City of Powell officials say a new data-driven approach to managing police and service vehicles is expected to reduce fleet costs by nearly $400,000 over the next five years while maintaining vehicle safety and reliability.

The city worked with Compass Direct, a fleet management consulting firm, to conduct an assessment of its police and service vehicle fleet. In mid-2023, Powell also implemented fleet management software to track vehicle condition, usage, maintenance costs and replacement cycles.

Data-Driven Fleet Planning

Using the software, the city performs annual inspections and assessments of its vehicles and develops a five-year replacement plan. The data allows staff to evaluate long-term operating costs and make decisions about vehicle selection and replacement timing.

The analysis showed that the city could extend the lifecycle of its police vehicles by switching to a different model. Rather than replacing patrol vehicles every three years, the city plans to move to a five-year replacement cycle.

Historically, Powell’s police fleet primarily used Ford vehicles replaced every three years. Beginning in 2026, the city plans to transition to Chevrolet Tahoe patrol vehicles. City officials said maintenance costs between the two models are similar, but the Tahoe allows for a longer replacement cycle and includes a seven-year, unlimited-mileage warranty.

Officials said the extended lifecycle and warranty coverage are expected to help reduce replacement frequency and avoid major repair costs.

Projected Cost Savings

City officials estimate the updated replacement strategy and lifecycle planning will save nearly $400,000 over five years.

Powell currently operates with a ratio of two patrol officers per police cruiser, a practice intended to maximize vehicle utilization while maintaining service levels.

“Now that we have data, we are able to make better choices and analysis,” said Police Chief Ron Sallows. “This allows us to plan more effectively and be responsible stewards of taxpayer dollars.”

Residents are expected to begin seeing the new patrol vehicles in 2026 as the transition begins. City officials said they plan to continue using fleet data and professional assessments to guide future fleet decisions and manage costs.