Agenda Item Wording:
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Purchase a solid waste replacement cab and chassis - Authorize the purchase of a new Peterbilt CNG cab and chassis from Coast Counties Peterbilt, Inc. through the Sourcewell Cooperative contract, and authorize Coast Counties Peterbilt to repair, refurbish, and install an existing solid waste body on the new cab and chassis in the amount of $331,189.56, and approve the appropriation of funds from the Solid Waste Fund.
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Agenda Date: 05/04/2026
Prepared by: Jason Serpa, Public Works Manager, 713-4533, jason.serpa@visalia.city; Nick Bartsch, Public Works Director, 713-4052, nick.bartsch@visalia.city
Department Recommendation: Staff recommends that the City Council authorize the purchase of a new Peterbilt CNG cab and chassis from Coast Counties Peterbilt, Inc. through the Sourcewell Cooperative contract (#032824), and authorize Coast Counties Peterbilt, Inc. to repair, refurbish, and install the existing solid waste body on the new cab and chassis in the amount of $331,189.56, and approve the appropriation of funds from the Solid Waste Fund.
Summary:
The Solid Waste Department is seeking authorization to purchase a new solid waste cab and chassis (only) to replace a truck that was damaged in a fire while on route in late 2025. The existing solid waste body from the burned unit will be salvaged, refurbished, and used to swap to the new cab and chassis as it is still in good condition. The cab and chassis purchase that is being proposed is a CNG powered truck and will be re-outfitted by Coast Counties Peterbilt of Porterville, CA as needed. An appropriation of $331,189.56 from the Solid Waste Fund is needed.
Background Discussion:
On September 23, 2025, a residential truck was servicing green cans on Meadow Street when a suspected gas leak occurred and the truck’s cab burst into flames while on the route. Because the gas leak perpetuated the fire and continued to burn, the cab and chassis portion of the truck was a total loss.
After storing the truck for a time at the Cityorporation yard, evaluators from Coast Counties Peterbilt, Inc., the local Peterbilt dealer from Porterville, CA, came to assess the damage and deemed that even though the cab and chassis were not recoverable, the truck’s solid waste body was able to be salvaged and moved to a new truck if the City chose to do so.
Due to the possible savings in replacing or recovering the truck body, staff obtained cost figures for both replacing the solid waste truck completely or purchasing a new cab and chassis coupled with the repair and refurbishment of the still-functioning solid waste body.
Fiscal Impact including annual maintenance and operating costs:
After staff determined that the solid waste body was still intact, the option of purchasing the cab and chassis (only) presented itself, rather than replacing the complete solid waste truck with a new truck and body. Staff obtained two quotes to compare the replacement options available as shown below:
When swapping and repairing the existing body onto a new cab and chassis, the savings compared to purchasing a completely new unit is $174,897.84. Even with not having the warranty extend to the original solid waste body, staff feels the cost advantage of only purchasing the cab and chassis outweighs the warranty loss of purchasing a new body, explained below.
Warranty:
The damaged truck was a 2020 model year and no longer had the 1-year factory warranty available on either the body or chassis. For the recommended replacement cab and chassis, it will have a 1-year standard warranty on parts and service that does not extend to the body swap portion of the truck. It is staff’s opinion that the warranty loss on a new solid waste body would be negligible compared to the cost savings shown above. A new solid waste body would add an additional $174,897.84 to the cost of the truck, simply to gain a 1-year warranty on new equipment that typically does not fail within the first year of operation.
Sourcewell Cooperative Purchase:
Sourcewell Cooperative Purchasing (Sourcewell) helps the City save time and money by purchasing from ready-to-use, competitively solicited contracts. Cooperative purchasing is “Procurement conducted by, or on behalf of, one or more public procurement units,” as defined by the American Bar Association Model Procurement Code for State and Local Governments. Sourcewell streamlines the purchasing process by developing requests for purchase for national competitive solicitations that meet or exceed local requirements. Because Coast Counties Peterbilt, Inc. is the Peterbilt dealer in Tulare County, and Peterbilt Trucks are already competitively bid by Sourcewell, the City is able to utilize that contract to obtain the Sourcewell cooperative price. This helps the City obtain truck and body manufacturers available through a local dealer, thus keeping maintenance costs down for fleet maintenance and repair.
Prior Council Action: Council has approved previous solid waste truck purchases in accordance with the replacement and growth budget. This truck is a replacement for a cab and chassis that was deemed a total loss.
Alternatives: An alternative would be to purchase a complete new solid waste truck, including the body, instead of using the existing solid waste body to complete the repair and only replacing the cab and chassis. This is not recommended as it would increase the cost of replacing the damaged unit by $174,897.84.
Recommended Motion (and Alternative Motions if expected):
recommendation
I move to authorize the purchase of a new Peterbilt CNG cab and chassis from Coast Counties Peterbilt, Inc. through the Sourcewell Cooperative contract, and authorize Coast Counties Peterbilt, Inc. to repair, refurbish, and install an existing solid waste body on the new cab and chassis in the amount of $331,189.56, and approve the appropriation of $331,189.56 from the Solid Waste Fund.
Environmental Assessment Status: N/A
CEQA Review: N/A
Deadline for Action: 05/04/2026
Attachments: Sourcewell Contract #032824; Peterbilt Sourcewell Quote; Vehicle Purchase Authorization Forms
Strategic Goal: Indicates which City Strategic Goal(s) this item supports. Check all that apply.
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