From public works to law enforcement, government agencies that manage fleets are increasingly teaming up with mobility partners to improve flexibility and efficiency, optimize spending and lower costs. 

That’s because today’s public sector operators understand that strict adherence to a “that’s how we’ve always done it” strategy can limit their options and work against their goals. 

Instead, these partnerships aim to give public operators the right data and tools to make better, more informed fleet management decisions on behalf of taxpayers. 

That was true for Miami Gardens, Florida. This community of some 111,000 residents is the third-largest city in Miami-Dade County and the location of a prominent sports stadium that attracts substantial traffic and activity to the area. 

With demand for municipal services rising, Miami Gardens officials faced increasing costs, inefficiencies and safety concerns for their aging fleet of over 350 vehicles. City leaders partnered with Enterprise to modernize the fleet and reduce costs. The partnership proved transformative, delivering a 9x payback on program investment through: 

• $500K saved in idle time costs over 12 months.
• $1.1M gained in equity from vehicle resale to transition to new, more efficient models.
• Lower vehicle insurance premiums.
• Reduced vehicle maintenance expenses.

Real-time tracking and telematics, powered by Enterprise’s partnership with Geotab, were instrumental in the city’s success, providing location, speed, and other vehicle data that was used to improve driver safety and overall fleet efficiency.

“With access to robust fleet data, Miami Gardens could make informed decisions to drive real impact,” explains Roan Oropesa, Director of Government Marketing for Enterprise Fleet Management. “For municipalities open to new ways of managing their fleets, this type of partnership can help better manage costs while ensuring their fleet is flexible and ready when needed.”

What is (truly) flexible fleet management?

Oropesa and his team are uniquely qualified to speak on the issue: Enterprise’s Fleet Management division currently works with more than 2,500 government customers across North America, representing jurisdictions of all sizes and fleet compositions.

“Many fleet operators today are looking for partners that bring a lot to the table in terms of experience, technology and resources,” Oropesa says. “They need mobility options that offer a big picture view of the possibilities with the means to scale on demand as needs require.” 

Traditional acquisition, resale and leasing practices can’t keep up. Pragmatic fleet leaders should instead consider a three-pronged approach: 

• Ownership
• Leasing
• Rental

A mobility partner like Enterprise can help public agencies see the positive bottom-line impacts of a three-pronged operating strategy with unbiased, data-centric clarity. For example, this kind of partnership can help fleet operators improve how they:

• Calculate fleet value through a true total cost of ownership perspective.
• Rate vehicle cycle times on safety, maintenance and downtime expenses. 
• Adopt proactive vehicle resale strategies to shorten cycle times and optimize budget.

Choosing the right approach for your fleet

What is the best blend of those three — rent, lease, buy — for your operation? It depends. Miami Gardens, which regularly hosts massive public events, likely has considerably different operational needs than a widely distributed agricultural community. Each requires an impartial assessment of the jurisdiction’s short- and long-term vehicle requirements and budgetary constraints. 

However, it can challenge a city administrator to deftly weigh all vehicle options. For one, they may need to get up to speed on what’s possible with leasing and renting today while also considering the true costs of vehicle ownership. 

“You hear the word ‘lease’ and automatically think of mileage restrictions and wear-and-tear penalties,” says Oropesa, adding that Enterprise’s municipal leases come with no mileage restrictions or usage penalties. “They keep the equity in their fleet.”    

Renting, on the other hand, serves as a safety valve that can prove essential at key moments throughout the year, such as for seasonal projects and storm relief activities. “Renting can help eliminate long-term risk,” advises Gordon Welsh, Corporate Business Development Manager at Enterprise Truck Rental. Both Enterprise Truck Rental and Enterprise Fleet Management are connected to Enterprise Mobility, a leading provider of mobility solutions with a fleet of more than 2 million vehicles nationwide. 

Welsh says rental provides communities with rapid access to vehicles they may need only for short periods, from a few days to a few months.

Enterprise also offers tailored truck rental solutions to address needs not adequately supported by short-term rentals and outright leases. Its Flex-E-Rent solution for medium-duty trucks enables an extended use period without the return challenges of leasing. “The easy-out option is a big deal for risk-averse fleet operators, especially those navigating shifting and unpredictable business needs,” Welsh says.

Take the next step toward public fleet flexibility

Successful fleet management in today’s public sector requires data-driven agility, flexibility and versatility. When evaluating mobility partners, look for one that delivers the data and other tools you need to make informed decisions about how to scale your fleet — and the flexibility to rent, lease or buy vehicle capacity based on your community’s needs.

With nearly seven decades of experience, Enterprise is ready to assist you and your community with a partnership commitment customized to your unique needs, budget and expectations. 

To learn more, visit Enterprise.com.