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Fleet Newsletter · September 2026
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September 2026 | New Inventory, OEM News & Fleet Insights from Sames Government Fleet
Written for fleet managers, purchasing officers, sheriffs' offices and school district transportation staff.
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| Section 01 |
| Happenings at Sames |
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October has us on the road, and we hope to see you there.
- txEDCON, Oct. 8–11 at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston — you'll find us at booth 642. txEDCON is the annual conference for Texas school board members and administrators, built around education, exhibits, networking, and idea sharing, which makes it one of the best places all year for us to sit down with the people who keep district fleets running. Stop by, tell us what your bus barn and white-fleet needs look like for next budget cycle, and we'll listen first.
- TPPOA 2nd Annual Conference, Oct. 19–23 in Amarillo — held at the Embassy Suites Downtown Amarillo. We're looking forward to a few days with Texas law enforcement folks, talking patrol and support vehicles, upfit timelines, and what's realistic on delivery.
What we're genuinely excited to talk about: the next-generation 2027 Silverado. Chevrolet calls it the most powerful and advanced Silverado ever, with four engines to choose from, including all-new 5.7L and 6.6L V8s, and the numbers that matter to a fleet manager are there too — 481 max available horsepower, 501 lb.-ft. of max available torque, and 13,700 lbs. of best-in-class max available trailering. Even the Work Truck trim comes ready to earn its keep, with the TurboMax engine and 10-speed transmission, an available Duramax 3.0L Turbo-Diesel, a 16.3" center screen, and over 15 safety and driver assistance features. It's slated to be available late 2026, so now is the right time to start mapping it against your replacement cycle — you can see the full lineup and the 360° views on Chevrolet's 2027 Silverado page.
If you're heading to either show, come find us — booth 642 in Houston, or just flag us down in Amarillo. And if October doesn't work, we're always glad to take a call or drive out to your yard and walk the fleet with you.
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| Section 02 |
| Available Inventory |
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We have a strong selection of work-ready vehicles available now through our cooperative purchasing contracts — including options from Ford and Chevrolet to meet a wide range of municipal and government fleet needs. Browse this month's highlighted vehicles below and contact your Sames Government Fleet representative for current availability and contract pricing. |
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In stock · ready to deliver
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Stock #GF130664
SUMMIT WHITE · 4.3L V6 with Direct Injection and Variable Valve…
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| Price |
$43,700 |
| Clearance priced to move. |
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In stock · ready to deliver
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Stock #GF185860
BLACK · Unknown
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| Price |
$45,900 |
| Clearance priced to move. |
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In stock · ready to deliver
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Stock #GF185862
BLACK · Unknown
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| Price |
$45,700 |
| Clearance priced to move. |
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In stock · ready to deliver
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Stock #TG246657
SUMMIT WHITE · WT VALUE PACKAGE DISCOUNT & TURBOMAX ENGINE CREDIT
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| MSRP |
$45,995 |
| Discount |
−$4,695 |
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| Your price |
$41,300 |
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In stock · ready to deliver
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Stock #GF696149
SUMMIT WHITE · Duramax 6.6L Turbo-Diesel V8, B20-Diesel compatible…
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| Price |
$43,500 |
| Clearance priced to move. |
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In stock · ready to deliver
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Stock #GF244581
WHITE · 2.5L Turbo DOHC SIDI with Variable Valve Timing (VVT) (328…
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| Price |
$35,300 |
| Clearance priced to move. |
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Anything past 90 days on lot carries clearance pricing.
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| Section 03 |
| OEM Announcements |
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Ford Enters Competition for U.S. Army Tactical Trucks
Ford has joined the race to develop the next generation of U.S. Army tactical vehicles, competing alongside GM for a contract to supply Infantry Squad Vehicles (ISV) and heavy tactical trucks. Ford is building prototypes of F-Series Super Duty-based platforms for Pentagon evaluation — a strong signal of the brand's continued commitment to mission-critical, work-truck capability. For fleet managers who rely on Super Duty platforms, this development underscores Ford's ongoing investment in heavy-duty vehicle engineering. Read more from Motor Trend and The Detroit News. GM & Ford Continue to Anchor Government Fleet Markets
GM and Ford have remained the dominant OEM suppliers to government fleets for decades, and that presence continues to grow across both traditional and electrified vehicle segments. The addition of platforms like the Chevrolet Blazer EV to government purchasing contracts reflects the industry's broader shift toward fleet electrification options alongside proven gas-powered workhorses. |
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Did you know a vehicle sitting in an upfitter's yard is still costing you money? Every day a chassis waits on a shelf, box, or light bar is a day it isn't working — and a day your old unit stays in service. Slow order-to-delivery times lead to additional expenses, because fleets must keep repairing the old vehicle to run past its planned life cycle while waiting on the order ( Government Fleet).
On a turnkey project, the upfit is where the schedule usually slips. The procurement process involves many parties — automakers, equipment manufacturers, and upfitters — and any delay along the line can slow the whole process down, including parts delays and production holds ( Government Fleet). That makes one question worth asking up front: what are your lead times — including lead time for the parts to arrive?Two practical moves for your next buy:
- Ask for lead times in writing on both the chassis and the upfit components, not just a delivery estimate.
- Consider issuing your PO with separate line items for the vehicle and the upfit. Splitting them out gives you cost visibility and negotiating room that a single bundled number hides.
Depending on unit count, those savings can add up to real dollars — sometimes enough to buy another vehicle or enhance the upfit on the ones you're already ordering. That's money back to your budget, and back to the taxpayer. Something to think about.
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Questions?
govsales@sames.net
(512) 628-0505
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Eligibility and Availability: The vehicles, pricing, and programs featured here are offered under government and fleet purchasing programs. Eligibility is determined by the manufacturer and the governing contract — not by Sames Auto Group — and typically requires the purchaser to be a qualifying public entity. Some vehicles (including police-package and other restricted-use models) carry additional eligibility requirements and may not be sold to the general public. Availability, allocation, and pricing are subject to change, and all orders are subject to manufacturer acceptance. Contact your Sames Government Fleet representative to confirm eligibility for your agency.
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Sames Government Fleet - 1115 State Hwy 71 - Bastrop, TX 78602
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