100 Best Fleets

Elite Fleet is an honorary title given to the top fleet in the 100 Best Fleets program. This years number one fleet is Culver City. Once given the title, the fleets are ineligible to compete for the next five years, and generally asked to judge the future contest. Being the best fleet brings recognition from neighboring fleets as well as national organizations. Elite Fleets lead the way in innovative and efficient fleet management. How does one become an Elite Fleet? Here are some tips from the experts; previous Best Fleet winners.

Maximize ROI

• Maximizing the vehicle return on investment can provide revenue for upfitting fleet vehicles or purchasing new, innovative fleet technologies.
• Having a large fleet means disposal of hundreds of vehicles annually. Creating a higher resale value can provide large savings.
• Vehicle ROI needs to be considered during initial truck acquisition.
• Small details such as adding a bed-liner to a pickup truck, tinting the windows in warmer climates, and picking a popular paint color such as white can increase resale value.
• Bolt-on truck bodies damage both the pickup truck and the service body itself. Fleetwest Transferable Truck Bodies offer slip-on models that won't damage the vehicle and are easily removed for a higher resale value and maximized ROI. 

 Rightsizing a Fleet

• Rightsizing a fleet can mean either increasing or decreasing the number of vehicles and drivers.
• Using vehicle utilization studies can help determine an accurate number of trucks with maximum utilization.
• Underused vehicles or equipment can be sold at auction to increase ROI.
• Integrating transferable truck bodies into a fleet provides more versatility and eliminates the need to purchase more pickup trucks. Load'N'Go truck bodies can be moved from one truck to another when needed if the pickup is in the shop or a technician is out.

Vehicle Maintenance

• Many government fleets develop maintenance partnerships. This strategy works well for both the fleet and the partner because they can benefit from fleet services.
• Investing in durable and secure fleet vehicles and service bodies can reduce overall maintenance costs. Durashell service bodies are lightweight yet rugged and offer plenty of secure storage space to protect expensive tools and cargo.

Go Green

• Investing in a green fleet when rightsizing or initially acquiring vehicles saves money initially, in fuel costs, and provides companies with an environmental stamp of approval.
• Some organizations have invested in hiring a green fleet coordinator to advise on the best way to incorporate environmental technology into a fleet.
• Goals can be set to reduce fleet petroleum fuel, carbon emissions, and overall environmental impact.
• Lightweight vehicles require less fuel and reduce carbon emissions. Durashell service bodies are made of a lightweight fiberglass composite and can reduce fuel costs to create a greener fleet.