NCJ Number
191956
Journal
Law Enforcement Technology Volume: 28 Issue: 10 Dated: October 2001 Pages: 102,104-105,106
Date Published
October 2001
Length
4 pages
Annotation
This article describes how fleet management software can help a police department save money and run more smoothly by helping to manage its vehicle inventory and related costs.
Abstract
Fleet management software is designed to automate key tasks and to make the information tracked available in an instant. The Marion County (FL) Police Department presents an excellent success story for fleet management software. The department has approximately 500 vehicles in its fleet. With fleet management software, the fleet manager knows how much it costs per mile to operate the fleet. The system can track vehicles to ensure that the agency is not paying for warranty work, track warranty parts, keep tabs on vehicles and equipment assignments, and track radio repairs, showing at a glance where the radios are placed. Fleet management software is not cheap, ranging from $24,000 to $80,000, depending on the number of users. However, the return on investment for purchase of the software is typically less than a year. The article recommends that law enforcement look for a system that covers work order control, parts inventory, and fuel management, and that provides comprehensive reports.