Construction Equipment, AEMP Name 2026 Fleet Masters Winners
Construction Equipment and AEMP (Association of Equipment Management Professionals) have named Kwest Group and Sarasota County, Florida, Fleet Services, recipients of the 2026 Fleet Masters Awards.
CE senior editor Frank Raczon presented the awards during a lunchtime ceremony at Conexpo in Las Vegas. Kwest won the small fleet award (less than $100 million estimated replacement value) and Sarasota County the large fleet award (more than $100 million estimated replacement value).
Learn how Kwest Group fine tuned its equipment operations
Each year, AEMP and Construction Equipment magazine honor outstanding fleet managers with the prestigious awards—a recognition of industry leaders who demonstrate excellence in cost-effective, efficient, and innovative fleet management.
Three-time Fleet Masters winners
Kwest Group is a civil construction and environmental services firm. The company performs work throughout the country and has offices in Ohio, Texas, and Virginia. It has won each of the last three Conexpo years, 2026, 2023, and 2020.
Prior to 2026, Sarasota County won the award in 2019 and 2014.
How Sarasota County improved its technician training
A judging panel reviews Fleet Masters nominations anonymously. The Fleet Masters award is awarded to the fleet that represents a standard of excellence that raises the bar for equipment-management professionalism within their organization.
Areas of fleet achievement taken into account include financial management, specifications and acquisition policies, technology, workforce development, safety, supplier relations, maintenance management, and environmental/sustainability.
Fleet Masters nominations for 2027
Nominations for the 2027 Fleet Masters Awards will be open in October. Watch ConstructionEquipment.com and AEMP.org for details.
- Nominations are anonymous and self-nominations are accepted.
- The competition is open to the entire industry and AEMP membership is NOT required. Nominate the fleet of a client, colleague, or your own.
- Entrants must agree to attend the March 2027 presentation at their own expense (travel, hotel) in the event they are chosen winners. Registration for the event will be covered by AEMP.
About the Author
Frank Raczon
Frank Raczon has covered and influenced the equipment industry for 35 years, including 15 years as senior editor of Construction Equipment, and marketing, advertising, and public relations work with the industry's top manufacturers. In addition to authoring "Caterpillar: Modern Earthmoving Marvels" (Motorbooks, 2015), he has won numerous awards in his career, highlighted by nods from the Construction Writers Association, the Association of Equipment Manufacturers, the Business Marketing Association, and BtoB magazine. Raczon has also won a number of awards from publishing peer groups such as ASBPE and TABPI.