The public works department of the City of Richmond, Va., has begun a comprehensive fleet study to analyze asset utilization and lifecycle planning for its vehicles.

The department hired Clemmons, N.C.,-based consultant CST Fleet Services to conduct the fleet review to verify the initial assessment of the Public Works director and compare existing operational aspects against industry standards, said Sharon North, public information manager.

"The focus was, and remains, to continue those practices found to be in line with accepted practices for municipal agencies and to incorporate recommended practices to ensure the section is providing the highest level of services available, given annual budget appropriations," North said.

The department has also requested that CST forecast the impact of the analysis as it relates to future fleet cost savings initiatives. The average fleet age of the city's 2,622 units is nine years.

"Completion of this process and the resulting information will validate many of our ongoing assessments and provide vital substantiation to our proposed equipment replacement model," James Jackson, Richmond's Public Works director, said in a release.

The department hired CST through a contract with the National Joint Powers Alliance.