Decision Making for Outsourcing and Privatization of Vehicle and Equipment Fleet Maintenance - Phase I

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. The objective of this research is to recommend a process for making decisions on outsourcing and privatization of vehicle and equipment fleet maintenance. The process shall address the full range of decision making from outsourcing a single activity or function to privatization of entire fleet maintenance operations.

Language

  • English

Project

  • Status: Completed
  • Funding: $300000.00
  • Contract Numbers:

    Project 13-03

  • Sponsor Organizations:

    Federal Highway Administration

    1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
    Washington, DC  United States  20590

    American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO)

    444 North Capitol Street, NW
    Washington, DC  United States  20001

    National Cooperative Highway Research Program

    Transportation Research Board
    500 Fifth Street, NW
    Washington, DC  United States  20001
  • Project Managers:

    Hanna, Amir

  • Performing Organizations:

    TransTech Management, Incorporated

    Wayland, MA  United States  01778-
  • Principal Investigators:

    Canipe, Henry

  • Start Date: 20070709
  • Expected Completion Date: 0
  • Actual Completion Date: 20090312
  • Source Data: RiP Project 11820

Subject/Index Terms

Filing Info

  • Accession Number: 01462934
  • Record Type: Research project
  • Source Agency: National Cooperative Highway Research Program
  • Contract Numbers: Project 13-03
  • Files: RIP, USDOT
  • Created Date: Jan 3 2013 2:13PM