Roadrageous

When Technology Meets Tight Alleys: Running a Modern Municipal Fleet


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Municipal fleets operate under a microscope. Every dollar is taxpayer money. Every decision faces scrutiny. Every vehicle supports critical public services. So how do you balance innovation, sustainability, and reliability at massive scale?

Eric Winterset knows. As Fleet Services Bureau Manager for the City of Long Beach, he oversees 1,600 rolling stock units serving police, fire, refuse, helicopters, boats, and beach maintenance. Under his leadership, Long Beach has become an early adopter of AI-powered predictive maintenance, automated tire monitoring, and flexible EV infrastructure—while managing operations that never stop.

In this episode, Eric reveals:

  • How AI predictive maintenance increased fleet availability from 90% to 93%
  • Why he intentionally let vehicles break down to prove the technology works
  • The automated tire monitoring posts eliminating surprise downtime
  • Flexible EV infrastructure strategies (solar chargers, propane trailers) that bridge the gap before permanent installations
  • Why major EV manufacturers are pausing production—and what it means for fleet planning
  • The hidden training challenge nobody discusses (spoiler: it's not just about vehicles)
  • Real differences between private and public sector fleet operations
  • How Long Beach manages one of only three municipal towing operations in the U.S.

Whether you're in municipal fleet management, considering EV adoption, or navigating technology implementation at scale, Eric's nearly 30 years of experience offers practical frameworks for pilots, buy-in, and flexibility.

Listen now to discover how Long Beach is building the fleet of the future—one innovation at a time.

🔗 Resources Mentioned:

  • Eric Winterset on LinkedIn
  • City of Long Beach Fleet Services
  • Pitstop – AI Predictive Maintenance
  • SPIDER® Driver Training
  • Chad Lindholm on LinkedIn
  • Gary Alexander on LinkedIn
  • Network of Employers for Traffic Safety
  • Long Beach City College

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SPONSORED BY: IMPROV Learning Transform driver education with SPIDER™ Driver Training—research-backed methods that help drivers anticipate and avoid dangers on the road.

Visit: https://www.improvlearning.com/

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RoadrageousBy IMPROVLearning