Hurricane Idalia

Hurricane Idalia made landfall early Wednesday on Florida’s western coast as a powerful Category 3 storm. According to media reports, with maximum winds of 125 mph, Idalia was the strongest hurricane to make landfall in Florida’s Big Bend region in more than 125 years. The storm continues to have a ripple effect causing flooding and strong winds in surrounding counties and states.

Actions to Take

If you have not already done so, consider removing any limits / restrictions on fueling and rental vehicle utilization. If you would like to temporarily remove or raise fueling restrictions on fuel cards, as regular grade fuel supplies may be limited and drivers may want to fill up more frequently, please contact a member of your Wheels Account team. If you have an approval restriction on rentals, we suggest temporarily removing those restrictions. A member of your account team can help you update that as well.

General Updates

• Tolling. We received word from our tolling vendor partner that Florida is suspending tolls in several areas. The toll roads included in the temporary suspension include I-4 Connector, Selmon Expressway, Veterans Expressway, Suncoast Parkway, Turnpike Mainline, Pinellas Bayway, and Sunshine Skyway Bridge.
• Registration. All registration and renewal paperwork are being held for Florida. No other states are being held currently. We will commence mailing next week.
• Vehicle Dealerships. Once the storm has passed, we will begin outreach to understand the potential impact. Overall, our new vehicle risk level is low in the affected areas.
• Manufacturing Plants / Ports. Toyota has a major port in Jacksonville, FL which has temporarily shut down operations. This may result in a few days of downtime.
• Commercial Motor Vehicles. Florida waives hours-of-service requirements and size/weight restrictions for divisible loads on any vehicles transporting emergency equipment, services, supplies and agricultural commodities.
• Fuel. Be advised that fuel shortages may occur, and prices may increase. EV charging stations may also be out of service.
• Roadside. Roadside assistance will be prioritized to help those in emergency situations.  
• Rentals. Rentals may be scarce or unavailable in certain areas.