APACHE JUNCTION, Ariz. — The Apache Junction Unified School District (USD) has been named a “Fleet of the Year” in Arizona based on the exemplary performance of the district’s vehicle emissions inspector, Daniel Radcliffe Jr. (“Jr.”).

Each year, the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) bestows the “Fleet of the Year” honor on one entity in each area of the state. The eligible entities are diesel fleets — such as school buses, city buses, concrete trucks and delivery vehicles — that employ their own fleet inspector.

Apache Junction USD earned the award for Area A, which includes most of the greater Phoenix area.

The district “has not purchased a bus for 12 years, so the fact that they are still serviceable speaks to the quality of our transportation team,” Superintendent Dr. Chad Wilson said. “Receiving the award for ‘Fleet of the Year’ for clean emissions and clean air is a step beyond; it’s just phenomenal. Kudos to Jr., and kudos to transportation. Well done and well deserved.”

Radcliffe completes a range of courses each year to maintain his certification. He is responsible for emissions testing for Apache Junction USD vehicles to ensure their compliance with Arizona emissions standards. The district operates 54 school buses and about 20 support fleet vehicles.

Radcliffe regularly calibrates and maintains the transportation department’s smoke opacity meter, which is subject to several random inspections by state auditors. He is also audited on his documentation and tested for his accuracy, and officials said that he has repeatedly earned outstanding audit scores.

“We are proud of Jr.’s accomplishment and effort to ensure excellence in the inspection and maintenance of our fleet,” said Tom Thorpe, Apache Junction USD’s director of transportation. “This recognition just goes to show the quality our team is committed to.”