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SEARCHMENUSEARCHAs I was driving into work this morning I heard a radio news announcer claim that food prices will increase this year. He stated the price increases will affect a wide variety of foodstuffs, but the most significant increases will occur in meat products. The reason for the surge in prices…a dramatic drop in the availability of soybeans and corn stock. Now most of you already know where I am going with this. For many years, scientists have been concerned about the viability of the bio-fuels indus
Read More →For the most part, my previous posts have been related to fleet issues. However, there is only so much one can talk about without becoming dull and repetitive. So from now I’m going to sporadically spruce-up my blog by posting what I will call…Monthly Rants! They will not be related to any one particular issue, just some topic of discussion that I wish to vent on. My rants will likely be non-fleet related and deal with current issues facing our country and way-of-life.
Read More →There was an interesting article posted in the Government Fleet website on December 16th 2010. Many of you probably glanced over it and didn’t give it another thought. Well if it didn’t interest you before, it should have! The Article I am referring to is “San Diego Begins Managed Competition”.
Read More →The vast majority of public fleet operations are an expense to the agency they serve, and therefore are an easy target for budget cuts or outsourcing. So what can you do to add more value to your department’s existence…INSOURCE!
Read More →The primary job of a public sector fleet manager is managing assets and the services provided to user departments. However, as every fleet manager can attest, as much as 60 percent of the work week is consumed by personnel management. In many respects, people management (staff and interdepartmental) is harder than asset management.
Read More →While preparing to rewrite my own utilization requirements, I researched the utilization standards of several dozen public fleets. As part of my analysis I used auditor reports, and through that process, come across some interesting discoveries related to the criteria that the auditors failed to take into consideration. In most cases the auditors used very a basic and simplistic approach to their analysis by only comparing the size and population of various other public entities to determine the
Read More →With very few exceptions most municipal and state employees have seen significant reductions in their wages and benefits, and with those reductions, comes a corresponding decrease in employee morale. Most of us have tried to improve morale by giving the standard pep talks and increasing employee recognition programs
Read More →Ok, I know that this isn’t exactly what you would call “fleet related” but every now and then one has to vent in order to maintain their sanity. The slogan “Buy American” has always been about pride in our country and American workmanship. Most of the fleet managers I know actively promote and purchase American made products. But is “Made in America” rapidly becoming a thing of the past?
Read More →With the decline in tax revenues, public sector fleets are increasingly scrutinized by management, politicians, and taxpayers. At one time, there was anonymity in being a public sector fleet manager — no more. Years ago, fleet was not high on the radar screen. However, with zero-growth budgets, along with higher fuel costs, emission-reduction mandates, liability issues, and new regulations, fleet is now dead-center on the radar screen of senior management.
Read More →One consequence to reduced (or non-existent) capital purchase budgets is that public sector fleets have had to extend vehicle and equipment lifecycles. Across the country, government fleets have extended lifecycles for all vehicle classes. However, achieving true cost savings involves more than just putting off expenditures in the hope your organization's fiscal situation will improve in the future; it requires eliminating costs.
Read More →Today, computers are everywhere and in virtually everything. For those of us who have been exposed to the computing industry for many years the term “garbage in – garbage out” holds real meaning. Do you remember the days when tune-up tools consisted of a matchbook cover, screwdriver, and a keen sense of hearing? Well those days have long since passed, and mostly for the better.
Read More →The forecast is that calendar-year 2011 will be a repeat of 2010 for most public sector fleets. The persistently sluggish economy promises to dominate the majority of fleet decisions in calendar-year 2011, just as it did in 2010. Public sector fleets will continue to be pressured to lower capital expenditures and reduce operating costs to compensate for tax revenue shortfalls. Here's a forecast of what to expect in 2011.
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