Catawba County News
Catawba County 101
Published: June 03, 2025
MAKING. LIVING. BETTER: Facility Services: Fleet Services
What is its mission/purpose?
Fleet Services is dedicated to maintaining a safe, reliable, and efficient fleet for the departments that serve our community every day. Our mission is to support the essential work of county agencies by ensuring their vehicles are always ready to perform.
Our team of skilled mechanics and technicians performs routine maintenance, diagnostics, and repairs on a wide range of vehicles for the fleets of the Sheriff’s Office, Emergency Services, Parks, Building Services, and Social Services. From patrol cars and ambulances to park maintenance vehicles and other support vehicles, our skilled team keeps county personnel moving safely and dependably.
Our work may be behind the scenes, but it plays a vital role in public safety, community services, and daily operations. With a commitment to quality, accountability, and service, Fleet Services helps keep our county running strong.
How do you achieve your mission – what services are offered?
We achieve our mission through a comprehensive range of fleet maintenance and management services tailored to the specific needs of the departments we serve.
How We Serve:
- Preventive Maintenance: We perform regular inspections, oil changes, fluid checks, tire rotations, and scheduled services to extend vehicle life and reduce unexpected breakdowns.
- Diagnostics & Repairs: Our trained technicians use advanced diagnostic tools to quickly identify and repair mechanical, electrical, and performance issues, minimizing vehicle downtime.
- Emergency Readiness: We prioritize the operational readiness of critical response vehicles for the Sheriff’s Office and Emergency Services, ensuring they are always ready for duty.
- Fleet Tracking & Scheduling: Using fleet management software, we track vehicle usage, schedule routine maintenance, and monitor repair history for efficiency and accountability.
- Specialty Equipment Service: From K-9 units and transport vans to park utility vehicles and building services trucks, we handle specialized maintenance requirements to meet each department’s unique needs.
- Inspections & Compliance: We conduct regular safety inspections and ensure all county vehicles meet state and federal regulatory standards.
- Fuel & Fluids Management: We oversee and provide fuel for all County vehicles, provide access to necessary fluids, and monitor inventory to ensure cost-effective, environmentally responsible operation.
By delivering dependable service and proactive fleet care, we help Sheriff, Emergency Services, Parks, Building Services, and Social Services staff stay focused on their missions.
Who does this department serve?
While Fleet Services does not interact directly with the public, our work plays a vital support role in the services that citizens rely on every day. We serve the departments that serve the community keeping their vehicles safe, dependable, and mission-ready.
Our work supports:
- Public Safety – By maintaining patrol cars, emergency response vehicles, and specialty units for the Sheriff’s Office and Emergency Services, we help ensure law enforcement, EMS, and disaster response teams can respond quickly and effectively in times of need.
- Community Services – We keep vehicles running for Social Services, helping staff reach families, seniors, and individuals in need of care, resources, or case management throughout the county.
- Parks and Recreation – By maintaining vehicles and equipment for Parks, we support crews who care for our public parks, trails, and recreational facilities—spaces that residents enjoy year-round.
- County Facilities – Our service to Building Services ensures that county buildings and infrastructure are maintained efficiently, benefiting everyone who visits or works in public facilities.
In short, every time a sheriff’s vehicle patrols a neighborhood, an ambulance responds to a call, or a social worker drives to visit a client—our team has played a part in making that possible. Through our behind-the-scenes work, we help deliver essential services to the public, 24/7, across every corner of the county.
How and where are services delivered?
The Fleet Services Garage operates out of our main facility located at 150 Government Drive in Newton, NC, a fully equipped service center designed to handle the diverse needs of the county fleet. Our garage is staffed by a team of four ASE-certified mechanics professionals who have met rigorous national standards set by the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE). Their certification reflects a high level of technical skill and a commitment to continuing education in vehicle maintenance and repair.
At our facility, we utilize specialized equipment, including heavy-duty vehicle lifts to safely service ambulances and other large vehicles, tire changers, and a brake lathe to extend the life of essential components ensuring cost-effective, high-quality service.
While most maintenance is performed at the garage, our team is also equipped to provide limited off-site support for emergency situations such as flat tires, or vehicle startup issues.
We operate on a scheduled preventive maintenance program to keep vehicles in peak condition, but we also accommodate drop-in service for minor needs, such as light bulb replacements or new windshield wipers, to keep downtime to a minimum.
In support of emergency responders, we offer 24/7 after-hours repair services to ensure that Sheriff’s Office and Emergency Services vehicles stay on the road—ready to protect and serve the community at any hour. Whether it’s routine care or rapid-response repairs, our facility and staff are equipped to meet the evolving needs of the departments we support.
Is there anything else you’d like to add?
504 Vehicles Strong
Our team maintains a fleet of 504 county vehicles, from patrol cars and ambulances to parks and social services units—keeping county operations moving around the clock.
100 Years of Combined Experience
Our technicians bring over a century of combined expertise in automotive service, diagnostics, and repairs. That’s knowledge you can trust, built over decades on the job.
375,000 Gallons of Fuel per Year
We keep the county fueled and ready—managing and providing the fueling needs for over 375,000 gallons annually across the entire fleet.
Facility Expansion in Progress
We’re growing to serve you better! Our 1994-built facility is currently undergoing an expansion to support our growing fleet and continue delivering top-tier service.
24/7/365 On-Call Support
Day or night, weekends or holidays—Fleet Services is always ready. We provide round-the-clock support every single day of the year for departments that operate 24/7.
$40,000 in Tools—Per Technician
Our ASE-certified technicians invest in excellence. Each tech brings their own tools to the job—averaging $40,000 worth of professional-grade equipment per person, underscoring their dedication and skill.