It is now simpler to reserve university-owned vehicles, since University Transportation Services’ information is now online.

ISU Transportation Services recently established a Web site that enables customers to examine options, check availability and reserve vehicles over the Internet.

“[Our goal is to] make it easier for customers to get the information that they need,” said David Strom, manager of the Transportation Services Office.

According to the Web site, Transportation Services’ mission statement is “to provide safe, economical and appropriate transportation to Iowa State University faculty and staff to perform their official duties.”

Before the creation of the new Web site, Strom said customers who called to request information either received it by fax or were referred to the office-procedures guide.

He said the idea of posting the department’s services and information was conceptualized at a staff meeting about six months ago.

“We just want to improve customer service,” he said. “Now it will be easier for customers to get the information that they need, and the Web site will save them a phone call or digging [through the procedures manual].”

Although the site has been up and running for only four days, Strom said there have not been any problems so far.

The site, located at www.iastate.edu/~uts, has a menu on the left side of the screen, which instructs the user on anything from rental rates to road conditions.

Strom said one advantage for Transportation Services is that staff members will now receive fewer calls, but an even bigger advantage will be for the users in simplifying the reservation-making process.

“In January, we sent out a customer survey, and with the 107 returned, we will analyze those and find more improvements to make,” he said.

Jodi Hilleman, secretary in the Department of Architecture, has worked with Transportation Services before.

“I didn’t know it was online, but it would be easier,” she said.

She said she could see the advantages to having an online system.

“Usually, we called to make reservations, and then follow up with an intramural,” she said. “Online you would only have to enter it once.”