In this Fleet Mobility Today Expert Talk podcast, host Daniel Bland interviews Ernest "Ernie" Garcia, Director of Fleet Management and Business Systems at Gothic Landscape. Ernie oversees more than 2,600 assets across California, Arizona, and Nevada, managing operations entirely in‑house.

The executive explains how AI‑driven SOPs can standardize processes while adapting to local laws, emphasizing the importance of well‑written prompts and double‑checking outputs. Predictive analytics, he notes, should be introduced gradually, starting with one KPI alert at a time to avoid overwhelming operators. Ernie highlights how AI tools accelerate compliance with OSHA and DOT standards by aggregating best practices, laws, and company policies into streamlined documents.

Ernie successfully rewrote multiple fleet policies in weeks instead of months, ensuring clarity and compliance. On sustainability, he stresses total cost of ownership as the key metric for EV and hybrid adoption, citing lower maintenance, fuel, and even purchase costs in some cases, such as transitioning from F‑150s to Ford Mavericks.

Our podcast guest acknowledges challenges like range anxiety and infrastructure availability but sees progress in California pilots. Leadership, Ernie adds, requires balancing compliance with operational flexibility to secure buy‑in. The executive closes by sharing personal hobbies like golf and travel, underscoring the human side of fleet leadership.