Imagine waking up in the morning and walking into your garage knowing you have nearly 100 vehicles—including fire trucks, 6,500 ton per hour snow blowers, dump trucks, loaders, and shuttle buses—and more than 400 pieces of equipment including paint machines, lawn mowers and weed whackers, all worth more than $14 million to keep working every day.  If this sounds like fun, then welcome to Dave, Andy and Bob’s world—the Vehicle Maintenance Department at HIA.

The Vehicle Maintenance Department: A Well-Oiled Machine

The vehicle maintenance department is in charge of 436 pieces of equipment. 92 of which are vehicles. Between the two technicians, Dave and Andy, along with Bob’s supervision, they are responsible for keeping the 16.7 million dollars of vehicles running. Most importantly running safely. Readiness is the key for this department, whether it is the vehicles themselves or the employees. For example, snowplows need to be ready to go at all times and if one breaks down a technician is on call 24/7 to resolve the issue. Every day is different over at vehicle maintenance; this aligns with most of the other departments within Harrisburg International Airport. A plan can be in place for the day, but employees must be ready to adapt and pivot accordingly.

Introducing Bob Gardner: The Driving Force Behind Vehicle Maintenance

Novice Mechanic to Maintenance Maestro: Bob’s Journey

Bob’s journey from tinkering with cars as a teenager to overseeing the vehicle maintenance department at HIA is a testament to his passion and dedication. Starting as an auto mechanic in his early teens laid the groundwork for a long career. The transition from aftermarket shops to heavy equipment industries and dealership diagnostics, Bob’s diverse background equipped him with the skills and knowledge needed to tackle the challenges of maintaining an airport’s fleet of vehicles.

Education and Certifications: The Backbone of Expertise

Bob’s educational journey, coupled with industry certifications, further solidifies his expertise in maintenance management. From vocational training in electronics during high school to substantial factory training during his tenure in dealership life, Bob’s commitment to continuous learning guarantees that his department remains at the forefront of industry standards and procedures.

Ensuring a Safe and Operational Fleet: Bob’s Key Responsibilities

Being at the helm of vehicle maintenance operations, Bob’s primary responsibilities revolve around accountability, safety, and efficiency. Whether its caring for technicians, maintaining equipment, or ensuring the airport fleet is safe and operational at all four airports, Bob’s meticulous approach ensures that every vehicle is primed for smooth operation.

Driving Airport’s Mission: Vehicle Maintenance’s Crucial Role

Bob emphasizes the importance of his department in fulfilling the airport’s mission of providing safe, convenient, and affordable connections from PA to the world. Particularly during challenging weather conditions, the readiness of snow equipment underscores the department’s commitment to keeping runways clear and flights on schedule. Bob emphasized, “airplanes need to land, and they need to land safely”.

Supporting Airport’s Vision: Vehicle Maintenance Initiatives

Aligning with the airport’s vision of More Flights More Places More Often, Bob highlights how his department’s initiatives facilitate smoother airport operations. Bob states, “Our fleet affects every single department and how well they can do their jobs”. From enhancing inter-departmental coordination to maximizing the efficiency of ground operations, the vehicle maintenance team’s efforts contribute to the airport’s growth trajectory.

Innovation and Achievements: A Testament to Excellence

Bob’s department isn’t just about routine maintenance; it’s about innovation and ingenuity. Bob and his team retrofit old equipment to invent new solutions. For example, they recently repurposed parts of two trucks to create a new multi-purpose vehicle. The chassis is a former rescue truck from the fire department. The bed of the truck was altered from its previous role to fit the chassis. The paint sprayer seen on the back of the truck in the photo can be replaced with a brine sprayer, along with attaching a snowplow to aid in the winter months. Bob’s team continually pushes the boundaries of what’s possible in vehicle maintenance.

Team Dynamics: Structure and Collaboration

With a small but powerful team, comprised of two technicians, and Bob, efficiency is crucial. Despite size, the team is able to effectively keep the airport’s fleet running smoothly. Bob highlighted the importance of collaboration and synergy in ensuring the department’s success.

Safety First: Maintaining Standards and Compliance

Utilizing a state-of-the-art computer maintenance management system (CMMS), Bob’s department is able to carefully track maintenance schedules and repairs. This seamlessly ensures that every piece of equipment from weed eater to firetruck meets safety standards.

Measuring Success: Reliability and Efficiency Metrics

For Bob, success is being able to have vehicles operational at any moment. Minimizing downtime and maximizing operational readiness serve as benchmarks for evaluating the department’s contributions to the airport’s overarching mission and vision.

In the dynamic world of airport operations, vehicle maintenance may often, ironically, fly under the radar, but Bob Gardener and his dedicated team ensure that every single vehicle is ready to contribute to the efficient functioning of Harrisburg International Airport. As passengers embark on their journeys, they can rest assured that behind the scenes, Bob and his team are keeping the wheels of airport operations turning smoothly.

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