Episode 223: Outsourcing in Fleet: How to Know What to Sublet, When, and Why

In this episode of The Fleet Success Show, RTA VP of Product, Marc Canton. sits down with Jake Johnson, former fleet maintenance supervisor and current RTA Fleet Success Manager, to break down one of the most critical and misunderstood topics in fleet: outsourcing. Whether you're a government fleet manager with limited resources, a trucking fleet with scale, or just trying to figure out how to do more with fewer techs, you’re probably outsourcing more than you think—and leaving data and dollars on the table if you're not managing it properly. Jake brings his 20+ years of hands-on and leadership experience in trucking fleets to share how to decide what to send out, how to build strong vendor relationships, and how to track outsourced work like you would your own shop.   Key Takeaways Don’t outsource blindly: Use VMRS codes to evaluate where you’re spending the most time and money to decide what to outsource... and what to train for instead. Tooling and training determine viability: If your team lacks the tools or training, and it’s not cost-effective to invest—send it out. Vendor performance must be tracked: Track vendor jobs like in-house work, with proper work orders, status updates, and SLAs for turnaround and comeback rates. Use outsourcing to protect your tech bandwidth: Don’t send out the big, expensive job if small ones can be sublet faster and cheaper, freeing your shop for higher-value work. Relationships matter: Vendor partnerships should be built on honesty, clarity, and expectations. Think long-term and treat vendors like part of your team. Speaker Bios Jake Johnson Fleet Success Manager at RTA, Jake spent two decades working his way up from diesel tech to service manager to fleet leader in trucking operations. He now helps fleets across the country optimize everything from shop staffing to outsourced vendor networks. Marc Canton VP of Product & Consulting at RTA, Marc is a fleet operations veteran and co-host of The Fleet Success Show. He blends hands-on consulting experience with strategic leadership across public and private sector fleets.   Looking to take the next step to fleet success? Start by requesting your free copy of The Fleet Success Playbook. Written by fleet professionals for fleet professionals, the Playbook breaks down the four key pillars of fleet success, and gives you the tools you need to build a truly great fleet. Request your free (yes, really, free!) copy here: https://rtafleet.com/resources/fleet-success-playbook?utm_source=simplecast&utm_medium=footer_notes&utm_campaign=episode_213 Control fleet chaos with RTA Fleet360, proven software designed by fleet managers for fleet managers: https://rtafleet.com/book-a-demo?utm_source=simplecast&utm_medium=footer_notes&utm_campaign=episode_213