The F&S Garage services a wide range of vehicles, including F&S Car Pool vehicles, shop trucks, electric cars, garbage trucks, Zamboni machines, and nearly anything else with an engine. The garage is responsible for keeping the university’s fleet running smoothly, ensuring that all vehicles are maintained, repaired, and ready for use.
The Dream Team of Campus Fleet Care
The attendants handle essential tasks such as oil changes for university vehicles, including the rental fleet of sedans, SUVs, minibuses, trades’ working vans, trucks, dump trucks, trash trucks, and roll-off container transport trucks. They frequently install and repair tires, clean and fuel rental vehicles, and dispatch them when needed.
Additionally, they perform maintenance on standby electrical generators across campus and provide fuel for excavation equipment at construction sites. Another key responsibility is the weekly maintenance of parking structure power sweepers, which includes oil changes and thorough cleaning.
The mechanics are responsible for performing annual maintenance, as well as mechanical and electrical repairs, on a wide range of university fleet vehicles. This includes the rental fleet, tradesmen fleet, and department-owned vehicles such as sedans, SUVs, minibuses, vans, trucks, dump trucks, front-load trash trucks, roll-off container transport trucks, backhoes, and excavation equipment.
They also maintain standby generators for campus buildings, fire trucks for the Illinois Fire Service Institute (I.F.S.I.), and vehicles for the University of Illinois Police Department. In addition to standard fleet maintenance, the mechanics service unique equipment like the Zamboni for the ice rink and a two-row combine for the specialty grains department.
Beyond large vehicles and specialized machinery, mechanics occasionally perform service work on small engines, including leaf blowers, concrete saws, pressure washers, and small portable generators.
Double the Certification, Double the Fun
One of the most significant accomplishments within the garage is the mechanics’ achievement of ASE (Automotive Service Excellence) Master Certification in both car/light truck and heavy-duty truck fields. Earning this prestigious certification, the Status of Master Technician, requires passing 17 separate tests administered by the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence.
This dual certification is rare, as most technicians typically specialize in one or the other. Less than ½ of 1% of the 600,000+ mechanics in the nation are dual master certified. At the F&S garage, 95% of the mechanics hold both certifications, ensuring that the university’s fleet is maintained by some of the most qualified professionals in the industry.
Facing Challenges & Finding Solutions
With such a wide scope of work, challenges are inevitable. Every day, the garage must source parts and obtain necessary repair information. Many modern machines require specialized computer diagnostic software, much of which is locked behind costly subscriptions or proprietary restrictions from manufacturers and dealers. With countless options available, it’s impossible to have access to everything. Yet, despite these obstacles, the F&S Garage remains determined to find solutions, using their skill and resourcefulness to keep every engine they touch running strong.
The F&S Garage takes on an impressive variety of unique repairs, working on everything from sonar systems for bat detection to flat-bottom boats that travel the Mississippi River. Their expertise extends to mobile surgical trailers, food trucks, and a vast range of equipment. If it has a combustible engine, the garage is willing to take on the challenge, no matter how unusual the repair may be.
“Skilled employees who are familiar with vehicles, equipment and systems would are one of the largest assets in the garage,” explained Shawn Patterson, Assistant Director of Fleet Services. Their expertise, combined with the use of advanced diagnostic tools and online portals, allows them to efficiently service both standard vehicles and heavy-duty trucks, ensuring smooth operations across the fleet.