| ODOT Fleet Services |
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| Mission and General Information |
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The Mission of the Fleet Services Section, Support Services Branch, is to establish efficient and effective delivery of fleet services by providing the Oregon Department of Transportation with safe, reliable, economical equipment and related support services that are responsive to the needs of customer departments, conserve vehicle value and optimize equipment investment.
The Fleet Services Section is composed of 140 employees and is organized into Fleet Management, Fleet Operations, Supply Operations, La Grande Repair Facility, Bend Repair Facility, Salem Repair Facility, and Field Mechanic departments.
Fleet Services is responsible for the acquisition, maintenance, repair and disposal of over 5,500 vehicles and equipment with an estimated replacement value of over $300 million; building signs for Oregon’s highways; disposing of ODOT’s surplus goods and equipment; transporting goods and equipment statewide; and warehousing and distributing supplies for the Oregon Department of Motor Vehicles.
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| Sustainability Accomplishments |
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ODOT’s Fleet unit continues its significant contributions to transportation sustainability, showcasing the department’s ability to take an environmentally responsible approach to solving transportation challenges. Here are just a few examples of what Fleet Services has accomplished:
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Extended idle reduction capabilities in all new and some older 10-yard, 5-yard and 1-ton trucks.
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Crew members are installing:
- Engine coolant cab heaters that work by drawing heat from the engine’s coolant system after the engine is shut off, preventing freeze ups during breaks.
- LED lights and warning lights instead of incandescent or halogen lamps, allowing the vehicle’s battery to power the lights for an extended time without the engine running.
- LED character and full matrix variable message and arrow board signs (VMS) instead of incandescent or halogen lamp signs, allowing the battery to power these VMS for an extended time without the engine running.
- Low battery warning systems that will sound an alarm or start the engine before the battery reaches a point where it won’t start the engine.
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Implemented use of solar power instead of gasoline power on all trailer-mounted VMS signs.
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Scheduled ongoing presentations to internal staff on peak oil, new technology, use of alternative fuels, idle reduction efforts and proper tire inflation.
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Updated policy and fleet manual on proper tire inflation and maintenance to reduce tire wear and fuel consumption and improve safety.
Additional sustainable steps
As new technology and funds become available, Fleet is also taking these sustainable steps:
- Replacing ODOT’s older fleet with hybrid technology in sedans; they also plan to expand the use of this technology in 5-yard dump and bucket trucks
- Replacing ODOT’s older light fleet with new high output, clean diesel engine vehicles that average 40+ mpg highway and use bio-diesel
Fleet currently has 59 E85 vehicles and is adding two 100 mpg PHEVs (Plug in Hybrid Electric Vehicles) this year. Staff are also utilizing the 10-yard truck bid award to Volvo to include GPS data collection system, or "mobile resource management," that helps with idle reduction and tort liability and will reduce winter maintenance costs.
New automatic transmission
Fleet also included an automatic 12-speed transmission into the 10-yard truck award. Eight of the 19 customers this biennium who are receiving these trucks are taking advantage of this transmission. While it’s not new technology to neighboring states, in Oregon, these will be the first true automatic transmissions used in winter operations equipment within ODOT. These transmissions are safer for operators, allowing them to focus on plows, sanders, pre-wet systems, radios and traffic and not have to worry about shifting gears. Since these transmissions shift at the optimum range, ODOT will see reduced fuel usage as well as reduced repair costs.
In addition, ODOT Fleet currently uses 24 percent B-20 bio-diesel and plans to reach 30 percent by 2012. The department is also continuing to expand its use of ethanol with E10 and E85.
Recycling is also big in Fleet: crew members currently recycle all waste oil and antifreeze and uses only re-refined antifreeze. They are also researching the advantages and disadvantages of re-refined engine oil that meets the API CJ4 specifications for new engines.
A few more Fleet Services accomplishments:
- Sign aluminum cleaned and recycled into new signs.
- Engine oil sampled and use extended.
- Using recycled anti-freeze coolant.
- Using recycled engine oil.
- Used 120,688 gallons of Biodiesel fuel in FY 2006.
- Used 290,321 gallons of Biodiesel fuel for FY 2007
- Using ethanol fuel.
- Using recapped tires.
- Recycling ODOT’s office furniture and supplies through Supply Operations.
- Recycling ODOT’s surplus goods and equipment through Supply Operations.
- Purchasing sanders and 1 ton beds from Prison Industries.
- Sold 1,100,223 pounds of scrap metal during 05-07 biennium for a total price of $121,600.13.
- Have sold 546,218 pounds of scrap metal in 07-09 biennium for a total price of $72,257.00.
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