The City of Long Beach Fleet Services has been lauded as the top fleet in the U.S. and Canada, grabbing the number one spot at the Government Fleet Expo and Conference on May 7, according to announcements reported by Government Fleet Magazine and Government Fleet. The accolade, which holds considerable weight within fleet circles, was presented by Nate Oscarson from Ford Pro amidst a gathering of industry peers and recognizes excellence in leadership, operational efficiency, overcoming challenges, and forward-looking strategies.
Celebrating the accolade, Mayor Rex Richardson said, "Our Fleet Services team continues to demonstrate a strong vision and direction, setting the standard for excellence in the field," as the city begins to carve a path forward on environmental sustainability, ushering in a greener future for municipal services. Long Beach was also acknowledged as the number one large fleet amongst those with over 1,000 assets — boasting more than 2,300 total vehicles and took home the top honors across all size categories.
Among the feats that lifted Long Beach to the peak of the fleet mountain were noteworthy efforts aimed at boosting employee morale and engaging the community — think retention bonuses, comprehensive training programs, a quarterly MVP peer recognition and events to celebrate the staff's hard work, according to the City of Long Beach's press release. They were also recognized for streamlining operations with multi-year vendor contracts and a refreshed preventive maintenance program, and for investments in zero-emission vehicle infrastructure.
Long Beach's drive for fleet distinction stems from a blend of city policy and state regulation looking to cultivate the cleanest fleet achievable with an ambitious roll-out of zero-emission vehicles (ZEV) — envision electrification of over 410 vehicles with a wholesale switch to electric by 2027 contingent on technology's pace, a vision outlined by the city's published ZEV Blueprint. These accolades spotlight the city as a hub not just for tourists flocking to the iconic Queen Mary or the Aquarium of the Pacific but as a frontrunner in municipal vehicle sustainability, mentioned both sources.
Residing under the Financial Management Department's broad umbrella, the Fleet Services Bureau shoulders the responsibilities for city vehicle and equipment acquisition, all the preventive maintenance jazz, unscheduled repair, and the imperative task of fueling services to various city departments, roles that are central to enabling them to meet their operational objectives. The city's robust infrastructure initiatives include charging stations and an overarching green fleet sustainability strategy, essential components in their environmentally conscious urban choreography.