Chesterfield County’s Fleet Services Division has been named the 42nd best Green Fleet in the nation by the National Association of Fleet Administrators (NAFA), which is the county’s highest ranking ever and the third time in four years that it has made the Top 50.
“It’s an honor for our organization to be recognized as a leader in the public fleet industry,” said Fleet Manager Craig Willingham. “We would not be successful in expanding our footprint of alternate-fueled vehicles and sustainability efforts without the support of our staff, customers, and county leadership.”
According to the Green Fleet Awards website, the program “recognizes peak-performing fleet operations and honors fleets who have enhanced practices to make a positive impact on the environment.” Currently in its 15th year, the Green Fleet Awards also “recognizes organizations that execute groundbreaking and inventive programs for their green initiatives.” Rankings are awarded based on several criteria, including types of alternate-fueled and fuel-efficient vehicles, business practices, use of information and technology, and environmental stewardship.
The Green Fleet Awards ranking is one of three honors earned by Chesterfield’s fleet in the past year. In April, Fleet Services was named a Top 100 Fleet for the fourth consecutive year. Last November, Chesterfield earned recognition as the No. 17 Leading Fleet in 2021 by Government Fleet Magazine and the American Public Works Association.
Since 2018, Chesterfield has expanded the number of alternative-fueled vehicles by 70 percent, including converting several light-duty gasoline vehicles to also operate on liquid propane and by adding electric school buses alongside a growing number of buses that are propane-powered. Later this year, Fleet Services will be opening a new 35,000 square foot heavy vehicle maintenance and administrative facility, which will feature approximately 9,000 square feet of solar panels.
“Fleet Services supports every county department with a vehicle, from police units to fire apparatus, school buses, and everything in-between.” Willingham said. “Our operations and administrative team do a fantastic job working in a field that continues to evolve with new technology while navigating through unique supply-chain challenges.”
The Fleet Services Division is a part of Chesterfield’s Department of General Services. For more information, visit the General Services webpage.