The Las Vegas Valley Water District recently obtained its fifth consecutive Certified Fleet Management Operation (CFMO) certification, awarded by the Government Fleet Management Alliance (GFMA). James Morwood, fleet services manager, accepted a crystal award at fleetcon on Sept. 12 in Reno, Nev.

According to Jim Wright, co-chair of GFMA and president of Fleet Counselor Services, the water district is the first agency to be certified for 10 consecutive years – recertification is required every two years. Agencies seeking the CFMO must meet minimum standards in 20 different criteria and maintain cost effectiveness and a high level of efficiency, Wright said.

Morwood said getting recertified was not as challenging as getting certified initially 10 years ago. In the past two years, Morwood has updated some of the fleet data and updated in-shop PCs so that every technician has a PC at his or her workstation. This allows them to run electronic work orders, Morwood said.

In obtaining certification 10 years ago, Morwood said he’s been able to update fleet policies and procedures and improve fleet utilization strategies. He added that while the fleet has increased in the last 10 years by more than 200 units, he’s been able to maintain the same number of staff – 34 – due to a more efficient fleet operation. The fleet increased because the Water District increased its service area, becoming a regional provider rather than a municipal water provider.

“It’s high-level [certification],” Morwood said of the CFMO certification. “They’ve got to spend a lot of time working on this.”

The Las Vegas Valley Water District has a fleet of 635 licensed vehicles and 700 pieces of equipment, which include construction equipment, trailers, and generators. The fleet has seven maintenance facilities.

By Thi Dao