By Hayley Clement
Detail of a University of Georgia vehicle during a snow day in Athens. (Photo By Chamberlain Smith/UGA)
Designation recognizes UGA’s commitment to safe, efficient, and accountable fleet operations
The University of Georgia has earned Tier 1 status from the Georgia Office of Fleet Management for the first time, placing it among roughly 10% of the 135 state agencies evaluated to do so. UGA is one of only two University System of Georgia institutions to achieve this designation in the most recent reporting period.
Developed in 2019, the program scores organizations on several factors to measure how effectively they manage their vehicle fleets. In the third quarter of fiscal year 2026, UGA earned 19 of 20 possible points, including perfect scores in fueling compliance and driver accountability and high marks for vehicle maintenance and participation in statewide fleet management programs.
This achievement results from several years of work by the UGA Automotive Center, the Office of Insurance and Claims Management (ICM) and the many schools, colleges, and units that operate vehicles across the university.
“We couldn’t have done this without the support of others,” said Bill Brinn, fleet manager in the Automotive Center. “I’m most proud of the processes we’ve put in place and the relationships we’ve developed that made this achievement possible.”
Members of the UGA Automotive Center team pose outside the facility.
Those relationships span one of the largest fleet operations in Georgia. UGA manages approximately 1,300 state-owned vehicles and nearly 500 additional vehicles through the federal excess personal property program. The fleet serves campuses in Athens, Tifton and Griffin, as well as several regional research and education centers. Only the Georgia Department of Transportation, the Department of Natural Resources and the Department of Corrections operate larger fleets.
The path to Tier 1 took shape over two years as the Automotive Center and ICM worked closely together to increase outreach across the institution and strengthen relationships with units that rely heavily on fleet vehicles. The goal was straightforward: make sure everyone understood the policies, knew what was expected of them and had a chance to sit down with fleet and claims staff directly.
This hands-on approach also extends to day-to-day fleet operations. When a driver report comes in, ICM follows up quickly and works with the relevant unit to resolve the issue, whether through additional training or other corrective action. The Automotive Center plays a similar role on the maintenance side, helping ensure vehicles are serviced properly and records stay current.
The work is shaped by a shared commitment to public safety, customer service and responsible stewardship of university resources. For ICM Director Dustin Chitwood, that means staying proactive by reaching out to units before small issues become bigger ones and communicating clearly.
“It really comes down to meeting customer expectations,” he said.
Chitwood credited part of the team’s success to a greater emphasis on data-driven decision making. The team uses tools such as Smartsheet and Power BI to track progress and find ways to improve.
“The data tells the story, and that’s the key here,” Chitwood said.
Tier 1 status marks an important milestone, but for one of the largest and most geographically dispersed fleet operations in the state, it is not the finish line.
“We’ve made a lot of progress, but we still have room for improvement,” Brinn said. “Developing and maintaining strong relationships will continue to be important as we move forward.”
