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Transportation Cabinet
Governor Ernie Fletcher’s Comprehensive State Vehicle Study Now Complete
For the first time ever, the Commonwealth has physically inspected and accounted for every state-owned passenger vehicle. The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet’s Division of Fleet Management conducted the inventory as part of Governor Ernie Fletcher’s initiative to identify the most cost effective and efficient manner for managing the state’s vehicles.
“As part of my pledge to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of government, I’m happy to announce that for the first time we now have an accurate accounting of all state vehicles,” said Governor Ernie Fletcher. “The results of this statewide inventory will allow us to fully utilize our resources while ensuring added value and cost savings to Kentucky taxpayers.”
The cabinet inventoried a total of 5,646 passenger vehicles. As a result the cabinet identified 148 which had not been previously tracked by Fleet Management. In addition, 64 vehicles were removed from the inventory because they had been sold.
The inventory provided Fleet Management the opportunity to identify and address safety deficiencies and improper vehicle equipment.
Examples include:
· 31 vehicles with damaged windshields
· 197 vehicles with body damage
· 18 vehicles with brake problems
· 17 vehicles with broken taillights and/or headlights
· 19 vehicles with various tire problems
· 3 vehicles no longer safe for service
· 2 vehicles with radar detectors
All agencies have been notified of required vehicle maintenance repairs and improper equipment has been removed from the vehicles.
“Now that we have identified and inspected all state vehicles, the next step is to centralize the vehicles not currently managed by our Division of Fleet Management,” said acting Secretary Bill Nighbert. “This centralization will allow state government to better manage its vehicle inventory and control costs. By centralizing state vehicles, the administration and cabinet is applying its mission to provide safe, cost effective and essential vehicular transportation for a cabinet, agency or other entity of the Commonwealth.”
Further analysis of the collected data revealed that the Fleet Management Motor Pool in Louisville provides an ineffective cost benefit ratio. By reassigning the units located in Louisville to agencies with the highest number of annual reservations, Fleet Management can realize a potential cost savings of approximately $106,000 annually. Further, the reassigning of fleet vehicles is estimated to reduce privately owned vehicle reimbursements resulting in additional savings, estimated between 2-3 million dollars, to the taxpayers of the Commonwealth.
"A complete inventory and inspection was an important first step to ensure state vehicles are managed in a safe, efficient and cost-effective manner," Finance and Administration Cabinet Secretary Robbie Rudolph said. "Consolidation of fleet operations is the next step, which will allow for greater oversight and better management of the program to ensure the Commonwealth is getting the best value for its investment."
All state agencies meeting the statutory requirements complied with the inventory/inspection. Kentucky State Police, KCTCS, universities and non-executive branches of state government were exempt by statute from this inventory/inspection.
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