Utah State University to Discontinue Use of Full-Size Passenger Vans

Utah State University is permanently discontinuing the use of all 12- and 15-passenger vans, except for cargo-carrying vehicles. The policy is effective immediately.

In place of the full-size vans, the university will begin to use 15-passenger buses with dual-rear wheels. These vehicles will be available exclusively through the USU Motor Pool. Additional training conditions will be required for drivers to use these vehicles.

 

The vehicle-use policy revision is a result of an extensive review that began shortly after the Sept. 26 van crash that killed eight USU students and one instructor near Tremonton, Utah. Following the accident, all 12- and 15-passenger vans not used for cargo were grounded.

 

“We recognize that this change in policy has a significant impact across the university,” said Glenn Ford, vice president of business and finance. “We have spent many hours in consultation with university personnel concerning the direction we should go.”

 

Ford said there is a strong consensus in support of the policy changes, despite the challenges of implementing this type of transition.

 

“This is the right thing to do,” he said. “And now is the right time to do it.”

 

At the time of the accident, the university owned 50 full-size vans. Fourteen were used exclusively for cargo-carrying purposes; 18 were owned by the motor pool for daily rentals and long-term lease; and 18 were owned by university departments and divisions.

 

As a result of this new policy, the vans will be sold to help provide funding for replacement vehicles.      

 

The revised policy still permits university departments to own or lease vehicles that carry seven passengers or less. All employees who drive a university vehicle will be required to complete an approved Driver Safety Program every three years.

 

The revised policy continues to require drivers to abide by a strict vehicle operation standard, including the wearing of seatbelts, brief rests every two hours of driving, vehicle familiarity and condition awareness, and restrictions on driving during the middle of the night.

 

The policy does make two “rare” exceptions to the use of 12- or 15-passenger vans. First, when the point of origin is away from campus, for example, in the event that a university group requires transportation from an airport and “no other suitable transportation is available.” To do this, however, it will require the approval of a dean, vice president or the athletic director. The driver would also have to meet the certification requirements of a vehicle that size and could not transport more than nine passengers at a time.

 

The second exception involves transportation provided by a hosting organization using 12- or 15-passenger vans, such as airport shuttles. In this case, university employees may accept the transportation or arrange alternate transportation at their own discretion.

 

Cargo-carrying vans will continue to be permitted, but all such vans with a wheelbase greater than 139 inches (extended body vans) will be limited to a 10-mile radius of the USU campus locatoin. These vehicles will be phased out over time and replaced with vans having the shorter wheel base.

 

The complete policy can be found online.

 

Contacts: John DeVilbiss, 435-797-1358