Allen County could move toward a structured, long-term vehicle replacement plan under a plan presented to commissioners Tuesday by Ken Olsen of Enterprise.
Olsen, a senior account executive in Enterprise’s Fleet Management division, Merriam, said the program goes beyond simply buying vehicles.
Instead, it involves analyzing how vehicles are used, how much they cost to maintain, and determining the most financially efficient time to replace them.
The goal, he said, is to move away from keeping vehicles for decades — often resulting in costly repairs — and toward a structured replacement strategy based on data.
“We leverage all of the tools, the resources, the people, and everything that we own from having a few million vehicles to help entities with what we consider small to medium-sized fleets that save money and operate more efficiently and effectively,” Olsen said.
As part of the program, Enterprise would collect detailed information on the county’s existing fleet of vehicles, including VIN numbers, odometer readings and department assignments.
That data would be used to analyze vehicle age, mileage, maintenance costs and overall performance.
It’s not until that data is assembled that Olsen said the complany would be able determine the program’s price tag for Allen County.
Olsen cited Shawnee County as an example of how the program can be phased in over time. He said Shawnee County began working with Enterprise by replacing vehicles in stages, allowing the county to spread costs over multiple years while still improving reliability and controlling maintenance expenses.
“This is not a one-year, replace-everything program,” Olsen said, explaining that counties often transition over one-, three- or five-year periods depending on budget and operational needs. Allen County would retain control over decisions, with Enterprise making recommendations based on analysis.
A CENTRAL component of the program is an equity lease structure. Instead of purchasing vehicles outright, the county would finance them and then recover equity when the vehicle is sold.
“When we sell that vehicle, the main thing to know is you get that equity,” Olsen said, adding that those funds are typically placed into an equipment reserve to offset future purchases.
By rotating vehicles earlier — often within 12 to 24 months for light-duty vehicles — Olsen said counties can reduce maintenance and fuel expenses while still maintaining a stable budget.
He estimated a potential savings opportunity of 10% to 20% for governments that traditionally keep vehicles for 10 to 20 years, though he noted that exact figures would come from a detailed analysis.
Commission Chair David Lee asked how the program would affect partnerships with local vendors and dealerships.
Olsen said Enterprise works closely with local dealerships for deliveries, warranty work and maintenance.
