CPWM Fleet Management 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What does a 'right-sizing' study accomplish for a public works fleet?
- Determines the correct tire size for each vehicle class
- Identifies vehicles that are underutilized, oversized, or redundant relative to operational demand (Correct answer)
- Sets the maximum speed limit for fleet vehicles
- Calculates the gross vehicle weight rating for procurement
Correct answer: Identifies vehicles that are underutilized, oversized, or redundant relative to operational demand
Right-sizing analyzes utilization data to eliminate surplus vehicles, downsize over-specified units, and reduce overall fleet operating costs.
Question 2: Under OSHA regulations, who bears primary responsibility for ensuring fleet vehicles are safe to operate before each shift?
- The fleet manager
- The vehicle operator (Correct answer)
- The maintenance technician on duty
- The department director
Correct answer: The vehicle operator
OSHA places primary pre-shift inspection responsibility on the vehicle operator, who must identify and report defects before operation.
Question 3: A telematics system alert shows a vehicle idling for more than 10 minutes repeatedly. The BEST corrective action is:
- Immediately remove the vehicle from service
- Counsel the driver and establish an anti-idling policy with measurable targets (Correct answer)
- Disable the telematics alert to reduce false positives
- Replace the vehicle's engine
Correct answer: Counsel the driver and establish an anti-idling policy with measurable targets
Excessive idling is typically a driver behavior issue; counseling combined with a clear anti-idling policy and monitoring produces lasting fuel savings.
Question 4: What is the primary purpose of a Fleet Management Information System (FMIS)?
- To automate vehicle driving functions
- To centralize maintenance, cost, and utilization data for informed fleet decision-making (Correct answer)
- To replace the need for fleet mechanics
- To file DMV registration paperwork automatically
Correct answer: To centralize maintenance, cost, and utilization data for informed fleet decision-making
An FMIS consolidates work orders, fuel usage, cost history, and utilization metrics into one platform to support data-driven management decisions.
Question 5: When a municipality transitions a portion of its fleet to electric vehicles (EVs), which infrastructure investment is CRITICAL to success?
- Building a new vehicle wash facility
- Installing adequate charging infrastructure and upgrading electrical service (Correct answer)
- Expanding the fuel storage tank capacity
- Hiring additional diesel mechanics
Correct answer: Installing adequate charging infrastructure and upgrading electrical service
EV adoption requires sufficient charging stations and electrical capacity; without this infrastructure, vehicles cannot be reliably returned to service.
Question 6: Which document formally transfers an asset from fleet inventory to surplus and initiates the disposal process?
- Vehicle title
- Disposal authorization or board resolution (Correct answer)
- Insurance certificate
- Fuel card application
Correct answer: Disposal authorization or board resolution
A disposal authorization or governing board resolution provides the formal approval needed to remove a capital asset from the fleet inventory and proceed with disposal.
Question 7: A preventive maintenance (PM) program is considered 'proactive' rather than 'reactive' because it:
- Responds to breakdowns as they occur
- Schedules inspections and service at fixed intervals to prevent failures (Correct answer)
- Waits for driver complaints before servicing vehicles
- Relies on warranty claims for all repairs
Correct answer: Schedules inspections and service at fixed intervals to prevent failures
Proactive PM intervenes before failures occur by scheduling maintenance at defined mileage or time intervals, reducing unplanned downtime.
CPWM Fleet Management 3
What does a 'right-sizing' study accomplish for a public works fleet?