Fleet Services

Welcome to Fleet Services! We provide a wide array of services to the Pitt community. Learn more about what we offer below:

Dashboard

Monthly Fuel Breakdown

Parking University Vehicle

When driving a  vehicle on behalf of the University, you are responsible not only for the vehicle, but you are publicly representing the University of Pittsburgh. As a reminder, University vehicles must never be parked in a Bike Lane, Tow Away Zone, No Parking Zone, or a Handicap/ADA (Americans with Disability Act) Parking Space. Parking in spaces designated as "Handicap/ADA" is limited exclusively for that purpose. Vehicles parked in these spaces without proper authorization will be ticketed.

Additionally, according to the PA General Assembly: A person may not obstruct a space on public or private property reserved for a person with a disability or a part of a curb ramp or the access aisle adjacent to a parking space reserved for a person with a disability in a manner that would prevent a person or wheelchair or personal mobility device from entering or leaving a vehicle legally parked in an adjoining space.

Parking in these spaces can result in a $200 violation as shown below:

Towing Services

In regards to towing, the environment today is very different than it was prior to 2020. See below on stats regarding the towing industry.  Good news is, the Enterprise National Service Department is able to do a TON of leg work when it comes to setting up the tow, but please be patient, as now with fewer companies and drivers to call upon, we are seeing longer wait times with setting up a tow / getting tow truck out to the scene.

Always appreciate your time and want to make sure you are aware of the current events in the industry.

• There are now 20% fewer companies offering towing services than 2020.
• There are also 17% fewer tow truck drivers than 2020.
• Pre-pandemic our partners would make 1-2 phone calls per roadside event in order to secure a service provider, today that number is over 10 phone calls per event (again speaks to staffing and equipment shortages).
• Silver lining in this area is that the vast majority of roadside events are going well, according to CSAT scores.
  • Drivers receive a text asking for a rating, and overall our drivers are rating services 4.5/5.

Vehicle Maintenance / Work Shortages

Many of our customers are experiencing delays with getting their vehicles repaired, below is an article that speaks to the struggles that the industry is facing. Enterprise is doing everything they can to help their clients navigate this situation. If you are experiencing extended approval times please directly call their National Service Department to help expedite the process at 1-800-353-8838. We also highly recommend proactively scheduling an appointment for vehicle service to help mitigate downtime.

According to automotive market research firm IMR’s 2021 survey of 500 independent repair shops, the average vehicle turnaround time has increased by a day and a half since the pandemic began. Of the shops surveyed, 50% reported frequent disruptions in getting the parts they need to service vehicles, and 34% reported occasional disruptions. The causes of the disruptions ranged from delays in parts deliveries and distribution to shortages of drivers and qualified technicians.

The microchip shortage alone is not the direct cause of parts shortages, according to Rudloff, but COVID-related manufacturing and shipping challenges and workforce shortages are leading to unpredictable wait times for some repairs. “The parts availability issue doesn’t seem to be a lock-and-step issue with the chip shortage,” wrote Rudloff. “We tell our clients when they drop their auto off that our industry is experiencing unusual shortages, but often we won’t know a shortage exists until we order a part or parts.”

Lee Hardegree, owner of ProAuto in Morton Grove, Ill., says he has been navigating the new normal of parts shortages too. “Parts have been a challenge,” wrote Hardegree in an email to Cars.com. “We have dozens of vendors we purchase replacement parts from. Their inventory can be hit or miss. A routine brake job on a very common vehicle can make a shop owner go crazy."

“'What do you mean you’re out of brake parts? It’s a Honda Civic, and you have nothing in stock?’ That type of conversation can happen several times a day.” Hardegree said his vendors blame supply chain issues, parts that are sitting in a container waiting to be offloaded, and a lack of employees. COVID-related challenges set off a domino effect: New-car production delays led to decreased supply that couldn’t meet customer demand; in turn, manufacturers quickly pulled back on incentives and average transaction prices climbed. When shoppers couldn’t get their hands on the new vehicle they wanted or could afford, they turned to the used-car market, which caused more inventory shortages and sent used-car prices through the roof.

The next domino is vehicle maintenance. Among car owners who were either priced out of buying a car or couldn’t find the right vehicle due to the inventory shortage, many chose to hold onto their current vehicle. Industry consultancy IHS Markit reports that the average age of vehicles on the road reached a record high of 12 years, partially due to the effects of the pandemic and adjustments to driving behavior. This sparked a rise in demand for repair and maintenance services to keep current vehicles on the road.

“Repair facilities — whether dealerships or independently owned — have struggled in acquiring parts,” David Bennett, repair systems manager at AAA, wrote in an email to Cars.com. “Due to the shortage of new and used vehicles, many consumers are opting to keep their vehicles longer, and as a result, repair facilities are seeing an increase in business.”

As demand for vehicle maintenance rises, so do the costs for those repairs. According to Chung, the consumer cost of motor vehicle parts and equipment is up 20% compared to 2021. “It’s all-encompassing, so whether it’s new tires, wiper blades, or oil changes, consumers are paying significantly more,” Chung said.

“A lot of shops are overwhelmed with work because demand for repairs is at an unprecedentedly high level”, writes Rudloff. “Plus, many shops are working less efficiently because of parts supply shortages. Like all other industries, we are facing unprecedented, COVID-related, workforce shortages. The irony of it is that it’s one of the greatest boon times for auto repair and many shops are working short-staffed because technicians are not available to hire. In an effort to slow down the deluge of requested auto repairs and to make up for the dead time waiting for parts, many shops have raised their rates.”

“Repair costs to the consumer went up slightly because the cost for the replacement parts went up,” according to Hardegree. “All of our bulk supplies like oil, washer solvent, antifreeze etc. are also up in cost. A 30-pound tank of [refrigerant] for air conditioning repairs cost $95 last summer and I just paid close to $300 for the same tank. I’m told it is projected to be $450-$500 by summertime. The rise in my cost on parts could be 10 cents or several hundred dollars. It used to be a set price on a lot of parts which never changed and was always in stock but now we have to check pricing and availability on every repair order.”

Global Chain Supply and Microchip Shortages

UPDATE FROM THE ENTERPRISE FLEET MANAGEMENT TEAM REGARDING GLOBAL CHAIN SUPPLY AND MICROCHIP SHORTAGES

In an environment where global supply chain and microchip shortages continue to persist, we remain committed to proactively updating you with valuable insight to assist with making informed fleet and business decisions.

For any concerns you have, please contact Fleet Services.