Episode 199: The Truth About Fleet Tech Shortages That No One Wants to Admit

In this episode of the Fleet Success Show, Josh Turley and Marc Canton break down the real reasons behind the fleet technician shortage. Spoiler: it's not just about pay, and it’s not just about competition with dealerships anymore. Today, fleets are fighting a war on two fronts—against white-collar careers and blue-collar trades that offer higher pay, lower complexity, and better mobility.Josh and Marc explore:Why techs are avoiding the automotive space and opting for HVAC, electrical, and plumbing.The psychology of Gen Z (aka the Toolbelt Generation).How lack of exposure and outdated compensation models are killing technician pipelines.The missed recruiting opportunities fleets ignore at trade schools and even 4-year universities.You’ll also learn how to rethink recruiting, reposition your fleet, and make technician roles more appealing—without waiting for "the industry" to save you.  Key TakeawaysThe technician shortage is not unique to fleet—dealerships and private shops are hurting, too.Gen Z is entering the trades, just not yours. Plumbers, HVAC techs, and electricians are winning the war for talent.Fleets struggle to recruit because they don't market themselves well and they lack a clear career path for techs.Dealerships have visibility and recruiting power. Fleets often hide behind HR processes and outdated comp studies.Competing requires intentional culture, real wage strategy, and recruiting at high schools and community colleges.Fleet managers must think like marketers—position your brand, tell a compelling story, and offer a growth path.  Speaker BiosJosh TurleyCEO of RTA, Josh brings a practical, strategic mindset to modern fleet challenges. With deep industry experience and a passion for technician development, he champions data-driven fleet management and sustainable recruiting.Marc CantonFleet consultant and workforce strategist, Marc works with fleets to improve operational efficiency and tackle workforce shortages head-on. A master storyteller, Marc connects cultural trends with actionable steps for fleet leaders.

“You can’t fix technician staffing without fixing the replacement plan first—and rightsizing without replacement is just rearranging the deck chairs.” Episode SummaryFleet managers face an ongoing puzzle: should you prioritize asset replacement, rightsize your fleet, or hire more technicians? In this episode, Josh Turley and Marc Canton dive deep into how each of these levers impacts the others—and why trying to solve them in isolation might be the biggest mistake of all.Marc argues that a strong replacement plan is the keystone to improving both righttyping and technician capacity. You'll hear how poor replacement drives reactive maintenance, higher costs, and staffing overload—while proactive planning can improve PM compliance, reduce downtime, and unlock righttyping conversations that lead to major cost savings.The episode also explores how rightsizing (and righttyping) can expose hidden inefficiencies and open the door to smarter technician resource planning. The hosts walk through real-world examples of strategic replacements leading to reductions in spare ratios, better technician alignment, and enhanced fleet availability.Finally, they show how to build compelling data-driven models for stakeholders to weigh tradeoffs across capital spending, operational costs, and technician resources. You'll walk away understanding why doing all three—replacement, rightsizing, and staffing—at the same time is not only possible, but essential for true fleet success. ✅ Key TakeawaysA solid replacement plan is the foundation—it improves availability, reduces reactive maintenance, and helps rightsize your fleet. Righttyping vehicles can reduce technician burden and operating costs, even if asset counts increase. Technician staffing must be based on AU workload—not arbitrary tech-to-vehicle ratios. Use scenario modeling to present stakeholders with capital vs. OPEX trade-offs and drive better decisions. Present options—not ultimatums—to leadership. Blended approaches are more successful than single-threaded strategies. Your goal isn’t just better utilization—it’s higher availability that enables mission success. 🎙️ Speaker BiosJosh TurleyCEO of RTA and host of the Fleet Success Show, Josh brings decades of experience in helping government and enterprise fleets increase efficiency, reduce costs, and improve availability through smarter maintenance systems and consulting.Marc CantonFleet management consultant and co-host, Marc is a seasoned strategist who helps fleets across North America rightsize their assets, optimize replacement plans, and navigate tough staffing challenges. Known for data-driven storytelling and hands-on problem-solving.

In this episode of The Fleet Success Show, Marc Canton is joined by fleet industry leader and Boynton Beach Fleet Director Dave Persad for a raw, heartfelt conversation about leadership, legacy, and transforming public sector fleets.From his humble beginnings on a farm in Trinidad to managing award-winning fleets in Florida, Dave shares his journey through construction, hardship, and passion-led transformation. You'll hear about how he led West Palm Beach and Boynton Beach to Top 100 Fleet rankings, his strategies for stakeholder engagement, and the power of intentional culture. This episode is packed with real talk on managing resources, securing buy-in, and building a team that believes in the mission.Whether you’re struggling to get budget approvals or dealing with bad apples on your team, this episode is a playbook for turning frustration into progress. Dave's story is a must-listen for fleet managers trying to prove their value, protect in-house maintenance, and build a team people want to follow.  Key Takeaways:Intentional Culture: Leadership isn't an accident. Dave shows how intentional values, love, and high expectations shape teams that succeed.Data + Emotion = Influence: Learn how Dave tells a compelling fleet story using performance metrics tied directly to stakeholder needs.Stakeholder Satisfaction is Everything: Dave runs quarterly fleet meetings with all departments to align goals, manage replacements, and improve availability.Recruitment Through Leadership: Treat people right, and they follow you. Half of Dave's team followed him from West Palm Beach to Boynton Beach.You Can't Tolerate Bad Apples: One negative tech can tank a culture. Learn how Dave documents and leads through tough conversations.Food, Family, and Follow-Through: Sometimes, building culture means breaking bread. Literally.  Speaker Bios:Marc Canton is the VP of Product and Consulting at RTA: The Fleet Success Company. With nearly 30 years in fleet, he brings a blend of tech expertise and hands-on experience to help fleets succeed.Dave Persad is the Fleet Director for the City of Boynton Beach, FL. With a background in construction and public works, Dave has led multiple fleets to Top 100 status using a culture-first, data-driven approach.

In this episode of The Fleet Success Show, host Nathan Schafer sits down with Brent Messner from the City of Las Vegas to explore a topic that's essential for every fleet professional: how to build a successful and lasting career in the fleet industry.Starting from their humble beginnings as technicians, both Nathan and Brent share real, relatable stories of navigating the fleet world, embracing continuous education, and the pivotal moments that shifted their mindsets from "turning wrenches" to leading teams. Brent reflects on the moment his supervisor told him he was destined to run the place one day—a comment that sparked his journey toward leadership.The duo dive into the importance of ongoing training, why technicians need to understand more than just tools, and how building strong vendor and peer relationships accelerates career growth. Whether you're just starting your fleet journey or you're a fleet manager looking to elevate your team, this episode is packed with actionable insights.Key Takeaways:Invest in Yourself: Don’t wait for your employer to offer training—seek it out and fund it if you have to. It pays off.Mentorship Starts Early: One comment from a supervisor can completely change a technician’s trajectory.Training Isn't Optional: Even if you're in government and budgets are tight, training can (and should) be baked into vendor contracts.Relationships Are Everything: Your network will help you solve the problems you haven’t even run into yet.Walk the Shop Floor: New fleet managers should spend time learning from their technicians and operators.Certifications Matter: Whether it’s ASEs, CAFM, or CPFP, showing you're an active participant in the field builds credibility. Speaker Bios:Nathan Schafer is a Fleet Success Manager at RTA: The Fleet Success Company, with over 25 years of experience in the fleet industry. From technician to manager to consultant, Nathan brings a real-world, no-fluff perspective to helping fleets succeed.Brent Messner is the Fleet and Fuel Operations Manager for the City of Las Vegas and a co-host of the Not Just Fleet podcast. With a background in government fleet operations and a passion for technician training, Brent shares his journey from shop floor to leadership.

“By the time we figured it out, we had to replace 110 engines—10% of the fleet. All because of bad fuel.” – Dave PersadEpisode SummaryWhat happens when your vehicles are running perfectly one week—and the next, you’re replacing 110 engines?In this gripping episode of The Fleet Success Show, host Marc Canton sits down with award-winning fleet manager Dave Persad to uncover one of the most catastrophic fuel contamination events in fleet history. Dave walks us through a nightmare scenario that began with a few strange service calls and escalated into a full-blown crisis affecting hundreds of vehicles.This isn’t just a horror story—it’s a masterclass in leadership, diagnostics, resilience, and how to turn chaos into a controlled comeback.Fleet managers, buckle up—this episode is a must-listen if you want to protect your team, your equipment, and your reputation from unexpected disasters. Key TakeawaysBad fuel can destroy your fleet – Learn how fuel contamination silently compromised engines before anyone knew what was happening.Relationships are critical in a crisis – Strong dealership and vendor relationships can be the difference between weeks and months of downtime.Documentation is your legal shield – Dave shares how detailed work orders and PM records saved his team from blame and supported insurance/legal claims.Fleet success relies on preparation – Discover how Dave’s team managed to keep operations going with backup vehicles, leases, and strategic planning.Testing your fuel isn't optional – Implement rolling 30-day sampling to avoid hidden contamination disasters.   🎙️ Speaker Bios🎤 Dave PersadFleet Manager, City of Boynton BeachWith over a decade of award-winning fleet leadership, Dave has led multiple programs to national recognition, including five consecutive placements on the “100 Best Fleets” list. He’s also a Leading Fleets recipient and has overseen crisis-level repairs with incredible finesse. Dave currently manages the Boynton Beach fleet and is known for his practical expertise, operational discipline, and collaborative leadership style.🎤 Marc CantonVP of Product & Consulting, RTA: The Fleet Success CompanyMarc brings extensive experience in fleet operations and a sharp strategic lens to every conversation. As the host of The Fleet Success Show, he digs into the realities of fleet leadership and pulls out actionable insights for RTA customers and the wider fleet community.

"The strength of any relationship is the speed of repair. In fleet leadership, trust isn’t optional—it’s the operating system."📄 Episode SummaryIn this raw and insightful solo episode, The Fleet Success Show host and RTA CEO Josh Turley shares a behind-the-scenes look into RTA’s latest executive planning offsite—and the deep leadership lessons that emerged.Josh walks listeners through the three powerful trust-building exercises used during the session, all rooted in Patrick Lencioni’s framework from The Five Dysfunctions of a Team. These are not fluffy icebreakers—these are intentional, sometimes uncomfortable, but deeply transformative exercises that strengthen trust, foster accountability, and eliminate dysfunction from leadership teams.Fleet managers, especially those leading multi-department teams or navigating difficult internal dynamics, will gain practical insight into how to build psychological safety, align on purpose, and create a culture where candid feedback is not only welcome—but expected.Whether you’re dealing with drama in the shop, silos across departments, or a lack of accountability from your leadership team, this episode is packed with real-world, repeatable tactics to build cohesion from the inside out. ✅ Key TakeawaysWhy trust in motives is more foundational than trust in competenceHow to use a Team Health Assessment to reveal hidden dysfunctionThe impact of personal history storytelling on team cohesionHow the Helps/Hurts feedback loop drives accountability and growthWhy emotional regulation is a leadership superpowerWhy dysfunction at the top trickles down—and how to fix it 👤 Speaker BioJosh TurleyCEO, RTA: The Fleet Success CompanyWith over 20 years supporting fleets across North America, Josh is a fleet culture evangelist and systems thinker. As CEO of RTA, he’s passionate about helping fleet managers evolve into true leaders—by eliminating internal dysfunction, building trust, and creating healthy teams that drive long-term operational success.

In this episode of The Fleet Success Show, Josh Turley (CEO, RTA) and fleet veteran Nathan Schafer dive deep into the not-so-sexy—but absolutely critical—topic of vehicle inventory. If you've ever assumed that what's in your fleet maintenance management software matches what’s on your lot… think again. From rogue departments buying vehicles under the radar to liabilities that could land you in legal hot water, this episode breaks down why accurate, hands-on inventory is non-negotiable. Nathan shares real stories from public sector and construction fleet life, including equipment that literally vanished and a catastrophic fire that made insurance records the only thing standing between chaos and coverage. You’ll also get practical advice on how to conduct a modern vehicle inventory using today’s tools—plus why photos, odometer updates, and walkarounds could save you millions (or your job). ✅ Key Takeaways Inventory isn't optional—it's a legal, financial, and operational necessity. What’s not in your FMIS can hurt you. Assets missing from your fleet maintenance software = massive liability. Photos are proof. Capture and attach them to records to avoid insurance nightmares. Rogue departments = rogue liabilities. Centralized oversight is critical. Annual walkarounds uncover the truth. From ghost assets to forgotten equipment, nothing beats boots on the ground. Digital tools like RTA Fleet360’s mobile app simplify the process with photo capture, odometer updates, and record linking. Speaker Bios Josh Turley, CEO of RTA: The Fleet Success Company. With two decades of experience supporting fleets, Josh is passionate about helping fleet managers lead with intention and build cultures of excellence. He’s a vocal advocate for using data and modern fleet management systems to drive measurable success. Nathan Schafer, Fleet management expert with 25+ years in both public sector and private construction fleets. At RTA, he supports implementation, training, and product design. Known for his hands-on approach and deep operational knowledge, Nathan’s stories always come with a lesson (and sometimes a laugh). #FleetMaintenance #FleetManagement #FleetSuccess #VehicleInventory #FleetSafety #FleetCompliance #FleetMaintenanceSoftware #FleetManagementSoftware #GovernmentFleet #RTAFleet #AssetManagement #FleetLiability

"We're not addressing human behavior—we're just trying to show that we did something."In this impactful episode of The Fleet Success Show, host Steve Saltzgiver sits down with 2024 Fleet Hall of Fame inductee Matthew Betz. With more than five decades in the fleet world, Betz has seen it all—from selling fleet solutions at Wheels Inc. to building out Detroit’s EV infrastructure at DTE Energy. But perhaps most compelling is his recent mission: transforming fleet safety by understanding human behavior.The conversation dives deep into Betz's career evolution, including his leadership roles at NAFA and AFLA, the surprising challenges in launching an electric fleet at DTE, and why traditional driver training is failing. Together with behavioral psychologists (including his daughter!), Betz now focuses on empowering supervisors to become safety coaches—an idea that could redefine fleet risk management.Fleet managers will walk away with real-world insights into EV adoption, stakeholder engagement, and a new lens on fleet safety that goes far beyond checklists and telematics dashboards.  Key Takeaways:Behavior Drives Safety: Most safety training fails because it ignores root causes. Changing driver behavior starts with understanding why people drive the way they do. Train the Coach, Not the Driver: Betz advocates for supervisor-led coaching rather than automated training modules. EV Adoption Is Hard—but Worth It: Infrastructure, range anxiety, and cultural resistance are all major hurdles, but thoughtful planning and change management can overcome them. Data Overload is Real: Fleet managers are overwhelmed with telematics. Success lies in surfacing actionable insights—not just data. Fleet Needs a Seat at the Table: Top-performing fleets are integrated with organizational leadership and strategy. Speaker Bios:Matthew BetzMatthew Betz is a fleet industry legend, boasting a 50+ year career that spans fleet leasing, consulting, OEM partnerships, and utility fleet management. A former VP at Wheels Inc., Betz later spearheaded the electric fleet initiative at DTE Energy. He’s a past president of AFLA, a longtime NAFA board member, and was inducted into the Fleet Hall of Fame in 2024. Today, he leads Orc Creek Fleet Consulting and works closely with behavioral science firm ABA Technologies to revolutionize fleet safety.Steve SaltzgiverSteve Saltzgiver is a veteran fleet executive, consultant, and host of The Fleet Success Show. With experience leading massive government and private fleets, Steve now brings his expertise to the mic, guiding fleet professionals toward operational excellence and sustainable success.

“If you're tracking school bus maintenance in a notebook, you're 30 years behind—and it's costing you way more than you think.” — Marc Canton  📝 Episode SummaryIn this data-packed episode of The Fleet Success Show, host Marc Canton is joined by school bus operations and data analytics expert Griffin Scott to dive deep into one of the most overlooked and under-optimized segments in fleet management: school transportation fleets.Griffin shares how his background in geoinformatics and data science led to a decade of improving efficiency for school districts nationwide. Together, Marc and Griffin break down why many school bus fleets are still stuck in the past, what they can learn from commercial fleet operations, and how the right fleet maintenance management software (FMIS) can revolutionize performance, staffing, and safety.The duo also explores three strategic levers school districts can use to save time, money, and headaches:Bell time studiesRoute optimizationWalk zone evaluationsAnd of course, they tackle the EV school bus conundrum—a perfect use case that’s become a logistical nightmare for many underprepared districts.Key TakeawaysRouting software ≠ Fleet Management Software: Most districts lack a true FMIS, causing deferred maintenance, poor data retention, and technician overload.Driver + Tech Shortage = Disaster: With CDL-holding mechanics driving routes and superintendents behind the wheel, staffing is stretched dangerously thin.Bell Time & Route Optimization Save $$$: Small shifts in bell schedules or tiers can eliminate entire routes, reduce bus counts, and improve driver retention.EVs Are Ideal—But Only If You’re Ready: School bus EVs are a goldmine for clean, quiet, efficient transport, but the infrastructure, training, and funding must be in place first.Training Matters: The best software in the world is useless without trained users. Investment in ongoing training is critical for sustainable operations. Speaker BiosMarc CantonMarc is the VP of Product & Consulting at RTA: The Fleet Success Company. With nearly 30 years of experience in fleet operations—including managing New York City’s Fordham University fleet—Marc is a passionate advocate for data-driven fleet maintenance, scalable systems, and modern software.Griffin ScottGriffin is a data scientist with a specialty in geoinformatics and fleet analytics. Before joining RTA, he spent nearly a decade consulting with school districts across the country to optimize bus routes, bell times, and walk zones—improving safety, efficiency, and savings.

"Burn the data. Start fresh. The past you is holding your fleet hostage."  Detailed Episode SummaryIn this episode of The Fleet Success Show, Josh Turley and Marc Canton tackle one of the most contentious topics in fleet management: data retention. From government fleets clutching onto 26 years of work orders to fleet managers hoarding “just in case” data, they dismantle the myths about keeping everything forever.They explore why data older than five years is almost always useless for analytics, how “garbage in, garbage out” isn’t just a cliché, and why old data often comes with old bad habits baked in. Along the way, they unpack sunk cost fallacy in a fleet context, the hidden dangers of “organizational garbage,” and why purging or rolling up data can speed up your fleet maintenance management software and help you focus on what actually matters today.With plenty of real-world examples, humor, and a few spicy analogies (think Marie Kondo meets fleet management), Josh and Marc show how a clean data start can set you — and your future fleet managers — up for massive success. Key Takeaways5 years or less of historical data is sufficient for most fleet analytics — older data is often irrelevant.Old data often carries inconsistent practices from multiple fleet managers, creating “organizational garbage.”Hoarding data “just in case” is driven by fear, but it often slows down systems and clutters decision-making.Rolling up or archiving old data keeps it accessible without polluting your active fleet maintenance system.A new FMIS implementation is the perfect opportunity to clean house — and resist carrying over bad processes.Your metrics should drive your data collection, not the other way around. Speaker BiosJosh Turley – CEO of RTA: The Fleet Success Company. With over two decades in fleet management and software innovation, Josh leads RTA’s mission to help fleets save $1 billion. Known for his strategic vision and no-nonsense approach, Josh is passionate about empowering fleets through better processes, technology, and leadership.Marc Canton – Fleet Consultant & Data Analytics Expert at RTA. Marc brings nearly 30 years of fleet experience, including 20 years running Fordham University’s fleet in NYC and a decade in consulting. He specializes in helping fleets leverage data to make smarter, faster, and more profitable decisions.