BACKGROUND
 
State highway agency equipment fleets require a significant capital investment and recurring maintenance and operational expenditures. Efficient management of these assets can yield significant savings and improved performance and reliability. Research conducted under NCHRP 20-7/Task 309 in 2011 helped guide the AASHTO Equipment Technical Work Group in identifying needed equipment management research. It identified five "Grand Challenges" for equipment management with nine potential research topics. Of the nine potential topics, five of them have been successfully funded for research.

There is a need to update this strategic plan for equipment management research that accounts for rapidly changing technology that has impacted equipment fleets. The implementation of research findings has the potential to significantly impact the overall cost and efficiency of state highway agencies. The AASHTO Equipment Technical Working group will potentially implement completed research with the aid of the Equipment Management Technical Services Program (EMTSP). The EMTSP is an active organization of all State Highway Fleet Managers that meet annually and are responsible for the management of their respective fleets. 

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this project is to update the strategic plan for equipment management research that was developed under NCHRP 20-7/Task 309. 

TASKS

A potential list of tasks may include the following:

• Prepare a literature review summary that includes relevant and recent literature.
• Prepare a summary report that documents the state of practice, challenges, and opportunities, and captures successful practices related to equipment management.
• Identify state transportation agency staff roles and responsibilities.
• Develop goals and strategies for cost-effective and efficient equipment management.
• Prepare a final report and an abbreviated summary suitable for equipment managers in state transportation agencies.