GF Blue logo
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

St. Louis Faces Refuse Truck Shortage

Of the City of St. Louis' 84 refuse trucks, only 40 to 45 are operable on an average day.

July 18, 2018
St. Louis Faces Refuse Truck Shortage

 

1 min to read


After years of deferred vehicle replacements, the City of St. Louis is facing a shortage of refuse trucks. Although the refuse fleet includes 84 trucks, only 40 to 45 are fit to hit the road on an average day, and as a result the city is struggling to cover its 55 daily trash routes, reports the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

The average age of the city’s refuse trucks is 10 years old, with the oldest trucks reaching 18 years, reports the Post-Dispatch.

Ad Loading...

Last year the city increased its monthly trash fees, and half of the revenue was used to purchase 13 new trucks. A 10-year plan proposed to the city would call for 76 new trucks.

Cara Spencer, an alderman for the city, posted a photo of an overflowing dumpster on Facebook, calling attention to the need for fleet funding.

“We need to make room in our annual City budget for basic equipment [maintenance]. A decade of deferred [maintenance] does not smell good,” the post read. “Unfortunately we can only do so much with so much of our fleet inoperable.”


Related: Ind. City Debates In-House Refuse Collection

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 →