Short-term rental program saves on consumer expense

For the everyday MUSC employee, planning a business trip can present a series of challenges, with difficulties ranging from transportation to expenses. This can be especially true in arranging a car rental for a single day trip.

However, thanks to the MUSC Transportation Services, there is a new option that is both convenient and affordable. This new short-term rental program kicked off in May and continues to improve the lives of MUSC employees.

The program’s administrator, Brandy Middleton, described some of the reasons to use the program.  “The intended benefit is convenience and lower cost compared to, for instance, renting from Enterprise. Additionally, MUSC utilizes the state fleet management vehicle leasing program. By having short-term rentals, we maximize the usage of vehicles that MUSC leases from the state, while allowing departments to avoid costly monthly lease fees.”  

Middleton regularly hears that the price is certainly right, and she also receives numerous inquiries about what types of cars are available to those in need of transportation. “We currently have two Chevy Cruze sedans, one Dodge Caravan, one Ford Escape, and one 12-passenger van available for the rental program.”

These top-of-the-line modes of travel can be used by anyone in need of a short-term rental, she said.  In addition to the availability and convenience this new service offers, there are two simple requirements for rental. “A valid South Carolina driver’s license and association with MUSC is all that’s really required. If you become a routine user of the program, we will add your name to our license screening process to ensure that we are in compliance with state regulations. You will be assigned a PIN to use the state fuel card while you have the rental,” said Middleton. 

She has even thought about what people should do in the case of an emergency or accident. Every car in MUSC’s motor pool is equipped with instructions for emergency situations. “Each rental car will come with an accident procedure card that gives steps to follow and contact numbers for different areas across the state, should an emergency occur,” she explained. Since the program launched two months ago, Caroline Wallinger, a research nurse coordinator with the Center for Health Disparities Research, has used this program on multiple occasions. 

“The cars are clean, comfortable and drive well. Before this program started, we had to use Enterprise, which was inconvenient for me and my coworker. She lives in Mount Pleasant, and I live in West Ashley, so this new program gives a central place to meet that’s by the interstate. Also, we can leave our cars there while we’re gone, which was something we often couldn’t do with big rental companies. I’m working on a project where I have to travel around to free clinics around the state. So this is really a lifesaver.” 

This program presents customers with convenience in the simplest ways. “Even if I rent with Enterprise, I still have to get an MUSC gas card from University Transportation Services and return it there as well. So it used to be two extra stops, which was a complete hassle. Now its one stop and way easier. I would definitely recommend their services,” Wallinger said.  

The rental program aims for expansion and greater convenience for MUSC’s employees, Middleton said. “Long term, we would love to grow the program in an effort to ensure that all leased vehicles are meeting the state’s basic usage requirements. This would allow more individual departments to get out of the leasing business, thereby taking a requirement off their plates so that they can focus more energy on patient and client care.” For more information, email or call 843-876-7059.