Training
2601.14 Insurance