Vendor outlines fleet-replacement plan for Mineral Wells, says shorter cycles and resale can cut costs

A vendor representative presented a citywide fleet-management plan to the Mineral Wells City Council that calls for shortening vehicle replacement cycles, using direct factory sourcing and resale strategies, and contracting fixed-cost maintenance to reduce overall operating costs.

The proposal said Mineral Wells currently operates a fleet of a little more than 100 vehicles with an average replacement cycle of about 11 years, costing roughly $500,000 a year in vehicle acquisitions and about $1 million a year across acquisitions, fuel and maintenance. The vendor recommended moving the average cycle to roughly four to five years and projected conservative net savings of about $700,000 over 10 years. “If we can help you run a new fleet for the same dollars you’re paying today, we’ve done our job,” the vendor representative said.

Why it matters: newer vehicles typically require less maintenance, reduce downtime and can improve public impressions at…