Coming home from 2013 NAFA I&E and reviewing notes, handouts, promotional materials, a few interesting bits of information (with asterisks next to them) popped out….
Voucher Incentive Programs:
While these incentive programs for alternative fuel vehicles are primarily established in California, there are starting to appear in other areas. New York is launching a program this month that’s only available in certain counties that receive CMAQ federal funding and are non-attainment counties. They are the most populous counties in the state, and these vouchers can cover up to 80% of incremental cost and up to $60,000 of the vehicle’s cost. Chicago has vouchers coming up on battery electric trucks. Massachusetts is looking at adopting a voucher program. During his workshop presentation on the topic, Calstart’s Regional Director in Colorado, Tom Brotherton, encouraged fleet managers to visit the Calstart and NAFA websites for his powerpoint presentation on the topic with detailed information.
Turn Off Mobile Phones:
A lot of fleet managers and fleet management companies are looking at policy changes to deal with the problem of distracted driving. Mobile phones are the main target here, and it’s very difficult to get drivers to stop making and receiving calls while driving. It would be great to have them all set up with Bluetooth sets, ready to take calls the right way, but that doesn’t always work. “Geofencing” is being taken more seriously by fleets; one of the tactics that can be implemented is using geofencing controls to shut off cell phone access at certain points – when the driver is in the car, driving in certain geographic zones, etc.
Why People Do What they Do:
NAFA President Claude Masters encourages people to watch videos on Youtube with management guru Simon Sinek. Why did some people become Harley Davidson riders a few years back? Why do people belong to certain organizations? Sinek talks about how to change the message so that it applies to that part of your brain – it deals with the communities people belong to. How do you explain when other people are able to achieve things that seem to defy all the assumptions? This question is explored by Sinek during a TED presentation that have been viewed by more than 10 million people. Check it out.
Dealing with Sensory Overload:
2013 NAFA I&E had the best numbers in years – attendees and exhibitors. Business is getting better, but the rules of the game have been changing. Fleet operations are usually staffed by a smaller number of team members, and they’re being hit with lots of data – from devices, suppliers, the internet, and internal databases. It’s becoming essential for fleet managers to figure out how all this data can tell their story. This usually involves feedback from fleet management companies, colleagues, and other resources. It seems to boil down to telling the story in the way that makes sense for that specific organization. There are data metrics and reports that need to be studied all the time, but they need to be well customized to provide the right data – tell the whole story.
