At the Local Buy SEQ Fleet Forum, Thomas Brayley, Manager – Plant Fleet Business at Logan City Council, outlined how his team has transformed a budget challenge into a fleet optimisation success story.
Responding to Budget Pressures with Smarter Management
Logan City Council operates more than 1,000 assets – from yellow plant to heavy commercials – with a substantial operational and capital budget and significant asset replacement value. This year, the fleet branch was faced with material and staffing budget reductions and only a short window to respond.
A review of the capital replacement reserve revealed an unsustainable trajectory, with projections showing it would be depleted in the long term. Contributing factors included post-COVID asset price increases, static lease rates, and historical funding of additional assets for other branches without replenishment.
From Reserve Review to Utilisation Focus
The review process involved:
- Calculating full cost recovery lease rates.
- Identifying all corporate overheads.
- Engaging an external consultant with local government fleet expertise.
The consultant’s recommendations prompted Council to require a fleet utilisation project before considering any additional funding for the reserve.
Vital, Useful or Idle – Driving Informed Decisions
The utilisation project set a threshold well below the industry benchmark to identify underused assets. Each was classified as vital, useful, or idle, with branches needing to justify retention of low-use equipment.
Brayley emphasised that the process was about partnership, not policing. He noted that behind every underutilised asset is a human impact, often involving staff who have operated it for many years. Change management and clear communication were critical to maintaining morale while making data-driven decisions.
Tangible Results and Better Asset Use
Part-way through the project, the fleet branch had already identified a significant number of assets for disposal, generating capital for the reserve and reducing operational costs. The process also prevented unnecessary replacements, encouraged asset downsizing, and improved cross-branch sharing to reduce external hire.
Strategic Benefits Beyond Savings
The project also:
- Secured an ongoing funding stream from a Council-owned commercial business to support future plant purchases.
- Strengthened procurement strategies, including supplier engagement to address long lead times for truck bodies and chassis.
- Aligned with the council’s Green Fleet Strategy to integrate sustainability into fleet planning.
Brayley’s takeaway for other councils and utilities was simple:
“It’s not about having more. It’s about doing more with what you already have.”
By combining strong data analysis with a people-focused approach, Logan City Council’s fleet team has boosted efficiency, unlocked new funding, and elevated its influence in strategic decision-making.
