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January 2010, Government Fleet - Cover Story

CNG Fuels 'Green' Victory for Culver City

Led by Equipment Maintenance Manager Paul Condran (center), the Culver City Equipment Maintenance & Fleet Services Division operates as a full-service fleet organization, providing services such as equipment maintenance, repair, welding, and asset replacement.

By Grace Lauron

The City of Culver City, Calif.’s use of compressed natural gas (CNG) helped the fleet gain national recognition as a green leader, most recently the title of #1 Government Green Fleet in North America in 2009.

Tags: #1 Government Green Fleet, CNG, Culver City, Green

January 2010, Government Fleet - Feature

Best Practices in Fleet Fuel Management

By Lauren Fletcher

Second only to depreciation, fuel is the second-largest public sector fleet expense. Municipal, county, and state fleets share best practices in reducing fuel expenses.

Tags: fuel, Fuel Contract, Fuel Policy, Right-Size

January 2010, Government Fleet - Feature

The Good, the Bad, & the Ugly of Centralizing Fleet

By Kelly Reagan

The City of Columbus, Ohio, fleet organization centralized operations in 2008. The fleet manager’s first-person account relates challenges, pitfalls, and rewards experienced in the process.

Tags: Centralization, City of Columbus

January 2010, Government Fleet - Feature

Tacoma Overhauls its Accident Management Program

Harley Davidson motorcycles were deployed by the Tacoma Police Department in 2006.

By Cheryl Knight

After reinventing its accident management program and moving to automated reporting, the City of Tacoma, Wash., dramatically improved customer service ratings and lowered fleet operating costs.

Tags: Accident Management, City of Tacoma

January 2010, Government Fleet - Feature

Plane & Simple: Do’s & Don’ts of Surface Planers

Pulling the planer, rather than pushing it, will generally produce a smoother finish and minimize ghosting.

By Dennis Von Ruden

Surface planer operation requires multiple considerations, such as choosing the right equipment, using the correct flail, and plugging into the right power source.

Tags: Equipment, Surface Planers

January 2010, Government Fleet - Feature

City of Seattle Moves to an All-Green Fleet

By Cheryl Knight

Seattle moves full-force toward a 100-percent advanced technology and alt-fuels fleet. The initiative has resulted in better gas mileage, lower greenhouse gas emissions, and a reduction in annual petroleum fuel use.

Tags: alt-fuel, City of Seattle, fuel, Green

January 2010, Government Fleet - Feature

Homeland Security Tracks Fleet via Satellite

By Staff

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Detention and Removal Operations employs a “smart GPS” system to track and monitor its far-flung 4,500-unit fleet.

Tags: Department of Homeland Security, Fleet Management Solutions Inc., fleet tracking, Office of Detention and Removal Operations

January 2010, Government Fleet - Feature

City of Burbank Refuse Fleet Goes 100% CNG

The City of Burbank, Calif., fleet team includes (back row, l-r) Craig Van Item, Rex Richardson, Richard Benson, Richard Powell, Brian Orlowski, Jim Lawson, Johnny Stein, Alfred Johnson, Gary Rand, and Tim Smith; (front row) John Leai, Mike Muravez, Alex Healey, and Art Derakharian.

By Shelley Mika

The Southern California city’s solid refuse fleet is now 100-percent CNG-fueled. While the move to CNG required an infrastructure capital investment, the benefits include lower fuel and maintenance costs, and reduced emissions.

Tags: City of Burbank, CNG, fuel, Green

January 2010, Government Fleet - Feature

Leasing Equipment Can Extend Tight Budgets

By Steve Bennett

With many public sector fleet budgets straining in difficult economic times, leasing construction equipment can provide a financially viable option to purchasing for short-term needs.

Tags: Lease-Purchase, Leasing Equipment, Off-Road Equipment

January 2010, Government Fleet - WebXclusive

City of Oxnard Embraces Technology to Streamline Operations

The City of Oxnard became a “paperless shop” in 2005.

By Cheryl Knight

The City’s Fleet Services Division recently implemented a state-of-the-art technology system, resulting in significant productivity gains for all technicians.

Tags: fleet operations, fuel, Key Performance Indicators, Paperless, Technology

November 2009, Government Fleet - Feature

11 Approaches to Right-Sizing Your Fleet

By Gary Hatfield

Traditional methods of determining the most cost-effective fleet size can be inefficient and inaccurate. Several alternative methods can be used individually or in combination.

Tags: fleet reduction, right-sizing, Utilization

November 2009, Government Fleet - Feature

Chevrolet Debuts All-New 2011 Caprice Police Patrol Vehicle

By Mike Scott

Available in two configurations with an available unmarked version, the 2011 Chevrolet Caprice PPV is rear-wheel driven, offering six- and eight-cylinder engines.

Tags: Chevrolet Caprice, Law Enforcement, police vehicle

November 2009, Government Fleet - Feature

10 Tips for Spec'ing & Maintaining Sewer Cleaners

By Jack Doheny & Jim Schwaller

Sewer cleaning trucks help ensure a clean city, free from clogged drainage systems. Properly spec’ing and maintaining this equipment requires careful planning and a clear strategy.

Tags: maintenance, Sewer Cleaner, Spec'ing

November 2009, Government Fleet - Feature

Calculating Mechanic Staffing Requirements

By Randy Owen

Public sector fleet managers often struggle with determining appropriate mechanic staffing levels. Quantifying labor demand and supply and accounting for individual fleet operations can provide the answers.

Tags: Labor Demand, Mechanic Staffing, Productivity

November 2009, Government Fleet - Feature

Spares Work Best in Motor Pools

By John Dolce

Central motor pools offer cost-effective utilization of extra fleet units. Rotated use and preventive maintenance can extend vehicle lifecycles, while units flexibly serve the collective needs of end-user departments.

Tags: maintenance, Motor Pool, Spare Vehicles, Utilization

November 2009, Government Fleet - Feature

NJPA Helps Fleets Cut Costs (And Purchasing Time!)

By Grace Lauron

Offering an alternative procurement method to help fleets save money, the National Joint Powers Alliance (NJPA) “creates an alliance between buyers and suppliers” to streamline the fleet purchasing process.

Tags: National Joint Powers Alliance, procurement, Reducing Paperwork

November 2009, Government Fleet - Feature

How to Prevent User Departments from Mismanaging Heavy Construction Equipment

By Steve Bennet

A good working relationship between fleet and user departments begins with the spec’ing process and extends through the equipment service to its eventual resale or trade-in and can help avoid error.

Tags: Equipment Utilization, Managing Equipment, Operator Training, Spec'ing

November 2009, Government Fleet - WebXclusive

Carbon Motors Introduces E7 Concept Vehicle

By Mike Scott

Targeted specifically to law enforcement agencies of all sizes, the E7 Concept will be marketed as a custom-made police vehicle.

Tags: Carbon Motors, E7 Concept Vehicle, Police Car

September 2009, Government Fleet - Cover Story

Hillsborough County Named #1 Public Sector Fleet – Again!

By Cheryl Knight

The Florida county was named the best public fleet in North America for the second year running. For the past three fiscal years, the fleet team has attained a 97-percent overall customer satisfaction rating while reducing operating costs.

Tags: 100 Best Fleets, Best Public Fleet, Hillsborough County

September 2009, Government Fleet - Feature

100 Best Fleets: Top Public Sector Fleets Recognized

By Staff

Increased use of alternative fuels, significant monies saved through higher fleet utilization, and reduced turnaround times are why these fleets are considered the “100 Best.”

Tags: 100 Best Fleets, INVERS Mobility Solutions, National Joint Powers Alliance

September 2009, Government Fleet - Feature

Do’s and Don’ts in Spreader Preseason Prep

By Mark Hall

While spreaders vary widely, all require special servicing to maintain good operating health and avoid extra costs. Here are tips to prepare your winter-maintenance spreaders before the season begins.

Tags: Spreader, Winter Maintenance, Winter Preparation

September 2009, Government Fleet - Feature

‘Green is Good’ for Evergreen Fleet Initiative

By Mike Scott

Several Puget Sound, Wash., public sector fleet departments have established the Evergreen Fleet Initiative, which they hope will serve as a standard in the Northwest region.

Tags: Evergreen Fleet Initiative, Green, Northwest

September 2009, Government Fleet - Feature

Savings Dug Up with D7E Dozer

By Grace Lauron

Reduced fuel consumption and lower service costs are just a few ways fleets can save with the Caterpillar D7E Track-Type Tractor, a hybrid system that combines diesel and electric power.

Tags: Caterpillar, Dozer, hybrid, Off-Road Equipment, Tractor

August 2009, Government Fleet - WebXclusive

How to Maximize Lift Safety

This truck is properly positioned on the lift, with the arms set against the lifting points.

By Paul Dexler

Safety is a major consideration when lifting and working under an object weighing several tons. Resources are available to shop managers on lift inspection, proper operation, lifting procedures, and mechanic training.

Tags: fore-and-aft, four-post ramp-style, in-ground, Lift, mobile lift, parallelogram, two-post side-by-side

August 2009, Government Fleet - WebXclusive

Vehicle Committees Help City Improve Driver Satisfaction

By Cheryl Knight

Through implementing vehicle committees, the City Utilities of Springfield, Mo., increased communication with its field crew and improved driver satisfaction, leading to a higher level of trust and crew engagement.

Tags: City of Springfield, Utilities Department, Vehicle Committee