Motor Pool
Eligibility to Drive University-Owned Vehicles
Only authorized drivers may conduct a University vehicle while on official University business. These are the requirements to drive University-owned vehicles:
- An active employee of the University
- Must have a valid driver’s license
- Attend a defensive driving training course. The course certificate is valid for three (3) years.
To begin the process, please submit your defensive driving certificate to Facilities Management via email to facilities@utep.edu. If the defensive driving course was taken through UTEP Campus EDGE, you do not need to send the certificate. The information is shared with our department after completion of the course. You may need to send us the certificate only if the completion of the course is very close to the desired vehicle reservation date(s).
After receiving the defensive driving certificate, a motor vehicle record or driver’s history record will be performed on the driver’s license. The University can run this report on Texas driver's licenses only. If the driver’s license is from out of state, the driver needs to provide the driver’s history record to our department. In most cases, the driver's history record can be obtained online from the state’s motor vehicle department. If the driver’s license is from a foreign country, the driver must obtain the equivalent report from that country’s responsible agency and provide it to our department. You can send the out-of-state or foreign country motor vehicle record via email to facilities@utep.edu along with your defensive driving certificate.
Once received, the report will be evaluated on the most recent thirty-six (36) month history reflected on it and points will be assigned according to Appendix B of the UTS 157 UT System Policy. If the total points equal four (4) or more or if the report is unable to obtain thirty-six (36) months of driving history, the status assigned will be “unacceptable”. Three (3) or fewer points for thirty-six (36) months of driving history will result in “acceptable” driving status.
The UTS 157 UT System Policy requires University drivers to have an annual driver history record performed. For those drivers with Texas driver’s licenses, the report will be performed automatically. Drivers with out-of-state driver’s licenses will have to provide their report every year to the motor pool office.
Check your driving status at the Facilities Service Desk under My Facilities Profile. If the status is “acceptable”, you are authorized to drive University vehicles and can reserve motor pool vehicles using our electronic reservation form. If the status is “unacceptable”, you are not authorized to drive University vehicles. If you feel the “unacceptable” driving status is incorrect or need additional information, contact Facilities Management at 747-PETE or via email at facilities@utep.edu.
The motor pool fleet has the following twelve (12) vehicles available for rent:
- Three (3) Ford Expeditions 4x4 (off-road)
- One (1) Ford F-150 pick-up truck extra cab 4x4 (off-road)
- One (1) Ford Expedition (not allowed off-road)
- One (1) Ford Excursion (not allowed off-road)
- Six (6) Ford E350 passenger vans (not allowed off-road, 9 occupants including driver)
The cost for vehicles in the motor pool fleet is $60.00/day plus $0.45/mile. A motor pool fuel credit card will be provided for the reservation to cover fuel costs.
Reservations for the motor pool vehicles need to be submitted through our Facilities Service Desk. The motor pool vehicles are for University authorized drivers while on official University business only. You will need the following to process the reservation:
- The start date and end date of the reservation.
- The final destination of the trip
- Check the international check box if planning to take the vehicle to Mexico
- Please read the Mexico Auto Insurance information below
- The cost center you would like to use for the rental charges
- The type of vehicle you need to reserve
- Check the 4x4 check box if taking the vehicle off-road
- The username of the authorized driver
After the submittal of the reservation, it will route via e-mail to the cost center owner for approval. The reservation will be held five (5) days after the submission. If after five (5) days the reservation does not receive approval, the reservation is canceled and the vehicle goes back to the pool of available cars to rent.
After the reservation receives approval from the cost center owner, an email with details of the reservation is sent to the authorized driver of the vehicle.
For reservations of vehicles entering Mexico, the motor pool office will need a copy of the INS forms and Mexico insurance documents before vehicle pick-up.
Mexico Auto Insurance for University-owned Vehicles
Motor pool vehicles entering Mexico need to be properly insured before the trip. Prior approval to travel into Mexico on University business via the International Travel Exception Request Form from the department head must be provided to the Office of the Vice President for Business Affairs (VPBA) for approval of the International Oversight Committee (IOC) before the VPBA will authorize the purchase of Mexico insurance. For more information, please visit the VPBA Mexico Auto Insurance process website.
The motor pool is located at the Physical Plant Complex building. The physical address is 3120 Sun Bowl Drive, El Paso Texas 79902. To pick up the keys for your reserved vehicle, enter the building through the main entrance facing Sun Bowl drive and ask for the motor pool office at the reception desk. Motor pool vehicles are housed inside the parking lot of the Physical Plant complex.