Fleet Services provides safe, high quality, and low-cost repairs and preventive maintenance for all County vehicles and equipment including, 24-hour wrecker service and 24-hour minor repair services for EMS and Sheriff vehicles to minimize down time. Fleet services delivers fuel for equipment and generators and is responsible for maintaining the fuel card system.

This department is responsible for vehicle and equipment specifications, acquisitions, outfitting, and disposal within the County.

Dorchester County Vehicle and Equipment Standardization Program

The Dorchester County Vehicle and Equipment Standardization Program has been
implemented to assist departments in determining the appropriate type of vehicles and equipment that will adhere to the County’s standardization guidelines. This program also serves as a guide to determine the appropriate vehicle/equipment based on the recommended usage for each item. The proper management and standardization of vehicles and equipment reduces the overall cost of operating and maintaining the County’s assets.

Any new vehicles or equipment requested must be selected from the manual unless the
alternative selection is specifically recommended by the Fleet Services Director. Non-standardized equipment may only be selected when:

1. The requested class of fleet equipment is not available from the catalog of fleet
equipment.

2. The requesting department can demonstrate to the Fleet Services Director that
the requested vehicle or equipment is better suited to the department’s
operational needs.

BENEFITS OF STANDARDIZATION

• Improved Maintenance Efficiency. The complexity of vehicle systems is increasing with the addition of electronic sensors and controls, new emissions technology, and safety devices. This steep learning curve for fleet maintenance technicians can be reduced by limiting the variety of new systems. Proficiency in the maintenance garage is largely a function of solid training and experience, so a standardized fleet can expect quicker repairs and fewer mistakes, all other factors being equal.
  
  
• Fewer Diagnostic and Specialty Tools. Test equipment and software updates or subscriptions can be an expensive, recurring cost. To a lesser extent, unique hand tools can also be expensive. Saving a few thousand dollars a year by reducing the variety of drivetrains, transmissions, brake systems, etc. can ease a tight budget.
  
  
• Faster Specification and Bid Evaluation. Once segments of a fleet are standardized, the workload for each new purchase is significantly less difficult and time consuming.
  
  
• Proven Reliability. There is no guarantee that a particular manufacturer’s line of products will maintain its quality over the years. However, an assurance of quality appears more likely with one manufacturer than trying every new product that hits the market and bids low. Your vehicle replacement schedule is built on expectations of a predictable lifecycle. Historical experience is a good indicator upon which to base that prediction, all other things being equal.

Click to view the Dorchester County Vehicle Standardization Manual.