Institute for Transportation

About the research

The research effort aimed to develop a decision support tool to help local agencies in Minnesota optimize the management of their vehicle fleets, especially in terms of equipment replacement and acquisition decisions. The first phase of this research included a literature review, a survey of Minnesota agencies, and follow-up interviews to understand existing decision support models and methods, the quantitative data needed to support optimal decision-making, and the challenges that agencies face when determining optimal equipment replacement schedules. The second phase met the challenges identified in the first phase by developing the life-cycle cost analysis (LCCA) included in the tool, developing and validating the tool itself, and creating a user training program to support the tool.

The tool resulting from this research provides quantifiable support for decision-making, enabling agencies to make defensible fleet management decisions regarding the most cost-effective equipment to lease or purchase, the optimal time to retire equipment, and the conditions under which to do so.

Visit the MnDOT project page for additional final deliverables including a webinar and the spreadsheet tool.