Utility fleets, both public and private, are a special circumstance. They operate in a regulated industry that is rapidly being deregulated. The vehicles are usually highly specialized, and the conditions under which they operate are often more adverse from those in which commercial fleets operate. Utility fleet managers are often different as well, especially in terms of experience and compensation. In comparison to commercial fleet managers, those who run utility fleets tend to have more experience and pull down larger salaries. Roughly one-third of our respondents have more than six years experience in fleet and are paid in the range between $60,000 and $80,000. Two other pieces of information showed up when AF analyzed the data. The first was that utility fleet managers tend to run larger fleets, with almost one-third saying that they managed 1,000 or more vehicles and pieces of equipment and operate on-site maintenance facilities. The second was that they tend to have more people working for them, with almost three-quarters reporting that they had five or more people under them.

Compensation by Years of Experience

Utility fleet managers tend to stay in place for a long time, and are compensated accord ingly. Percentages indicate percentage of survey respondents in each salary range that correspond to years of experience. Utility fleet manage rs in the higher compensation brackets tend to have full responsibiity for setting policy. Percentages below the bars indicate the amount of time spent in developing policy and procedures and the corresponding relationship to salary level.