This article is based on a recent episode of The Fleet Success Show podcast.
Watch the full episode here:
“The strength of any relationship is the speed of repair.” – Josh Turley, CEO of RTA
Whether you're managing a government fleet, utility vehicles, or a multi-location construction operation, one truth applies to every fleet: No amount of fleet maintenance software or process efficiency can fix a dysfunctional team.
If your leadership team doesn’t trust each other, doesn’t communicate well, or avoids accountability, you’ll struggle to improve your operation, no matter how sophisticated your fleet management system is.
In this article, we’ll break down how fleet leaders can build cohesive, high-performing teams by addressing the Five Dysfunctions of a Team, a framework developed by Patrick Lencioni. We’ll also walk through specific, actionable exercises used by the RTA leadership team and show you how to apply them in your own organization.
When we think of “fleet dysfunction,” we often picture missed PMs, lost assets, or inefficient processes. But those are symptoms, not causes.
The root issue? Often, it’s misaligned motives, broken trust, and fear of conflict within leadership teams.
Here’s how it shows up:
If any of this sounds familiar, your fleet’s biggest bottleneck might not be tools or training—it’s team health.
Based on the bestselling book by Patrick Lencioni, the Five Dysfunctions of a Team are a framework for diagnosing and repairing the root causes of internal friction:
🎯 Fleet management systems can track performance. But only healthy teams can deliver it.
RTA’s executive team uses three powerful exercises—straight from The Five Dysfunctions of a Team—during offsite planning sessions. These are real-world tools you can use with your own fleet leadership teams.
This is a diagnostic tool that scores your team across each dysfunction. It helps you spot:
💡 Tip: Look for response disparities (e.g., when one team member says “we always do this,” and another says “we never do this.”) That’s a sign of misalignment.
Each team member answers:
Sounds simple—but this creates massive psychological safety. Why?
“We build trust when we see each other as human beings—not just job titles.”
Sharing childhood stories reveals vulnerability. And vulnerability builds empathy, not ego (the foundation of a high-performing leadership team).
Each person shares:
Then, the team gives honest feedback to that person. The leader always goes first to set the tone.
Rules:
“You can’t react. You can’t explain it away. You just receive it.”
The exercise is raw. It’s humbling. But it’s one of the fastest ways to:
Good. That’s the point.
Real trust isn’t built through surface-level conversations. As Josh Turley puts it:
“There were tears. There was passion. But at the end of the day, we were bonded—like we’d been in a foxhole together.”
Fleet operations are high-stress environments. If your team can’t have healthy conflict and work through it, you’ll stall (especially during budget season, policy changes, or after a major incident).
One of the most powerful takeaways from the podcast episode was this:
“As a CEO, I have to be more robotic—more measured in my response—so I don't crush safety.”
As a fleet leader, your emotional tone sets the culture. Passion is good, but measured reaction builds trust. If you respond with frustration, blame, or defensiveness, your team will retreat into silence.
When your leadership team is aligned and emotionally safe:
Fleet maintenance software, work order systems, and replacement schedules are all critical—but none of them will work if your people aren’t working together.
If you’re managing a team—even if it's just one or two other leaders—start with trust. Before you roll out new software, before you restructure your workflow, before you assign blame, build a team that can talk.
Dysfunction isn’t a sign you’re broken. It’s a signal that your team needs alignment.
When your team trusts each other, holds each other accountable, and commits to shared outcomes, no challenge is too big.
At RTA, we don’t just offer fleet maintenance management software. We offer:
Let us help you build the leadership team your fleet deserves.
👉 Contact us at podcast@rtafleet.com
👉 Visit www.rtafleet.com
👉 Request your copy of The Fleet Success Playbook