CONTACT:  Susan Melnyk, Chief Communications Manager, (360) 867-2097 or susan.melnyk@co.thurston.wa.us

Thurston County Earns Fleet Award for Cost-Cutting Innovation Amidst Record Gas Prices 
In-house mechanics rank 60th in the Americas for stretching public dollars, keeping emergency vehicles on the road, and engineering cost-saving solutions.

OLYMPIA – As historic inflationary pressures send local fuel prices soaring, Thurston County officials today announced the County’s fleet has secured a prestigious industry honor for its aggressive, cost-saving approach to fleet management and vehicle maintenance.

The National Association of Fleet Administrators (NAFA) have named Thurston County’s fleet of 600 vehicles and pieces of equipment - which serve critical services like the Sheriff’s Office and the Public Works Department - 60th out of thousands of public and private fleets across North America, South America and Central America. This is the eighth time the County has landed on NAFA’s “Top 100 Best Fleets” list.

This recognition comes at a critical juncture for local taxpayers. Following budget reductions in response to flattening property-tax revenues which fund County services, the Fleet Services staff has had to grapple with unprecedented headwinds at the pump. According to AAA data, average regular gas prices in Thurston County are currently hovering around $5.80 per gallon – up 32 percent over last year’s price of $4.39, while diesel prices have increased a staggering 50 percent to around $6.80 per gallon.

To help offset these skyrocketing costs Fleet Services relies on an aggressive in-house preventative maintenance model and a versatile crew of 15 public servants to manage the County’s rolling infrastructure. 

Instead of outsourcing repairs to commercial shops, the County employs a multi-disciplinary team with expertise in complex big engines, automotive electronics, precision welding and advanced parts logistics. Their oversight extends beyond the County’s fleet of diverse workhorse vehicles to maintaining everything from light-duty administrative SUVs to the heaviest public works road machinery. By combining rigorous on-going training with an aggressive preventative maintenance schedule, this small team keeps vital services moving efficiently without escalating costs. 

“Our mechanics aren’t just maintaining our fleet. They live here, pay taxes here and they treat these vehicles like they belong to their own neighbors,” said Chair of the Thurston Board of County Commissioners Tye Menser. “These front-line staff members save us money by using everything they know to improve efficiency - the habits of our drivers, the specific geography of our County roads, the kinds of work their colleagues perform - they catch repetitive issues before they turn into expensive catastrophic failures, and they recognize opportunities to improve productivity.”

This deep operational knowledge has led to several custom in-house technical solutions. For instance, when Sheriff’s deputies raised concerns about glare from ultra-bright emergency lightbars during night-time operations, the fleet team reconfigured controls to automatically disable specific lights the moment a deputy opens the door - dramatically improving visibility as they exit. Technicians also enabled manual deactivation of rear-facing emergency lights to prevent blinding fellow officers during multi-unit pursuits, and programmed spotlights to automatically stow at high speeds to prevent wind damage.

“We’re so proud of what our fleet staff have accomplished,” said Thurston County Manager Leonard Hernandez. “By prioritizing local expertise, maintaining strong internal communication with emergency responders, road crews and colleagues who rely on these vehicles, and by acting as protective caretakers of community property, our Fleet Services team continues to prove that peak operational efficiency and high-quality public service go hand in hand.”

To learn more about the County’s budget-reduction efforts visit us online at www.ThurstonCountyWA.gov

Photo: Twelve members of the Thurston County Fleet Services team stand with Fleet Manager Bruce Rohrbough at far right.