Solano County Grand Jury
• 2023-2024
Solano County Fleet Management Division July 10, 2023
⚠️ Translation Notice: This content has been automatically translated. The original English text is the official version. Translation may contain errors.
⚠️ Este contenido ha sido traducido automáticamente. El texto original en inglés es la versión oficial. La traducción puede contener errores.
Findings and Recommendations 6 findings
F1
– Electronic controls for dispensing and monitoring gasoline and diesel fuel use, have been successfully implemented. However, there are no similar electronic controls for vehicles using propane or DEF.
Related Recommendations (1)
R1
– Investigate implementing dispensing and monitoring controls for usage of both propane and DEF.
F2
– Telemetric monitoring is available in many of the County’s fleet vehicles, but those capabilities have not been activated. Having telemetrics activated in the County’s fleet vehicles would benefit multiple divisions in required vehicle maintenance, emergency breakdown notification, vehicle location and geo fencing notification.
Related Recommendations (3)
R2A
– Update the County’s software to enable electronic communications to and from County fleet vehicles to the maintenance department and divisions within the County for the limited purpose of enabling data for maintenance purposes.
R2B
- Activate the current County’s fleet vehicles that already have the telemetric monitoring systems onboard for the limited purpose of enabling data for maintenance purposes.
R2C
- Install the needed telemetric hardware in the remaining County fleet vehicles that do not currently have that hardware and activate it for the limited purpose of enabling data for maintenance purposes.
F3
– Combining the Fleet Management shops has resulted in a loss of work shop space.
Related Recommendations (1)
R3
– Fleet Management initiate a request to identify a new location that can handle maintenance requirements for both light and heavy equipment vehicles.
F4
– Twenty percent of the County’s fleet vehicles are being driven less than the required minimum miles each year. The County is experiencing a great deal of underutilized vehicles.
Related Recommendations (1)
R4
– The County should complete an in-depth analysis of the needs of the County’s fleet requirements and determine a realistic minimum number of miles accumulated by each vehicle and the steps needed to utilize available telemetric technology.
F5
– Fleet Management is maintaining nearly $200,000 in overstock and/or obsolete parts.
Related Recommendations (1)
R5
– Contract a third-party vendor to handle the County’s fleet parts inventory and needs. A consignment inventory could free up cash flow as well as keep the needed parts current and up to date on the vehicles the County has within the fleet.
F6
– With recent pronouncements in California concerning the future prohibition of the sale of new gas-powered vehicles. Fleet vehicles ultimately will be largely made up of electric/hybrid vehicles. At present, there are simply not enough County owned charging stations to meet the anticipated needs.
Related Recommendations (1)
R6
– The County must secure additional charging stations to handle the influx of electric/hybrid County vehicles. Moreover, the County needs to update the driver handbook with County electric/hybrid vehicle operations. COMMENTS – Over the past several years in fleet maintenance, significant improvement has taken place in a number of areas. A proactive plan is under development and once recognized and approved will be a working document.