Department of General Services

In the News - Leading the Way

Fleet is in the news and leading the way in a constant effort to improve services to the community and to further the industry of fleet management. With numerous awards and recognition, as well as important initiatives that protect the environment and provide better service, Fleet Management has become a leader in the field.

Division news, articles and announcements are posted here as Fleet continues to set standards and raise the bar. See below for recent events, articles, recognition and announcements that describe what Fleet is doing in the County and in the fleet management industry.

Bill Griffiths serves as the new Chief of Fleet Management Services

Mr. Griffiths comes to Montgomery County with over 20 years experience in managing Federal Government fleets, most recently with the Smithsonian Institution, and service in the United States Air Force where he began as a heavy equipment mechanic. His fleet management career has had particular focus in preventive maintenance best practices, logistics, budgeting, contracting and safety. He was recognized in a recent edition of Government Fleet magazine for his successful efforts in reducing the Smithsonian fleet while increasing overall performance, improving on-time preventive maintenance, lowering greenhouse gas admissions across the fleet, and raising customer satisfaction. Bill is also an active member in the National Association of Fleet Administrators and serves on the Federal Motor Vehicle Executive Council and INTERFUEL, the Federal government alternative fuel committee.

All Fleet staff are welcoming our new chief.

Maryland cell phone ban for drivers takes effect

Maryland Senate Bill 321 prohibiting all Maryland drivers from using a cell phone without a hands free device while operating a motor vehicle goes into effect. In addition, the new law would prohibit "a holder of a learner's instructional permit or provisional driver's license who is 18 years of age or older from driving a motor vehicle while using a handheld telephone".

The fine for a first offense would be $40 and subsequent offenses would be $100.

Brookville Commencement Of New Fuel Station And Access Restriction

Effective Monday August 9, 2010 the new fuel station at the Silver Spring Brookville Service Park will commence operation. However, part of the Brookville Road will be closed for up to 90 days due to construction activities involving demolition of the old fuel station and road improvement. A flagman will be directing traffic during the week from 6:30 AM to 6:00 PM. Except for public safety vehicles; the Fuel Station will not provide service from 6:30 AM to 6:00 PM during weekdays. The flagman will allow access to the new fuel station only to Public Safety officials (public safety vehicles or unmarked vehicles with public safety ID) during day time on weekdays. County staff is encouraged to use other County fuel stations until the construction work is completed.

If you have any question please call Calvin Jones at 240-777-5623.

Montgomery County’s Fleet Services Wins Second Place for its Green Fleet

The Montgomery County Department of General Services, Division of Fleet Management Services, recently won second place for the 2009 Government Green Fleet Award, a national competition open to all federal, state and local government fleets in North America. The recognition is awarded to fleets that meet a comprehensive set of environmentally focused evaluation criteria as judged by all the U.S. Department of Energy's "Clean Cities" program coordinators.

"Despite the current economic challenges facing local governments and increasingly stringent environmental requirements, Montgomery County remains firmly committed to expanding our use of alternative fuel vehicles and planning for the future to meet our aggressive climate protection goals," said General Services Director David Dise. "I am very proud to receive this recognition, and congratulate our Fleet Management Services employees for their dedication and commitment."

Competing fleets were judged in the areas of fleet composition, fuel and emissions, policy and planning, fleet utilization, education, executive and employee involvement, and supporting services.

Clean Cities is part of the Department of Energy's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Vehicle Technologies Program, and consists of a network of about 90 volunteer coalitions across the country. Its goal is to advance the nation's economic, environmental and energy security by reducing dependence on petroleum. Clean Cities supports local decisions by developing public/private partnerships to promote alternative fuels and advanced vehicles, fuel blends, fuel economy, hybrid vehicles and idle reduction.

For more information about the Government Green Fleet Award, go to http://the100bestfleets.com.

On February 25, 2009, Fleet Management Services hosted 26 employees of several different agencies of the District of Columbia government for a training presentation and tour of Fleet Management’s EMOC facility at 16630 Crabbs Branch Way. The presentation concerned storm water management; and the D.C. government attendees came to learn about Fleet Management’s Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan, our best management practices to control storm water runoff, and our pollution prevention initiatives. Fleet Management was proud to host this intergovernmental cooperative event.

In order to reduce unnecessary fuel usage as well as unnecessary pollution and additional wear and tear on County vehicles the Division of Fleet Management Services, Department of General Services has established "Idle-Free Zones" around the County. Idle-free Zones are located at each of the County Fuel Sites as well as each of the Bus Depots. Unnecessary vehicle idling is prohibited at each of these locations.

Additionally vehicle operators in the County should refrain from idling vehicles unnecessarily wherever possible. Unnecessary vehicle idling wastes fuel, pollutes the air, causes excess engine wear and needless noise, and is prohibited by Maryland State Regulation Article ?2-402(c)(3). In pertinent part, Maryland Transportation Regulation Article ?2-402(c)(3) states the following:

(3) A motor vehicle engine may not be allowed to operate for more than 5 consecutive minutes when the vehicle is not in motion, except as follows:

(i) When a vehicle is forced to remain motionless because of traffic conditions or mechanical difficulties over which the operator has no control;

(ii) When it is necessary to operate heating and cooling or auxiliary equipment installed on the vehicle;

(iii) To bring the vehicle to the manufacturer's recommended operating temperature; or

(iv) When it is necessary to accomplish the intended use of the vehicle.

This regulation is enforceable by fines of not less than $500.00.

Two Fleet Management employees, Chris Broschart and Frank Grzymala, volunteered and were accepted to participate in the development of a new Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) test. They participated in a work group with other subject matter experts developing questions for the new (H1) Transit Bus Compressed Gas (CNG) Certification Test. This is the final test in the development of a new Transit Bus Maintenance Master Series. Fleet Management is proud to have their employees participate in this process.

The Council Office Building fueling site 255 East Jefferson St. will be closed for modifications on Monday August 18th and will reopen on Monday September 1st. If you have any questions please call Customer Service 301 279-8111. In the meantime, please use one of the following nearby locations for fueling.

§ 16640 Crabbs Branch Way Gaithersburg, Md.
§ 1283 Seven Locks Rd. Rockville, Md.

In March 2008, the Division of Fleet Management Services started piloting Biodiesel in its heavy equipment fleet. Since then DFMS has started using Biodiesel in the transit fleets that supports Gaithersburg and Silver Spring with the remainder of the County’s diesel sites transitioning to Biodiesel in the near future. Biodiesel is a blended fuel that is domestically produced. Biodiesel displaces foreign oil and is a suitable replacement for petroleum diesel in vehicles with new “clean diesel” technology.