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Realizing savings through an improved fleet plan

AmeriPride/Canadian Linen and Uniform Service, one of North America's leading service providers of uniform rentals and commercial laundry, recognized that a carefully developed and executed fleet plan could offer double-digit improvements in overtime costs, workforce productivity, carbon emissions and fuel cost savings. So they brought in GE Capital Fleet Services to assist in analyzing, designing and executing a fleet plan - including services such as vehicle replacement, telematics and fleet administration.

"Our goal in working with GE was to save money, increase efficiency and slash emissions," said CEO Bill Evans. "We are very conscious of our impact on the environment, but we also saw this as a smart business decision."

The results have exceeded the expectations of Evans and other top management. During a pilot conducted in 2009, the company realized a 40 percent reduction in fuel costs and CO2 emissions related to idling and inefficiencies of older vehicles. Once extended across the entire fleet, this could represent a potential fuel savings of $640,000 and a reduction of over 6,800 metric tons of CO2.

Currently, the company is in the process of replacing 1,800 vehicles in the U.S. and Canada with newer, more fuel-efficient vehicles. They are right-sizing their fleet so vehicle size and power match - but do not unnecessarily exceed - business needs. This effort also includes the addition of hybrid vehicles. So far, AmeriPride/Canadian Linen Uniform Service have replaced 700 vans and are testing 10 hybrid vehicles in a pilot program that could eventually grow to a fleet of 50.

"We are on track to meet our goals," says Evans. "By 2020, we expect savings to exceed $3 million and carbon dioxide emissions to drop by 33,000 tons."