Episode 205: The 3Ws of Fleet: Right-Sizing Your Team, Tools, and Tech for Long-Term Success

“You don’t have 10 techs—you have 8.5 full-time equivalents. And that difference could be killing your fleet availability.” – Tony Yankovich

Episode Summary

In this thought-provoking episode of the Fleet Success Show, host Marc Canton is joined by RTA’s senior consultant and fleet legend Tony Yankovich for a no-nonsense conversation about what it really takes to build an efficient, right-sized fleet operation.

Tony breaks down the “3Ws” frameworkWorkload, Workforce, and Workplace—and explains how each element impacts the others. Whether you’re struggling with outdated shops, understaffed teams, or an aging fleet, this episode delivers clarity on how to analyze, model, and communicate the changes your operation needs.

You’ll also hear real-world strategies for:

  • Measuring true technician capacity (not just headcount)
  • Communicating up to leadership with data (not desperation)
  • Adjusting staffing, shop space, or outsourcing based on your fleet availability
  • How poor replacement planning leads to bloated fleets and burned-out teams

If you’re stuck in reactive mode and want to operate your fleet with more strategy and less chaos—this episode is your roadmap.

 


Key Takeaways

  • The 3Ws: Workload, Workforce, and Workplace must be evaluated together—not in silos.
  • Why replacement planning is the lynchpin for solving other fleet issues (availability, technician overload, fleet creep).
  • How to distinguish between technician headcount (FTs) and true wrench-turning labor (FTEs)—and why that gap matters.
  • How old equipment causes spare creep, lower availability, and a domino effect across labor and facility requirements.
  • Presenting to leadership with scenario-based data (not just headcount requests).

Speaker Bios

Marc Canton
VP of Product & Consulting, RTA
Marc brings decades of fleet experience to his role as RTA’s product and consulting lead. Known for blending operational know-how with strategic thinking, Marc helps public and private fleets rethink the way they approach replacement planning, KPI tracking, and stakeholder communication.

Tony Yankovich
Fleet Consultant & Right-Sizing Specialist, RTA
A master of fleet analysis and strategic planning, Tony has helped dozens of fleets across North America design optimized operations based on data, not gut instinct. With deep expertise in workload modeling, right-sizing, and facility planning, Tony’s work continues to raise the standard for fleet consulting.


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