A more efficient method of managing state-owned vehicles will soon be developed thanks to legislation sponsored by state Sen. Cam Ward and signed by Gov. Robert Bentley recently.

Bentley held a ceremonial signing for Senate Bill 57, which authorizes the Alabama Department of Transportation to review state agency fleets and develop a statewide program to achieve cost savings and greater efficiencies in operating state vehicles.

“This is a continuation of our efforts to make government more efficient and save money for taxpayers,” Bentley said. “The goal of this program is to find the lowest possible cost per mile driven on our state-owned vehicles. A fleet management program is one of the recommendations made by the Commission on Improving State Government, which I established to help us reduce government costs and operate more efficiently. I am proud to sign this legislation that helps us accomplish this goal.”

About 8,800 state-owned vehicles are operated by various agencies in Alabama. There had not been a uniform program for managing those vehicles throughout the various entities.