Seventeen percent of respondents reported an increase in budget, while 67% reported a decreased budget. Fleet managers cited rising fuel costs more than any other factor as the reason for their increased budgets. Other factors identified include higher maintenance costs due to aging vehicles, increased labor costs, and additional work through insourcing. One reason cited for reduced costs is improved efficiencies.
Information for this overview of the public fleet industry comes from the 2012 Government Fleet Industry Profile survey, which had more than 200 responses. City fleets comprise nearly half of all fleets surveyed, and more than a quarter of fleets service areas of less than 50,000 people.
Some highlights from this section: Budgets have increased for 17% of fleets who responded, mostly due to increased fuel costs and increased labor costs, but also, in one case, to increased fleet size due to an insourcing contract. The most commonly outsourced service is body and paint work, with 86% of fleets reporting they send out this type of work. Finally, use of in-house and local auctions are tied in use with online auctions for remarketing, and many fleets opt for both methods.
From tool allowances to common customer departments, GF compiled a profile of the average fleet operation based on survey respondents and broke down data based on population size, agency type, and fleet size.
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