File photo. 

Government Fleet Magazine ranked Long Beach’s vehicle fleet the 12th best government fleet in the U.S., results determined in its 2016 Leading Fleets competition, the city announced today.

The award winners were announced in April, recognizing the top 50 government vehicle fleets in the country for their leadership, competitiveness and efficiency, a release from Government Fleet Magazine stated in April. 

“We are extremely proud of our fleet, especially because we’re continuously lowering our carbon footprint and becoming even more efficient,” said Mayor Robert Garcia.

Long Beach Fleet Services Bureau Manager Dan Berlenbach noted the award’s significance in the city’s overcoming of challenges as well.

“Our award-winning fleet staff provide cost-effective, environmentally friendly maintenance and transportation services, involving everything from police cars to boats, helicopters, and refuse trucks,” said Berlenbach in a statement.

According to the city release, the fleet’s recent conversion from diesel and natural gas vehicles to renewable fuels (more than 18 percent of its total vehicle fleet) helped it achieve recognition. Renewable liquid natural gas and diesel fuels has helped the city experience a reduction of more than 6,000 tons of carbon emissions each year.

According to the release, 393 vehicles out of the 2,185 vehicles in the city’s fleet are powered by renewable fuels. In fact, Long Beach became the first city in the United States to use liquid natural gas (LNG) in 2003. Just last October, street sweepers and trucks transitioned to using RNG as a fuel source.

Specifically, the city was ranked in the top 50 in the annual Government Fleet Expo and Conference (GFX) last month, and was ranked the number one green fleet in 2008.