Fleet management took center stage at the City of Victoria's Special City Council Meeting, highlighting urgent challenges in replacing aging vehicles for waste collection. City officials revealed that the fire department is facing a two-year wait for new vehicles, a situation echoed in the city's waste management fleet, which operates nine routes daily, including seven garbage trucks and two recycling trucks.

The current fleet includes four trucks from 2016 that are overdue for replacement, with an average cost of $525,000 per truck. City staff emphasized that while maintenance has extended the life of vehicles from seven to nine years, delays in procurement mean that the effective replacement timeline has stretched to eleven years. This poses significant operational challenges as the city prepares for upcoming budgets.

In a detailed proposal, officials outlined a three-year plan to replace four automated trucks next year, followed by additional vehicles in subsequent years. The urgency is compounded by impending emissions regulations set to take effect in 2027, which could further complicate the procurement process. City leaders are considering ordering new trucks sooner to avoid potential delays and increased downtime.

As the city grapples with these fleet challenges, the need for timely investment in vehicle replacement is clear, ensuring that waste management services remain efficient and effective for the community.