Indianapolis Hosts 100 Best Fleets Regional Conference
9.28.10

The Indianapolis Star

Mayor Greg Ballard joined Tom C. Johnson of 100 Best Fleets and other Midwestern fleet professionals to receive a national award honoring the Indianapolis Fleet Services Division as one of the 100 best fleets in North America.

“It has been a challenge over the years keeping decade and older vehicles in condition to serve the citizens of Indianapolis, but thanks to the outstanding leadership in our Department of Public Works and the fleet services team, we have met the challenge,” said Mayor Ballard. “Now with our continually improving fleet and the implementation of best practice strategies, we can offer residents the improved service they deserve.”

The Indianapolis Department of Public Works (DPW) Fleet Services Division was recognized on June 21 in Austin, Texas as the 53rd best fleet in North America. The Indianapolis Fleet Services Division (IFS) was chosen out of a possible 38,000 fleets eligible for the honor ranking Indianapolis among other major municipal awardees including New York City, Atlanta, Denver and Las Vegas Valley Water District.

As a result of the City’s impressive ranking as a first time participant in the 100 Best Fleets program, Indianapolis was selected to host the program’s fall Midwest regional conference highlighting strategies for implementing best business practices among municipal fleets. Other Midwest conference hosts have included 2010 award honoree Fort Wayne, Indiana.

“Indianapolis did extremely well among comparable municipal fleets, especially as a first time participant in the program,” said Johnson. “Mayor Ballard and city residents should be very proud to be ranked among the country’s top fleet organizations.”

Indianapolis Fleet Services maintains a total of approximately 4,400 pieces of equipment city-wide including 3,500 rolling stock and about 900 non-rolling stock. DPW has an inventory of 529 pieces of rolling stock (cars, vans, trucks, etc.) and 411 pieces of non-rolling stock (plows, trailers, small mowers and miscellaneous other equipment). The City began
replacing the oldest DPW fleet vehicles in 2009 replacing 44 snow and solid waste vehicles with new ones before October of last year.

Approximately 19 pieces, or 90 percent, of the automated solid waste fleet and 60 percent of the city’s snow plow fleet has been replaced since 2008.

As part of a 5-year vehicle replacement strategy, the City expects to replace almost all DPW vehicles with newer, better equipment in an effort to provide city residents better, faster, more efficient service. New fleet vehicles also translate to taxpayer savings as a result of decreased maintenance costs.

In order to better maintain the life-cycle of fleet vehicles, DPW implemented the Vehicle Maintenance Program (VMP) in early 2009. The program is an expansion of previous maintenance protocols that encompass daily pre- and –post- inspections of vehicles specific to the equipment and type of truck. The VMP allows detailed daily checks of new and older equipment that will result in better management of resources, longer vehicle life and ultimately increase taxpayer savings.

About 100 Best Fleets
Sponsored by Government Fleet Magazine, national fleet management software provider Invers Mobility Solutions, and consultant and program author, Tom C. Johnson, the 100 Best Fleets program recognizes and rewards peak performing fleet operations in North America.

100 Best Fleets identifies and encourages ever-increasing levels of performance improvement within the fleet industry. The program works to identify outstanding operations for others to emulate, promote levels of productivity and operational effectiveness, and provide recognition within the communities served by the winning fleets and within the national fleet community.
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