AF fleet ranked among top 100 Best Fleets in North America

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Angelita Colón-Francia
  • Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs

When people think about the Air Force, it is normal to picture aircraft, but the nation’s flying service was recently recognized for a fleet of another kind.

 

The Air Force’s lead office for managing a $7 billion, worldwide fleet of 92,000 vehicles was recently ranked 45th among the “100 Best Fleets in North America,” according to Government Fleet Magazine.

 

Managed by the Air Force Element Vehicle and Equipment Management Support Office, or AFELM VEMSO, the Air Force has the fourth largest federal fleet. It consists of everything from hybrid sedans to heavy duty trucks, utility carts, patrol cars, fire apparatus, emergency response vehicles, bucket trucks, forklifts and aircraft loaders.

 

It even includes vehicles used by Airmen who help secure the nation’s Intercontinental Ballistic Missile fields scattered over 44,000 square miles. 

 

The national ranking recognizes recent accomplishments which include:

- Saving the Air Force $1.3 billion in requirements across five years;

- Reducing the Air Force fleet size by almost 3,500 vehicles between 2011-2012 and switching to smaller vehicles; and

- Deploying a fuel management system that improved miles per gallon reporting capabilities and identified idling vehicles.

 

“This is a team award, and the recognition cannot be directed to a single individual whether they are calling the meetings or analyzing thousands of lines of data,” said the AFELM VEMSO Director Randy Livermore. “Every person who has worked at VEMSO from its infancy until now has played a small, but important part of the bigger Air Force Vehicle Management history. This validation is proof we are on the right track toward providing top-notch logistics support to the warfighters, the professional vehicle management Airmen and the installations they move.”

 

There are more than 38,000 public fleets in North America, although not all apply for the annual competition. AFELM VEMSO ranked highest among the federal fleets entered. The only other federal fleet to make the top 100 was Tinker Air Force Base, which placed 84th.

 

“What the Air Force (Element VEMSO) did was exceptional, particularly for a first-time entrant competing against the very best fleets in North America,” said Tom C. Johnson, a consultant for “The 100 Best Fleets” and “Government Green Fleet Award.”

 

The 100 Best Fleets program recognizes and rewards peak-performing fleet operations in North America. The program evaluates government fleets based on criteria such as creativity, collaboration, quick efficient turnaround, resource stewardship, competitive pricing, “doing it right the first time,” and use of technology and information.

 

Headquartered in Langley, Va., AFELM VEMSO provides centralized vehicle accountability for 10 major commands across 307 installations and supports 6,100 technicians. It is responsible for developing vehicle management requirements, allowances, sourcing plans, repair plans, equipment and prioritization plans to include budget formulation under the capital purchase program of $300 million annually.

 

“Being recognized as number 45 of 100 Best Fleets for 2013 validates the hard work and dedication the men and women of AFELM VEMSO put forth every time they go to work,” said Senior Master Sgt. Thuan Treon, a manager with AFELM VEMSO. “Our goal is to continue to provide world class customer support and we take great pride in serving our AF and the vehicle community.”