Working to resolve the city of Dallas, Texas' fleet management problems, which include a city police car shortage because of too many police cars in the repair shop, city officials are working to overhaul management of the city's entire 5,100-unit fleet of police cars, garbage trucks and other equipment, according to the Dallas Morning News.

The city last year took a step in that direction by appointing a new director of the city's equipment and building services department. Since then, the city has shaken up the fleet management team and re-organized the division.

In addition, a city audit of its fleet management is expected to be finished later this year.

Issues with the city's fleet management have been going on since at least 2004. As recently as 2008, police officers sometimes had to wait for cars to become available, or they rode two-to-a-car when they would have ridden alone.

The response from city officials has included the creation of a new "fleet procurement manager" position, responsible for coordinating vehicle selection and purchasing. The manager would also hopefully create a more uniform fleet for more efficiency in repairs and maintenance. That position could be filled by the end of the year.

And the city took a further step with a pilot program with a private vendor that changes the oil in police patrol cars. The goal is for officers to spend less time in the city's vehicle service centers.

The city is also planning for its service centers to be able to perform warranty work in house.

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