Fleet Managers’ Salaries Are Rising
Increased compensation for commercial fleet mangers is based in part on whether a company owns or leases its fleet, and signals a growing awareness of the position’s importance in the eyes of management.
The money you make as a fleet manager may have something to do with whether your company owns its fleet or lease it.
Although the average salaries of the two groups are comparable ($39,450 for mangers of company-owned fleets and $39,370 for managers of leased fleets), managers of company-owned fleets may have a better chance of breaking into the $40,000 salary range, according to a Runzheimer International study.
According to the study, 43 percent of fleet managers whose companies own their fleets have surpassed the $40,000 salary barrier. This compares with the 38 percent of leased-fleet managers who are over that same $40,000 salary mark.
SALARIES FOR FLEET MANAGERS OF COMPANY OWNED FLEETS:
Average Salary in 1989: $39,450
Median Salary in 1989: $37,770
1983 | 1985 | 1987 | 1989 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Under $20,000 | 14% | 14% | 6% | 3% |
$20,000-24,999 | 12% | 14% | 15% | 12% |
$25,000-29,999 | 22% | 8% | 13% | 9% |
$30,000-34,999 | 18% | 14% | 16% | 20% |
$35,000-39,999 | 14% | 15% | 14% | 13% |
$40,000-44,999 | 20% | 35% | 10% | 14% |
$45,000-49,999 | N/A | N/A | 10% | 12% |
$50,000 or more | N/A | N/A | 16% | 17% |
N/A=Not Asked |
SALARIES FOR FLEET MANAGERS OF COMPANY LEASED FLEETS:
Average salary in 1989: $39,370
Median Salary in 1989: $357110
1983 | 1985 | 1987 | 1989 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Under $20,000 | 10% | 11% | 11% | 5% |
$20,000-24,999 | 16% | 16% | 14% | 13% |
$25,000-29,999 | 17% | 11% | 17% | 18% |
$30,000-34,999 | 19% | 16% | 16% | 14% |
$35,000-39,999 | 10% | 21% | 12% | 12% |
$40,000-44,999 | 28%* | 25%* | 12% | 9% |
$45,000-49,999 | N/A | N/A | 2% | 9% |
$50,000-54,999 | N/A | N/A | 16%** | 7% |
55,000 or More | N/A | N/A | N/A | 13% |
N/A=Not Asked | ||||
*Salary range represented by these percentages was $40,000 or more. | ||||
**Salary range represented by this percentage was 50,000 or more. |
In comparisons to salary figures from the last seven years, however, it is clear that both groups of fleet managers are beginning to climb the salary ladder.
In 1983, only one out of five managers of totally company-owned fleets earned $40,000 or more per year. In 1985 and 1987, just over one-third received salaries above that amount. The jump to 43 percent in 1989 is a nearly 20 percent increase to the over$40,000 group from 1987's figures.
The salary history for leased-fleet managers has shown a similar movement. In 1983 and 1985, only about one-fourth of leased-fleet managers received salaries at $40,000 or above. In 1987, just under one-third received salaries at or above that amount. The 1989 figures, however, show that the percentage of leased-fleet mangers who have reached the $40,000 salary range has grown to 38 percent.
What does all this mean? It means that companies are, in fact. Beginning to recognize the need for a fleet professional to oversee vehicle operations, and also that they are becoming increasingly open to the idea of adequately compensating fleet mangers for a professional job well done.
SALARY RANGES OF MANAGERS IN CHARGE OF GOVERNMENT AND UTILITY FLEET OPERATIONS | ||
|---|---|---|
Government | Utility | |
Average 1989 Salary | $39,300 | $46,400 |
Median 1989 Salary | $38,600 | $46,600 |
1983 | 1985 | 1987 | 1989 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS | ||||
Under $20,000 | 7% | 5% | 8% | 3% |
$20,000-24,999 | 14% | 14% | 10% | 4% |
$25,000-29,999 | 17% | 20% | 11% | 9% |
$30,000-34,999 | 34% | 23% | 22% | 23% |
$35,000-39,999 | 19% | 20% | 21% | 16% |
$40,000-44,999 | 9%* | 18% | 14% | 18% |
$45,000-49,999 | * | * | 14% | 14% |
$50,000-59,999 | * | * | ** | 7% |
55,000 or More | * | * | ** | 6% |
UTILITY FLEETS | 1983 | 1985 | 1987 | 1989 |
Under $20,000 | N/A | N/A | 2% | 1% |
$20,000-24,999 | N/A | N/A | 3% | 1% |
$25,000-29,999 | N/A | N/A | 7% | 6% |
$30,000-34,999 | N/A | N/A | 13% | 9% |
$35,000-39,999 | N/A | N/A | 18% | 12% |
$40,000-44,999 | N/A | N/A | 14% | 16% |
$45,000-49,999 | N/A | N/A | 43%** | 14% |
$50,000-54,999 | N/A | N/A | ** | 15% |
55,000 or More | N/A | N/A | ** | 26% |
*This category was $40,000 or more in the 1983 and 1985 surveys. **This category was $45,000 or more in the 1987 survey. | ||||
N/A=Not Asked |
Selected California Cities and Counties-June 1990: | ||
|---|---|---|
Base /Top Salary Step | Fleet Size | |
County of San Diego | $6,000 | 1,900 |
City of Oakland | $5,701 | 1,801 |
City of San Jose | $5,327 | 1,560 |
City of Sunnyvale | $5,266 | 600 |
County of San Bernardion | $4,850 | 1,350 |
City of San Mateo | $4,787 | 250 |
City of Milpitas | $4,699 | 180 |
City of Santa Clara | $4,686 | 890 |
County of Alameda Transportation | $4,673 | 475 |
County of Riverside | $4,625 | 1,600 |
City of Fremont | $4,539 | 325 |
City of Redwood City | $4,495 | 402 |
City of Palo Alto | $4,482 | 470 |
County of Sonoma | $4,337 | 1,100 |
County of San Diego Transportation | $4,331 | 525 |
County of Santa Clara | $4,298 | 1,320 |
County of Contra Costa | $4,140 | 1,150 |
County of San Mateo Transportation | $3,910 | 400 |
County of San Mateo | $3,753 | 480 |
Note: Most all cities and countries have paid retirement or no social security andlor both which is not included in the survey. This informal survey was conducted by R. Simon. County of Santa Clara, and is published courtesy of California Fleet News. |
More Operations
How to Manage Conflict for Your Fleet Operations
Conflict management is becoming a core leadership skill. Here are five strategies fleet leaders should know.
Read More →
Turning Connected Vehicle Data Into Decisions That Matter
Fleet leaders have more data than ever, but turning that data into clear, actionable decisions remains a challenge. This white paper shows how leading organizations are using connected vehicle data to improve safety, reduce costs, and optimize fleet performance. Learn how to turn insight into action across your fleet.
Read More →
Cameras, Safety and Insurance: From Reactive Claims to Real-time Prevention
Commercial auto remains one of the most challenging and costly lines of coverage for fleet operators and insurers alike. Learn more about how to effectively address these issues from Onur Aksan, Enterprise Business Development Executive, Geotab.
Read More →
Are You Tracking Your Fleet's True Total Cost of Ownership?
Bobit Business Media surveyed 190 fleet professionals and found that while most fleets are tracking costs, fragmented systems and data gaps are keeping true TCO visibility out of reach. With rising pressure to control spend in an increasingly volatile environment, the gap between what fleets think they know and what the data actually shows is wider than you might expect. See how your peers are managing costs today and where the industry still has room to improve.
Read More →
Turn Fleet Data Into Smarter Decisions
Fleet leaders have access to more operational data than ever, but disconnected systems and unclear metrics often slow decision-making instead of improving it. This article outlines five practical steps fleets can take to transform fragmented data into actionable insights that improve planning, safety, utilization, and long-term performance.
Read More →
Hybrids: Electrification Without the Challenges
For fleet managers, fuel is one of the biggest line items in the budget — and it's one hybrids can shrink without changing how your people work. Download the eBook to see the numbers, understand the technology, and get a step-by-step guide to making the switch.
Read More →
How NOV Uses Telematics to Improve Fleet Safety Across 160 Locations
James Victory of NOV discusses how the company manages fleet safety, maintenance, and telematics across more than 150 locations supporting oilfield operations throughout the U.S.
Read More →
Fleet Meets: Steven Santostasi
This edition of the Fleet Meets series features Steven Santostasi, the current TSP channel manager for Ford Pro.
Read More →
Why Fleet Managers Are Replacing Departmental Vehicles with Shared Motor Pools
Departmentally assigned vehicles often create hidden costs through underutilization, poor visibility, and increased administrative burden. This white paper explores how shared motor pool strategies help fleets reduce costs, improve accountability, and optimize vehicle utilization.
Read More →
Soap Box Derby Challenge: Assembling the Crew
Meet Gabriel, Matthew, and Angel — the team helping bring this soap box derby build to life.
Read More →