Why Fleet Deserves More: Education, Career Paths, and the Push for Professionalization

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

Behind Every Hero Is a Fleet Manager

Every time a firetruck rolls out…
Every time an ambulance hits the road…
Every time a trash truck completes its route or a police vehicle arrives at the scene…

A fleet manager made that possible.

And yet, most people (even within city leadership) don’t understand how critical fleet is. Even worse? Most fleet professionals never had a clear path to get where they are.

This is the story of Scott Conlon, a man who rose from wrench-turning student to managing one of the largest government fleets in the U.S. His journey highlights what’s missing, and what we must build, to secure the future of the fleet industry.

From Student Mechanic to Fleet Executive

Scott started out like many others: a part-time bus driver and mechanic while attending the University of Maryland. But unlike most, he stuck with it. He fell in love with the problem-solving, the logistics, the mission behind fleet.

From there, Scott worked his way up:

• Transit shop supervisor at age 25
  
  
• Running two 24/7 garages by age 27
  
  
• Leading asset management and vehicle replacement for Montgomery County
  
  
• Senior consultant advising federal fleets at Mercury Associates
  
  
• And eventually: National Fleet Manager for the U.S. Forest Service, managing 18,000+ vehicles across every U.S. time zone
  
  

The Problem: No One Teaches You How to Be a Fleet Leader

Scott’s story is incredible, but it shouldn’t be rare.

At every step, he had to teach himself. He drew on military discipline, observed strong mentors, and sought out leadership resources that had nothing to do with fleet. There was no predefined ladder, no roadmap, no certification that told him, “Here’s how to lead a fleet of thousands.”

“There’s no real path from turning wrenches to managing a national fleet,” he says. “And that’s a problem.”

The Solution: A Call to Professionalize the Industry

Scott and RTA believe fleet needs the same respect and infrastructure as healthcare, engineering, or IT.

That includes:

• Formal career pathways from technician to manager to executive
  
  
• Higher ed partnerships that develop fleet-specific degrees or certificates
  
  
• Executive visibility, ensuring fleet has a seat at the table where decisions are made
  
  

And more than anything: a culture that treats fleet professionals as the strategic leaders they are.

Why It Matters: Fleet Is Strategic Infrastructure

Fleet isn’t just about PMs and downtime. It’s about public safety, logistics, and operational readiness.

Scott’s tenure at the Forest Service involved:

• Coordinating firefighting assets across multiple states
  
  
• Managing fuel and fleet cards for 23,000+ vehicles
  
  
• Navigating a complex matrix org where most people didn’t report to him
  
  
• Ensuring compliance with federal mandates while supporting local fire teams
  
  

His approach? Lead like a consultant. Show value. Build relationships. Leverage data.

And that’s where tools like Fleet Management Software and Fleet Maintenance Systems become essential. Without centralized data, Scott couldn’t have led his teams — or made the case for investment.

The Hidden Bonus: Variety Makes Fleet the Best Career You’ve Never Considered

What makes fleet so compelling?

“It’s never the same two days in a row,” Scott says. “One day you’re negotiating contracts. The next, you’re looking at downtime reports. The next, you’re advising field crews. You’re never bored.”

For the intellectually curious, the problem-solvers, the operators, the tinkerers. fleet offers unmatched professional satisfaction.

Conclusion: It’s Time to Build the Future of Fleet

The fleet industry needs more people like Scott. But more importantly, it needs a system to build people like Scott.

That means investing in education. Developing career tracks. Offering mentorship. And changing the perception of fleet from “maintenance” to mission-critical strategy.

At RTA, we’re not just building software. We’re building a movement.

Want to level up your fleet operation?
Connect with RTA’s consulting team at fleetconsulting.com or email podcast@rtafleet.com for strategic support.