Because of growing demands and resource limitations on vehicle and equipment fleet maintenance, state departments of transportation (DOTs) often consider outsourcing and/or privatization of these services. However, the decision for outsourcing and/or privatization depends on fleet size, mix of vehicles, and type of equipment, and is influenced by such factors as cost effectiveness, timeliness, and quality of service. Also, outsourcing and privatization can be implemented in a variety of forms with different levels of agency involvement, such as outsourcing statewide or regional activities and selected outsourcing of specific activities, and with different levels of responsibility for quality control and assurance.
There is no widely accepted process for evaluating the different forms of outsourcing vehicle and equipment fleet maintenance. Research is needed to review relevant information and recommend a rational process for making decisions on outsourcing and privatization of these activities with consideration to maintenance requirements, basis of measurement, costs, performance, and other related items. Such a process will help highway agencies in evaluating alternative outsourcing and privatization options and making decisions that would achieve acceptable levels of service and cost savings.
The research covered Phase I of a research effort to recommend a process for making decisions on outsourcing and privatization of vehicle and equipment fleet maintenance. It included a review of information relevant to the practices and use of outsourcing and privatization of vehicle and equipment fleet maintenance; identification and evaluation of outsourcing and privatization practices and procedures, recommendation of certain practices and procedures for further consideration in this research, and presentation of a plan for developing a process for making decisions on outsourcing and privatization of vehicle and equipment fleet maintenance. Phase II of this research effort will be conducted under NCHRP Project 13-03A
