After riding out yet another year of COVID-19-related news, readers still managed to find the light at the end of the tunnel. Many were engaged with headlines about public safety vehicle adoptions and potential fleet electrification plans. Readers also picked up their spirits with announcements of Government Fleet’s most coveted awards programs, including the Leading Fleets, Public Fleet Hall of Fame, and Public Sector Fleet Manager of the Year. With the return of our annual in-person GFX tradeshow this past November, selected fleets and fleet managers were recognized for their hard work and dedication in overcoming this year's challenges. Take a closer look at the top news stories for 2021:
1. Announcing the 2021 Public Fleet Hall of Fame Inductees: Three public fleet professionals were chosen for induction into the Public Fleet Hall of Fame.
2. Announcing the 2021 Leading Fleets: The 50 Leading Fleets represent the best in the industry. Rankings for the top 20 fleets as well as the top fleets in size categories: No. 1 small fleet (499 or fewer assets), No. 1 mid-size fleet (500-999 assets), and No. 1 large fleet (1,000 or more assets) were announced at the Government Fleet Expo & Conference in November.
3. Vote Now for the 2021 Public Fleet Hall of Fame: The 2021 Public Fleet Hall of Fame recognizes those who have made significant contributions to the public fleet industry. Anyone affiliated with the public fleet industry, including fleet professionals, technicians or other staff members, fleet service providers, suppliers, and retired fleet professionals, can vote.
4. Ford Introduces All-New 2021 F-150 Police Responder: The F-150 Police Responder offers a top speed of 120 mph and an available Police Engine Idle feature, which lets an officer remove the key and securely exit the running truck without losing power to lights and sirens.
5. South Carolina DPS Unveils Unmarked Vehicles: The new unmarked Chargers feature an assortment of body and stripe colors that allow troopers to blend in with traffic to better detect and enforce aggressive driving behaviors.
6. Florida Fleet Employee Killed in Love Triangle Shooting: A Volusia County, Florida, fleet maintenance employee was shot and killed at work on Feb. 4 when another employee arrived at the facility and opened fire on him.
7. Senators Make Recommendations for Fleet Electrification: In a letter to President Biden, 13 senators recommended a stop order of the United States Postal Services’ (USPS) years-long vehicle acquisitions process in order to pursue electrification.
8. Arkansas Troopers to Use New Low-Profile Patrol Vehicles: The Arkansas State Police has acquired 25 new low-profile patrol vehicles — Chevrolet Tahoes — to combat aggressive and distracted driving.
9. John Deere Launches Special Application Vehicles: The custom line of utility vehicles addresses the unique needs of police, fire, rescue, and security personnel, as well as the broader needs of governmental customers.
10. Here are the 2021 Finalists for Public Sector Fleet Manager of the Year: Finalists were selected by a panel of past winners and other public fleet industry veterans based on 10 categories. The winner was recognized during the Government Fleet Expo & Conference in November.
