During the City Council work session Sept. 9, council members had a chance to review the presentation from property management director Marilyn Marvin, who oversees the Fleet Services Division.
Put in perspective
According to the report, the fleet maintenance performed internally is saving the city money compared to going to contracted vendors. The city did have to contract out some work, but according to data, the city staff is doing about 94% of the work that is needed.
During the past three full fiscal years and an estimated fiscal year, the outsourcing of work has been:
- Fiscal year 2021-22: 4.17%
- FY 2022-23: 4.95%
- FY 2023-24: 5.61%
- FY 2024-25: 6%—estimated total
According to council documents, the city does leverage the use of outside vendors for heavy or specialized work and surge capacity for low-frequency, high-complexity repairs, which is the industry standard.
The backstory
During the past three full fiscal years, the city has had more than 31,000 work orders for maintenance and repair work.
According to city documents, Fort Worth can keep the in-house work cost lower due to a partnership with NAPA and lower hourly labor rates.
The labor rate charged to city departments by Fleet Division Technicians is $116 per hour. That cost is a savings over the six outside vendors the city has used in FY 2024-25. The range is $195 per hour to $240 per hour, according to city documents.
The city has a contract with NAPA as a parts vendor, with the most ordered parts being batteries, reflective safety tape, brakes, tires, wiper blades, filters, wheel nuts and headlight lamps.
The discount provided, compared to the retail price, is nearly 50%. City documents show the city price for batteries is $100.52, compared to the retail price of $199.99. Brake pads, rotors and other brake parts retail price is $118.23, while the city spends $46.35.
The breakdown
In terms of labor and parts, the city can save more than $1,000 on a number of major projects. The report listed the top eight major repairs needed for city vehicles. They are:
- Transmission
- Steering
- Air supply
- Cooling engine
- Engine
- Emission systems
- Suspension
- Brakes
The in-house work can save the city between $352 on brakes and more than $2,000 for transmission work.
The details
The city has five repair locations, including the newest one that was acquired July 1. When the city took over the ambulance services previously operated by MedStar, it acquired what is now called the West Side Service Center in southwest Fort Worth. That building will handle all maintenance and repairs for emergency medical services operations, according to the city website.
The Brennan Body Shop Center is the oldest, dating back to the 1980s, according to the city website. It handles all damaged fleet assets. The James Avenue Service Center handles heavy and light vehicle repairs, and has been open since 2005. In 2018, the city opened the Water Service Center and Northside Service Center.
The Water Service Center handles all heavy and light vehicle repairs for the Water and Wastewater operations, while Northside offers heavy and light vehicle repairs and maintenance.
link