How Aptive Keeps 2,400 Vehicles Moving Across 37 States

Aptive Pest Control manages 2,400 vehicles across 37 states and 76 locations, a scale that forces fleet decisions into the center of daily operations. In a new Automotive Fleet interview, fleet manager and 2026 Fleet Visionary Award winner Jamie McKay described a model built around close coordination with the people who use, support and fund the vehicles.

Fleet decisions reach beyond the fleet office

McKay said regular collaboration with safety, finance, marketing and operations teams helps align fleet decisions with wider company priorities. In a dispersed service operation, that is more than a meeting cadence. It gives fleet staff earlier visibility into changing work, driver needs and field constraints before a vehicle specification or replacement decision becomes expensive to reverse.

The interview also points to the practical value of keeping fleet involved in the broader business. A field vehicle is part of how a company reaches customers, carries equipment and supports its workforce. When the operating teams have a direct line into fleet planning, tradeoffs around cost, availability and capability are easier to surface.

Vehicle fit, leasing flexibility and spare coverage

Aptive moved from compact vans to pickup trucks as vehicle availability changed. Employee and compliance feedback helped shape the truck configuration, including toppers and cargo-management equipment. McKay also described flexible leasing arrangements and strategically placed spare vehicles as tools for limiting downtime when a decentralized fleet needs to keep service appointments intact.

For fleet teams, the useful takeaway is specific: build the vehicle plan around the job and the local operating reality, then make room for disruptions. Spares, upfit feedback and internal communication may not be as visible as a procurement program, but they can determine whether a fleet stays available when the schedule tightens.