Orange County NC Website
Page 4 <br /> maintenance list; in 1981 had two sanitation trucks while we currently <br /> maintain four. In addition, each new vehicle model brings new <br /> technological challenges, such as electronic ignition, fuel injection, <br /> on-board computers regulating engine functions, or advanced hydraulics <br /> which operate a sanitation packer unit. <br /> A model presented by APWA, presents an equivalency formula, which is an <br /> attempt to place all vehicles on an equal basis as dictated by their <br /> usage. For example, a normal annual mileage per vehicle is 12 , 000 <br /> miles. Therefore, according to the formula, a vehicle which has an <br /> annual mileage of 24, 000 miles has an equivalency of two vehicles. <br /> Likewise, this formula attempts to recognize that while passenger car <br /> and a sanitation truck are each one vehicle, the sanitation truck will <br /> require more repair hours simply due to the complexity of the machinery <br /> involved. Based on this formula, Orange County has a 125 vehicle fleet <br /> but, has a vehicle equivalency of 174. <br /> Mechanic to vehicle ratio <br /> we reviewed several methods used by the American Public Works <br /> Association to ascertain a recommended ratio of vehicles per mechanic. <br /> The recommendations covered a wide range with the top of the range <br /> indicating for our current fleet level of 125 vehicles we should have <br /> one supervisor and eleven mechanics with a lead mechanic for every five <br /> to six working mechanics. Realizing the loftiness of this recommenda- <br /> tion we have opted to use another formula which utilizes actual Orange <br /> County repair data. The results from this method indicate that Orange <br /> County, based on actual fleet size of 125 vehicles, should have one <br /> supervisor and 2 .4 working mechanics. <br /> When the vehicle equivalency (174) is factored in however, there is a <br /> need for 3 .4 mechanics plus one supervisor. <br /> As a matter of explanation of the process which yielded these results, <br /> the net available hours per year are divided by a key volume indicator <br /> which yields the number of vehicles each mechanic . should be able to <br /> handle. <br /> The data used to arrive at the key volume indicator comes from actual <br /> repair orders at the County garage last year. <br /> PROFILE OF FLEET <br /> During the past year Orange County staff have begun a process to <br /> schedule vehicles for replacement before they become such a large <br /> maintenance liability. In the past there was no formal effort to keep <br /> the fleet at an optimum operating age. <br /> The following data was assembled as of April 13 , 1987 and tends to prove <br /> our theory that vehicles should be disposed of around 100, 000 miles. <br /> Circumstances may cause an upward or downward adjustment in that <br /> mileage, but overall 100, 000 miles appears to be the most advantageous <br /> point of disposal. <br />