State and local governments rely heavily on motor equipment for the delivery of services. The costs of maintaining this equipment constitute a substantial government expense. Consequently, fleet management affects both the quality of transportation- dependent services, and overall government expenditures.

Effective equipment management requires the maintenance of detailed records for equipment utilized by the various organizational units within a jurisdiction. Vast amounts of data must be collected and analyzed regularly in order to effectively monitor equipment operations. A computer-based management information system can greatly enhance the equipment management function.