Ever wonder about the “service vehicles” with their own designated parking in campus lots?

Bill Finucane, manager of the transportation department, said NIU has a total of 237 vehicles it uses from its transportation department.

These vehicles consist of sedans, cargo vans, mini vans, passenger vans, assorted trucks and buses. Their six buses are not affiliated with the Huskie Bus line.

“Maintenance for these vehicles is checked pretty frequently, also,” Finucane said. “Typically, the oil is changed in the sedans every six months or 3,000 miles.”

The total transportation budget is about $1 million per year, Finucane said.

“We do replace some vehicles each year,” he said. “About $300,000 of our budget is used for getting new vehicles, which may seem like a lot of money, but with the rise of vehicle prices, it doesn’t go too far.”

Money for the budget, along with repairs, new vehicles, fuel and salaries come from the different organizations on campus who rent the vehicles.

“While they are used by football and other sports, other organizations like the [Campus Recreation Center], [Campus Activities Board], the music department and class field trips use them as well,” Finucane said. “Like CAB is taking a group of students to see a Blackhawks game later on in the semester. That would be one of the uses.”

The vehicles used by the Physical Plant and custodial workers also are rented from the transportation department, Finucane said.

“We’re one of the departments on campus that serves all the university, not just a section,” Finucane said.

To rent vehicles from the university, there are a few requirements people must follow.

“To rent a vehicle, it has to be some type of use for the university,” Finucane said. “You aren’t allowed to use it for personal use.”

The transportation department runs on a staff of 11 people, with the exception of three or four students hired each semester to wash the vehicles and pump gas, Finucane said.

Most of the buses used by the department, as well as the late night ride service, are handicap-equipped for students.

“Typically our vehicles travel about 2.2 million miles a year,” Finucane said.

This averages out at 9,282.7 miles per vehicle a year.