How Connecting with Fleet Peers Can Help Your Operation Thrive

Thomas Volt, fleet manager for South Jordan City, Utah, was drawn to working in government fleet as a technician by the customer base. He enjoyed the fact that he wasn’t badgered by customers to do half a job because they couldn’t afford to do it right and took pride in serving the people who served the community.

While working as a technician, he noticed fleet managers were given more in-depth possibilities to serve the city as a whole. Being a problem-solver, he wanted more opportunities to tackle the challenges that came with the role of fleet manager and was excited to pursue this path.

“Discovering current needs and planning for the constantly changing future presents challenges that keep me engaged,” he said.

Staying Afloat During the Pandemic

Like many fleet managers, 2020 presented an incredible challenge for Volt and his staff. Keeping employees safe, morale up, doors open, and service levels consistent during the pandemic were just a few items he and his team had to juggle.

“We claim success over the challenge, but it has left scars. We’re still overcoming the hurdles created by the pandemic, but we’ve been able to keep whole,” he explained.

Having an excellent staff that’s invested in the success of the operation, as well as a supportive upper management team that fosters ideas and improvements without micromanagement are two factors he credits with supporting the department’s ability to thrive as best it can during an unprecedented time.

“Having this combination, especially during disasters, is what has kept everything moving as efficiently as it has,” he said.

Gathering Fleet Manager Input

He and other fleet managers in the Utah area have formed a local networking group affiliated through the American Public Works Association (APWA) Utah Fleet Chapter. This group created the official Utah chapter, but this monthly meeting is less formal and not widely advertised. Fleet managers from other cities and agencies in the area come together regularly to discuss current issues and solutions, plan for training and conferences, and share data. He said this group has been a valuable tool for him.

“We’ve helped each other with everything from preparation for the Certified Public Fleet Professional (CPFP) test to co-hosting trainings, determining how to deal with troublesome vendors, and helping each other with build specifications on equipment,” he said.

Evolving Technology

When it comes to technology, Volt said fleet management information software (FMIS) has been invaluable. Constant improvements made by software companies to improve the functions of their products has had a profound impact on his operation.

“From fuel management to GPS, most FMIS companies have an integration module to make combining these tools far simpler than it used to be,” he said.

From data entry, to pulling and analyzing data, Volt no longer has to pick through reports to get the data he needs to run the fleet.

“An example is our ‘Points Report.’ It used to be a four-report minimum to combine everything I needed to assign a point rating to my assets; now I just have to verify my data is correctly entered and run a single report. Improvement is data driven — without clean, easy to access data, we’re dead in the water. The improvements in FMIS makes it is easy for people to put data in the right places, as it’s cleaner and helps with accurate reporting,” he said.

Tough, but Rewarding

If there was one thing Volt wished someone would have told him when he started that he wants to pass on, it’s how rewarding the job is.

“I anticipated large amounts of stress with the position, and I wasn’t wrong; but I never thought it could be as rewarding as it is. You get to see firsthand how what you do makes a difference to an entire community” he explained.