Thurston County celebrated its Fleet Services Department on Tuesday for once again earning a spot on the National Association of Fleet Administrators’ “100 Best Fleets in the Americas” list.
The contest recognizes peak-performing public and commercial fleet operations, as well as the top Fleet Technician and Fleet Professional of the year, across North, Central and South America.
To be considered, applicants must meet 12 different criteria, which includes accountability, use of technology and information, collaboration, creativity, performance recognition and celebration, and several other metrics.
Thurston County Fleet Services ranked 60th this year, and is one of four public fleets in Washington state to make the 2026 list. The other three Washington public agencies that ranked this year are the City of Seattle, King County Fleet Services and City of Bellevue Fleet and Communication Services.
This year marks the eighth time Thurston County Fleet Services has made the list. The department was given an honorable mention last year, and placed 82nd in 2024.
In 2025, Thurston County’s fleet included more than 600 vehicles used in all areas of community work and service, including road operations, construction, law enforcement, and public health, according to County Manager Leonard Hernandez.
The county’s fleet traveled a total of 3.2 million miles that year, according to Hernandez.
Fleet staff also completed 3,200 repairs, including outfitting vehicles with updated equipment, and put 37 new vehicles on the road for the Thurston County Sheriff’s Office.
“That deserves a round of applause,” Hernandez said Tuesday at a Thurston County Board of Commissioners meeting where the Fleet Services Department was formally recognized for the award.
