The NAFA Fleet Management Association, the world’s largest membership association for vehicular fleet and mobility management, recently named Spring ISD’s Transportation Department to its list of the “100 Best Fleets in the Americas” for 2022.

The annual competition judges entrants from across the U.S., as well as other parts of the Americas, against NAFA’s 12 Criteria for Excellence, which highlight high-performing fleets that exemplify innovative best practices, professional fleet management, responsible stewardship of resources, technology integration, ongoing staff development, and creativity.

“I’m really excited we have the opportunity to recognize Transportation,” Executive Chief of District Operations Mark Miranda told Spring ISD school board members during the June 14 regular board meeting, when trustees honored the department with a Spring ISD Point of Pride award.

“To my knowledge, this is our first time to be able to be recognized in this list,” Miranda said, explaining that Spring ISD had cracked the 2022 Top 100 list at number 99, an impressive achievement given the geographical scope of the award and the number of eligible organizations.

The contest is open to public fleets operating in North, Central, or South America and recognizes top-notch fleet operations helping lead the way in their respective sectors. According to materials on the NAFA website, the program “identifies and encourages the ever-increasing levels of performance improvement and innovation within the public fleet industry.” 

Spring ISD Director of Transportation Jack Mann was on hand at the board meeting to receive the award, and also took the opportunity to honor several members of his department whose work Mann said helped make the award possible.

“It’s a blessing to work with the staff that we have,” Mann said, specifically naming Transportation Fleet Manager Michael Durr and Senior Mechanics Kevin Drown and Bill Starmack for their individual contributions in support of the department and its mission to safely transport Spring ISD students each and every day to and from campuses.

“During this pandemic and during this year, one of our shop supervisors has been deployed, and so our shop was without a day-to-day supervisor,” Mann explained during his remarks to the board. “We have two senior mechanics who took it upon themselves to show leadership and step up and be there for their teams, and so I just want to say thank you to Kevin and to Bill, and especially to Mike for how he’s mentoring his team.”

Also known as the National Association of Fleet Administrators, Inc., NAFA’s members in North America, Central America and South America represent corporations; public safety organizations such as law enforcement and fire departments; educational institutions such as K-12 school systems, colleges and universities; government agencies at the federal, state, municipal and provincial levels; public utilities; and other entities that use fleet vehicles as part of their normal operations.

According to the group’s website, “NAFA members control more than 4.2 million vehicles and manage assets in excess of $92 billion. These vehicles travel more than 84 billion miles annually.”