CPWM Fleet Management 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which greenhouse gas emission is the PRIMARY target of fleet sustainability programs involving diesel-powered public works vehicles?
- Methane (CH4)
- Carbon dioxide (CO2) and particulate matter (PM) (Correct answer)
- Nitrous oxide (N2O)
- Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)
Correct answer: Carbon dioxide (CO2) and particulate matter (PM)
Diesel vehicles are primary sources of CO2 and particulate matter; fleet sustainability programs focus on reducing these through cleaner fuels, newer engines, and reduced idling.
Question 2: What is a 'pool vehicle' in a public works fleet context?
- A vehicle used exclusively for aquatic facility maintenance
- A shared vehicle available for checkout by multiple departments rather than assigned to one user (Correct answer)
- A vehicle stored in a motor pool cage for security
- A vehicle used only during flood emergencies
Correct answer: A shared vehicle available for checkout by multiple departments rather than assigned to one user
Pool vehicles are shared assets checked out on demand, improving utilization rates compared to dedicated assignments for infrequent users.
Question 3: Under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), public transit fleets must ensure that:
- At least one vehicle per route has a wheelchair lift or ramp
- All fixed-route vehicles are accessible to individuals with disabilities (Correct answer)
- Accessible vehicles operate only during peak hours
- Paratransit services are optional if fixed-route vehicles are accessible
Correct answer: All fixed-route vehicles are accessible to individuals with disabilities
The ADA requires that all vehicles in fixed-route transit service be fully accessible, not merely one per route.
Question 4: A fleet manager wants to benchmark their fleet's cost-per-mile against peer agencies. Which organization publishes standardized public fleet benchmarking data?
- American Public Works Association (APWA) (Correct answer)
- National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
- Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)
- Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)
Correct answer: American Public Works Association (APWA)
APWA and affiliated organizations such as NAFA Fleet Management Association publish benchmarking surveys that allow public fleet managers to compare their metrics to peers.
Question 5: Which maintenance strategy uses real-time sensor data to trigger service only when performance indicators reach defined thresholds?
- Time-based preventive maintenance
- Condition-based or predictive maintenance (Correct answer)
- Corrective (reactive) maintenance
- Run-to-failure strategy
Correct answer: Condition-based or predictive maintenance
Condition-based maintenance monitors actual vehicle parameters (oil quality, vibration, temperature) and initiates service when data indicates a threshold is approaching.
Question 6: When a public works agency accepts federal surface transportation funds for fleet purchases, it must follow procurement regulations under:
- State purchasing code only
- 2 CFR Part 200 (Uniform Guidance) and applicable FTA/FHWA requirements (Correct answer)
- The agency's informal quote procedures
- Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR) used by defense agencies
Correct answer: 2 CFR Part 200 (Uniform Guidance) and applicable FTA/FHWA requirements
Recipients of federal surface transportation grants must comply with 2 CFR Part 200 Uniform Guidance and any specific FTA or FHWA procurement requirements.
Question 7: Which analysis technique is used to determine the optimal point in a vehicle's life to replace it by minimizing the sum of ownership and operating costs?
- Break-even analysis
- Economic Life Analysis (ELA) (Correct answer)
- Net present value (NPV) analysis of acquisition only
- Payback period calculation
Correct answer: Economic Life Analysis (ELA)
Economic Life Analysis calculates the year in which the combined total of ownership costs (depreciation, capital) and operating costs (maintenance, fuel) per mile is minimized.
CPWM Fleet Management 5
Which greenhouse gas emission is the PRIMARY target of fleet sustainability programs involving diesel-powered public works vehicles?