Dodge County Board Approves Fleet Management Pilot Program with Enterprise

JUNEAU, Wis. — The Dodge County Board has approved a pilot program with Enterprise Fleet Management aimed at reducing vehicle costs and freeing up staff time across county departments. 

“This program saves taxpayer dollars, but it goes beyond just saving money,” said Cameron Clapper, Dodge County Administrator. “By improving how we manage our fleet, we can reduce costs while also freeing up valuable employee time. That means our staff can focus more of their work hours on services and responsibilities that directly impact Dodge County’s strategic values and mission.” 

The one-year pilot program will run through 2026 and focuses on improving how Dodge County manages its fleet of approximately 150 non-commercial vehicles. The program does not include vehicles requiring a CDL. 

Currently, fleet management is handled at the department level, meaning each department is responsible for acquiring vehicles, arranging upfitting, managing fuel contracts, coordinating maintenance, and ultimately reselling vehicles. Because of this decentralized approach, purchasing decisions are often focused on upfront costs, while the total cost of owning and operating a vehicle over its full lifecycle is not consistently tracked or well understood. 

Through the partnership, Enterprise will assist the county in managing vehicle lifecycles, identifying optimal replacement timing, and leveraging national purchasing contracts with automakers. These contracts allow Enterprise to secure vehicles at significantly lower prices than typical retail or local government purchasing channels. 

In addition, Enterprise staff monitor vehicle value and depreciation trends, allowing them to recommend the best time to trade in or replace a vehicle in order to maximize resale value. 

The county currently spends a considerable amount of staff time managing vehicles. Depending on the department and vehicle type, employees spend an estimated 8 to 28 hours annually per vehicle on fleet-related tasks. With roughly 150 non-commercial vehicles in operation, that can represent hundreds of hours of staff time each year. 

The cost of the pilot program in 2026 is anticipated to be approximately $9,000. County staff expect that vehicle purchase discounts secured through Enterprise’s national contracts will offset that cost, allowing the program to break even during the pilot year. 

The County Board will review the results of the pilot program during the 2027 budget process to determine whether to continue or expand the fleet management partnership.