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Government Fleet Market Trends

Market Trends offers insightful examinations of current fleet industry trends and developments, emphasizing practical, real-world impacts and applications for the professional fleet manager. In addition to zeroing in on today’s fleet realities, Market Trends also provides a “peak over the horizon,” looking to the future to identify emerging issues and trends that will affect and influence fleet management in the near and long term.

Combating Misperception with Reality

Today's fleet managers are increasingly scrutinized for every action and for every dollar spent. In this environment, fleet managers are constantly second-guessed by citizens, politicians, and user departments on the efficacy of their policies. This second-guessing is primarily due to misperceptions. Most fleets have not been successful in changing misperceptions because this type of second-guessing continues to be a perennial issue. One exception is the City of Troy, Michigan.

Ergonomics is Often the ‘Missing Link’ in Equipment Specifications

Under OSHA regulations, an employer must provide a workplace (which includes work vehicles) free from recognized hazards. Workers' Comp claims resulting from use of inappropriately spec'ed add-on equipment is on the rise. Poor equipment spec'ing can result in expensive litigation. Ergonomics is also an accident avoidance issue. Poor ergonomics reduces driver comfort, increasing fatigue, a key contributor to preventable accidents.

Pay Me Now or Pay Me Later

Fleet maintenance costs are trending upward compared to prior years. The key reason is the higher frequency of repairs on higher-mileage units as a result of the widespread deferment of equipment replacement by many government fleets. In a true case of "pay me now or pay me later," fleet managers face the challenge of how to hold maintenance costs down while operating an aging fleet.

DEF: A New Variable in Managing Government Fleets

DEF is an acronym for diesel exhaust fluid required for diesel engines incorporating selective catalytic reduction (SCR) technology. As of Jan.1, DEF is now required for SCR-diesels to meet 2010 EPA emission standards. A growing number of public sector fleets are dispensing DEF at on-site fueling facilities.

Budgetary Shortfalls Intensify Second-Guessing of Fleet Managers

The budgetary meltdowns in public sector America have caused significant turmoil for fleet operations. Due to these fiscal shortfalls, the level of scrutiny of internal costs is at a level never seen before, even for fleets with reputations for cost-efficiency and high service levels. Fleet managers are constantly second-guessed on the efficacy of their policies and under tremendous pressure to maintain preexisting service levels despite slashed budgets and reduced staffing.

Keep Your Eyes on the Road, Your Hands Upon the Wheel

Multi-tasking while driving has become common and is a major factor in driver distraction. Drivers are multi-tasking because they are required to do more in the same allotted time. Drivers use "windshield time" to talk on the phone, catch-up on e-mails, scan documents while driving to meetings, and eat when running behind schedule.

It is Crucial to Over-Communicate

The best way to control fleet costs is before the money has ever been spent. Likewise, promising good customer service is not the same as delivering it. When it comes to communicating fleet policy compliance with users and fostering a customer service mindset with your staff, it is important to consistently re-communicate these goals. The secret to success is to communicate and then re-communicate on a regular basis.

Public Sector Fleet Managers Work Under a Microscope

At one time, there was anonymity in being a public sector fleet manager - no more. All this changed with increased fuel costs, emission-reduction mandates, liability issues, new regulations, and escalated productivity demands, along with ongoing personnel, vehicle, and maintenance costs. Computerization of fleet data has created easy accessibility to this data, which facilitates scrutiny of fleet operations.

Public Sector Fleets: How to Minimize User Abuse and Neglect of Equipment

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. Abuse can range from damage caused from fluid levels being low, missing PM intervals, driving on underinflated tires to extreme situations of jumping curbs or scraping the sides of buildings. These represent significant costs.

Public Sector Fleet Managers Reveal Likes & Dislikes About Their Jobs

Most in public sector fleet management find it to be a very rewarding career, but the job is increasingly filled with new challenges, many of them unprecedented. I asked fleet managers, on a confidential basis, whether they still find their jobs to be fun in wake of the turmoil the industry has experienced in the past 12 months (and still unfolds into the present day). Here are their responses.

Taking the Pulse of Public Sector Fleet Management

The past few months have given me the opportunity to talk "fleet" with a large number of public sector fleet managers at the GFX and NAFA conferences. These conversations have allowed me to take the pulse of public sector fleet management. Based on my conversations, here what's on the minds of government fleet managers.

Spec Equipment to Reduce Workers’ Comp Claims

Poor spec'ing decisions can result in expensive workers' compensation litigation. The average workers' comp cost for a pushing/pulling injury is $10,175, while the average cost for a lifting/bending incident is $8,989. Under OSHA regs, an employer must provide a workplace (which includes work vehicles and equipment) free from recognized hazards.

Customer vs. User: What is Your Mindset?

Do you service customers or users? If you think this is semantics, then you have the wrong mindset. Promising good customer service is not the same as delivering it. To be successful in today's environment, it is critical to create a shop culture of providing high-quality service that provides an unwavering focus on the internal customer. Raising the bar for customer service starts not with the technicians, but with the fleet manager.

Fleet Management by Objective: The Goal of Continuous Improvement

Exemplary fleet managers rise above the level of simply managing day-to-day work and are goal-oriented in all aspects of fleet management. They practice strategic fleet management, which stresses the importance of achieving objectives and the use of metrics to benchmark progress. Metrics analyses will identify inefficiencies and allow you to focus on these specific areas. Whether or not your initiatives are successful in rectifying these inefficiencies will be borne out in subsequent metrics.

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