GF Blue logo
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

Clearing the Air

When Jerry Nabhan took over as fleet manager for the City of Sunnyvale, Calif. — with 136,000 residents and 3,000 businesses in the heart of the Silicon Valley — he located his garbage trucks by looking for black smoke in the air.

by Tom Johnson
July 1, 2004
Clearing the Air

 

2 min to read


Jerry Nabhan was touched personally by two cancers in his family. He intuitively knew the connection between cancer and living in an area of seven million people, with five million cars producing 550 tons of hydrocarbons a day, a precursor of ozone and the main ingredient in smog. Nabhan, Sunnyvale, Calif.’s fleet manager, felt it was imperative to take action on the local level to slow the progression of environmental impacts, pollution, disease, and global warming. Noted as a progressive city, Sunnyvale has been named the 10th safest city in America. All officers train and work in both police and fire services. Assignment rotation provides employees with mental stimulation and a variety of experiences critical to maintaining high job performance. The Energy Policy Act of 1992 requires local governments to convert fleets to alternative fuel-powered vehicles. Local laws also encouraged the fleet department to use alternative fuels. And, Nabhan knew it was the right thing to do. He converted 19 residential waste-collection trucks from diesel to compressed natural gas (CNG). These trucks reduce smog-forming and particulate pollution by 56 tons throughout the course of their operation. A proactive city, Sunnyvale hired Global Research and Analysis to survey citizens on their perceptions of city services. Global Research asked Nabhan to heighten awareness of the city’s reduction of pollution and noise (citizens used to wake up to the sound of trash trucks). Nabhan and his staff came up with the idea of showcasing their zero-emissions CNG trucks. Global Resources hosted a “Dinner at the Dump” for 340 residents, featuring oysters, steaks, salmon, and chili cooked by public safety officers. Nabhan’s wife and mother made more than 340 strawberry shortcakes. The event raised $15,600 for the needy in Sunnyvale. Since the “Dinner at the Dump” event, and the resulting publicity, the city’s fueling station sells more CNG fuel to the public than used by the entire fleet.

Topics:Operations
Subscribe to Our Newsletter

More Operations

A graphic of fleetgap workshops and fleet images.
Operationsby Nichole OsinskiJune 26, 2026

The FleetGap Initiative: Transitioning from Military to Civilian Fleet Roles

FleetGap is working to build the missing bridge between service members preparing for civilian careers and fleet employers facing workforce shortages.

Read More →
a GRAPHIC OF A TABLET WITH a VEHICLE AND GF LOGO.
Operationsby Nichole OsinskiJune 23, 2026

How Government Fleets Are Turning Connected Vehicle Data Into Practical Decisions

Public sector fleets are using connected technology to improve visibility, but the bigger challenge is building the processes to act on the information it provides.

Read More →
A RoadFlex graphic for fleets.
Operationsby News/Media ReleaseJune 16, 2026

RoadFlex Brings Fuel Tax Compliance and Audit-Ready Reporting to Government, Public Works Fleets

New capabilities aim to help public-sector and public works fleets streamline fuel tax exemptions, reclamation, reconciliation, and audit-ready reporting.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
2026 public fleet hall of fame inductees
Eventsby Staff WriterJune 10, 2026

2026 Public Fleet Hall of Fame Inductees Honored

This year's class includes leaders whose work has helped shape the public fleet industry.

Read More →
2026 GFX Honors Ceremony
Eventsby Staff WriterJune 10, 2026

David Renschler Receives 2026 Legendary Lifetime Achievement Award

Andy Campbell of Sourcewell, which partnered with Government Fleet in presenting the award, recognized Renschler.

Read More →
Ross Jackson Jr winning public sector fleet manager of the year
Eventsby Staff WriterJune 10, 2026

Ross Jackson Jr. Named 2026 Public Sector Fleet Manager of the Year

His leadership, innovation, and commitment to excellence earned him one of the industry's top honors.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
 the GFX main stage.
Operationsby Staff WriterJune 4, 2026

Public Fleet Professionals Set to Converge as GFX Gets Underway

Known as the largest gathering of public fleet professionals in the nation, GFX will feature in-depth training sessions, emerging fleet technologies, and access to leading suppliers and service providers.

Read More →
A blueprint with tool graphics and text about technicians.
Operationsby Nichole OsinskiJune 1, 2026

The Technician Pipeline: Finding, Keeping, and Promoting Techs Within the Operation

A look at where to find good talent, what fleets are doing to incentivize those techs to stay within the fleet, and what promotion looks like for a technician within the public sector.

Read More →
a youtube graphic of fleet images.
OperationsJune 1, 2026

5 Public Fleet Stories Worth Revisiting Before GFX | The May Dispatch

Public fleet leaders are being asked to prepare for more, communicate better, and make decisions that hold up under pressure.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
White cargo van driving on a paved road with trees and greenery in the background.
SponsoredJune 1, 2026

Drive More Profit with Greater Fleet Uptime

Fleet downtime costs money. JASPER helps keep vehicles on the road with quality remanufactured components, fast nationwide delivery, and reliable solutions that boost uptime and profitability.

Read More →