City of Long Beach logoIn 2021, the City of Long Beach Fleet Services Bureau garnered multiple national recognitions for its advancements towards improving Citywide operational services through the introduction of newer, cleaner vehicles and equipment and reducing the City’s environmental impacts through the implementation of sustainable policies. The City continues to set a precedent for other large fleets, both private and governmental. 

“Long Beach has made reducing emissions and transitioning to green technology a priority — and our Fleet Services Bureau is a huge part of that,” said Mayor Robert Garcia. “These awards highlight our commitment to responsible government and environmental protection.” 

Last year, Fleet Services received the following national recognitions: 

  • Heavy Duty Trucking Magazine’s Top 30 Green Fleets in America – The City was the only public fleet to be recognized in this publication, which showcases clean heavy duty truck fleets of major corporations and government organizations. The City was listed alongside companies like Amazon and FedEx for its efforts in greening the City’s trucks through use of renewable fuels such as renewable natural gas and renewable diesel. In 2021, over half of the fuel used in the City’s fleet was renewable. 
  • Leading Fleets Competition – The City received sixth place in this competition that spans both the United States and Canada. It is sponsored by the American Public Works Association and Government Fleet Magazine, which recognizes government fleet operations with high performances in fleet innovation and leadership. The City has placed in the top ten for the last five years, and this year was recognized for continued operations during the pandemic, supporting the City’s first responders. Additional recognition came for the City’s strong use of data in management of the fleet, saving money and improving efficiency. 
  • 2021 100 Best Fleets Green Fleet Award – The City placed ninth in this award that spans both the United States and Canada, up five places from the 2020 competition. It was recognized for its sustainable fleet, especially the adoption of electric vehicles and its complex infrastructure throughout City departments. The City’s fleet sustainability efforts netted a reduction of almost 10,000 tons of greenhouse gas emissions in 2021.  
  • National Association of Fleet Administrator’s Green Garage Contest – As a first-time applicant, the City received ninth place in this national competition, which recognizes the most progressive and environmentally committed fleet maintenance garages. Fleet Services was recognized for its efforts in reducing waste from vehicle maintenance and recycling materials, retreading thousands of tires, and implementing the use of reusable oil filters and reduction of oil changes for City vehicles, thus reducing both the use of new oil and production of waste oil.  

“Over 51% of the City’s vehicle fleet is alternatively fueled, proof that we are dedicated to emissions reduction throughout Long Beach,” said Fleet Services Bureau Manager Dan Berlenbach. “The dedication of our Fleet Services Bureau staff is the driving force that enables our work to be recognized by other fleet leaders in government and private business. We are constantly learning from each other and using new technologies and other tools to improve everything we do.” 

Electric vehicles are an increasingly important part of the City fleet’s portfolio of sustainability initiatives. Fleet Services is actively partnering with the City’s Department of Public Works and Southern California Edison for the development of electric vehicle charging infrastructure throughout the City. That infrastructure will provide crucial support in the City’s transition to a zero-emission fleet in future years. 

The Fleet Services Bureau is part of the Department of Financial Management. More information about Fleet Services is available here.