Enterprise Fleet Management proposes lease plan to replace Caldwell's aging city and police vehicles

Enterprise Fleet Management presented a vehicle replacement and management proposal to the City of Caldwell during a council workshop, recommending an open-ended municipal lease to replace older light-duty city and police vehicles and to phase the program over several years. The firm estimated lower maintenance and fuel costs and described tools to track mileage and maintenance.

Enterprise regional manager Eric Grady said the company analyzed a portion of Caldwell's fleet and tailored a replacement plan based on city data. "What we are in business to do is help our clients pinpoint the optimal time to replace vehicles," Grady said, describing a goal of reducing the average fleet age and long-term operating costs.

The presentation said the city has "over 250 light duty vehicles" and that Enterprise analyzed 70 vehicles for a focused 10-year model; the police fleet analysis covered 107 vehicles. Enterprise proposed replacing 45 of the analyzed city vehicles in the first year of a phased partnership and replacing 35 police vehicles in that program's first year. The company's model shortens the average ownership cycle from about 14 years to about five years for vehicles in the proposal.

Enterprise provided baseline operating figures from its analysis: an analyzed-subset current cycle of about 14 years; current maintenance at…