Class Codes Are Boring… Until You Realize They’re Everything

This article is based on a recent episode of The Fleet Success Show podcast. Watch the full episode here: 

Class Coding Is the Backbone of Fleet Success

Asset class codes sound about as exciting as watching paint dry. But if you're managing a fleet and not doing class coding, well... you’re flying blind.

Poor data, budget overruns, missed replacement cycles, and flawed utilization metrics: it all starts here.

In Episode 175 of The Fleet Success Show, RTA Head of Product Marc Canton and veteran fleet consultant Scott Rood break down the surprisingly high-stakes world of class coding, and why it’s one of the smartest things you can do to build a high-functioning fleet.

✅ Why Class Coding Is the Foundation

Fleet managers make multi-million-dollar decisions based on data. But if that data groups together trucks that cost $50K with those that cost $100K, the decisions that follow are compromised.

Class coding puts assets into logical, comparable groups, so you can:

• Run accurate replacement analyses
  
  
• Set meaningful utilization thresholds
  
  
• Forecast capital budgets with confidence
  
  
• Prevent unfair chargebacks

It’s not just a nice-to-have, it’s a must.

⚡ Lumping Is a Liability

One of the biggest mistakes Scott sees? Fleets that lump everything into a handful of generic buckets.

“I’ve seen some of them with less than 10 codes... when I break it out, I usually come up with 40 to 50.”
-Scott Rood, RTA fleet management consultant

When you group a compact SUV with a two-ton dump truck, your lifecycle analysis, rate development, and utilization insights are fundamentally flawed.

⛽ Fuel Types Are Different Classes

EV, plug-in hybrid, diesel, gas vehicles aren't interchangeable. A gas-powered truck and its EV counterpart may look the same, but they perform, cost, and behave differently.

“If you have the exact same truck with the exact same build, and one’s diesel and one’s gas—it’s a different class.”
-Scott Rood

Today’s fleets must differentiate by energy type to make meaningful comparisons.

⏳ Utilization Isn't Just about the Miles

Some vehicles rack up 100,000 miles per year. Others, like trades vans or facility trucks, may only travel six miles a day, but they might complete 20+ work orders.

Don’t rely solely on mileage or engine hours. True utilization includes:

• Job function
  
  
• Work order completion
  
  
• Time on-site
  
  
• Load handling

This is especially critical for public works and utility fleets.

⚖️ How to Build a Solid Class Code System

Here’s a simple way to get started:

1. Start big: Use broad class types like sedans, pickups, equipment, trailers.
   
   
2. Analyze differences: Look at:
   
   
   • Cost
     
     
   • Configuration (crew cab vs. utility bed)
     
     
   • Fuel type
     
     
   • Use case
     
     
   • Utilization behavior
     
     
3. Refine as needed: Separate where it makes sense—but avoid over-coding.
   
   
4. Use what’s out there: Don’t start from scratch. NAFA and APWA offer free, robust classification systems.
   
   
5. Review regularly: Fleet data evolves; so should your class codes.
   
   

“Once you do your class codes, you’re not done. Let it run for a while, then refine.” -Scott Rood

✨ Final Thought

Data drives every major decision in fleet management. But the quality of your class coding determines the quality of that data.

If you’re not doing this right, every analysis you run is flawed before it starts. It’s time to treat class coding not as an admin task, but as a strategy.

Want help cleaning up your class codes?

Learn how RTA's fleet maintenance management software can help bring clarity, structure, and accuracy to your fleet data.