It's a hat trick for the Orange County Fleet Management Division, as they've clinched a spot among the nation's best for the third time since 2020, rolling in at #14 in the 2025 Leading Fleets Award; the award, bestowed by Government Fleet Magazine and the American Public Works Association, is reserved for the cream of the crop in government fleet operations throughout the U.S. and Canada, with a judging panel of fleet professionals recognizing high scorers in efficiency, innovation, customer service, and strategic planning.
In the press release, Bryan Lucas, head honcho of the Fleet Management Division, said, "We're always trying to get better," He added, "This award shows that the things we've implemented over the last few years are really moving us in the right direction — and being peer-judged, that means a lot." Lucas's team is tasked with maintaining a vast array of more than 4,000 pieces of equipment varying from sedans to ambulances, constantly turning gears to ensure smooth operations for essential services like Fire Rescue, Utilities, or Parks who lean heavily on reliable vehicles to service the needs of residents.
Despite a series of roadblocks such as open technician positions, unpredictable storm-induced disruptions, and the uphill battle with an aging vehicle arsenal, the Orange County Fleet Management Division has stayed true to course, sharpening both performance and service delivery. Pushing against these tides, the division managed fewer resources, echoing Lucas's claim, "We've made big strides in efficiency with fewer resources," He continued via the OCFL News, "Technology has helped — especially our integrated fleet management software — but at the end of the day, it’s our people. We’ve got a great team committed to getting the job done."
An integrated system at their fingertips, the team maps out everything from work orders to preventative maintenance, empowering a service model that is not only quicker but is also a tribute to fiscal prudence through smart asset tracking and a push for sustainable vehicle policies, it's more than operations; Fleet's agenda also embraces a cleaner energy future by threading electric vehicles into their long-term visions cementing their uttermost mission as Lucas framed it per the press release, "We’re here to make sure County departments have the vehicles and tools they need to do their jobs — safely, efficiently and cost-effectively. It’s about logistics, organization and always being ready to solve the next challenge."
Orange County's residents might not give much daily thought to the fleet division. Yet, Lucas underscores its critical function: "Think of us as the team behind the scenes that keeps every other team running," said Lucas in a statement obtained by OCFL Newsroom. "We're here every day making sure the wheels of County government — literally — keep turning."
