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SEARCHMENUSEARCHHybrid vehicles have been around for many years. Fleets from across the country have replaced traditional administrative vehicles with more fuel efficient hybrids. However, a new trend is starting to develop as hybrids are now being used as full-time police patrol units. Although hybrids make good sense in an administrative role, are they robust enough for law enforcement purposes?
Read More →Today's workplace environment for public sector employees is the perfect storm for staff burn-out. Every public sector fleet manager is all too familiar with downsizing — doing more with (substantially) less. More and more fleet managers cite staff "burn-out" as a growing concern.
Read More →Fleet managers no longer solely "manage" their fleets, they must also manage expectations, communication, and the political realities of their local environment. The most difficult challenge a fleet manager faces is effectively communicating to elected officials the complex issues facing fleet operations. This is a fundamental, yet often neglected, responsibility necessary to be a successful fleet manager. Here's what you need to do.
Read More →These are tough times. Our government is spending money we don’t have and at an unsustainable rate that adds trillions of dollars to our national debt. These just aren’t meaningless numbers, they actually have consequences! Sooner rather than later the reckless spending will result in higher taxes for everyone and leverage our children to an uncertain future. We were supposed to leave our children with a better America than we had.
Read More →Do you think you are doing a good job? Do you believe that if you continue to perform to “acceptable government standards” that your job will be there tomorrow? These are hard times, and as every day passes the taxpayers of this country are becoming angrier at what they see as an increasingly incompetent and costly government. For the first time in history, public sector pay is out performing that of the private sector
Read More →The EPA mandated the use of ULSD, effective June 1, 2006. Since then, there has been an uptick in reports of fuel-related problems, such as corrosion in storage tanks and dispensing systems, onboard vehicle fuel tank corrosion, clogged filters, and seal and gasket deterioration. What has the industry scratching its "collective head" is the chronological correlation between the uptick in fuel-related problems and the introduction of ULSD. Is there a connection between the two?
Read More →Multiple trends are converging that will ultimately reconfigure the future composition of light-duty fleet assets. A new era of police packages will commence with the 2012-MY.
Read More →Today's fleet managers are increasingly scrutinized for every action and for every dollar spent. In this environment, fleet managers are constantly second-guessed by citizens, politicians, and user departments on the efficacy of their policies. This second-guessing is primarily due to misperceptions. Most fleets have not been successful in changing misperceptions because this type of second-guessing continues to be a perennial issue. One exception is the City of Troy, Michigan.
Read More →Under OSHA regulations, an employer must provide a workplace (which includes work vehicles) free from recognized hazards. Workers' Comp claims resulting from use of inappropriately spec'ed add-on equipment is on the rise. Poor equipment spec'ing can result in expensive litigation. Ergonomics is also an accident avoidance issue. Poor ergonomics reduces driver comfort, increasing fatigue, a key contributor to preventable accidents.
Read More →Fleet maintenance costs are trending upward compared to prior years. The key reason is the higher frequency of repairs on higher-mileage units as a result of the widespread deferment of equipment replacement by many government fleets. In a true case of "pay me now or pay me later," fleet managers face the challenge of how to hold maintenance costs down while operating an aging fleet.
Read More →DEF is an acronym for diesel exhaust fluid required for diesel engines incorporating selective catalytic reduction (SCR) technology. As of Jan.1, DEF is now required for SCR-diesels to meet 2010 EPA emission standards. A growing number of public sector fleets are dispensing DEF at on-site fueling facilities.
Read More →The budgetary meltdowns in public sector America have caused significant turmoil for fleet operations. Due to these fiscal shortfalls, the level of scrutiny of internal costs is at a level never seen before, even for fleets with reputations for cost-efficiency and high service levels. Fleet managers are constantly second-guessed on the efficacy of their policies and under tremendous pressure to maintain preexisting service levels despite slashed budgets and reduced staffing.
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