Fleet Services
| Department of Fleet Services (DFS) | |
|---|---|
| Type | City-charter executive department |
| Led by | Commissioner Joseph L. Rosati (as of March 2026) |
| Deputies | Dr. K Wilson (Administration); John DeLeo (Operations) |
| Active fleet | About 7,000 vehicles, including 700+ pieces of specialized equipment |
| Budgeted positions | 403 across all funds for FY27, level with FY26 |
| FY27 General Fund | $76.2 million proposed (down $2.8 million from FY26 estimate) |
| Reports to | The Mayor (City executive-branch department) |
The Department of Fleet Services (DFS) keeps Philadelphia government moving. It ensures that "City vehicles and other automotive equipment are available, dependable, and safe to operate so that City departments and agencies can deliver services," and it is responsible for the acquisition, repair, maintenance and disposal of all City-owned vehicles and equipment.[1] That includes police radio patrol cars, fire pumpers and medic units, Streets Department and sanitation trash compactors and riding mowers. DFS also fuels City vehicles, and vehicles of quasi-City agencies such as the School District of Philadelphia, through its department-operated fuel stations.[1] Commissioner Joseph L. Rosati led the Department when it testified to City Council on March 31, 2026.
1 Core operations
DFS maintains an active fleet of approximately 7,000 vehicles, including more than 700 pieces of specialized equipment.[1] Its work-order system tracks vehicle usage and schedules preventive maintenance to reduce unscheduled breakdowns. The Department prioritizes the availability of core-mission vehicles: police radio patrol cars, fire medic units, fire pumpers and tiller ladders, and trash compactors.[1] A vehicle out of service can affect response times for the Police Department and Fire Department and trash collection by the Streets Department, so Fleet's performance is often visible only when it fails. It also handles fuel-tank replacement to comply with Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection mandates.
2 Replacement strategy
DFS pursues what it calls an Optimal Vehicle Replacement Strategy, replacing aged, inefficient vehicles with more fuel-efficient, technologically advanced ones. The focus is on sanitation and safety vehicles for the Police, Fire and sanitation departments.[1] Vehicle purchases are funded through a separate appropriation line, "Fleet Services - Vehicle Purchase," in the operating budget, and larger purchases are supported through the capital program (see Philadelphia City Budget Process). Purchases follow the competitive process described under Procurement Department; the Department told Council that heavy equipment has limited vendors, which affects small and local business participation.[1]
3 Clean fleet and electrification
DFS supports the Philadelphia Municipal Clean Fleet Plan. Its vehicle-procurement policy sets a hierarchy that prioritizes battery electric, then hybrid-electric, hybrid and compressed natural gas vehicles where applicable, and it plans to construct two more electric vehicle fast-charging stations in FY27.[1] This is part of the Mayor's clean-and-green agenda and the work of the Office of Sustainability.
4 Workforce and training
DFS operates a high school automotive internship and training program, planning to enroll 15 students in FY27, in partnership with the City College for Municipal Employment (CCME) for "power skills" training. After the two-year internship, many students are hired as Automotive Apprentices, a permanent civil service position.[1] Mechanics and drivers are among the City employees represented by unions such as AFSCME District Council 33; see Office of Human Resources and Civil Service Commission for hiring rules.
5 Budget and oversight
The proposed FY27 General Fund budget for DFS was $76,159,561, a decrease of $2,781,291 from FY26 estimated obligations, with funds for safety vehicles, fuel, parts and supplies; employee compensation was proposed at about $24.8 million.[1] Council's adopted FY27 appropriation for the main Fleet Services line was $60.8 million, with separate vehicle-purchase funding.[2] Fleet purchases and fuel costs are among the items audited by the City Controller. Residents who see a City vehicle behaving unsafely can report it via Philly311.
See also: Department of Public Property, Managing Director's Office, Streets Department, Office of Sustainability.
References
- Department of Fleet Services, "Fiscal Year 2027 Budget Testimony," March 31, 2026 (phlcouncil.com).
- City of Philadelphia, Fiscal Year 2027 Appropriation Ordinance, items 2.15 and 2.16, in The Mayor's Operating Budget in Brief for Fiscal Year 2027 (phila.gov).