ORANGE, CA - At a March 15 meeting of the Municipal Equipment Maintenance Association (MEMA), 30 fleet professionals gathered to discuss their challenges and to learn about fuel management.

President Rick Longobart began the meeting asking attendees to introduce themselves and name their biggest challenge or opportunity. Some recurring challenges named by a fleet managers included reduced budgets, boosting employee morale, maintaining aging fleets, doing the same amount of work with a decreased staff, and aging staff members.

The panel of fuel management professionals consisted of Derek Bettencourt of SC Fuels, Russ Whelan of FuelMaster, and Brian McDonough of Veeder-Root. Panel members said fleet managers can ensure accurate vehicle odometer readings through some fuel cards that set parameters for an accurate odometer reading input each time the driver needs to refuel, making sure drivers understand that they must input correct odometer readings when they fuel, and using passive systems that collect the information automatically, such as through a fuel management system.

The panel was followed by lunch, MEMA business including a treasury report and an announcement of availability of free and low-cost technician training, and a presentation of SC Fuels facility and services by Bettencourt.