Fleet Division seeks innovative technology to optimize operations

Fleet Division seeks innovative technology to optimize operations

Published on May 25, 2024

The City's Property Management-Fleet Division will unveil a new mixer which is being released as part of its new line of fleet vocational trucks that are changing the way City departments handle operations. The Fleet Division is also exploring Hybrid Electric Vehicle (EV) options for many of its fleet vehicles, enhancing other vehicles and equipment.

Why it matters: In January, Fleet took part in a showcase by Industrial Truck Power. The showing was held at the James Avenue Fleet service center where the vendor showcased some of their new EV products. Fleet has been working with local vendors to study EVs of all sizes to optimize operations with efficiency, sustainability, operator comfort and maximize the return on investment for the City.

Currently, the division is working on a new mixer for Transportation & Public Works, which would be one of the biggest transitions in technology. Compared to cars, the innovations with the mixer is small but in the vocational world, it is significant.

• It has fully integrated dash display for quick operator analysis of function, fully automated maintenance service reporting and phase one of testing of a body design that can support collision avoidance technology.
• The unit is not equipped with collision avoidance yet, but future specifications are being implemented to include this technology.

What's next: In Fiscal Year 2025, Fleet will have several meetings and demonstrations with vendors on hybrid technology and how it can correlate in the vocational arena, especially with operator safety systems, lane assistance, integrated geo-fencing, and operator safety control systems that monitor usage, access and alerts.

"It is important for the City to be very calculated and strategic in our approach with assets and technology that we adopt," Brad Hunter, assistant director of Property Management-Fleet Division, said. "Panic buying can be very risky and costly for cities as large as Fort Worth. To budget, design and introduce an asset is a very specific process and takes several months to implement. Fleet and the end user are entrusted to take ownership and maximize these decisions for the next 15years. We are setting the stage for our successors to be successful in servicing City departments as they continue to adapt and grow to exceed the expectations for the City's expectations. Our main objective is to the very mindful of the advanced technology that will eventually become a part of our daily, overall operations."

Photos:The City is working on a new mixer for Transportation & Public Works, which would represent the biggest transitions in technology.

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• Environment