Item Number: 27
City Council / Board of Directors
Written Communications
Meeting of: August 18, 2026
Submitted By:
Doug Mathews, Director of Public Works and Water
Subject:
Approval of the purchase of a Ford F-750 Compacting Rear-Loader Trash Truck from Rush Truck Centers of California
Recommendation:
That the Honorable City Council:
(1) Approve the purchase of a Ford F-750 Compacting 14-Cubic Yard Rear-Loader Trash Truck for a total amount not to exceed $205,931.92 from Rush Truck Centers of California;
(2) Authorize the City Manager to execute any and all documents necessary for the purchase.
Fiscal Impact:
Acting in accordance with the staff recommendation will result in a fiscal impact of $205,931.92, which has been allocated in the Measure P, Illegal Dump Abatement account. Funds for this expense were appropriated in the Fiscal Year 2026/2027 budget.
The following table provides the account code for the funding:
Account Description Account Code Amount
Measure P – Illegal Dump Abatement 1054201-55040-70756 $205,931.92 The total cost of the vehicle is $205,931.92, which includes a unit cost of $188,989, license and registration fees of $287, a document fee of $80, a CA tire fee of $10.50, and sales tax of $16,565.42. Sales tax at a rate of 8.75 percent is applied to the unit cost, $250 of the license and registration fees, and the document fee, as detailed in Attachment A.
Strategic Plan Goal:
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The procurement of a new compacting rear-loader trash truck supports Strategic Plan Goal E: Invest in Infrastructure, which focuses on creating a healthy and livable community by maintaining the City’s assets through effective investment in equipment and innovation. The purchase of this unit will provide Environmental Programs staff with reliable equipment to support illegal dump removal, homeless encampment cleanups, and the ongoing maintenance of public spaces. This addition will expand fleet capacity, improve operational efficiency, reduce equipment downtime, and help ensure the City’s infrastructure remains safe, resilient, and well maintained for years to come.
Background:
The Public Works Department Environmental Programs Division is responsible for maintaining critical infrastructure throughout the City, including homeless camp abatements, illegal dumping, and other essential maintenance activities.
Staff currently operate two compacting trash trucks, a 2005 C7500 Chevy and a 2023 Ford F-750. Both vehicles are essential for addressing illegal dumping and homeless encampments citywide. However, the 2005 Chevy compacting trash truck (Unit #12932, Asset #10569) is nearly 20 years old and well past its useful life. It has become increasingly unreliable and has required frequent repairs in recent years.
From January 2023 through February 2024, a 14-month period, the 2005 truck was out of service for a total of 307 days. This amounted to more than ten months of lost operation time. The extended downtime significantly reduced the number of illegal dump cleanups and homeless encampment abatements staff were able to complete. In the past five years, Fleet has spent nearly 500 labor hours repairing this single vehicle, not including the time required to track down obsolete and hard-to-find parts.
During that same 14-month period, the truck was out of service due to issues such as a faulty fuel pump, tail lamp failures, and repeated hydraulic system repairs. Outsourcing replacement parts often resulted in long delays, and many components have become increasingly difficult or impossible to locate because of the truck’s age and limited parts availability.
In 2023, the engine was replaced due to performance and emission issues. Even after the engine replacement, the truck continued to experience mechanical issues. Over the past three years, it has required multiple major repairs, including work on the hydraulic system, exhaust system, and parking brake lever.
Relying on only one fully functional compacting trash truck has created a significant operational burden and a bottleneck in productivity. This is especially challenging when responding to urgent encampment cleanups within 500 feet of sensitive areas, as required by Victorville Municipal Code Section 13.27.040 Abatement Procedures. This limitation demonstrates the need for additional resources to ensure encampments and illegal dumping are addressed quickly and effectively.
Discussion:
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To ensure the Public Works Environmental Programs Division has the resources needed to meet ongoing service demands, staff identified the purchase of a new 14-cubic-yard 4 8
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rear loader compacting trash truck as essential for maintaining timely and effective responses to maintenance needs and for replacing the 2005 truck.
The proposed vehicle is a Ford F-750 with a 7.3L V8 gas engine and a 14-yard Pak-Mor body built for heavy-duty cleanup work. The cab and chassis are painted white and include autolock doors, power windows, Bluetooth, and easy-to-clean grey vinyl seating.
The truck has an R100 square-style body and comes with a winch system that includes at least 100 feet of cable to help load bulky debris. It is equipped with a Chelsea PTO and P50 hydraulic pump for reliable power, as well as a street access door for safer operation.
For visibility and safety, the truck includes full LED lighting, hopper lights, front and rear strobes, and a rear traffic advisor. A Safety Vision backup camera supports safer maneuvering. The truck also includes a toolbox, a holder for shovels and brooms, and an ANSI-approved riding step for safe crew transport in the field.
The purchase of this trash truck will directly support the Environmental Programs Division by improving its ability to respond to illegal dumping and encampment cleanups. Having reliable equipment will give staff the tools they need to keep streets and public areas free of trash, debris, and hazardous waste. The new truck will expand the division’s capacity and improve day-to-day efficiency. It will also ensure staff have dependable equipment to meet daily service needs, respond quickly to emergencies, and help maintain safe, resilient, and well-kept City infrastructure.
The proposed Ford F-750 gasoline-powered unit is a licensed vehicle that will be used in both on-road and off-road solid waste operations and is necessary to maintain safe, reliable, and efficient refuse collection services. While the California Air Resources Board (CARB) has adopted regulations requiring a phased transition to zero-emission medium- and heavy-duty vehicles and off-road equipment, internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles and equipment, including gasoline- and diesel-powered vehicles and equipment, remain necessary because currently available zero-emission alternatives are not yet capable of meeting the City’s operational and public service requirements. Due to the unit’s required payload capacity, duty cycle, operating range, and combination of on-road and off-road operating conditions, the City has evaluated currently available zero- emission alternatives and determined that they are not capable of reliably performing the required functions without adversely affecting service levels, operational efficiency, or reliability.
To prepare for long-term regulatory compliance, the City retained Kittelson & Associates, Inc. to prepare a Zero-Emission Fleet Transition Assessment, which is currently in its final stages. The assessment evaluates available zero-emission technologies, identifies operational and infrastructure constraints, assesses charging infrastructure capacity and future infrastructure needs, analyzes implementation costs and funding opportunities, and establishes a phased strategy for transitioning the City’s fleet in accordance with CARB requirements.
Approval of this purchase addresses an immediate operational need while remaining consistent with the City’s long-term zero-emission fleet transition strategy. This 4 8
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acquisition will not adversely affect the City’s long-term compliance with CARB requirements and supports the continued delivery of essential public services during the transition to zero-emission technologies.
In accordance with Victorville Municipal Code (VMC) Section 2.28.100(a), purchases of supplies and equipment exceeding $50,000 shall be solicited through the formal bidding procedure. The Request for Bid (RFB) was advertised in the Daily Press on April 29, 2026, and in the San Bernardino Sun on May 6, 2026. The RFB was released on the OpenGov eProcurement Portal and posted to the City of Victorville website on April 29, 2026. Eighteen companies downloaded the RFB and there were over 200 project views on the portal.
The following companies submitted their bids:
Company Bid Amount
Rush Truck Centers of California $205,931.92
Puente Hills Ford $222,571.56
Hansel Ford $235,476.00
Public Works staff and the Fleet Maintenance Division have reviewed the specifications and quotes provided by all three bidders and determined that they meet or exceed operational needs. The delivery of the unit is anticipated within four to six months following approval and receipt of a Purchase Order.
Staff recommend that the City Council approve the purchase of a Ford F-750 Compacting 14-Cubic Yard Rear-Loader Trash Truck from Rush Truck Centers of California for a total amount not to exceed $205,931.92.
Staff is available for any questions the City Council may have.
Prepared By:
Sarah St. Louis, Management Specialist
Attachments: A. Rush Truck Centers of California Bid Proposal