Editor’s note: Do you know an exceptional fleet manager? Nominate them for the Fire Department Safety Officers Association Fleet Manager of the Year Award. The award will be presented on Jan. 14, 2026, during the opening ceremony of the FDSOA Health, Safety and Apparatus Conference in Scottsdale, Arizona. Learn more about the award and how to nominate a deserving fleet manager. Nominations are due by Dec. 1.
By Brian Brown
Fleet managers in fire departments face a rapidly evolving landscape, marked by financial limitations, workforce concerns, supply chain complications and increasing interest in electric vehicle (EV) technology. Here we’ll explore these primary challenges, offering insights and considerations for each area.
| RESOURCE: Your top electric vehicles questions, answered
Budget challenges and stretching dollars
Managing a fire department fleet requires careful financial planning, especially in an era of tight government budgets and rising costs. Fleet managers must:
- Prioritize essential maintenance and repairs to ensure maximum operational readiness.
- Explore cost-saving measures such as bulk purchasing, cooperative procurement, and extending the service life of apparatus when safe and feasible.
- Advocate for realistic replacement schedules and communicate the risks of deferred maintenance or aging fleets to leadership.
- Leverage available grants and alternative funding sources to supplement limited budgets.
Stretching each dollar often means balancing short-term needs with long-term fleet health, requiring flexibility and creative problem-solving.
EVT candidates and staff challenges
Recruiting and retaining emergency vehicle technician (EVT) candidates and qualified staff is an ongoing challenge. Many departments face several hurdles:
- A shrinking pool of skilled technicians as experienced personnel retire;
- Competition from the private sector, which may offer higher wages or more attractive benefits; and
- The need for ongoing training to keep pace with increasingly complex vehicle systems and technologies.
Fleet managers are responding by investing in staff development, offering apprenticeships and working with local technical schools to build a talent pipeline.
Maintaining a positive work environment and recognizing staff contributions are also critical for retention.
Apparatus order-to-delivery challenges
The time from ordering new apparatus to delivery has lengthened due to supply chain disruptions, manufacturing backlogs and increased customization demands. Fleet managers have adapted by taking key steps:
- Planning orders further in advance to account for extended lead times;
- Standardizing specifications, where possible, to simplify the ordering process and reduce delays;
- Communicating closely with vendors to monitor progress and anticipate potential issues; and
- Implementing contingency plans to keep older apparatus in service longer if delays occur.
These adaptations require flexibility and strong stakeholder communication to ensure operational readiness is not compromised.
The push to go electric: Considerations and challenges
While some fire departments are experiencing a push to electrify their fleets, others have not yet felt significant pressure but acknowledge that this may change in the future. Key considerations and challenges include:
- Infrastructure: Upgrading facilities with sufficient charging capacity and managing charging logistics for emergency response vehicles.
- Vehicle performance: Ensuring electric apparatus meet the demanding requirements of fire service, including range, power, and reliability.
- Cost: Higher upfront costs of electric vehicles and charging infrastructure, balanced against potential long-term savings in maintenance and fuel.
- Training: Preparing technicians to maintain and repair electric vehicles, which require new skill sets and safety protocols.
- Uncertainty: Navigating evolving standards, incentives, and government mandates.
Departments are encouraged to stay informed, participate in pilot programs when feasible, and collaborate with peers to share lessons learned as the shift toward electrification accelerates.
Final thoughts
Fleet managers in fire departments must navigate complex and interrelated challenges, from budgetary constraints and staffing shortages to apparatus procurement delays and the emerging EV landscape. Proactive planning, workforce development and adaptability are essential for maintaining an effective and resilient fleet.
We commend those fleet managers who do their best with the resources, timeand budget available to keep reliable and safe apparatus on the road for the crews they transport and the community they serve. Their dedication and ingenuity in overcoming obstacles ensure that essential emergency services remain dependable, no matter the challenges faced. By prioritizing safety and service, these leaders set a strong example for others in the fire service industry.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Brian Brown served 31 years with South Metro Fire Rescue, retiring as bureau chief, Fleet Services, in January 2019. Brown was responsible for overseeing the comprehensive fleet operations, ensuring the department’s vehicles were not only safe and reliable but also maintained with financial prudence. More recently, Brown volunteered with Council Grove Fire Rescue in Kansas, retiring from that department as an assistant chief. Brown also established Fire Service Solutions LLC, a consulting firm dedicated to supporting fire departments in apparatus inspections, fleet operations, replacement planning, specifications, apparatus training and testing, and fire station assessments.
