July 02, 2008
City of Toledo Fleet Is Examining Ways to Cut its Fuel Costs
TOLEDO, OHIO – The City of Toledo is looking for ways to save fuel costs and possibly economize the way garbage trucks are sent through the city. Though the city has used 36,000 fewer gallons of fuel so far over the same period last year, its fuel cost is much higher, according to http://toledoblade.com.
However, so far this year, the city is $600,000 over what was spent in the first half of 2007.
Toledo City Council in March passed the 2008 general fund operating budget with a $400,000 cut to the fund that covers fuel, lubricants, and repair parts for the city’s fleet of 2,100 vehicles. The following month, $134,000 was restored to the fund because of shortfall predictions.
The city is still looking for ways to reduce fuel costs in the face of tighter operating budgets and soaring gasoline and diesel prices. The city has strictly limited the time a vehicle is supposed to idle and even plans to install equipment to shut down an engine remotely should it be left running for too long. Also, all 28 City of Toledo fuel pumps have been retrofitted with identification card readers.
The Toledo Police Department has cut fuel consumption with more fuel-efficient vehicles. Some of the department’s fleet is being replaced by 40 Dodge Chargers. With a 3.5L, 6-cylinder engine, the 2008 Chargers are expected to get better gas mileage than the Ford Crown Victorias that make up much of the police fleet. The city also has opted to buy the hybrid Ford Escape sport utility vehicle rather than the less fuel-efficient Chevy Tahoe, according to http://toledoblade.com.