March 2008, Government Fleet - Feature
Ames For A Greener Fleet
By Shelley Mika
A Comprehensive Strategy
Buying fuel-efficient vehicles is perhaps a quick-fix solution, but Hinderaker didn’t stop there. Instead, he opted to implement a comprehensive program that focused on making a fuel-efficient and environmentally-friendly fleet. In addition to purchasing the right vehicles, Hinderaker placed a premium on caring for those vehicles to optimize usage. Maintaining vehicles to OEM standards and inflating tires to the proper psi were two simple solutions.
A larger effort included creating a set of operational guidelines. To formulate these guidelines, employees from each department that utilizes fleet vehicles created a strategy that allowed all fleet drivers to contribute to a "greener" fleet. These strategies included implementing an accelerated replacement program when economically feasible, requesting voluntary use of fuel log books for operators to monitor fuel efficiency in their units, establishing an equitable mileage reimbursement rate for use of personal vehicles on city business, and implementing a vehicle sharing program to reduce the number of vehicles required, while maintaining all city service levels.
Under City Manager Steve Schainker’s guideline, no city services should be reduced to implement changes and practices.
"It’s very important that our citizens receive what they expect," Hinderaker said. "We just have to improve the way we provide our services."
Everyone Can Contribute:
Advice for Drivers
Another strategy was to initiate a set of standard operating practices (SOP) for drivers. Hinderaker’s team recommends the following for any fleet driver:
1. Eliminate extra mileage:
• Establish the best assignment route.
• Stock trucks with appropriate tools and needed supplies before leaving.
• Carpool, walk, ride the bus, or bike whenever possible.
2. Create the conditions for fuel efficiency:
• Remove unneeded items from vehicles to reduce weight.
• Perform weekly inspections on tire pres-sure, engine liquids, lights, etc.
• Avoid quick starts and hard braking.
• Use overdrive when possible.
• Eliminate or reduce engine idling.
3. Make environmentally sound choices:
• Use the most fuel-efficient vehicles avail-able to fit the application.
• Only fill gas tanks to the "first click" to reduce spillage and evaporation.
• Avoid prolonged engine warming time.
• Stay within speed limits.
• Avoid revving the engine anytime, especially on cold starts.
• Report problems with city vehicles to a supervisor or to fleet services.
Many fleet managers might ask, "How can you enforce such practices?" Rather than simply creating a list of practices for operators to follow, Hinderaker also provided educational tools that would encourage these practices, including quarterly fuel and use reports, an SOP poster program, and gas mileage calculators. Last year, fuel consumption rose by only 1.5 percent, while fleet utilization increased by 5.4 percent.
Even with such results, Hinderaker still faces challenges. For one, there’s no disputing the higher cost of a hybrid and other fuel-efficient vehicles. Likewise, Hinderaker found that acceptance of driving smaller vehicles (as fuel-efficient cars tend to be) was also an issue. However, with continued education on the goals and strategies of creating a greener fleet, Hinderaker found he could counteract potential roadblocks. When asked how he was able to do so, Hinderaker had this advice: "Empathize with staff on the difficulty in making operational changes and using different fleet vehicles and equipment. Stay on course and provide more assistance to your customers in vehicle and equipment selection and identifying acceptable units."