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Council approves Freightliner chassis for public‑works fleet after maintenance concerns
Summary
The Newport City Council approved buying a Freightliner chassis for public works after hearing that the city's International chassis had cost nearly $60,000 in repairs; the Freightliner bid was $123,759 versus an International bid of $113,950, and the purchase will be paid from capital equipment funds across two budget years.
Public Works Director Tom Bernier told the Newport City Council on March 16 that the department had received two chassis bids for a replacement plow/sander truck and recommended buying a Freightliner chassis despite a higher price. Bernier said the city has spent "nearly $60,000" on repairs to a 2017 International truck and that Freightliner vehicles are easier to service locally because more local shops have diagnostic software.
Bernier recapped the bids: Charlie Boys quoted $123,759 for a Freightliner chassis and Allegiance Trucks quoted $113,950 for an International chassis, a difference of about $9,800. He said the bid before the council covered only the cab and chassis; the plow, dump body and sander are procured separately and the city has already ordered the body equipment from the supplier that was the sole bidder.
On funding, Bernier said the purchase is planned from the capital equipment budget and that the municipality typically stages payments across two fiscal years; council members confirmed that the city generally avoids financing trucks on credit and budgets for capital equipment within a multi‑year plan.
Council members pressed Bernier on trade‑offs, including service/warranty arrangements, software access for diagnostics, and whether to delay purchase until a later model. Bernier said delays could leave the city short on reliable equipment during winter months and noted supply‑chain timing for bodies and chassis can mean a two‑year lead time.
After discussion, a council member moved to approve Bernier’s recommendation to buy the Freightliner chassis from Charlie Boys; a second was made and the motion passed by voice vote. The transcript records the motion and that "motion carries," but individual roll‑call votes were not recorded in the public minutes.
