The Indianapolis Department of Public Works' (DPW) Fleet Services Division has been ranked as one of the 100 best fleets in North America.
The Indianapolis Fleet earned the ranking of 21st best in the competition, above cities like San Diego, Chicago, and New York.
Criteria for consideration of the Best Fleets award includes clear accountability measures, use of technology and information, collaboration demonstrating a "bottom-up" model of sharing of ideas among all fleet personnel, creativity, performance recognition, "doing it right the first time," efficient turnaround, competitive pricing, and staff development.
"We are thrilled to be recognized for our accomplishments and major improvements in the city's Fleet Services Division," Mayor Greg Ballard said in a press release. "We remain committed to adding newer and more sustainable vehicles to our fleet."
Indianapolis Fleet Services maintains about 5,300 pieces of equipment city-wide. Under Ballard's leadership, in 2009, DPW initiated a five-year vehicle replacement strategy by which the city will 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.
The city has purchased 65 new snow trucks, 48 new solid waste trucks, and about 1,300 public safety vehicles since 2008, including 25 hybrid public safety vehicles that were added to the fleet last year. Those vehicles average 30 miles per gallon and will save an estimated 1,300 gallons of gas per vehicle annually.
The award comes just a week after Indianapolis was recognized by the U.S. Conference of Mayors for its Green Fleet initiatives, including retrofitting DPW trucks and Marion County Sheriff's vans to run on propane, which has 24 percent fewer carbon emissions than unleaded fuel with 90 percent of the efficiency.
Sponsored by Government Fleet Magazine and Program Author Tom C. Johnson, the 100 best fleets program recognizes and rewards peak performing fleet operations in North America.
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