Episode 173: Fleet Horror Stories: Fires, Failures & Frozen Garbage Trucks

“I had to shut down the entire CNG fleet—and the CEO looked at me and said, ‘Who the hell shut down the program?’ I said, ‘Me.’”

🚀 Episode Summary

In this episode of The Fleet Success Show, hosts Josh Turley and Steve Saltzgiver crack open the vault of unforgettable—and often unbelievable—fleet horror stories. From rat-chewed wires and exploding garbage trucks to life-or-death maintenance failures and frozen CNG engines during a polar vortex, Steve recounts decades of wild events from his legendary fleet career.

These aren’t just entertaining tales. Each story is packed with critical lessons in leadership, accountability, and the hard realities of managing complex fleets. Whether it's dealing with rogue employees, taking responsibility for costly mistakes, or standing firm under executive pressure, this episode delivers powerful insights for fleet professionals at every level.

If you've ever wondered what it takes to make it to the Fleet Hall of Fame, this episode is the playbook.

Key Takeaways:

• Documentation Matters: Journaling your daily fleet experiences can preserve valuable lessons and build your leadership credibility.
  
  
• Check Under the Hood: Always verify vehicle inspections—those “minor oversights” could be bird nests… or worse.
  
  
• Own Your Mistakes: Taking accountability can turn a career-defining moment into a career-building one.
  
  
• Culture and Leadership: Toxic leadership can drive great employees away. Sometimes walking away leads to bigger opportunities.
  
  
• Fleet Safety is Life or Death: Bald tires and missed inspections aren’t just maintenance issues—they can be fatal.
  
  
• Fleets Burn (Literally): Garbage trucks, turbochargers, and hoppers go up in flames more often than you'd think.
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👥 Meet the Experts:

Steve Saltzgiver
Fleet Hall of Famer. Nicknamed "The Fixer of Fleet" by Government Fleet Magazine. With decades of experience across city, state, transit, and private fleets, Steve has transformed underperforming operations into high-functioning successes. He’s been a state director, built trucks, sold cars, and led with integrity through high-stakes challenges.

Josh Turley
CEO of RTA: The Fleet Success Company. Fleet tech veteran and strategic storyteller. Josh brings deep insight into operations, leadership, and scaling sustainable fleet systems, along with a passion for mentoring the next generation of fleet professionals.

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