The Challenge of Managing a Mixed Campus Vehicle Fleet

The range of applications for utility vehicles across college and university campuses is seemingly endless. For facilities managers, no two days are the same — with responsibilities spanning the transport of people and equipment, grounds maintenance, medical support, and general campus upkeep. Add the growing importance of vehicle sustainability and student safety, and efficient fleet management becomes even more critical.

For years, however, institutions have relied on a wide mix of vehicles from different manufacturers to meet evolving campus needs. As a result, many facilities teams are left managing a patchwork fleet, with mismatched vehicles and equipment — each operating on its own service schedule, presenting unique maintenance challenges, and driving up overall costs.

“Given the demands of managing more space with fewer resources and at greater impact to the institution’s overall recruitment and retention goals, successful facilities departments are being pushed to develop creative responses to these challenges.”

—Mark Schiff, president of Sightlines, producer of annual “State of Facilities in Higher Education” report

Is Your Campus Fleet Holding You Back?

When It’s Time to Review Performance and Rethink Your Fleet Strategy

If this sounds familiar, now is the time to review your fleet’s performance and consider working with a partner who can help you maximise it. In our experience, investing time upfront to make an informed decision can save significant time, cost, and operational frustration in the long term.

How to Choose the Right Campus Vehicle Provider

Matching Vehicles to Use Cases, Efficiency Goals, and Brand Standards

Selecting the right provider means more than choosing individual vehicles. It requires a partner with a broad, purpose-built range that improves efficiency, boosts productivity, and supports your institution’s brand with a cohesive, professional appearance.

A good place to start is by identifying your key campus use cases — and evaluating how well your current vehicles meet those demands.

Campus Use Cases for Utility Vehicles

Landscaping & Grounds Maintenance Vehicles

University and college campuses continue to expand, increasing the demand for efficient grounds care. From transporting tools and materials to moving crews across large estates, landscaping teams require vehicles that are both tough and adaptable.

Club Car offers the Carryall 500 Series to meet these demands, with petrol and electric options designed for durability, load capacity, and everyday reliability.

Passenger Transport Across Campus

Reliable people-movers are essential to smooth campus operations. Whether transporting students, staff, alumni, or visitors — including those with accessibility needs — facilities teams depend on vehicles that are safe, comfortable, and easy to operate.

Club Car Transporter , Tempo 2+2 , and Villager 6 and 8  models passenger vehicles are designed for smooth handling, spacious seating, and quiet operation, making them well suited to pedestrian-heavy environments and shared pathways.

Maintenance & Trades Vehicles for Estates Teams 

Campus maintenance requires vehicles that can handle demanding workloads while offering flexibility for tools, attachments, and storage. Purpose-built utility vehicles with automotive-grade construction support daily repairs, inspections, and infrastructure upkeep.

With corrosion-resistant aluminium frames, petrol EFI or electric powertrains, and heavy-duty hauling capabilities, Club Car’s 4x2 automotive-grade utility vehicles  help reduce downtime and improve workforce productivity.

Hospitality & Campus Services Vehicles

From catering and accommodation services to housekeeping and event support, campus hospitality teams rely on vehicles configured for specific tasks. Transporting food, linen, cleaning equipment, and supplies requires dependable vehicles tailored to operational workflows.

Fit-to-task vehicle configurations remove the guesswork by delivering ready-to-work solutions designed around real-world campus needs.

Safety & Security Patrol Vehicles

Campus safety teams need compact, agile vehicles capable of navigating narrow paths and high-traffic areas. Features such as enclosed cabs, lighting packages, tight turning circles, and electric onboard charging help security teams patrol efficiently while supporting sustainability goals.

Why a Single-Source Fleet Partner Matters

Simplify Maintenance, Reduce Costs, and Improve Fleet Consistency

Managing a mixed fleet from multiple manufacturers can make cost control and maintenance planning unnecessarily complex. A customised, single-source fleet reduces variability, simplifies servicing, and creates a more consistent experience across departments.

By working with Club Car as a long-term partner, institutions benefit from:

• A single point of contact for the entire fleet
• Consistent vehicle platforms and parts
• Expert guidance from design and sales teams
• Ongoing support aligned to institutional goals

From initial consultation through the full lifecycle of your fleet, the focus remains on reliability, efficiency, and long-term value.