New Guide Aims to Help Manage Truck Fleets, Heavy Motorized Equipment

A new ASTM International standard aims to help owners and operators of heavy motorized equipment – such off-road construction, self-propelled warehouse trucks, tractors and aircraft support equipment --  to manage their assets.

Accountability will be evident through standard performance measures, such as cost savings, increased asset visibility and utilization, extended asset life, petroleum and greenhouse gas (GHG) reductions, and increased mission effectiveness.

ASTM International’s asset management committee (E53) developed the new standard, which will soon be published as E3221.

ASTM International member William Gookin, associate vice president, Mercury Associates Inc., notes that while there are many policies on how to manage car and truck fleets, some heavier and off-road motorized equipment doesn’t fall under the existing standards.

“Heavy motorized equipment are high-investment items, so there is significant capital tied up in these assets,” says Gookin. “Small improvements in management can provide significant savings to owners and operators.”

The new standard will be most helpful to managers of large fleets of heavy motorized equipment in the public or private sector, he adds.