• Planning & Financial
  • Financial Forecasting
  • Strategic Planning
• Human Resources
  • Staff Planning
  • Cross Training
  • Shared Administrators
  • Sick Leave Management
  • Succession Planning
• Fleet
  • Consolidated Operations & Fleet Maintenance Partnerships
  • Centralized Fleet Management
  • Fuel Management & Oversight
  • Fuel Conservation Policies
• Facility
  • Energy Management
  • Facility Use Management
• Operations
  • Snow & Ice Control
  • Communications Center Accreditation
  • Dispatch Consolidation
  • Police Shifts
• Technology
  • Server Consolidation
  • Process Automation

Fleet Management

Fuel Conservation Policies
Incentive Programs

Local governments often have not developed fuel policies for staff use of vehicles. Strict fuel policies and a fuel conservation incentive program can help local governments reduce fuel costs.

Maintenance policies generally include recommendations to improve efficiency by limiting weight, avoiding unnecessary trips, reducing long idling, maintaining adequate tire pressure, and performing regular oil and air filter changes.

They also can include more specific policies such as establishing maximum speeds, keeping windows rolled up, limiting air-conditioning, encouraging cruise control use, minimizing aggressive starts and stops, and GPS tracking to ensure location and use. All of these policies are aimed at maximizing fuel economy to save money.

When implemented in 2008, the County expected savings of 8 to 10 percent per vehicle and lower maintenance costs. By 2011, fuel consumption was reduced by 13.4 percent and preventable accidents were reduced by 22 percent. Crash damage severity also was decreased.  Polk County, Florida

National Examples

Fuel Program Improves Fleet Fuel Economy by 3 Percent
City of Naperville, Illinois

The City of Naperville’s fuel economy program has improved overall fleet fuel economy by 3.4 percent since 2005. The city outlines policies for reducing engine warm-up, eliminating idling, minimizing air-conditioner use, planning routes, reducing excess weight and unnecessary trips, eliminating jack-rabbit starts and stops, lowering speeds, and ensuring performance of preventative maintenance.

Fuel Policies Ensure Conservation & Efficiency
City of Clearwater, Florida

Clearwater, Florida city departments responsible for the majority of fuel usage have policies in place to ensure conservation.

• Solid Waste and General Services departments eliminate idling, require minimum load size, and encourage the sharing of vehicles.
• The Police Department prohibits vehicle use for out-of-county training, increases the surcharge for vehicle use for off-duty jobs, and creates an hourly idle time for patrol cars.
• Public Works minimizes the use of vehicles for lunch times, reduces the number of supply purchasing trips, and restricts fueling to vehicles in use.
• Public Utilities geographically routes work orders, combines service types, and groups hydrant and valve repairs in order to minimize driving.
• Major projects are confined to neighborhoods, vehicles are required to be stocked and minimize carrying additional fuel, idling is to be eliminated, and lift station crews are to be limited to one vehicle when possible.
• Fire Department vehicles are permitted to conduct multiple assignments on the road and vehicles may be shut down on scene if not actively engaged.
• The Gas Department challenges each employee to conserve fuel with an initial goal of a 10 percent mileage reduction on each vehicle. Excessive trips to construction sites will be appropriately charged to the builder or developer.

Virginia City Reminds Departments of Importance of Conservation
City of Lynchburg, Virginia

The City of Lynchburgh publishes tips for fuel conservation for its departments that include:

• Limiting idling time when waiting or working in the field.
• Tire pressure should be checked and tires properly inflated since statistics show tire performance can account for 4-7 percent of a car’s fuel consumption. Also, wheel alignments are encouraged.
• Excess cargo should be removed to limit weight for better fuel economy
• Trips should be scheduled to consolidate daily trips, and necessary tools and supplies should be included in planning.
• Recommendations also include closing windows, driving gently, minimizing warm-ups, reducing vehicle size, and consolidating trips. Checking oils and fluids and getting preventative maintenance are suggested.

Vehicle Policies Reduce Fuel Consumption 13.4%; Preventable Accidents by 22%
Polk County, Florida

Polk County implemented several policies including observing a maximum top speed of 55 mph on all roads but interstate highways, eliminating vehicle idling, instituting driving training programs, and issuing an incentive program. The incentives awarded a 50/50 split for cost savings if the mpg was improved by 5 percent.

When implemented in 2008, the County expected savings of 8 to 10 percent per vehicle and lower maintenance costs. By 2011, fuel consumption was reduced by 13.4 percent and preventable accidents were reduced by 22 percent. Crash damage severity also was decreased.

Web Resources

• US Department of Energy and Environmental Protection Agency Fuel Economy Website
• American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy
• Alliance to Save Energy
• Canada’s Office of Energy Efficiency