OUR OTHER FLEET SITES

April 28, 2008

During the past 20 years, I have had the privilege of knowing many great fleet managers. Over the years, I’ve noticed common traits characteristics among these public sector fleet managers. Based on my experience, here are the 14 common traits.

Tags: Fleet Manager Traits, public sector

March 24, 2008

Last November, more than 700 mayors signed the U.S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement in Seattle, committing to reduce carbon emissions in their localities to 7-percent below 1990 levels by 2012. This goal is in line with the Kyoto Protocol, an international treaty that seeks to limit greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Fleet operations around the U.S. have stepped up to the plate to help accomplish this goal.

Tags: carbon footprint

March 4, 2008

Is it just me or are demographics of public sector fleet managers turning older? Not only are fleet managers older, so too, are most members of their staff. I visit many fleet operations and this observation is reinforced when I walk the floor of a maintenance facility or the corridors of the main fleet office.

Tags: Age, fleet management, Retirement

December 17, 2007

The City of Coppell, Texas, gets the big picture about fleet safety. It’s not only a dollars-and-cents issue, but also a moral issue of keeping drivers – and the citizens with whom they interact – safe.

Tags: driver's license, MVR

September 11, 2007

Summer and fall are busy times in the fleet industry. There are many fleet meetings and new-model introductions, which provides me with an opportunity to talk “fleet” with a wide variety of fleet managers. At these meetings, I am always impressed by the caliber of public sector fleet managers and the challenges they face.

July 3, 2007

A significant category of unnecessary fleet cost is equipment damage caused by user abuse or neglect. Abuse is by far the most expensive form of equipment failure. Fleet managers tell me there is no limit to the ways equipment can be abused.

April 10, 2007

Reducing the number of preventable accidents presents a huge opportunity to reduce fleet costs. The industry average cost to repair a fleet vehicle involved in an accident is $1,848. Nowadays, even the simplest fender bender costs $500 or more. When other accident costs are included, such as loss of use, liability, workers’ comp, and other indirect expenses, the total cost exceeds $10,000 per incident.

February 5, 2007

Whether technicians should be allowed to work on their personal vehicles after-hours is a controversial issue among public sector fleet managers. Some fleet operations allow it, while others are adamantly opposed. Here are the pro and con arguments.

December 19, 2006

To whom should fleet report? This question elicits spirited and opposing recommendations. One reason is that Fleet Operations is crucial to fulfilling the mission of many users. Fleet Operations services all facets of government ranging from separate taxing agencies such as Fire and Police, to enterprise funds such as utilities and solid waste. One of the largest customers is Public Works, a key reason why many fleet managers report to its director.

October 24, 2006

The majority of public sector fleets do not employ service level agreements between the fleet department and internal customer departments. Although these types of agreements are relatively commonplace between commercial fleets and fleet service providers, only in the past 10 years have they begun to emerge in the public sector.

April 4, 2006

The acute shortage of skilled technicians promises to become more severe in the coming years as vehicles and equipment become more complex. With the increasing integration of computers into automotive design, the skill set required by technicians is ratcheting upward.