Episode 197: From the Shop Floor to the Top 100: Dave Persad's Relentless Pursuit of Fleet Excellence

Episode Summary

In this episode of The Fleet Success Show, Marc Canton is joined by fleet industry leader and Boynton Beach Fleet Director Dave Persad for a raw, heartfelt conversation about leadership, legacy, and transforming public sector fleets.

From his humble beginnings on a farm in Trinidad to managing award-winning fleets in Florida, Dave shares his journey through construction, hardship, and passion-led transformation. You'll hear about how he led West Palm Beach and Boynton Beach to Top 100 Fleet rankings, his strategies for stakeholder engagement, and the power of intentional culture. This episode is packed with real talk on managing resources, securing buy-in, and building a team that believes in the mission.

Whether you’re struggling to get budget approvals or dealing with bad apples on your team, this episode is a playbook for turning frustration into progress. Dave's story is a must-listen for fleet managers trying to prove their value, protect in-house maintenance, and build a team people want to follow.

Key Takeaways

• Intentional Culture: Leadership isn't an accident. Dave shows how intentional values, love, and high expectations shape teams that succeed.
• Data + Emotion = Influence: Learn how Dave tells a compelling fleet story using performance metrics tied directly to stakeholder needs.
• Stakeholder Satisfaction is Everything: Dave runs quarterly fleet meetings with all departments to align goals, manage replacements, and improve availability.
• Recruitment Through Leadership: Treat people right, and they follow you. Half of Dave's team followed him from West Palm Beach to Boynton Beach.
• You Can't Tolerate Bad Apples: One negative tech can tank a culture. Learn how Dave documents and leads through tough conversations.
• Food, Family, and Follow-Through: Sometimes, building culture means breaking bread. Literally.

Speaker Bios

Marc Canton is the VP of Product and Consulting at RTA: The Fleet Success Company. With nearly 30 years in fleet, he brings a blend of tech expertise and hands-on experience to help fleets succeed.

Dave Persad is the Fleet Director for the City of Boynton Beach, FL. With a background in construction and public works, Dave has led multiple fleets to Top 100 status using a culture-first, data-driven approach.

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