May 2009, Government Fleet - Cover Story
Fleet Manager Saves Millions with Business Approach
The winner of the 2009 Public Sector Fleet Manager of the Year Award, Doug Weichman of Palm Beach County, Fla., has saved millions by expanding fuel contracts and right-sizing the County’s fleet.
By Cheryl Knight
The P&P enables fleet to achieve its mission, objectives, and performance measures, published via the Internet with customer manuals and the business plan (also available in hardcopy).
Continuing communication concerning the County’s PM program is essential to operations and is the core of its vehicle maintenance and total lifecycle-costing principles, said Weichman.
“The program allows fleet to achieve over a 70-percent scheduled work order ratio,” according to Weichman. “Our program is committed to reducing liability and assuring operator safety. We have gone more than 17 years without a single lawsuit lost related to inadequate maintenance.”
Using enhanced OEM guidelines, fleet’s PM program ensures warranty coverage and exceptional high resale values averaging more than 28 percent of purchase price in past years. PM schedules are set up on various tables, using mileage, time, hours, and combinations of these indicators. Four methods of notification are used, including window stickers with mileage and time due, County Intranet listings of vehicles due through the work order system, e-mail notification, and phone calls to department coordinators.
County Continues to Examine Alternative Fuels
Palm Beach County was one of the first to buy Honda Insights in 2000 when few fleets were purchasing hybrids. In 2004, fleet established a policy directing hybrid purchases if they were available for the application in question.
To date, hybrids utilized in the County fleet include the Toyota Prius, Ford Escape, Saturn Vue, Chevrolet Malibu, GMC Sierra pickups, and International hybrid bucket trucks. Currently, the fleet’s alt-fuel vehicle count has reached 220 vehicles.
“We just took delivery of three hybrid-electric bucket trucks that have been in the market for a year,” Weichman said. “In Florida, I believe we’re the first governmental fleet to purchase medium-duty bucket trucks in our fleet operation.”
Three years ago, to help control fuel costs and increase driver safety, fleet switched to using nitrogen in tires.
“Studies show that keeping the tire pressure constant with nitrogen, we get a 2- to 3-percent increase in fuel economy, as well as extended tire life,” Weichman said.
Other environmentally friendly programs implemented at the County include:
• An idling program that requires vehicle shut-off within 10 seconds of putting the vehicle in park.
• A sustainability policy to purchase the most efficient vehicles available.
• Weight reduction on utility trucks. Instead of buying a metal body, the fleet now specifies aluminum. The cost is higher up-front, but the reduced weight and fuel consumption balance the cost in the long term.
• Roll-resistant tire installation on heavy-duty trucks to help increase fuel economy.
• Vehicle downsizing to buy the smallest vehicle possible.
Moving into the future, Weichman feels the County’s positive momentum will carry forward.
“We’ll continue to set goals and benchmarks,” Weichman said. “Although tough economic times are in our near future, this is causing us to be more creative and pulling together as a team. Palm Beach County, Florida, has always been progressive, and with our talented employees and great leadership, we will end up being a leaner and more desirable place in which to live, work, and do business. Our sustainability and greening efforts will continue. Plus, having some of the greatest weather and coastline in the U.S. does not hurt our future either.”