Episode Summary
What does it actually take to deploy new technology in a public fleet before anyone else is doing it? In this episode of the Fleet Success Show, host Facundo Tassara sits down with Al Curtis, Fleet Director for Cobb County, Georgia, one of the most innovative public fleet operations in the country. Al has spent over 22 years at Cobb County building a culture of bold, thoughtful experimentation , from deploying Nissan Leafs in the fire marshal's office in 2016 to launching telematics across 800 county vehicles when most fleets had never heard the term.
Al and Facundo dig into what it really means to be an early adopter in public fleet. They cover how to get buy-in from the top and the shop floor at the same time, why your loudest technician might be your most valuable asset during a rollout, when to pull the plug on a failed deployment (like 50 propane-upfitted police cars), and why chasing startups is often smarter than waiting for the mainstream. They also get into how innovation connects to 100 Best Fleets recognition, how Cobb County is tackling the technician shortage by growing talent in-house, and what fleet managers need to hear about AI-driven tools changing how technicians learn and get certified.
In this episode:
- How Cobb County deployed Nissan Leafs in their fire marshal's office in 2016 and what made it work
- The two-phase buy-in approach: why you need both the top-down AND the bottom-up
- Why your loudest, most skeptical technician is actually your most powerful change agent
- The propane police car failure that taught Al one of his most important lessons
- How chasing startups gives public fleets an edge
- Why innovation is a core pillar of 100 Best Fleets recognition
- What Cobb County is doing right now to grow technicians in-house during the skilled labor shortage
- The role AI-driven ASE prep tools are playing in workforce development
This is a conversation for fleet leaders who want to build something they're proud of, not just manage what exists.
Speaker Bios
Facundo Tassara is a host of the Fleet Success Show and a fleet industry veteran with experience spanning government fleet, tech startups, and EV infrastructure. He began his public fleet career in local government before joining Fermata Energy in 2017, where he worked at the forefront of vehicle-to-grid and bidirectional charging technology. Facundo brings a unique perspective to fleet conversations (part practitioner, part innovator) and has been a consistent voice for modernization and bold thinking in public fleet management.
Al Curtis is the Fleet Director for Cobb County Fleet Management in Marietta, Georgia, and one of the most respected names in public fleet innovation. He began his career as a motor sergeant in the U.S. military before moving through the private sector and into public service, where he has spent more than 22 years with Cobb County. Under his leadership, the department has earned 100 Best Fleets recognition and built a reputation for being willing to go where most government fleets won't, testing new technology early, sharing both wins and failures openly, and developing technicians from within the organization.
Additional Resources
Looking to take the first step in your fleet career journey? Start by requesting your free copy of The Fleet Success Playbook. Written by fleet professionals for fleet professionals, the Playbook breaks down the four key pillars of fleet success, and gives you the tools you need to build a truly great fleet.
Request your free (yes, really, free!) copy here.
Control fleet chaos with RTA Fleet360, proven software designed by fleet managers for fleet managers. Request a demo today.
PODCAST HOT TAKES:
He Was 2,500 Days Too Early
The Biggest Skeptic Changed Everyone's Mind
The Reason They Scrapped 50 Police Cars
What If Your Idea Fails?
#1 PODCAST FOR FLEET PROS
Subscribe and listen on your favorite podcast platform.
 |
|
|
|