Orange County Fleet Management Ranks Among Top in Nation with 2025 Leading Fleets Award

For the third time since 2020, Orange County’s Fleet Management Division has earned national recognition for excellence — this year being ranked the #14 Leading Fleet in North America by Government Fleet Magazine and the American Public Works Association.

The Leading Fleets Award is one of the most prestigious honors in the industry, open to all government fleet operations across the United States and Canada. Judged by a panel of government fleet experts, the award recognizes operations that demonstrate excellence in areas like efficiency, innovation, customer service and long-term vision.

“We’re always trying to get better,” said Bryan Lucas, manager of Orange County’s Fleet Management Division. “This award shows that the things we’ve implemented over the last few years are really moving us in the right direction — and being peer-judged, that means a lot.”

Fleet Management maintains more than 4,000 pieces of equipment for Orange County — including everything from sedans and ambulances to trailers, pumps and boats. It is a massive logistical operation, critical to keeping essential County services moving.

“Every County division depends on us in some way,” said Lucas. “We’re really in the customer service business. Whether it’s Fire Rescue, Utilities or Parks — they all need reliable vehicles to serve our residents.”

Despite ongoing challenges — including technician vacancies, storm-related downtime, and a complex, aging fleet —Fleet Management has consistently improved performance and service delivery.

“We’ve made big strides in efficiency with fewer resources,” asserted Lucas. “Technology has helped — especially our integrated fleet management software — but at the end of the day, it’s our people. We’ve got a great team committed to getting the job done.”

The division has implemented a fully integrated system that manages everything from work orders and parts inventory to fuel usage and preventive maintenance. This streamlined approach not only improves service response times but also saves taxpayer dollars through smarter asset tracking and sustainable vehicle planning.

Fleet also plays a leading role in the County’s transition to cleaner energy, with electric vehicles and other sustainability initiatives becoming part of its long-term strategy.

“Our mission is simple,” explained Lucas. “We’re here to make sure County departments have the vehicles and tools they need to do their jobs — safely, efficiently and cost-effectively. It’s about logistics, organization and always being ready to solve the next challenge.”

And for residents who may not even realize a fleet division exists?

“Think of us as the team behind the scenes that keeps every other team running,” said Lucas. “We’re here every day making sure the wheels of County government — literally — keep turning.”