Michael Hardesty, CAFM Looks Back On Time With Indiana University's Fleet

Michael Hardesty, CAFM, will cap a thirty-year-long career with Indiana University as Fleet Manager – in addition to a previous twelve years as a business manager at car dealerships – in 2012. During his time, Hardesty has had oversight of a fleet of 500 vehicles, yet he recalled that when he first got there he might have already seen the "one that got away."

"We had a person who came by (the motor pool) to pick up a Chevy Suburban. At that time all our Suburbans were manual transmission, and I don’t think she had ever driven a manual before. She started it, the Suburban jumped over the parking block, and just kept on going," Hardesty recalled with a laugh. "I’ve often seen vehicles leave the lot and I’ve wondered if we’d ever see them come back."

But they do come back and more than that, Hardesty has proven over the years to be the level-headed, business-oriented constant necessary for a constantly changing industry such as fleet is. In just his fleet at Indiana U., Hardesty has seen dramatic shifts, such as when the school moved from vehicle ownership to leasing, a move Hardesty admits ambivalence about. "It has worked out well for the time being, but when interest rates go back up, those rates are just going to go crazy."

Hardesty is very complimentary of his supervisors at the school. "I’ve been fortunate to work for people who understood (the need to run the fleet with a business-minded approach). I’ve always tried to maintain that business aspect about the department. When I came here, we had $96,000 in cash and I didn’t have to buy vehicles that year. We built a new building, paid for it with $2.5 million and cashed-out the fleet at $3.5 million," Hardesty said. "I still have some of that cash in our account, so over the years I’ve done something right!

"Trying to keep that business perspective; it is more of a balance-sheet approach that just isn’t always so prevalent. We’re a different animal here at the University," Hardesty said. "We’re an enterprise account so I get no direct funding from the University; we survive on the (rental) rates and our rates system for what we make. So it is like operating a business inside the University."

Hardesty is appreciative of his thirty-year run and those with whom he worked. "I am deeply indebted to Indiana University and my fleet friends across the country for providing the tools and information necessary to manage a multifaceted fleet and accomplish our goals." He was particularly emphatic about the fleet management field and the lack of perception those outside of it may have. "Everyone owns a car, so everyone considers themselves a fleet manager, but there so much more to it than that. When someone takes a hard look and finds out about all the various knowledge bases we have to be familiar with – risk management, information services, asset management, shop floor management, and so forth – they’re amazed."

Hardesty gave credit to his memberships in NAFA and NCSFA for affording him networking and opportunities that helped his career move forward. In return, he has been a major presence in the Tri-State chapter, serving on the Board of Governors as Chapter Chair. He was formerly Co-Chair of NAFA’s National Public Service Committee as well. "I won’t be an active Member anymore, but I have my alumni membership. I may attend a conference or two yet, and I haven’t completely closed the door to other possibilities in the fleet business," he said. "I’m retiring because I don’t want to work full-time anymore, but part-time might not be such a bad deal!"

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